🎧 Episode 10 | “Do I Hafta Handwrite in My Additional Language? Typing Is Enough, Isn’t It?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Wondering if handwriting really matters when learning a new language—or if typing is just fine?
In this Season 1 finale, we unpack how handwriting and composition affect fluency, confidence, and memory—and why your method of writing might matter more than you think.
In this episode, we explore:
✅ How handwriting strengthens brain connections and deepens learning
✅ Why writing systems like Chinese characters, Sanskrit, and Japanese kanji are worth slowing down for
✅ What research says about the benefits of freehand writing over typing
✅ How to build a flexible, judgment-free writing habit that supports your goals
Whether you’re learning French, Mandarin, or any other language, this episode will help you choose between handwriting and typing without guilt—and show you how both can support your language journey in different ways.
Let’s connect:
🌐 Website: littlecrabpress.com
📧 Newsletter: Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca
📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress
🌱 Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
🎧 Episode 9 | “How Can I Get Better At Reading in My New Language When I Don’t Really Enjoy Reading in My Native Language Either? What If I’m Just Not a Reader?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Do you feel stuck because you don’t love reading—even in your native language? Wondering if you can still make progress in your second language without focusing on reading?
In this episode, we explore:
📚 Whether reading is really essential to fluency📖 The surprising variety of reading formats that might actually spark your interest🧠 The difference between Extensive vs. Intensive reading (and why both matter)✨ How to find your own reading rhythm, even if you’ve never identified as “a reader”
PLUS: Lisa shares major insights into combatting dyslexia
Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, Farsi, Yoruba, or anything in between, this episode will help you rethink what it means to read in your new language.
Let’s connect:🌐 Website: littlecrabpress.com📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress📌 Pinterest: Little Crab Educational Press📧 Newsletter: Sign up on our website to get podcast extras and language learning freebies!
🎧 Episode 9 | “How Can I Get Better At Reading in My New Language When I Don’t Really Enjoy Reading in My Native Language Either? What If I’m Just Not a Reader?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Do you feel stuck because you don’t love reading—even in your native language? Wondering if you can still make progress in your second language without focusing on reading?
In this episode, we explore:
📚 Whether reading is really essential to fluency
📖 The surprising variety of reading formats that might actually spark your interest
🧠 The difference between Extensive vs. Intensive reading (and why both matter)
✨ How to find your own reading rhythm, even if you’ve never identified as “a reader”
PLUS: Lisa shares major insights into combatting dyslexia
Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, Farsi, Yoruba, or anything in between, this episode will help you rethink what it means to read in your new language.
Let’s connect:
🌐 Website: littlecrabpress.com
📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress
📌 Pinterest: Little Crab Educational Press
📧 Newsletter: Sign up on our website to get podcast extras and language learning freebies!
🎧 Episode 8 | “Can I Improve My Mindset Around Studying (Read—Loathing) Grammar?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Wondering if there’s a better way to approach grammar without the dread?
In this episode, we explore:✅ Why grammar feels so hard—and how mindset shifts can help✅ The truth about grammar and fluency (hint: you don’t need perfection!)✅ Practical, fun ways to build grammar skills without just relying on drills✅ Expert insights from Diane Larsen-Freeman, Michael Swan, Rod Ellis, and more
Whether you’re learning French, Mandarin, or any other language, this episode will help you build confidence and break down grammar anxiety.
Let’s connect:
🌐 Website: littlecrabpress.com📧 Newsletter: Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress🌱 Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
🎧 Episode 8 | “Can I Improve My Mindset Around Studying (Read—Loathing) Grammar?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Wondering if there’s a better way to approach grammar without the dread?
In this episode, we explore:
✅ Why grammar feels so hard—and how mindset shifts can help
✅ The truth about grammar and fluency (hint: you don’t need perfection!)
✅ Practical, fun ways to build grammar skills without just relying on drills
✅ Expert insights from Diane Larsen-Freeman, Michael Swan, Rod Ellis, and more
Whether you’re learning French, Mandarin, or any other language, this episode will help you build confidence and break down grammar anxiety.
Let’s connect:
🌐 Website: littlecrabpress.com
📧 Newsletter: Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca
📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress
🌱 Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
🎧 Episode 7 | “Do I HAVE to Study Tons of Vocabulary? How Much is Enough?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Feeling overwhelmed by all the words you don’t know in your new language? Wondering if there’s a smarter way to build vocabulary that actually sticks?
