501: The real reason I wrote my language story books

Aral asks: "What's the best way to organise my vocabulary notebook?" Episode Summary: Housekeeping: Upcoming guests New French Book Conversations British Sign Language course Today's podcast: How valuable is the time you're spending organising a vocabulary notebook? What's the value of a vocabulary notebook in and of itself? Does it help? The big question: Will you ever look at it again? Some people recommend keeping exhaustive notebooks with every conceivable detail about the new word, organising thematically, etc... I've tried all this before, but it's too slow! Steve Kaufmann's thinking: How are you going to cover enough new vocabulary to make progress, if you spend so much time on each individual word? My 80/20 of vocabulary notebooks: Get your vocabulary from rich, compelling context (reading, listening, speaking) Write things down if you find it helpful Choose only the most useful words and learn them using your favourite process Resources mentioned in today's episode: Bulletproof Memory Email Course - free email course to help improve your memory https://youtu.be/3voBSKr9Sl4 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!

7 Sep 201716min

This weekend, I was in Montreal for LangFest 2017. Since then, many friends have been asking me how it was. So, in this episode, I answer that question publicly. Episode Summary: Many people from the Community traveled from far and wide to attend the conference It's great to take a few days to step away and think about language and language learning with calm... it's inspiring My talk on memory Stephen Krashen, Steve Kaufmann and comprehensible input Does comprehensible input or conscious learning result in skill building? Story and graded readers The theme emerging from speakers that stuck with me was that of "compelling input" and "passion" ... nothing new, but the extent of the emphasis was a good reminder of what matters italki I personally found this a great boost for my work with graded readers Montreal is a great, cosmopolitan city, despite taxes, tips and crazy weather Alex Rawlings gave a great talk in which he parodied language learning methods I had some great meetings with Stephen Krashen and Teach Yourself Caught up with Richard and Alex, had good time to chat with Benny and Steve Kaufmann Organising a conference is a LOT of work Resources mentioned in today's episode: LangFest 2017 - conference website Stephen D Krashen - website with articles, books and more 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 Aug 201714min

Michael asks: "How can I listen to older podcast episodes?" Episode Summary: I've recently changed the settings in my podcast feed to display the maximum number of old episodes You can find all previous episodes on the website - simply navigate to the "podcast" tab Today's Quote: Progress is man's ability to complicate simplicity. - Thor Heyerdahl 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!

17 Aug 201712min

Jane asks: "What's it like having so many languages in your head?" Episode Summary: Mostly, I focus on learning only one language at a time To that extent, I don't have much confusion in the learning process In daily life, I find that languages come and go, depending on who I'm spending time with, what I'm doing, what words I need My default is English When I hear other languages, my brain usually switches immediately into that "zone". With a few mins of speaking, I'm comfortable Brazilians in the park Spanish people blocking the door Takeshi in the street Chatting with my Cantonese friend Sometimes words in other languages pop up inadvertently, without me realising it Remember, it's more normal than not to be multilingual Resources mentioned in today's episode: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5slVHy2JmcQ&feature=youtu.be 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!

14 Aug 201713min

In this solo episode, I describe what I consider to be the most effective approach to learning a language. Episode Summary: Begin by getting a thorough grounding in the basics - quantity over quality is best at first Start speaking early on with a language tutor Grow your vocabulary while getting used to the sounds of the language - listening & reading Practise what you learn directly with a language partner or tutor Create a lifestyle that involves using your new language as much as possible Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Language Learning Foundations - a step-by-step guide to learning a new language quickly 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!

7 Aug 201719min

In this solo episode I discuss the design and creation of my new Spanish course for beginners. Episode Summary: Why I created a Spanish Beginner course The main aims of the course The concept I landed on How it all came together through story Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Fluent Spanish Academy Beginner - Join as a BETA member (limited 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!

31 Juli 201722min

Daco asks: "Should I learn Mandarin or Cantonese?" Episode Summary: Mandarin is the main international Chinese language, with around 1bn speakers Cantonese is a related language/dialect of Mandarin, with far fewer speakers - around 60m In many Chinatowns around the world, Cantonese is spoken, due to historical migration However, Mandarin is the dominant language worldwide by far The choice of which to learn can only depend on your personal motivations Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: IWTYAL 042: Which language should I learn?  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!

27 Juli 201711min

Crystal asks: "What do you think about watching English movies with foreign language subtitles" Episode Summary: If studying in a way that's helping, keep doing it! With movies, it's worth experimenting with different audio/subtitle combinations To improve your listening comprehension, it makes sense to have your movies set to the target language audio Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Are you wasting your time watching foreign language movies?  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!

24 Juli 201711min