In this Season 4 finale of Love, Joy, and Languages podcast, I share and celebrate language learning wins from listeners across the globe. Real life stories from real life language learners, inspiring us to see every bit of progress along our language journeys. In this episode, you'll hear stories from four language learners who recognize a variety of wins in their language lives. The achievements they've shared with me for this episode are inspiring for language learners of all types, ages, and levels. The languages they're celebrating include Spanish, Esperanto, Chinese, Catalan, and Occitan, plus my own wins regarding German and Italian. Some of these language lovers are still at the beginning of learning their languages, and others are futher along, but one common theme is that they see the value in celebrating the multitude of accomplishments along the way.
This episode is made for you, my listeners. Every win we have matters. No achievement is too small. Every success is significant, and every win is worth celebrating. Join me in today's season finale episode by cheering on those who shared their stories with me and for everyone else out there working on your new language. Take a moment to reflect on your own wins, and celebrate them! Feel the pride. Give yourself a round of applause. Brag about it on social media. You're doing great, and you can be proud of yourself and your achievements.
Instagram or X accounts for those who shared success stories in this episode:
IG: @lafamillelyons, @vanessapatriciaoh
X: @martinrue, @TimothyELDougl1, @kubacki__
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here: http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
More language learning podcasts for you to check out:
The Language Confidence Project, by Emily Richardson
Speaking Tongues Podcast, by Elle Charisse
How to Learn a Language, by Lindsay Williams
The Future is Bilingual, by Heather
Talking to Grandma, by Veronica Benavides
Insecurities About Languages, by Alexandria Robinson
Shhh, I'm Learning! by Martha Summerlin
The Fluent Show, by Kerstin Cable
Actual Fluency, by Kris Broholm
My favorite Italian podcasts:
Il paradiso é qui, by Gianluca Gotto
Simple Italian Podcast, by Simone Pols
Stivale Italiano, by Alessandro and Carolina
Vaporetto Italiano Podcast, by Francesco Cositore
The Teacher Stefano Show, by Stefano
Psicologia per eroi, by Dott. Luca Proietti
Curiosità della Storia, by Storica National Geographic
Italiano in Podcast, by Paolo of I Speak Italiano
My favorite German podcasts:
Natural.Fluent.German & Deutsches Geplapper, by Flemming Boldbecher
Deutsch Podcast, by Virpi Hach & Sandra Durán Muñoz
Feminismus mit Vorsatz, by Laura Vorsatz
Eine Stunde History, by Deutschlandfunk Nova
Other language learning podcasts I've been on:
Shhh, I'm Learning! with Martha Summerlin
How to Learn A Language with Lindsay Williams
Actual Fluency Podcast with Kris Broholm
The Italian Escape Podcast with Angelique Lusuan & Gabriele Minucci
The Future is Bilingual with Heather
About Esperanto:
Actual Fluency archive episodes about Esperanto can be found here.
Esperanto website: Esperanto.net
I invited a very special language learning and language loving friend to co-host this episode with me and chat all about the joys of language learning. This is a very familiar voice in the language learning community, and it's such a pleasure to have Kerstin Cable of Fluent Language and The Fluent Show on Love, Joy, and Languages! We had an absolute blast talking about loving languages and finding joy in learning them. This chat is extra special for me because I don't think this show would exist without Kerstin and her Podcasting 101 course. Big thanks to Kerstin for putting so much goodness out into the world!
In today's episode, Kersin and I talk about celebrating our language achievements, the value of self-work and appreciating your own personal journey, language exams and the excitement of the process, lots of German language, the link between language and culture, Kerstin teaches me a bit Welsh (you'll see why this language can easily become an obsession!), and Kerstin shares some of her favorite language things and people.
Learning a language is a long road, and there are so many challenges along the way, but something that keeps us in the language learning world is all the joy we find in the process and the community. I hope you enjoy listening in to my chat with Kerstin, and I hope it reminds you of all the exciting things you find in your own language life.
