502: The hidden cost of learning two languages at once

In today's episode, Olly and Jan discuss how we make our travel videos. Use these tips to improve your own holiday films! Episode Summary: The importance of story What do you talk about? The "start of the day" process Do you need a professional camera? Recording good audio How to edit the smart way Equipment & Resources Mentioned: Here's the (very affordable) equipment we use to make all our videos: iPhone6 Plus - a state of the art camera in your pocket Sony Cybershot - one of the best compact cameras to travel with Rode smartLav+ - fantastic clip-on mic for your smartphone Screenflow - great, powerful video editing software for Mac YouTube Audio Library - free music to add to your videos 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!

19 Kesä 201723min

Today's episode comes from Playa del Carmen in Mexico! Episode Summary: We chat about our mission to Mexico and what we're up to Follow along the adventure with daily videos on YouTube and Instagram 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!

15 Kesä 201711min

Ali asks: "How do you remember the gender of nouns?" Episode Summary: Unfortunately, noun genders just have to be remembered At first it seems like an impossible task, but keep going, and you will start to know instinctively which is which You will inevitably make some mistakes, but you will be forgiven! If you use mnemonics, try creating some way of visualising the gender of the word In practice, you can guess the gender of many words using generalised rules (see below) Interestingly, the gender of words can vary between romance languages. For example, "planet": la planète (Fr), el planeta (Es) Examples in French, taken from the French Your Way site: The following words are generally masculine: Nouns ending in “_sme” Example : le communisme, le capitalisme, le marasme Nouns ending in « _et » Examples : un ticket, un garçonnet Nouns ending in « _euil » Example : le cerfeuil (chervil), un écureuil, un fauteuil, un cerceuil (coffin) The following words are generally feminine: Nouns ending in « _tié” Examples: une amitié, la moitié, la pitié Nouns ending in « _ée » Examples: la journée, la soirée, une vallée, une fée (= fairy) Exceptions: words rerived from Greek, such as: le musée, le trophée, un scarabée, un lycée Nouns ending in “_tte” Examples : une bouillotte (a warm water bottle), une fourchette, une maisonnette, une fillette Exception :un squelette Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: French Your Way - a helpful website about learning French!   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!

2 Kesä 201710min

Joe asks: "I study so much, I worry that I'm being inefficient." Episode Summary: It's important to make a distinction between "study" and "practice" What do you spend your time doing? There's a risk you are planted firmly in study mode, in which case wasting your time is a danger... There's only so much new information your brain can take in in one day, so in that sense, you certainly do get diminishing returns after a certain amount of "study" However, you can never spend too much time in the company of the language I would suggest you experiment with spending no more than one hour a day on focused study, and instead try to consume French with real activities: speaking with people, reading books, watching TV Create an immersion environment for yourself, based on the things you enjoy the most You won't get the same sense of daily progress, but you'll be priming yourself for a transformation in your French abilities! Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Follow my "Immersion Trip" to Mexico by subscribing to the YouTube channel here Get behind-the-scenes pics and vids on my Instagram channel IWTYAL110: How can I measure my progress? IWTYAL113: More thoughts on tracking progress 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!

31 Touko 201716min

Paul asks: "What do you think of the ESL industry?" Episode Summary: I taught English as a foreign language for year, and enjoyed it immensely CELTA is a wonderful course and I highly recommend it There are a number of tensions between independent language learning and classroom teaching The challenge for ESL teachers is how best to teach a classroom of 10-20 people who come for a few hours a week Language learning ideology usually goes out the window when faced with the reality of a classroom and a language school Nevertheless, you can have a hugely positive impact on people's lives, and enrich your own life at the same time 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!

29 Touko 201717min

Syawal asks: "How can I give better presentations in a foreign language?" Episode Summary: With public speaking, you have to detangle the challenges of the presentation itself, with the language you use Presentations in your mother tongue can ofter leave you nervous and rambling It depends how much you want to prepare, and how much time you have The problem is similar to writing in a foreign language, and relates to how well you can express yourself in more formal language Method 1: Make sure you have a solid command of the specific vocabulary you need, then ad lib on the day Method 2: Prepare word-for-word what you'll say in certain parts of the talk Today's Quote: Strength and growth come only through continuous effort and struggle. - Napoleon Hill 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!

26 Touko 201713min

Saud asks: "Do you use apps for language learning?" Episode Summary: Because technology is always being promoted as making our lives more efficient, many people are tempted to look to apps to speed up the language learning process All my opinions about apps are formed in the light of the fact that I remember what language learning was like before the internet Nothing will ever be as effective as you, a good book, a pen and a paper The critical mistakes that apps make is to try to offer a new learning methodology The role of technology in language learning should be to help you consume learning material more efficiently The criteria for judging an app should be: "Does it help me do more efficiently something I was already doing?" Before the internet: Hard to access texts, audio on tapes was inefficient to listen to, everything has to be stored manually on paper, native speakers inaccessible After the internet: Texts are freely available, you can manipulate audio easily, you have data entry on your phone, native speakers readily available There's a big risk you have to mitigate against when you use apps: Attention and focus I use two apps: Flashcards Deluxe and Speater I also use dictionary apps and Skype Part of the reason I haven't used more apps is because I've been learning less common languages. However, if I want to pick up German, for example, I would go straight to a book, not an app Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: LingQ Readlang Flashcards Deluxe Speater App IWTYAL 051: Can technology help you learn a language? https://youtu.be/rM-N29vnYME 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!

22 Touko 201715min

Miki asks: "How should I teach Japanese on iTalki?" Episode Summary: Firstly, be honest about what you are offering and your experience level If you have no experience, you can still help Japanese learners a lot Begin as a "community tutor" and offer conversation lessons so you can get experience Have an honest talk with the student about what they're looking for an how you can help. Ask questions like: What are you looking for? How would you like me to help? Do you want me to correct your mistakes, or let you talk? The most important skill you have to develop as a teacher is the ability to listen As the student is speaking, make notes of common mistakes, look for patterns - are they making the same mistake all the time? Let the student talk as much as possible, and try to encourage them to speak (that's what most people want), make them feel amazing! Every now and again, stop, and show the student what kind of mistakes they have been making (be selective), or opportunities to improve At the end of the lesson, ask the student what you could do to improve. "What would you like to work on next time" is a good question that allows the student to say what they want, without risking offending the teacher Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: 19 Quick Changes You Can Make Today That Will Make You A Better Language Teacher - a popular article I wrote about becoming a better teacher 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!

19 Touko 201715min