In this episode, we explore:
How many words you really need at different stages of fluency
The difference between recognizing a word and being able to use it
LCEP's Tortoise Tile Method for studying vocabulary - smarter, but also lazier
Self-assessing your current strengths and blind spots with our bonus materials
Whether you’re learning Tagalog, Arabic, or German, this episode will help you shed impostor syndrome in vocabulary study.
✨ Grab our FREE Word Mastery Self-Assessment and bonus material: littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab
Let’s connect:
Website: littlecrabpress.com
Newsletter: Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca
Instagram: @littlecrabpress
Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
🎧 Episode 7 | “Do I HAVE to Study Tons of Vocabulary? How Much is Enough?”
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Feeling overwhelmed by all the words you don’t know in your new language? Wondering if there’s a smarter way to build vocabulary that actually sticks?
In this episode, we explore:
How many words you really need at different stages of fluency
The difference between recognizing a word and being able to use it
LCEP's Tortoise Tile Method for studying vocabulary - smarter, but also lazier
Self-assessing your current strengths and blind spots with our bonus materials
Whether you’re learning Tagalog, Arabic, or German, this episode will help you shed impostor syndrome in vocabulary study.
✨ Grab our FREE Word Mastery Self-Assessment and bonus material: littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab
Let’s connect:
Website: littlecrabpress.com
Newsletter: Subscribe here
Instagram: @littlecrabpress
Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
🎧 Episode 6 | “But, If We’re Aiming for a Legitimate Accent Rather Than a ‘Native’ Accent, How’s it Possible to Improve Speaking and Pronunciation?”
--> Psst! This Episode is a TWOFER.
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Does your mind go blank when it's your turn to speak in your second language? Do you feel like your voice sounds stiff, robotic—or just not like you?
In this episode, we follow up on Episode 4’s discussion about accents and dive into practical ways to improve your Speaking and Pronunciation—without getting stuck in perfectionism or frozen by fear.
You'll learn:
The difference between receptive and productive language skills
Why it’s okay (and totally normal) to focus on listening before speaking
Speaking sub-skills like sentence stress, filler words, and improvisation
How to use games to improve clarity, rhythm, and flow
How self-assessment questions can guide your next steps
Why being understood matters more than sounding native
Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, or another language, this episode is packed with tools to help you speak more naturally and confidently—even when your instinct is to stay quiet.
✨ Grab our FREE Speaking & Pronunciation Self-Assessment Tool: littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab
✨ Try the ChatGPT prompts designed to fit your personalised language goals
👂 You’re probably more fluent than you think—and you definitely don’t need to sound native to be understood.
Let’s connect:
Website: littlecrabpress.com
Newsletter: Subscribe here
Instagram: @littlecrabpress
Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
🎧 Episode 6 | “But, If We’re Aiming for a Legitimate Accent Rather Than a ‘Native’ Accent, How’s it Possible to Improve Speaking and Pronunciation?”
--> Psst! This Episode is a TWOFER.
Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press
Does your mind go blank when it's your turn to speak in your second language? Do you feel like your voice sounds stiff, robotic—or just not like you?
In this episode, we follow up on Episode 4’s discussion about accents and dive into practical ways to improve your Speaking and Pronunciation—without getting stuck in perfectionism or frozen by fear.
You'll learn:
The difference between receptive and productive language skills
Why it’s okay (and totally normal) to focus on listening before speaking
Speaking sub-skills like sentence stress, filler words, and improvisation
How to use games to improve clarity, rhythm, and flow
How self-assessment questions can guide your next steps
Why being understood matters more than sounding native
Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, or another language, this episode is packed with tools to help you speak more naturally and confidently—even when your instinct is to stay quiet.
✨ Grab our FREE Speaking & Pronunciation Self-Assessment Tool: littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab
✨ Try the ChatGPT prompts designed to fit your personalised language goals
👂 You’re probably more fluent than you think—and you definitely don’t need to sound native to be understood.
Let’s connect:
Website: littlecrabpress.com
Newsletter: Subscribe here
Instagram: @littlecrabpress
Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social
In S1 Ep. 5 of Fluent•ish the Podcast, we introduce the Seven Language Skills—and why knowing what they are can totally shift how you approach language learning.
For the remainder of Season 1, each episode will get into one or two of the Seven Language Skills, and we’ll show you a thought-provoking framework based off of the Seven Language Skills that helps you assess your strengths and laser focus your growth efforts for any in any second language.
🧠 In Episode 5, we get into why understanding how you learn is just as important as what you learn. 🤓 Rebecca breaks down the concept of “metalanguage” (yes, it is a real word) and why using the right terms can give you clarity and confidence as a self-directed learner.