The Fluent Show episodes mentioned in this episode:
Words of the Year 2023
The Farewell Episode: The Joy of Finishing Good Things
I'm Not Dead Yet, So I'd Like to Keep Learning: Interview with German Learner Randy
Reviews of the Year with Shannon Kennedy: 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018
Marc Okrand on Creating the Klingon Language
Interview with Language Creator David Peterson (Game of Thrones, Dune, The 100, Doctor Strange)
Good bye Chemistry, hello Linguistics! with Sarah F. Philips
Other content mentioned in this episode:
German Uncovered (Beginner) by Olly Richards
Lindsay Williams of Lindsay Does Languages
Episode 59: A Joyful Chat with a Special Guest Co-Host, Love, Joy, and Languages with Lindsay Williams (http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/episode-59)
Shannon Kennedy at Eurolinguiste
Emily Richardson of The Langauge Confidence Project and Tea with Emily
Yabla Language Immersion
Language Habit System, by Kerstin Cable
AI Language Club, with Kerstin Cable & Josh Goldsmith
Kerstin can be found at:
For language learning: Fluent Language Blog, Podcast & Language Tuition
For business: Kerstin Cable
Kerstin's Podcast: The Fluent Show
Instagram: @kerstin_fluent
X (Twitter): @fluentlanguage
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
Affirmations, or statements that affirm positive beliefs to you about you, are an excellent way to build yourself up. I use affirmations in many areas of my life, both general and specific, inlcuding language learning. They help remind me of my truth and keep me aligned with my morals and identity. Affirmations aren't about lying to ourselves or trying to fake it 'til we make it. They're about affirming true statements that we believe, at our core, so that we don't forget who we are, and that help us act in accordance with our true selves.
Today's episode is full of meditative affirmations geared toward language learners. Have you ever considered what you believe about yourself as a language learner? Especially when things are stressful, and we feel like we're failing, we start to believe things that aren't true. We start to believe that we can't learn a language, that we're failures, that we're lazy, and so much more. These negative thoughts, while they feel true in the moment, aren't our real truths. Affirmations help keep us grounded in who we really are and in what we're really capable of. They pull us out of the negative spiral more quickly and remind us that negative moments don't define us.
I hope you enjoy today's episode and are able to find many affirmations that you know are true to you. Take what you know to be true, what you really believe, and let that be a foundation of truth that you can tell yourself always, especially when you start feeling out of alignment with who you know yourself to be. Write out more affirmations that you know are true, and don't forget to be kind to yourself.
If you want to read more about affirmations, here are a few sites to get you started:
Using Affirmations, from Mind Tools
Positive Affirmations: Too Good to Be True? by Crystal Raypole
Affirmations: The Why, What, How, and What If? by Kathryn Lively, PhD
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
In today's episode I talk about extensive reading for effective language learning. Like I said in last week's episode, extensive input can be an excellent part of any language journey, but it can also go wrong. I feel very lucky that I didn't give up when it went very wrong for me. During my year-long project to boost my Italian to B2, extensive reading was one of my main (and favorite!) methods. Today I share a bit of my language journey and the early struggles I had trying to read in Italian, and then I share exactly what I did to make this method work for me in improving my language throughout the intermediate levels. I talk about all the reading sources I used, and also the ways in which I saw my Italian language improve.
Language learning can be a very long journey, and it can feel like we're never going to get where we want to be. So it's very exciting and motivating to be able to look back and see exactly how my language has improved and what worked to get me there. I hope to inspire you all, as well, not just to read more (though that's always something I hope to inspire), but also to keep going. Find what brings you joy in languages, stick with what's working for you, and take note of all the ways your language journey is improving. I guarantee it really is improving.
Other content mentioned in this episode:
E76: Good Advice Gone Wrong: Input, Input, Input: http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/
E67: Let's Talk About Flashcards: http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/episode-67
Profondo Come il Mare, Leggero Come il Cielo, by Gianluca Gotto
List of International websites for National Geographic here
Simple Italian Podcast, by Simone Pols
Vaporetto Italiano Podcast, by Francesco Cositore
Stivale Italiano, by Alessandro and Carolina
iTalki, where I find language teachers and tutors (this is my Refer a Friend link)
Italian CILS B2 Exam Prep Book I used: Traguardo CILS B2
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
In this fourth episode of "Good Advice Gone Wrong," a segment in which I highlight some really good language learning advice that can also go wrong, I talk about input, input, input. Do all the reading and all the listening all the time! Language folk give this advice all the time, and I can't deny that it's got some amazing benefits, but it isn't a guaranteed path to success. Today I share three ways in which tons of input is great for languages bubut also three ways in which it could go wrong and has gone wrong for me. I finish up with three things you can do to make this method go right for you, if it's something you want to do.
