008: How can I make sure I don't forget a word?

Begum asks: "Should I learn Spanish or Japanese?" Episode Summary: What's your criteria for learning a new language? Always choose the language you're most passionate about Never learn a language because you think it will be easy...it won't! Some questions I've been dealing with lately! Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Check out the new intro and outro on the show! Huge thanks to Jorge de Lima for helping with those! (Find him on LinkedIn) Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

16 Touko 201712min

Charlotte asks: "What's your opinion on removing English from flashcards altogether? Episode Summary: Arguments for having flashcards entirely in the target language: Avoid translation Learn to think in the target language Increased exposure to target language "Learn like a child" Arguments for having pictures on your flashcards: Visual memory is stronger than auditory memory Wyner: "It’s much easier to learn a word off of a picture card you’ve made yourself than off of a translation card you downloaded in someone else’s deck." = false equivalence My response to this: Translation is inevitable, and also very useful! (The more languages I acquire, the more I use contrastive analysis to learn faster.) Parallels with learning like children are misguided - we're not children, we have study skills Flashcards entirely in the target language are soon "learnt", thereby negating the benefit of any increased exposure. Visuals are helpful, but are so time consuming as to make the creation of flashcards a burden. Elaborate systems for flashcards misunderstand the purpose of SRS as a learning tool. Setting up flashcards with pictures and peripheral info in the target language, in an attempt to make them a kind of learning tool is not only highly inefficient, but also deprives you of time spent with the whole language My thoughts on a smart approach to using flashcards: Flashcards are for practising output, not input In other words, flashcards are for practising the recall of stuff you've already learnt The role of English in the flashcards is as a prompt - your task is then to recall the word or phrase in the target language. Images are indeed powerful, but are best created in your mind (i.e. mnemonics) It's vital for flashcards not to become burdensome - Keep it simple! The potential for memory exists firmly within your mind - the extent to which you employ your brainpower and imagination when you attempt to learn new vocabulary determines how well you remember it. To that extent - the spaced repetition build into flashcards offers you an opportunity to reinforce the associations you have already made, rather than the source of learning itself. Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Your FREE Bulletproof Memory email course Related episodes IWTYAL 082: The truth about flashcards IWTYAL 090: Audio with flashcards Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode</st

12 Touko 201724min

In this episode, I chat with Mark Pentleton from Coffee Break Italian about the UK podcast awards! Episode Summary: The UK podcast awards Coffee Break Italian's nomination Filming behind the scenes How Coffee Break got started Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: https://youtu.be/vTgrwPliQmY Coffee Break Italian on iTunes Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

9 Touko 201721min

Quinton asks: "How can I prepare for my trip to China?" Episode Summary: What's the unique opportunity you'll have on your trip? Most likely, it's speaking, and the chance to speak a lot to people If you study characters, there's no particular benefit to being in China Take iTalki lessons every day and build up your speaking muscle Potentially find people to meet and practise with in advance Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: IWTYAL 153: Tips for learning languages abroad Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes   Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

5 Touko 201710min

Meg asks: "How can I make my Russian sentences less English?" Episode Summary: The challenge you're facing is learning to express ideas the way a Russian would It's not just a linguistic thing - it's a cultural thing. Compare: Good Morning / おはようございます There's no shortcut to doing this - it's a long, gradual process If you want to express yourself like a Russian, you need to spend a lot of time with Russian - listening, reading, speaking The process you need to practise is how to take an idea, and construct a sentence the way a Russian would. In order to achieve this, any exercise that helps you slow down the process and get feedback on your efforts can be helpful. Try: Reverse translation (see below) Your teacher can ask you: "How do you say ___ in Russian?" and then correct you Talk to yourself in Russian as you walk around the house But ultimately, a lot of listening and reading is the best policy! Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Russian Short Stories for Beginners - Olly Richards & Alex Rawlings https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VXmDiBfzwA Start speaking today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

3 Touko 201711min

Andy asks: "Why am I still a beginner?" In this episode: Asian languages can take a long time to get used to 6 months seems to be the length of time it takes to become familiar with a new language If you're not seeing progress, you need to increase the frequency and depth of your learning Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Olly's YouTube channel - subscribe for regular videos from Hong Kong! Start speaking today I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordable and effective native speakers teachers and tutors. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, simply visit:<a href="http://iwillteachyo

1 Joulu 201615min

Tadeusz asks: "Do Chinese concepts of time differ from English?" In this episode: In this episode, I'm joined by Chris Parker. We discuss... How to express time in Chinese Potential confusion with English Similarities in Cantonese and Japanese Language Examples: Before and after, not really front and behind 5 years ago - 5年以前 = 5 years before (not really front) 5 years time - 5年以后 = 5 years after (not really behind) (trad chars = 五年以後） 前 = before or in front 后 = after + behind 上个星期 last week (upper week) （上個星期 trad chars) 这个星期 this week （這個星期 trad chars） 下个星期 next week (lower week) （下個星期 trad chars) (for weeks and months) For series of books or films etc: 上 the one on the top - part 1 (中) the one in the middle - part 2 下 the one on the bottom - part 3 or 上 first part 下 second part 上下 approximately (upper + lower) 左右 approximately (left + right) 前年 - the year before last (before year) 去年 - last year (gone/left year) 今年 - this year 明年 - next year 后年 - the year after next (year after) trad=後面 Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Fluent In Mandarin - Chris Parker's awesome website about learning Chinese Start speaking today I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordable and effective native speakers teachers and tutors. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, simply visit:http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

25 Marras 201616min

In this episode, I look back on the last 3 months of learning Thai. In this episode: What I've done since returning from Thailand Is one lesson a week enough? Learning two languages at once Advice for a "minimum" time commitment Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Olly's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/iwtyal Learn Thai Video Series: Click here Start speaking today I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordable and effective native speakers teachers and tutors. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, simply visit:http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes Do you have a question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

22 Marras 201611min