I Will Teach You A Language | Weekly Motivation And Language Learning Tips To Help You Become Fluent In Any Language

Yingnoi Lee asks: "How do you concentrate on learning foreign languages when you're living in your homeland?" In this episode: Tactics for staying motivated whilst learning a foreign language wherever you live. Resources featured in this episode: conversationexchange.com iTalki.com Reflections on learning a language remotely - a guest post I wrote for fluentin3months.com Don't travel to learn a language - a great life lesson from Benny Lewis How to learn Cantonese in 1 year - the results of my 1-year Cantonese experiment https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QRVpNbNzK8 Today's featured resource: Meetup.com - find friends based on their interests, wherever you are in the world 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 for listening Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you've got any comments about the show then please le

Judi asks: "I'm learning Spanish from two different books at the moment. How can I keep my vocabulary organised between them?" In this episode: Learning with two different books Keeping vocabulary organised between the two Taking the most important vocabulary and learning that Resources featured in this episode: 8 tips for improving your vocabulary Is your vocabulary notebook out of control? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3voBSKr9Sl4 Flashcards Deluxe - my favourite flashcards app Today's featured resource: Make Words Stick - my book about how to learn vocabulary... and never forget it!   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 for listening 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

Linda asks: "What do you think of using the Laddering technique to use one second language to learn another?" In this episode: The laddering technique When does it make sense to use one language to learn another? Similar languages, such as Macedonian and Albanian Crafty ways to meet native speakers of one language... using another language! Resources featured in this episode: Richard Simcott is today's special guest, and runs the following sites: Speaking Fluently blog - Richard's language blog Speaking Fluently Facebook page - a vibrant Facebook community where you can connect with Richard and other language learners Today's featured resource: Polyglot Workshops - Richard runs workshops for aspiring language learners all over the world, together with fellow polyglot Alex Rawlings, who was featured in Episode 7. Upcoming workshops will be held in: Budapest London Belo Horizonte 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 s

Tamiyo asks: "When do you decide you've learnt enough and it's time to move on to another language?" In this episode: Why are you learning a language in the first place? When are you fluent enough? When should you move on to a new language? Resources mentioned in this episode: CommentCast - see all the iTunes reviews of a podcast from around the world Random.org - choose a number or numbers at random Today's featured resource: The Actual Fluency Blog - Chris Broholm's open and honest look at his own struggles in language learning The Actual Fluency Podcast - the podcast of the same name where he interviews expert language learners. Here's the episode where Chris interviews me Announcing the competition winners I'm thrilled to announce the three lucky winners of my Language Learning Foundations video course, who I've picked at random from all the reviews on iTunes. They are: Romagitana idleplayerofgamestron Tamiyo Hashimoto If this is you, please get in touch with me using the "contact" form on the men

Davide asks: "I'm very fluent in English but there are still words I don't know. How can I learn them?" In this episode: Moving from fluent to advanced The law of diminishing returns Learning advanced vocabulary The importance of reading Resources featured in this episode: Three great websites that will help you read online in your target language. Lingua.ly - http://lingua.ly/ Collect new words from across the web with Lingua.ly’s smart dictionary Readlang - http://readlang.com/ Help with reading new texts that you find online. LingQ - https://www.lingq.com/ Read texts in LingQ's ecosystem and store unknown words. Today's featured resource: BliuBliu - http://bliubliu.com I love BliuBliu because it sources texts from all around the web, which are at your current level in your target language, and helps you read them. Pure gold! 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 

Today's episode features a question from Ben: "I'm 17. Should I bother learning a language, when technology can already do so much for us?" In this episode: Technology is advancing quickly We're getting to the stage where technology can translate for us Is it still worth learning a language in 2015 with all this technology? 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 for listening 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 lan

Today's episode features a question from Cecilia: "How can I learn a language that's completely different to my own?" In this episode: How can you learn a completely different language? Why closer languages are easier to learn The three keys: Time to get used to it Regular exposure Deliberate practice Today's featured resource  Talk In Arabic - a fantastic new resource for learning Arabic. 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. Win a copy of my course! To celebrate the launch of the podcast, I'm giving away 3 free copies of my Language Learning Foundations video course, worth $97 each! To be in with a chance of winning, simply head over to iTunes, search for the "I Will Teach You A Language Podcast" in the store, and leave me an honest review and rating for the show! After episode 10 of the podcast, I'll choose 3 lucky winners from around the wo

Today's episode features a question from Nicki: "I'm learning Turkish and Kurmanji, how can avoid confusing them on my trip to Turkey?" In this episode: What is Kurmanji and where is it spoken? The surprising roots of Turkish Learning 2 languages at the same time Soufflé and Baked Alaska Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Map of Kurdistan (click to enlarge):   Soufflé:   Baked Alaska: Today's featured resource Fluent in 3 Months: How to speak multiple languages, and not mix them up! A great post from Benny where he gives his own unique take on keeping languages separate! 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. Win a copy of my course! To celebrate the launch of the podcast, I'm giving away 3 free copies of my Language Learning Foundations video course, worth $97 each! To be in with a chance of winning, simply head over to iTunes, sea