There are countless methods for learning a language, and I believe that all of them are good, but they aren't all good for everyone. Instead of just giving language learning advice, this recurring segment focuses on reasons specific pieces of good advice may not work for everyone. So if this method isn't for you, that's okay. I love sharing this segment in order to spark creative ideas for how we can mold advice and shape it into something that does work for us, if desired, and I hope to inspire you to discover your own creative, personalized language learning journey.
If you like this episode, you can check out the other Good Advice Gone Wrong episodes:
Other content mentioned in this episode:
E64: What I Love About Language Dabbling (curiosity): http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/episode-64
E67: Let's Talk About Flashcards: http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/episode-67
Profondo Come il Mare, Leggero Come il Cielo, by Gianluca Gotto
Read more about getting lots of input for your language learning:
Intensive Listening vs. Extensive Listening in English, by Emile Dodds on Leonardo English blog
What to Know About Input-based Langauge Learning, by Rachelawan on FluentU
How I self-taught German to C1 using immersion - despite being busy and disorganized, by Elise Cutts (The title says "immersion," but read up! She talks about comprehensible input.)
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
It's inevitable in our language learning that the reality of where we are on our journeys or what we're able to do doesn't match up with what we expected to happen. I know for me, this usually leads to be feeling frustrated, getting mad at myself, wishing I'd made different choices, and many the guilt and shame are overwhelming. What can we do to bounce back from this? What can we do when reality doesn't meet expectations in our language lives in order to move forward in a positive and helpful way?
Today I share one of my very personal realities that hasn't met what I expected. I work through the feelings I've felt about it, the negative thoughts, and then the process of working toward a way ahead instead of remaining in my anger and frustration. Something interesting I realized as I was talking this out is that the journey I go through when reality doesn't meet expectations mirrors the five stages of grief, ending in acceptance and being at a place where I can logically decide what to do next.
If you struggle with langauge journey expectations, especially with how to handle things when your language reality doesn't match up, give this episode a listen. Hopefully it sparks some inspiration for all language learners to process your own feelings and find a place from which you can continue the language learning that you love.
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
Today's episode is not to be missed! I had the distinct pleasure of sitting down with Emily Harris, the language loving woman behind Language Travel Adoptee, a YouTube channel aimed at helping others gain confidence in their language learning through self awareness and personal growth. Emily shares a lot of her own personal experiences learning languages as a high achieving perfectionist, a transracial adoptee learning the language of her birth country, and all the very intricate intersections of her life. Today we focus a lot on authenticity in language learning, but particularly from the aspect of content creation in a world like YouTube where content is often tailored toward clicks and likes and less about the authentic reality of oneself.
It was so good to finally get to sit down with Emily and talk about some of the harder things many of us face in our language lives. She and I share many similarities in the history of our personalities and mindset, as well as similarities in our growth stories through navigating language learning in a holistic way. Don't miss the links below, where you can find and connect with Emily.
