501: The real reason I wrote my language story books

Hugo asks in an iTunes review: "How do you maintain a good level in all your languages?" In this episode: Polyglots do not speak all their languages "perfectly" Level in a language is a fluctuating thing Why learning a language to a high level is the key How your need to use a language will influence your long-term success with it To maintain languages, doing small things little and often is the key Resources mentioned in todays episode: Gooddrama.net iTalki.com HelloTalk FluentU https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u_9Yhmsq_x0 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!

8 Sep 201512min

Nathan asks in an iTunes review: "I have several native Afrikaner friends, however none of them are trained teachers. What is the best way I can help them to help me learn their language." In this episode: How I learnt Arabic with few resources and native speakers With friends, you need to set clear boundaries for language learning Begin with learning to talk about yourself and familiar things Simply ask your friend how to say the things you want to be able to say Resources mentioned in todays episode: Colloquial Afrikaans - a recommended textbook Two websites for learning Afrikaans: http://w

3 Sep 201512min

Terry asks: "What's the best way to study in-between lessons in order to consolidate what you've learnt?" In this episode: What's the main purpose of a language lesson? How lessons, for me, are the place to practise, not to "study" How to use your time in-between lessons to consolidate what you've learnt Resources mentioned in todays episode: Are you wasting your money on language classes? - This one is self-explanatory! Polyglot Workshops. Join myself, Richard Simcott and Alex Rawlings for a live training day in New York City (October) and London (November) Start speaking today I’d like to thank <a href="http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/it

1 Sep 201513min

Terry asks: "I've been taking regular Chinese lessons with iTalki, but should I stick with one teacher, or have a variety?" In this episode: Why focusing on one thing can be the most beneficial How to get "glimpses of mastery" Why sticking with one teacher is probably your best bet Resources mentioned in todays episode: How To Get S*** Done - how to harness the power of one thing to bring you the fastest progress in a foreign language Start speaking today I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordab

27 Aug 201510min

Chiara asks: "Is it still worth doing a degree in languages? Is there still a role for language teachers in a rapidly changing world? In this episode: Why a language degree is a great thing to do My experience at university and what I got from it The role of language teaching in a world with ever-increasing technology Resources mentioned in todays episode: The Business of Language podcast - #6 Interview with Olly Richards 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

25 Aug 201516min

Wendel asks: "I need to learn a 3rd European language, but none appeals to me. What should I do?" In this episode: What's a good reason to learn a new language? The dangers of learning a language you're not passionate about How to decide on a new language to learn Resources mentioned in todays episode: IWTYAL 025: I'm torn between two languages British Council "Languages for the future report" 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!

20 Aug 201511min

In this episode, I discuss how introverts deal with learning foreign languages. In this episode: I am an introvert by nature, despite what you may guess from my public persona! How I suffer from shyness in groups How this has impacted my language learning Why living abroad hasn't been a "no-brainer" for me How I nevertheless enjoy speaking, and base my language learning on speaking with people I genuinely like Are you an introvert? Please let me know how this has affected your language learning: http://wp.me/p4wyTY-1kD Resources mentioned in todays episode: <iframe style="width: 120px; height: 240px;" src="//ws-na.amazon-adsystem.com/widgets/q?ServiceVersion=20070822&OneJS=1&Operation=GetAdHtml&MarketPlace=US&source=ss&ref=ss_til&ad_type=product_link&tracking_id=iwiteyoala-20&marketplace=amazon&region=US&placement=0

18 Aug 201514min

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 What kind of books are best to read... Graded readers (not parallel texts) Short, non-fiction books on a topic that interests you (e.g. biographies, how-to books) Any book you've already read, translated into your target language If you have a book store close by with a good foreign book section - go and browse! If you don't like books, try Project Syndicate Judith Meyer from learnlangs.com mentioned: Crime stories, romance stories, autobiographies, travel stories. Translated books are easier than original ones. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/8845205118/ref=a

13 Aug 201512min