StoryLearning Podcast
447 episodes - English - Latest episode: over 1 year ago - ★★★★★ - 194 ratingsLearning a new language? Get your language learning questions answered by polyglot Olly Richards, who speaks 8 languages and is the founder of the StoryLearning® method.
Whatever's holding you back on the path to fluency, tune in twice a week to get your regular dose of language learning motivation, with Olly and other polyglot guests, such as Benny Lewis, Luca Lampariello, Richard Simcott and Alex Rawlings.
Learn Spanish, Learn French, Learn German, Learn Italian, Learn Portuguese, Learn Arabic, Learn Japanese, Learn Chinese
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Episodes
193: What do you think of the ESL industry?
May 29, 2017 08:00 - 17 minutes - 12 MBPaul asks: "What do you think of the ESL industry?" Episode Summary: I taught English as a foreign language for year, and enjoyed it immensely CELTA is a wonderful course and I highly recommend it There are a number of tensions between independent language learning and classroom teaching The challenge for ESL teachers is how best to teach a classroom of 10-20 people who come for a few hours a week Language learning ideology usually goes out the window when faced with the reality o...
192: Giving a presentation in a foreign language
May 26, 2017 08:00 - 13 minutes - 9.17 MBSyawal asks: "How can I give better presentations in a foreign language?" Episode Summary: With public speaking, you have to detangle the challenges of the presentation itself, with the language you use Presentations in your mother tongue can ofter leave you nervous and rambling It depends how much you want to prepare, and how much time you have The problem is similar to writing in a foreign language, and relates to how well you can express yourself in more formal language Method ...
191: Do you use apps for language learning?
May 22, 2017 08:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBSaud asks: "Do you use apps for language learning?" Episode Summary: Because technology is always being promoted as making our lives more efficient, many people are tempted to look to apps to speed up the language learning process All my opinions about apps are formed in the light of the fact that I remember what language learning was like before the internet Nothing will ever be as effective as you, a good book, a pen and a paper The critical mistakes that apps make is to try to of...
190: Tips for new teachers on iTalki
May 19, 2017 08:00 - 15 minutes - 10.7 MBMiki asks: "How should I teach Japanese on iTalki?" Episode Summary: Firstly, be honest about what you are offering and your experience level If you have no experience, you can still help Japanese learners a lot Begin as a "community tutor" and offer conversation lessons so you can get experience Have an honest talk with the student about what they're looking for an how you can help. Ask questions like: What are you looking for? How would you like me to help? Do you want me t...
189: Should I learn Spanish or Japanese?
May 16, 2017 11:38 - 12 minutes - 8.5 MBBegum asks: "Should I learn Spanish or Japanese?" Episode Summary: What's your criteria for learning a new language? Always choose the language you're most passionate about Never learn a language because you think it will be easy...it won't! Some questions I've been dealing with lately! Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: Check out the new intro and outro on the show! Huge thanks to Jorge de Lima for helping with those! (Find him on LinkedIn) Start Speaking Today: I’d like ...
188: What are the benefits of monolingual flashcards?
May 12, 2017 08:00 - 24 minutes - 16.6 MBCharlotte asks: "What's your opinion on removing English from flashcards altogether? Episode Summary: Arguments for having flashcards entirely in the target language: Avoid translation Learn to think in the target language Increased exposure to target language "Learn like a child" Arguments for having pictures on your flashcards: Visual memory is stronger than auditory memory Wyner: "It’s much easier to learn a word off of a picture card you’ve made yourself than off of a t...
187: Saturday night at the podcast awards with Coffee Break Italian
May 09, 2017 08:00 - 21 minutes - 14.8 MBIn this episode, I chat with Mark Pentleton from Coffee Break Italian about the UK podcast awards! Episode Summary: The UK podcast awards Coffee Break Italian's nomination Filming behind the scenes How Coffee Break got started Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: https://youtu.be/vTgrwPliQmY Coffee Break Italian on iTunes Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoual...
186: How to prepare for a trip to China
May 05, 2017 08:00 - 10 minutes - 7.08 MBQuinton asks: "How can I prepare for my trip to China?" Episode Summary: What's the unique opportunity you'll have on your trip? Most likely, it's speaking, and the chance to speak a lot to people If you study characters, there's no particular benefit to being in China Take iTalki lessons every day and build up your speaking muscle Potentially find people to meet and practise with in advance Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: IWTYAL 153: Tips for learning languages abroad ...
185: How to make your sentences less English
May 03, 2017 06:07 - 11 minutes - 8.2 MBMeg asks: "How can I make my Russian sentences less English?" Episode Summary: The challenge you're facing is learning to express ideas the way a Russian would It's not just a linguistic thing - it's a cultural thing. Compare: Good Morning / おはようございます There's no shortcut to doing this - it's a long, gradual process If you want to express yourself like a Russian, you need to spend a lot of time with Russian - listening, reading, speaking The process you need to practise is how to t...