Connect with Emily:
Emily's Newsletter: Language Travel Adoptee
Emily's YouTube: Language Travel Adoptee
Emily's Podcast: Language Wellness and Identity Podcast
Instagram: @languagetraveladoptee
X (Twitter): @LangTravAdoptee
Other content mentioned in this episode:
How to Learn a Language, Lindsay Williams of Lindsay Does Languages
The Language Confidence Project, by Emily Richardson
Shhh, I'm Learning!, by Martha Summerlin
Burt Goldman and Quantum Jumping
More interviews with Emily:
Self-Compassion & Identity in Language Learning, How to Learn a Language, by Lindsay Williams
Use Spiritual Practices to Quantum Leap to Fluency, Laid-Back Languages
Episode 143. Speaking Mandarin, Speaking Tongues Podcast, by Elle Charisse
AFP 189 - Emily Harris: Language Learning, Culture, and PErfectionism as a Transracial Adoptee, The Actual Fluency Podcast by Kris Broholm
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
Today's episode is just a little reminder to meet your language learning energy where it is, not where you want it to be. It's too easy to push ourselves too hard or to be hard on ourselves when we aren't pushing, especially when we start to compare the intensity of or time spent with our languages to what it was a few days or months ago. What's important is to give yourself grace and realize that any tiny thing can change our energy. We move forward in a healthier way, and we maintain a better relationship with our languages and our entire language journey when we accept our energy as it is, meet it there, and do only what we really can.
Go easy on yourselves, language learners. If you're feeling low on energy, don't push yourself beyond what you can do. And definitely don't make yourself feel bad for it. Know that just as your energy went down, it will go back up. You're doing amazing!
Related Episodes From The Language Confidence Project:
S4E20: Take that break
S4E23: Teach the person you arrived as this morning
S4E43: Start with the times you're in
S5E45: Showing up vs taking a break
S6E20: How will you tell your brain it’s time to rest?
S6E35: You can be dedicated to something and still need a break
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found at http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
In today's episode I'm talking more about what I think of language projects, the benefits of framing language activities and goals as projects, and what types of projects you could jump into in order to boost your skills, confidence, and motivation in your languages. Anything can be turned into or framed as a project, and for some it may just seem like semantics calling some of these things projects. I can't explain it, but for some reason, framing regular ol' language exercises, activities, and goals as "projects" actually makes a difference in how I approach the thing and the likelihood of me finishing it while gaining the language along the way.
I hope you get something out of today's episode, and I would love to hear from you! Please reach out to me or leave a response below if you're listening on Spotify, and let me know what language projects you've taken on, what ones you want to do, or just what you think about this way of framing language tasks. I look forward to learning from you!
Links from this episode:
Related episodes of Love, Joy, and Languages:
Episode 22: Am I Even Making Progress?; (on Spotify here)
Episode 70: A Polyglot's Journey of Discovery, Struggle, and Finding His Way; (on Spotify here)
Episode 67: Let's Talk About Flashcards; (on Spotify here)
Episode 5: Facing Language Tasks We Tend To Avoid; (on Spotify here)
Lingua.com* for learning languages through reading short texts.
Speakly App*
*Not affiliated
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here, at www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
After a break to finish preparing for and actually taking my Italian CILS B2 exam, I'm back with a few reflections on this project I took on to take my Italian to the next level. As I studied and prepared for this exam, I noticed a lot of differences between how I was approaching it versus how I used to study and prepare for tests. It was a much less stressful experience, and no matter what my results are, I know I've got a lot to be proud of!
Links from this episode:
Ultralearning by Scott H. Young
Sara Hasbun's website, Miss Linguistic
Episode 10: Solidifying My Language Level, Love, Joy, and Languages Podcast
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
In today's episode I'm chatting with my dear friend, Kuba, a polyglot and passionate language learner who has a fascinating history with languages. As a native Polish speaker, Kuba learned Spanish and English in school, Hungarian at University and through immersion, and Catalan through immersion before diving into a world of self-study. After becoming a polyglot in this way then dabbling in many languages for several years, Kuba started learning Turkish and realized that it wasn't as easy as his previous languages. He knew he could learn it because he'd learned so many languages before, but he struggled in a very unexpected way.
Join Kuba and me today as we explore language curiosity, frustrations, and expectations. We dive into beliefs and doubts, avoiding and changing focus languages, goals versus projects, immersion and the weight of learning a language. Kuba brings so much experience and depth to conversations about languages, and what he brings is so much more than simple, cursory tips and tricks of what's worked for him. His openness about his struggles, especially while already being a polyglot and already having multiple fluent languages, is insightful, inspiring, and something from which I think each one of us can learn.