Rebecca and Lisa also break down the Listening skill into four sub-skill categories:
Cognitive Skills
Linguistic Skills
Pragmatic & Social Skills
Strategic Skills
✨ This episode comes with a FREE downloadable study tool that turns these categories into self-assessment questions so you can pinpoint areas of strength and growth. Grab it via the Fluent•ish tab at littlecrabpress.ca!
📚 We also mention two helpful freebies from Our Little Freebie Library:
- The TV Show Viewing Study Sheet for Any Language
- The Language Learner Activity Guide: Leveraging Radio
💬 PLUS: Our recurring segment “Oh La La or Bu Bu Bu” is back! Lisa shares a hot take on language learning apps like Duolingo and why imperfect daily progress deserves a standing ovation. 👏🏼
💬 PLUS: In “Oh La La or Bu Bu Bu,” Lisa champions the value of showing up imperfectly—and explains why your daily Duolingo streak might mean more than you think.
🧡 Your Joy Builder takeaway this week?
When you feel stuck, knowing what you’re stuck on makes all the difference. Get specific. Get curious. And above all — keep going.
Theme music by Milk Fangs https://milkfangs.bandcamp.com/
📚 Explore our #simplifiedchinese and #bilingual kids' books & other Resources: https://littlecrabpress.ca
📱 Follow Us on Instagram: @littlecrabpress
📌 Find Us on Pinterest: / littlecrabpress
#LittleCrabEducationalPress #LanguageSkills #LanguageLearning #LanguageLearner#FluentishThePodcast #FluentishPodcast #EducationalPodcast #SecondLanguage#LanguageAcquisition #CulturalCompetence #AppliedLinguistics #LearnLanguages#MultilingualFamily #FamilyLanguageLearning #SevenLanguageSkills
In S1 Ep. 5 of Fluent•ish the Podcast, we introduce the Seven Language Skills—and why knowing what they are can totally shift how you approach language learning.
For the remainder of Season 1, each episode will get into one or two of the Seven Language Skills, and we’ll show you a thought-provoking framework based off of the Seven Language Skills that helps you assess your strengths and laser focus your growth efforts for any in any second language.🧠 In Episode 5, we get into why understanding how you learn is just as important as what you learn. 🤓 Rebecca breaks down the concept of “metalanguage” (yes, it is a real word) and why using the right terms can give you clarity and confidence as a self-directed learner.Rebecca and Lisa also break down the Listening skill into four sub-skill categories:Cognitive SkillsLinguistic SkillsPragmatic & Social SkillsStrategic Skills✨ This episode comes with a FREE downloadable study tool that turns these categories into self-assessment questions so you can pinpoint areas of strength and growth. Grab it via the Fluent•ish tab at littlecrabpress.ca!📚 We also mention two helpful freebies from Our Little Freebie Library:- The TV Show Viewing Study Sheet for Any Language- The Language Learner Activity Guide: Leveraging Radio💬 PLUS: Our recurring segment “Oh La La or Bu Bu Bu” is back! Lisa shares a hot take on language learning apps like Duolingo and why imperfect daily progress deserves a standing ovation. 👏🏼💬 PLUS: In “Oh La La or Bu Bu Bu,” Lisa champions the value of showing up imperfectly—and explains why your daily Duolingo streak might mean more than you think.🧡 Your Joy Builder takeaway this week? When you feel stuck, knowing what you’re stuck on makes all the difference. Get specific. Get curious. And above all — keep going.Theme music by Milk Fangs https://milkfangs.bandcamp.com/📚 Explore our #simplifiedchinese and #bilingual kids' books & other Resources: https://littlecrabpress.ca📱 Follow Us on Instagram: @littlecrabpress📌 Find Us on Pinterest: / littlecrabpress#LittleCrabEducationalPress #LanguageSkills #LanguageLearning #LanguageLearner#FluentishThePodcast #FluentishPodcast #EducationalPodcast #SecondLanguage#LanguageAcquisition #CulturalCompetence #AppliedLinguistics #LearnLanguages#MultilingualFamily #FamilyLanguageLearning #SevenLanguageSkills
In S1 Ep. 4 of Fluent•ish the Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most loaded—and misunderstood—questions in language learning: “But how do I know which accent is the right accent?”
If you’ve ever worried about sounding “wrong,” felt self-conscious about your pronunciation, or wondered if you need to mimic a native speaker perfectly to be taken seriously—this episode is for you. We explore what it really means to have a “legitimate” accent, why accent shame is unnecessary (and harmful), and how your own voice deserves to show up in your new language.