184: My students have holes in their grammar
April 28, 2017 09:00 - 14 minutes - 10.3 MBFerdinand asks: "How do I repair holes in my students' grammar?" Episode Summary: How holes in your grammar can develop Different roles for the teacher: Teach what you know is right Teach what the student expects Raising awareness is the only way to help students self-monitor and fix their own mistakes If students resist basic grammar exercises, look for another way... How to raise awareness and encourage self-monitoring: Talk to them about their goals, and how better grammar ...
183: Don't let other people's agendas control your learning
April 24, 2017 12:48 - 17 minutes - 11.8 MBIn this episode, I react to a comment in my Facebook community about feeling overwhelmed. Episode Summary: There's a lot of advice, it can be difficult to know what to do It's important to interact with others, but only when it adds value Texting and language exchanges (free) - you still have to follow social graces Teachers (paid) - you're paying for the convenience and efficiency You should trust your instincts as to whether it's productive or not Don't fight losing battles - ...
182: Update on my Conversations project
April 22, 2017 15:21 - 17 minutes - 12.2 MBIn this solo episode, I share an update on my exciting new Conversations project. Episode Summary: The difficulty with improving your listening comprehension The effect on your learning How Conversations came to be How it's being created What happens next Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: To be the first to hear about Conversations, and for special "early-bird" offers... Join the mailing list: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/signup Join the Facebook group: https://ww...
181: Two musicians reveal their language secrets - Part 2
April 18, 2017 08:00 - 24 minutes - 16.9 MBIn part 2 of this episode, I chat about the link between music and language learning with my polyglot friend Fiel Sahir. Episode Summary: What's the link between music and language learning? What do musicians do differently when they learn languages? Does the type of music you play make a difference? And much, much more... Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: 3 Hidden Links Between Music & Language Learning Fiel Sahir's website: Between3Worlds.com https://youtu.be/PrxN7Kuho...
180: Two musicians reveal their language secrets - Part 1
April 15, 2017 08:17 - 29 minutes - 19.9 MBIn part 1 of this episode, I chat about the link between music and language learning with my polyglot friend Fiel Sahir. Episode Summary: What's the link between music and language learning? What do musicians do differently when they learn languages? Does the type of music you play make a difference? And much, much more... Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode: 3 Hidden Links Between Music & Language Learning Fiel's blog: Between3Worlds.com Start speaking today: I’d like to...
179: Can you become fluent only by listening?
April 11, 2017 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.91 MBBalen asks: "Is it possible to become fluent in a language only by listening?" Episode Summary: No, you can't become fluent only by listening. The Silent Period Children listen for years, soaking things up, but still take years of practise to produce coherent English Learning English by watching TV Immigrants are often silent for years...listening instead However, listening is the most important skill, and I find myself spending more and more time working on it: The role of time...
178: I hesitate and draw blanks when I speak
April 06, 2017 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.08 MBRafael asks: "How can I stop hesitating when I speak English?" Episode Summary: Hesitation happens either when: You don't have the vocabulary you need You don't know how to express something Speaking fluidly, without hesitation, comes with a lot of practice. Practice more regularly with native speakers Increase your vocabulary on common topics, focusing on full sentences Spend more time with the "whole language" - reading and listening with transcripts Learn monologues and reh...
177: What does it mean to be a polyglot?
April 04, 2017 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.86 MBIn this episode, Olly gives his thoughts on what it means to be a polyglot. Episode Summary: "Polyglot" is a label that can be misleading or even somewhat meaningless The same language journey can mean different things to different people Collecting languages is not a meaningful pursuit 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 q...
176: Is now a good time to learn another language?
March 30, 2017 08:00 - 7 minutes - 5.02 MBDenise asks: "Is now a good time to learn Italian?" Episode Summary: There's rarely a "right time" I usually suggest getting a language to an Upper-Intermediate level (B2) before starting another one However, Italian and Portuguese are closely related. You might not have to do as much study as you think. It might also be easier than learning English Spend a bit of time each day simply listening and reading to basic Italian. You don't have to do any speaking, or heavy study, just s...
IWTYAL 175: I just smile and pretend I can understand
March 28, 2017 08:00 - 15 minutes - 11 MBGabrielle asks: "When I don't understand, I often just smile, nod, and pretend I do. How can I stop this?" Episode Summary: Is it normal to pretend you understand? Every language learning journey starts like this Persistence is the name of the game In terms of stages, here's how I see it: Lower level: You still have a lot to learn, so don't be surprised if you don't understand. Keep studying. Have conversations with sympathetic listeners. Higher level: This is the stage where you ...