Connect with Kuba here: Instagram: @langatu_
X (Twitter): @kubacki__
Other content mentioned in this episode:
Kenny from Something Polyglot
Turkish Short Stories by Olly Richards
Ultralearning by Scott Young
Episode 14: Navigating Language Learning Abroad - Interview with Sarah Knight; Love, Joy, and Languages
Episode 49: Good Advice Gone Wrong: Move to a Country of Your TL; Love, Joy, and Languages
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
Probably all of us have, at one point or another, had a goal of being fluent in our target language(s). When we think of being fluent, we often think of easily speaking the language, not having to think about what we're going to say, and just being able to spontaneously use the words and grammar we've acquired. There's this weird place I've found myself in with German where I can use the language in all the spontaneous situations I find myself in living in a German-speaking country, and yet I'm not fluent. I am very functional in the language, and I do use it with ease in most situations. But I'm far from fluent.
This is a place on my language journey that's both exciting and frustrating. I'm excited to feel comfortable living in the country using the language. I'm frustrated because I can't fully express myself and be me in the language. I can function, but I don't feel like myself. I can't really showcase my personality, exhibit my intelligence, or converse about deep and meaningful things. Being functional but not fluent comes with a lot of complex thoughts and feelings, so in today's episode I start getting some of those thoughts out and guide a conversation that you can use as a starting point for your own unraveling of thoughts.
Being functional in a language is a huge milestone. Be proud of that, and don't lose sight of it when you focus on getting to fluency.
Links from this episode:
Episode 25: What Is Fluency, Anyway?
Episode 68: Planning, Confidence, and Reflection w/Bront'e Singleton of The Polyglot Fox
The Language Confident Project, by Emily Richardson
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
Today's episode is one you won't want to miss! I recently sat down with Bront’e Singleton, the incredible woman behind The Polyglot Fox, to chat about her experiences learning languages and coaching others, guiding them to finding the right language path for themselves. Bront’e has a long list of languages she speaks and learns, and she is so inspiring. Bront’e shares some of the struggles she faced over the years trying to learn multiple and very diverse languages often at the same time, and she’s built her coaching program, The Polyglot Fox, out of the lessons she learned along the way.
The best part, I think, is that she demonstrates amazing openness and flexibility in how she guides language learners to reaching their goals at every single level. She understands that each one of us is different, and how we succeed will look different and fluctuate as we go along. Bront’e shares so much wisdom with us in this chat, especially when it comes to language study planning, building confidence, and allowing time for reflection to discover where we are and be honest with ourselves in order to choose the best next step.
Speaking with Bront’e was an absolute delight, and I have no doubt you all will get something out of this conversation, as well!
Connect with Bront'e here:
The Polyglot Fox website
The Polyglot Fox blog
The Polyglot Fox YouTube
The Polyglot Fox on Facebook
Instagram: @thepolyglotfox
TikTok: @thepolyglotfox
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
We've probably all used flashcards at one time or another to memorize vocabulary in our new languages, and I'm sure we've all hated them or at least been bored by them. Many, many language learners, coaches, and teachers bluntly tell us to stop using flashcards because they don't work. But that's simply false. It's a narrative built on the assumption that everyone uses flashcards in one very basic and prescriptive way, namely, a single word on one side in your target language, and that word translated to your native language on the other side. This isn't the only way to use flashcards, though. It's just the way we've all learned somwhere in our educational journeys. Most of the criticisms against flashcards that I find in language learning spaces only address the limitations of this basic flashcard method. They don't apply to more dynamic ways of creating and using flashcards.
So that's what I'm talking about today. Flashcards can be used very effectively as a complement to your language routine and study time. They can be one tool in your toolbox that helps you make great progress and jump forward into new levels. This goes for other methods we use for language learning, as well. Being flexible and creative in how we use various language learning methods can counteract many of the limitations to the prescriptive ways we've learned. Also, we have to consider the expectations that we place on language learning tools. If we expect one single resource or method to teach us a language to high levels, then we're probably going to be very disappointed. Using multiple tools in conjunction with one another, as I share today, will bring about great progress. Flashcards can absolutely be one of those tools that really boosts your language skills.
