{"id":5638,"date":"2016-12-14T17:04:58","date_gmt":"2016-12-14T17:04:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.utalk.com\/news\/?p=5638"},"modified":"2026-08-20T20:29:10","modified_gmt":"2026-08-20T19:29:10","slug":"utalk-challenge-hall-of-fame","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/utalk.com\/en\/news\/utalk-challenge-hall-of-fame","title":{"rendered":"uTalk Challenge: Hall of Fame"},"content":{"rendered":"

Back in January, we kicked off the 2016 uTalk Challenge, inviting language learners the world over to see how much they could learn in a month. If they completed our uTalk app\u00a0in their chosen language by the end of January, they could choose a new language for February, and so on.\u00a0<\/span>Little did we imagine that 12 months later, a small band of\u00a0intrepid uTalk Challengers would be heading towards completing their 12th language…<\/p>\n

We’ll be launching the 2017 uTalk Challenge very soon – and if you need a bit of inspiration, check out what a few of our talented\u00a012 had to say about their experiences over the last year. This time next year it could be you!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"patricia-ochman\"<\/a>Patricia<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>:\u00a0Basque, Czech, Farsi, Kazakh, Lithuanian, Greenlandic, Japanese, Georgian, Samoan, Dzongkha, Hungarian, and Amharic<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Inspiration<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span>\u201d<\/span>Learning languages, even at\u00a0a rudimentary level, opens you up to the world because it fuels curiosity, and that’s why this has been my second time taking part in the uTalk Challenge.”<\/span>
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

Olwen<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>: Welsh, Spanish, Romanian, Swahili, German, Danish, Mandarin, Catalan, Maori, Russian, Cockney, and Hebrew<\/span><\/p>\n

Top tip<\/strong>: \u00a0“Always try to make an effort when visiting foreign countries though, as I think it\u2019s only polite to at least learn \u2018hello\u2019, \u2018please\u2019 and \u2018thank you\u2019!<\/span><\/p>\n

\"darren\"Darren<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>:\u00a0Polish, Czech, Romanian, Italian, Japanese, Klingon, Icelandic, Korean, Turkish, Spanish, Xhosa, and Bulgarian<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Favourite moment<\/strong>: <\/span>\u00a0“Having a handful of words in another language opens up a whole world of new experiences, and I’ve\u00a0<\/span>made many new friends over the last few years just by saying a word or two in their native tongue.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

 <\/p>\n

Nicholas<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>:\u00a0Spanish, Italian, French, German, Chinese, Latin, Russian, Portuguese, Swedish, Dutch, Flemish, and Norwegian<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Favourite moment<\/strong>: “<\/span>I have really enjoyed the uTalk Challenge and have found it so rewarding.\u00a0<\/span>I started off learning Spanish and<\/span> then progressed\u00a0<\/span>to other European languages and then after a few months I soon found\u00a0<\/span>myself attempting Chinese and Russian! The language challenge is great fun\u00a0<\/span>and really rewarding, everyone should try it!”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"katherine\"Katherine<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>: Maltese, German, Spanish, Arabic Modern Standard, Russian, German Swiss, Polish, Dutch, Norwegian, Catalan, Italian and French<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Motivation<\/strong>:\u00a0<\/span>\u201cEven the smallest successful conversation with a native-speaker makes all the work put into learning that language worthwhile!\u201d<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

David<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>: German, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, Greek, Spanish Latin American, German Swiss, Sicilian, Spanish Argentinean, and Catalan<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Favourite tip<\/strong>: “It can\u00a0be hard at times but as you progress it all seems worthwhile.”<\/span><\/p>\n

\"me-12-2016_480\"Piotr<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>: Igbo, Cantonese, Greenlandic, Chinese Mandarin, Persian, Samoan, Uzbek, Setswana, Mongolian, Portuguese BR, Vietnamese, and Bemba<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Favourite tip<\/strong>: “I\u2019ve been interested in languages since I remember. The more exotic the better! uTalk has an excellent choice of exotic languages to learn and the uTalk Challenge giving an opportunity to test dozens of them is a real gem for me.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

\"nancy-reynolds\"<\/a><\/h3>\n

<\/h3>\n

Nancy<\/h3>\n

Languages\u00a0learnt<\/strong>: Azeri, Dari, Dutch, Sicilian, Swiss German, Turkish, Flemish, Danish, Norwegian, Swedish, Afrikaans, and Turkmen<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Favourite moment<\/strong>: “Seeing a smile on a person’s stunned face when I say hello in her or his native language is more than valuable. \u00a0It’s priceless.”<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

The uTalk Challenge 2017 has launched – go to uTalk<\/a> to sign up.<\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Back in January, we kicked off the 2016 uTalk Challenge, inviting language learners the world over to see how 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