IWTYAL 174: Should I rely on Google Translate?
March 23, 2017 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.13 MBYuta asks: "Should I be relying on Google Translate?" Episode Summary: Effective language learning means learning to communicate within your means The problem with relying on Google Translate is that you stop relying on yourself Paraphrasing is a key speaking skill, and you develop it by learning to communicate in spite of a lack of vocabulary HelloTalk is great for practising stuff you already know, but not necessarily for developing fluency I would devote time instead to live co...
173: How many hours a week do you study?
March 21, 2017 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.28 MBSelman asks: "How many hours a week do you study?" Episode Summary: Here's what I aim for: Focused study every weekday morning (1 hour), sporadic flashcards + listening during the day (0-60 mins), at least 3 speaking sessions a week (30-60 minutes) A rough total is around 5 hours study + 3 hours speaking Add on top of that watching TV, reading books, going out etc However, I often go for days without studying, and don't often stick to this schedule, but it tends to come back to this...
172: Re-Broadcast - I'm too busy to learn a language (3/3)
March 16, 2017 08:00 - 12 minutes - 8.58 MBThis is a re-broadcast of the most popular 3-part series from the podcast. I answer the question: "I'm simply too busy to learn languages. How can I find the time?" In this episode: The power of tiny How I learnt Cantonese during an extremely busy period in my life Why “1 hour” will put you off, whilst “30 seconds” will get you started! How to create micro habits so you can effortlessly get up and study any time and fill your day with language learning Resources mentioned in todays...
Are you learning English?
March 15, 2017 11:12 - 1 minute - 1.38 MBAre you learning English? If so, please answer a few short questions for me... http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/englishsurvey --- Send in a voice message: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/iwillteachyoualanguage/message
171: Re-Broadcast: I’m too busy to learn a language (2/3)
March 14, 2017 20:39 - 9 minutes - 6.65 MBThis is a re-broadcast of the most popular 3-part series from the podcast. I answer the question: "I'm simply too busy to learn languages. How can I find the time?" In this episode: How to use the power of the “One Thing” to make massive progress towards your goals The importance of saying “no” How to focus on your goals like a laser Resources mentioned in todays episode: Time Control - a brand new training course where I walk you step by step through the process of becoming an ultr...
170: Re-Broadcast - I'm too busy to learn a language (1/3)
March 09, 2017 19:12 - 18 minutes - 13 MBThis is a re-broadcast of the most popular 3-part series from the podcast. I answer the question: "I'm simply too busy to learn languages. How can I find the time?" In this episode: Why goal setting is often overlooked, but is the key to everything How people set unachievable goals What a sensible goal looks like Defining your next-step goal Resources mentioned in todays episode: Time Control - a brand new training course where I walk you step by step through the process of becomi...
169: Using accelerated learning techniques to upgrade your life with Jonathan Levi
February 27, 2017 12:29 - 43 minutes - 30.5 MBIn today's episode, I talk to Jonathan Levi from The Superlearner Academy about accelerated learning techniques. Episode Summary: Jonathan's difficult learning background at school The story of how he first encountered speed reading How to get amazing results on your MBA What is accelerated learning? The core principles of rapid skill acquisition How to apply memory techniques to language learning Resources In Today's Episode: The Superlearner Academy is currently offering a ...
168: How did you get started with Japanese?
February 27, 2017 12:22 - 13 minutes - 9.81 MBDanilo asks: "How should I get started learning Japanese?" Episode Summary: What happened to me: I learnt to say a bunch of things, but never really understood the language I never spent enough time listening After moving to Japan, I continued studying, gradually building up my knowledge, but it took forever It wasn't until I began speaking very often that I really began to crack Japanese, and become comfortable with it's logic My suggested plan of attack: Avoid lessons at the s...
166: Adapting the Memory Palace technique
February 23, 2017 08:00 - 14 minutes - 12 MBFletcher asks: "Can I adapt the traditional memory palace technique?" Episode Summary: What is a memory palace? (The story of Simonides) Choose a building you're familiar with Take words you want to remember Place them around the room Create mnemonic with location + action Practise recalling the words by walking through the memory palace sequentially Two key features: Location - create a mnemonic using the location itself (e.g. the sofa) Recall - practise recall by walking t...
167: How to stop translating in your head
February 22, 2017 21:12 - 13 minutes - 9.63 MBArnie asks: "How can I stop translating in my head when people speak to me in French?" Episode Summary: See episode 87 for a previous answer to this topic Translating in your head is a very common problem There's no quick fix I can give you, only some encouragement and a helpful way of thinking about the problem To state the obvious: When you understand what's being said in French, you have no reason to translate Therefore, the more you improve, the less you translate This is go...