We unpack the difference between striving for clarity versus chasing perfection, how accent fluidity works (even in sign languages!), and what it means to embrace your natural vocal fingerprint. Plus, we introduce a powerful mindset reset we call the “Accent Hat” that has helped students reframe how they hear—and use—their second language voice.
Whether you're learning Mandarin, French, English, or any language in between, this episode will help you stop cringing and start owning your accent.
📝 Show notes available through littlecrabpress.ca💌 Subscribe to our newsletter to get thoughtful tools and confidence-building content straight to your inbox.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing platform for small teams and big dreams. Get 50% off your first year by signing up through our link.
🎵 Theme music by Milkfangs
🎥 Full vlog versions also available on YouTube
In S1 Ep. 4 of Fluent•ish the Podcast, we’re diving into one of the most loaded—and misunderstood—questions in language learning: “But how do I know which accent is the right accent?”
If you’ve ever worried about sounding “wrong,” felt self-conscious about your pronunciation, or wondered if you need to mimic a native speaker perfectly to be taken seriously—this episode is for you. We explore what it really means to have a “legitimate” accent, why accent shame is unnecessary (and harmful), and how your own voice deserves to show up in your new language.
We unpack the difference between striving for clarity versus chasing perfection, how accent fluidity works (even in sign languages!), and what it means to embrace your natural vocal fingerprint. Plus, we introduce a powerful mindset reset we call the “Accent Hat” that has helped students reframe how they hear—and use—their second language voice.
Whether you're learning Mandarin, French, English, or any language in between, this episode will help you stop cringing and start owning your accent.
📝 Show notes available through littlecrabpress.ca
💌 Subscribe to our newsletter to get thoughtful tools and confidence-building content straight to your inbox.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing platform for small teams and big dreams. Get 50% off your first year by signing up through our link.
🎵 Theme music by Milkfangs
🎥 Full vlog versions also available on YouTube
In S1 Ep. 3 of Fluent•ish the Podcast, we’re tackling one of the biggest early hurdles in language learning: “How do I choose the right language for me?”
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of options—or second-guessed whether your chosen language is “the best” fit—this episode is for you. We explore how to cut through decision fatigue with a thoughtful (but fun!) framework that helps language learners make confident, informed choices.
We discuss language families, learning goals, and how personal preferences and personality traits can help you find a language that really clicks. Plus, we share two free quizzes and a set of ChatGPT prompts you can use to get a customized answer to this common question: “Which language should I learn next?”
Whether you're picking your first language or your fifth, you'll walk away with clarity, confidence, and maybe even a surprise insight or two.
📝 Show notes + free downloadable framework available through littlecrabpress.ca
💌 Join our newsletter to get the full decision-making tool sent straight to your inbox here.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing tool. It’s intuitive, beautiful, and doesn’t charge more as your list grows. You can try it free—and get 50% off your first year—using our link.
🎥 Full vlog versions also available on YouTube.
In S1 Ep. 3 of Fluent•ish the Podcast, we’re tackling one of the biggest early hurdles in language learning: “How do I choose the right language for me?”
If you’ve ever felt overwhelmed by the sheer number of options—or second-guessed whether your chosen language is “the best” fit—this episode is for you. We explore how to cut through decision fatigue with a thoughtful (but fun!) framework that helps language learners make confident, informed choices.
We discuss language families, learning goals, and how personal preferences and personality traits can help you find a language that really clicks. Plus, we share two free quizzes and a set of ChatGPT prompts you can use to get a customized answer to this common question: “Which language should I learn next?”
Whether you're picking your first language or your fifth, you'll walk away with clarity, confidence, and maybe even a surprise insight or two.
📝 Show notes + free downloadable framework available through littlecrabpress.ca
💌 Join our newsletter to get the full decision-making tool sent straight to your inbox here.
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing tool. It’s intuitive, beautiful, and doesn’t charge more as your list grows. You can try it free—and get 50% off your first year—using our link.
🎥 Full vlog versions also available on YouTube.
In S1 Ep. 2 we talk about two common fears in language learning: “What if I picked the wrong language?” and “What if I’m just not good at languages, anyway?” These kinds of doubts can hold people back, especially when tied to identity, expectations, or a sense of falling behind.
We also highlight some key takeaways that might help if you're navigating similar thoughts. Whether you’ve switched languages before, feel like you're behind, or are questioning your progress, you’re definitely not alone.