Today's episode features a question from John: "I recently learnt the word for Heathrow in Chinese. How can I make sure I don't forget it?" In this episode: How can I learn a word that I've learnt recently? What kind of vocabulary should you prioritise learning? The memory techniques that will help you Links and resources mentioned in this episode: The Polyglot Gathering, Berlin 2015 Lang-8.com The forgetting curve Anki Memrise Flashcards Deluxe Principles of memorising vocabulary: See the vocabulary often See and use it in different contexts Personalise it Practical ideas for memorising vocabulary: Drop it into conversation Write sentences using the vocabulary Have your tutor or a native speaker correct these sentences Put those corrected sentences into your SRS flashcards Put the word on Post-it notes and stick them around the house! Set calendar reminders to bring up the word on your phone/computer Today's featured resource Hacking Chinese: Remembering is a skill you can learn. A fantastic post ab

Today's episode features a question from Tom: "I'm not getting anywhere with Russian cases. Can you help me make progress with this?" With special guest: Alex Rawlings. In this episode: What are Russian cases? How do they work? How to learn Russian cases Links and resources for Russian cases:   Today's featured resource Private Russian coaching with Alex - Zero to intermediate in four months. 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. Win a copy of my course! To celebrate the launch of the podcast, I'm giving away 3 free copies of my Language Learning Foundations video course, worth $97 each! To be in with a chance of winning, simply head over to iTunes, search for the "I Will Teach You A Language Podcast" in the store, and leave me an honest review and rating for the show! After episode 10 of the podcast, I'll choose 3 lucky winners from around

Today's episode features a question from Marcelo: "Now that I'm at an intermediate level of English, which is better - intensive or extensive reading?"  In this episode: What are extensive/intensive reading? What are the benefits of each? How language teachers use these approaches The "intermediate plateau" and how to break through Why speaking alone isn't enough to help you reach an advanced level in a language Strategies for extensive reading: Make sure choose something to read that you're interested in Try not to use a dictionary whilst you're reading Read things that are lower than your current level Links and resources mentioned in this episode: "Graded readers" are books that have been simplified. Here's a great example of one. Today's featured resource Alex Rawlings talking about reading at the Polyglot Gathering 2014: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xgQZfS_BMVo 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, ple

Today's episode features a question from Kevin: "How can I take vocabulary from songs and use it in my conversations?"  In this episode: The benefits of learning languages through songs How to re-articulate language from songs in everyday conversation How natural is language from songs? How songs work in different languages Songs as a tool for "discovering" language Strategies for learning songs: Identify key words and phrases from the song that I want to be able to use. Then put them in a flashcard app. Keep a list of the words I want to be able to use and keep it next to me during a language exchange/lesson Use the vocabulary for writing. For example, write a monologue/mini-speech, then memorise it. Links and resources mentioned in this episode: FluentU - Language learning with video My review of FluentU Let It Go (ありのままで): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvj3-MZO9Tw Olly singing in Portuguese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sReTCr-WPxc Olly singing in Cantonese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Z20B

In today’s episode we feature a question from Terry: “Is it a good idea for me to learn three languages at the same time, or should I just focus on one?” In this episode: Is it possible to study three languages at the same time, and get good at all of them? Or should I just focus on one? Why depth and focus is the trick to making quick progress in a new language How to use the 80/20 rule if you do decide to study multiple languages at the same time The difference between learning and maintaining languages Links and resources mentioned in this episode: Blog post: 7-year-old speaks 5 languages: http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/7-year-old-speaks-5-languages/ Blog post from Luca Lampariello: Learning more than one language at the same time: http://www.thepolyglotdream.com/learning-more-than-one-language-at-the-same-time/ 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: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/ask Also, please subscr

In today’s episode we feature a question from Adam: “How can I get back on the horse and keep myself motivated after a bad week of learning?” In this episode: What does it mean to “fall behind” in your language learning? Are your expectations realistic? Does it matter if you don’t study for a week? Whenever you find yourself getting frustrated, try being kind to yourself Whenever you find yourself getting frustrated, try being kinder to yourself. You can’t control how much you learn Learning is not linear Why taking a break can be a good thing Some specific tactics for staying motivated: Make sure you have a schedule and routine Do something different, add some variety to your routine Today’s quote: “Success is the ability to go from one failure to another with no loss of enthusiasm.”    – Winston Churchill 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: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/ask Also, please subscribe to the show

In this episode I tell you a bunch of stories about how I went about learning the 7 languages I speak (8 if you include English!). These are: French – in Paris Italian – in Italy Spanish – in London Portuguese – in London Japanese – in Japan Cantonese – in Qatar (!) Egyptian Arabic – in Cairo In this episode: The story of how I learnt my languages How to win a free copy of my Language Learning Foundations video course Links and resources mentioned in the episode: Blog post: How I learnt 7 foreign languages: http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/how-i-learnt-seven-languages/ 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: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/ask Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Win a copy of my course! To celebrate the launch of the podcast, I’m giving away 3 free copies of my Language Learning Foundations video course, worth $97 each! To be in with a chance of winning, sim

Welcome to the first ever episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast! I created the IWTYAL podcast so that I have the opportunity to help you with your language learning, beyond what’s possible on the blog. The podcast will be released twice a week, on Tuesdays and Thursday, and this is the place for you to get a regular dose of inspiration and motivation with your language learning, so that you can keep going and move towards becoming fluent in your language learning. In this episode: Introduction to the show What to expect Why I started the podcast Who is Olly Richards? A bit about me and what I do How to win a free copy of my Language Learning Foundations video course Links and resources mentioned in the episode: The I Will Teach You A Language blog: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/ Get your language question answered on the podcast: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/ask All Japanese All the Time: http://www.alljapaneseallthetime.com/blog/ Today’s quote: “You don’t know a language, you live it.