In this episode I share some of the most frequently stated criticisms of flashcards for learning a foreign language, the reasons people boldly claim that everyone should stop using flashcards, and I give recommendations based on my own experience for how to better use flashcards to counteract these claims. I'm not presenting anything new here. All the thoughts I give are recommendations I received from language learners before me, but now that I've used them to effectively progress both of my main target languages, even at an upper-intermediate level, I can say without a doubt that effective use of flashcards has been an integral piece to the best season of my language journey so far.
Resources mentioned in this episode:
Anki flashcard app
Lingua for reading practice at all levels
Reverso translation site for context
Linguee translation site for context
Forvo for pronunciation
iTalki to find a teacher or tutor for conversation practice
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
Manifesting. Some people love it. Some people believe it's hogwash. Wherever you stand, the truth remains that our actions lead to consequences. When our actions are in line with our goals (something that takes conscious awareness and intention), then the consequences will be in line with our desires. So it makes sense that our actions that are aligned with our language goals will lead to the language results we want.
This is exactly what we're talking about today. I am delighted to share this conversation I had with French language coach Angel Pretot of French Fluency. I first learned of Angel’s work in an interview he had with Lindsay Williams of Lindsay Does Languages (linked below), and this led me to Angel’s work guiding French learners to fluency with manifestation. While there are many, many different explanations and thoughts about what manifesting is and how it works, there are also many misconceptions about it, as well, especially when it comes to language learning. Because, really, I don’t hear a lot of people in language learning spaces talking about manifesting and how we can use the power of our brains to bring the language to us and to align ourselves better with our language goals.
Despite what some people think, manifesting in language learning is not simply thinking your language into existence. I need to say this because I know it's a very common misconception. And that’s why I wanted to bring Angel onto the show to break this all down for us, talk about what manifesting is and how we can harness it to take inspired action in our language lives that leads to the language outcomes we desire. Angel shares some very practical tips for how you can strengthen your language learning by implementing manifesting techniques to unlock the power of your brain to consciously work for you and lead you to your language learning goals faster and more enjoyably.
Connect with Angel:
Angel's website: French Fluency
Manifesting French Fluency
Angel's Podcast: Cultural Fluency
Angel's YouTube: Angel Pretot - The French Coach
Other content mentioned in this episode:
4 Step Progess to Learn Any Language with Angel Pretot, Lindsay Does Languages
Simone Pols, Language Coach and host of Simple Italian Podcast
Denise Duffield-Thomas, Manifesting YouTube Channel
Burt Goldman and Quantum Jumping
More interviews with Angel:
Conversation with Angel Pretot, Chandra Gore Consulting
Use Spiritual Practices to Quantum Leap to Fluency, Laid-Back Languages
Meditations that Help You Learn Languages, Speakingpodcast
Interview with Angel Pretot, Dr. Wayne Pernell - The Exceptional Success Coach
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
As language learners, we always want progress, right? We all want to move forward, learning new words and taking in the grammar. Yet, many times in my language journey, I've found myself making some progress just to look back and realize that the progress I made was actually the opposite of helpful. Instead, it was holding me back from reaching my goals faster and in a more enjoyable way. And it really comes down to hanging on to tools, methods, or resources that just aren't right for you and your goals. I'm talking here about ignoring red flags.
We all want to make progress in our languages, but if we’re making progress in a resource just for the sake of finishing the resource or just because someone else said it’s good or because we’re afraid of change, then that progress isn’t the type of language advancement that we want. I've forced myself, several times, to keep using a resource just because I was seeing some results. I was learning new words. I was remembering a few things. I did learn some of the language. But, I hated opening the program. I dreaded coming back to it. But I was afraid that ditching it would be worse because I was making some progress. Looking back, it's easy to see that I would have been better off leaving the thing behind and seeking out language tools that were more effective for my needs and that would lead to greater progress. Looking back, it's easy to see that those negative feelings of dread and loathing were huge red flags screaming at me to change things up. But instead, I let my fear of failure get in the way, and I stuck it out far longer than was helpful...because there was some progress.