📝 Show notes are available here: https://littlecrabpress.ca/blogs/fluentish-show-notes/fluentish-s1e2-show-notes
Sponsor: This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing tool. It’s intuitive, beautiful, and doesn’t charge more as your list grows. You can try it free—and get 50% off your first year—using our link.
Full vlog versions are also available on YouTube.
Welcome to the first episode of Fluentish: The Podcast. In Season 1, The Bilingual Blueprint: From Hesitation to Conversation, we’re setting the stage for what this show is all about—and how it can support your language learning journey, wherever you’re starting from, no matter what language(s) you are learning.
We introduce ourselves (Rebecca, language teacher and Mandarin learner, and Lisa, French learner), the values that inspired us to create this podcast, and the big-picture vision behind our company, Little Crab Educational Press. We’re here to break down language barriers, make learning more inclusive and joyful, and share useful tools and perspectives to help you stay motivated.
We also walk you through what you can expect from each episode and how we’ll structure things to keep it clear, encouraging, and not overwhelming.
📝 Show notes are available here: https://littlecrabpress.ca/blogs/fluentish-show-notes/fluentish-s1e1-show-notes
Sponsor:This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing tool. It’s intuitive, beautiful, and doesn’t charge more as your list grows. You can try it free—and get 50% off your first year—using our link.
Full vlog versions of all episodes will also be available on Youtube.
In S.1 Ep. 2 we talk about two common fears in language learning: “What if I picked the wrong language?” and “What if I’m just not good at languages, anyway?” These kinds of doubts can hold people back, especially when tied to identity, expectations, or a sense of falling behind.
We also highlight some key takeaways that might help if you're navigating similar thoughts. Whether you’ve switched languages before, feel like you're behind, or are questioning your progress, you’re definitely not alone.
📝 Show notes are available here:
https://littlecrabpress.ca/blogs/fluentish-show-notes/fluentish-s1e2-show-notes
Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing tool. It’s intuitive, beautiful, and doesn’t charge more as your list grows. You can try it free—and get 50% off your first year—using our link.
Full vlog versions are also available on YouTube.
Little Crab Educational Press is excited to announce the podcast every aspiring polyglot, classroom language teacher, and parent raising bilingual kids will be so glad they discovered!
Fluent•ish, the Podcast is a happy place for language learners, free of snobbery, where your hosts (and sisters!) Lisa and Rebecca will tackle questions such as, “What if I picked the ‘wrong’ language to learn? And what if I’m just not good at languages anyway?” and “But, how do I pick the right language(s), for me?” and “But how do I know which accent is the “right” accent?”
If you're dreaming of learning a new language, or are needing to get unstuck and build confidence in your abilities to teach yourself or your kids a second or additional language, we're here to cheer you on!
Each episode of Fluent•ish packs a punch, with practical takeaways you can get working for you immediately! We tackle a common language-learning challenge—“the Barrier”—which Lisa presents, while Rebecca, drawing on her professional teaching as well as multi-year language-learning experience, offers a solution—“the Blueprint.”
We always wrap up with an “Oh La La or 不不不 (Bù bù bù)!”, celebrating wins language and culture (the "Oh la la!"), or trends that should maybe just go away (the "Bù bù bù!"). Then, we leave you with “Your Joy Builder,” a key takeaway to boost confidence, patience, and perseverance on your language adventure or that of your kids or students.
Full vlog versions also available on Youtube.
Welcome to the first episode of Fluentish: The Podcast. In Season 1, The Bilingual Blueprint: From Hesitation to Conversation, we’re setting the stage for what this show is all about—and how it can support your language learning journey, wherever you’re starting from, no matter what language(s) you are learning.
We introduce ourselves (Rebecca, language teacher and Mandarin learner, and Lisa, French learner), the values that inspired us to create this podcast, and the big-picture vision behind our company, Little Crab Educational Press. We’re here to break down language barriers, make learning more inclusive and joyful, and share useful tools and perspectives to help you stay motivated.
We also walk you through what you can expect from each episode and how we’ll structure things to keep it clear, encouraging, and not overwhelming.
📝 Show notes are available here:
https://littlecrabpress.ca/blogs/fluentish-show-notes/fluentish-s1e1-show-notes
Sponsor:
This episode is brought to you by Flodesk, our favourite email marketing tool. It’s intuitive, beautiful, and doesn’t charge more as your list grows. You can try it free—and get 50% off your first year—using our link.
Full vlog versions of all episodes will also be available on Youtube.