017: How much time should I spend on pronunciation?

One reader asks: "I want to try my hand at reading a book and wondered what you would recommend?" In this episode: The problem with children's books... Intended for children Low-frequency vocabulary ...

13 Aug 201512min

Alex asks: "How should one go about gathering together language learning materials when there are none?" In this episode: Here are my suggestions for finding materials for minority languages: Reach o...

11 Aug 20159min

Ben asks: "I'm currently on a work placement in France. How can I make the most of living with native speakers?" In this episode: The huge opportunity of living with native speakers Create a no-Engli...

6 Aug 201514min

Melissa asks: "I'm learning Spanish, but people keep replying to me in English. How can I solve this?" In this episode: The difficulties of finding native speakers to practise with How social pressur...

4 Aug 201511min

ManchesterAul asks (in an iTunes review): "What's the difference btw fluency and proficienncy? Do i consider myself fluent or proficient in my languages?" In this episode: Why I dislike the discussio...

30 Juli 201514min

Nina asks: "How can I coach my mum to learn Italian?" In this episode: The most important things about coaching someone to learn a language Why fostering a passion for a language is so important Make...

29 Juli 201510min

Shane asks: "I'm learning Chinese and Thai. What's the best way to learn the tones, or tonal languages in general?" In this episode: How to approach learning tonal languages Why top-down approaches b...

23 Juli 201512min

In this episode, I interview my Arabic teacher Mona about how I made quick progress in my Arabic. In this episode: My progress compared to Mona's other students In what ways I progressed What techniq...

21 Juli 201519min