It doesn’t help anyone to stick with something that just isn’t working. If there are red flags, do not stay. Move on to a new method, a new resource, a new tool. Sometimes "progress" is actually an illusion. Sometimes progress is slower than it needs to be. Sometimes we keep progressing, but we're simultaneously forging a negative bond with our languages because of the negative feelings we have for a resource. So today I share some of my experiences making unhelpful progress and provide some questions you can ask yourself if you find yourself in the same situation with your language.
Related Episodes:
Episode 16: Forging A Joyful Bond With Your Languages
Episode 29: Sunk Costs in Language Learning
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
Are you a language dabbler? Do you enjoy playing around with new languages in a fun and non-committal way? Language dabbling isn't for everyone, but I really enjoy it, and I find several benefits to dabbling that actually help me keep my main languages going. Of course there are often connections between languages that help to strengthen our understanding of them, but I've also found that language dabbling helps me prevent and work through burnout, and it keeps me curious. It helps reignite the fire and preserve the joy I need to move forward in my main languages.
If you're a language dabbler or if you're curious about playing around with new languages in a way that doesn't take away from your main focus languages, give today's episode a listen, and see if you can find language dabbling benefits for yourself.
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
Do you find that you doubt yourself way more than you believe in yourself when it comes to your language knowledge and skills? I certainly do, and it isn't always warranted. No matter your level, I think we can all find a balance in our language lives where we can trust what we know and also take time to verify when we come across something in the language that doesn't seem right.
The thing is, all language resources have mistakes and/or language variance. Textbooks have printing errors, tutors and teachers also make mistakes, and then there are just differences in how languages are spoken within various regions or spans of time. When we come across these things, if we immediately doubt ourselves and doubt our abilities, then it just makes our learning journey more difficult and much less joyful. I think we can find a sweet spot where we trust the "pros" but also trust ourselves.
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
Have you ever noticed that the word "excuse" has grown a very negative connotation? It's far too easy to internalize the idea that we should be in our languages all the time, every spare moment of every day, and if we aren't, then whatever the reason, it's "just an excuse." While perhaps once intended to motivate, this phrase and similar others more often lead to guilt and shame, leaving us farther from our goals instead of closer to them.
In today's episode I talk about the word "excuse," its negative undertone, and do by best to remind you that your excuses are valid. They are, in fact, excusable. There are an infinite number of reasons we have for not studying our languages or immersing in our languages every single day, even if we do find 15 minutes of space. No matter your level, no matter how long your pause, and no matter your reason, phrases like, "There are no excuses," only seek to blame and shame. But really, blame and shame have no space in language learning, and honestly in life. They don't motivate. They don't inspire. And they certainly don't validate the reality of our everyday lives.
So listen in if you're tired of feeling the heavy burden of "excuses," and see how you can change your inner dialogue to give yourself some grace and get back into spending time with your languages in a more joyful and accepting way.
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang
Welcome back! Season 4 is finally here, and I'm just starting off with a quick chat about what you're going to find in these episodes and also what I've been doing with my language learning for the last four or so months. I've been doing a ton of intensive language time with both Italian and German, I've been dabbling in a couple languages, and I've been trying to find a good balance between pushing forward and resting. Today's episode is light and, well, about me, but don't worry. Season 4 will be packed with a lot of versatile content that hopefully helps you feel confident in your own language learning life.
Links from this episode:
Simone Pols website and podcast, Simple Italian Podcast
6 Week Challenge
[Lingua.com](www.lingua.com) website for learning languages through reading (English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, and Portugal & Brazilian Portugese)
Leggero come il cielo, profondo come il mare by Gianluca Gotto
German travel blog, We Travel the World
Sprachen lernen Blog, by Carl Duisberg Centren
Sprachenlust Blog, by Lena Müller
Natural.Fluent.German & Deutsches Geplapper podcasts, by Flemming Boldbecher
Verena König Podcast für Kreative Transformation
Where to find me:
Love, Joy, and Languages Blog
All podcast episodes can be found here: http://www.lovejoyandlanguagespodcast.com/.
Instagram: @love.joyandlanguages
X (Twitter): @LoveJoy_Lang