165: What's the ideal language learning environment?
February 17, 2017 12:42 - 15 minutes - 12.5 MBSonia asks: "What's the ideal language learning environment?" Episode Summary: There's no such thing as the ideal, or best, language learning environment Learning to speak a language is heavily linked to affective factors - your feelings and how you react to the environment around you You can be very analytical, and conclude that complete immersion after a minimum of study is the "most efficient way"... but only if you're happy in that environment When I look back on my language lea...
164: Maintaining a language after university
February 16, 2017 10:00 - 18 minutes - 15.1 MBEleanor asks: "How can I maintain my Spanish after university?" Episode Summary: Learning vs maintenance When is maintenance necessary? Being realistic Richard Simcott's approach (as described in Language Learning Foundations) What I do personally to maintain my languages Tips for maintaining languages at an advanced level Reading books you like Watching movies, TV or listening to podcasts Attending events Hanging out with friends Studying in the language Language exch...
163: Learning Cantonese after Mandarin
February 07, 2017 10:23 - 17 minutes - 12.5 MBChris asks: "How should I start learning Cantonese, given that I already speak Mandarin?" Episode Summary: Cantonese is to Mandarin what Cockney is to English It's a highly developed, unique language that is considered a spoken language When Cantonese speakers write things down, they normally use standard Chinese So what does this mean for a Mandarin speaker who wants to learn Cantonese? At the risk of oversimplifying, your major task is to learn a large amount of Cantonese-specific...
162: Was this the worst language exchange I ever did?
February 07, 2017 10:12 - 18 minutes - 13.1 MBIn this episode, I describe a terrible language exchange experience I had this week. Episode Summary: Great news! Full transcripts of each podcast are available on the show notes - that's here! Scroll down to find the transcript. My terrible language exchange this week Why it went wrong What you can learn from the experience Start speaking today: I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualangu...
161: Should I use formal or informal language?
February 02, 2017 08:00 - 11 minutes - 8.3 MBChris asks: "Should I speak formally or informally in Turkish?" In this episode: Every language has it's convention as to when and where you should speak formally or informally I've found myself resisting speaking formally in other languages, and I've always been curious why that is What I've learnt is that my "default" is informal, because that's the way we speak English Once you understand the cultural significance of formal and informal speech in the language you're learning, it ...
160: 5 Tips For Finding Comprehensible Input
January 31, 2017 12:14 - 12 minutes - 9.3 MBJonathan asks: "How can I find comprehensible input for Hebrew?" In this episode: 1. Find other people who are learning the same language, and ask what materials they like: Forums - UniLang, How To Learn Any Language Facebook groups I use CantoDict.com 2. Go to specialist bookshops (in- and out of country). I found some great stuff in Hong Kong 3. Search for bloggers who write about your target language and email them 4. Find material you like and hire someone to transcribe it. Fra...
159: Growing vocabulary at intermediate level
January 17, 2017 08:00 - 15 minutes - 12.8 MBValentin asks: "I'm at intermediate level in Russian. How can I grow my vocabulary?" In this episode: There's no quick solution - you have a large amount of vocabulary to learn, and that takes time Firstly, make sure you can read Russian. It's not too hard, and not being able to read is a handicap "I can't read books or read articles" - maybe not, but you can find material that's graded Tools that can help you read... LingQ ReadLang My book of short stories in Russian Also... ...
158: Skype conversations as a beginner
January 11, 2017 12:05 - 13 minutes - 11.2 MBMax asks: "How can I hold Skype conversations if I'm just a beginner?" In this episode: Many people freeze up as a beginner because they lack vocabulary and confidence If you're willing to make mistakes, you can go far! Keeping conversations going as a beginner: "How do you say ___?" Ask questions Become a master at paraphrasing Success with this depends a lot on your teacher - see Olly's teacher in Thailand for an example of how this can work well: https://youtu.be/RWfVYUktRkE...
157: Keeping the language alive after returning home
January 05, 2017 08:42 - 15 minutes - 12.3 MBLibby asks: "I've recently returned home after a year in Germany. How can I keep up my German?" In this episode: It's normal for your language to go through "seasons" My Thailand experience, how I feel about it now, and why I'm not worried How I learnt Spanish and Portuguese... and didn't use them for years! The maturing of my Japanese Having lived abroad and experienced what it's like to live a language, going back to studying might feel wrong to you You're doing all the right ...
156: What to expect in 2017
January 03, 2017 08:08 - 16 minutes - 13 MBIn this episode, I talk about my plans for 2017 and thank some people who have influenced my life and work over the last year. In this episode: My big plans for the year: Fluent Spanish Academy - growing the Academy into the best resource for Spanish learners on the web New beginners Spanish course - watch this space! Conversations - collections of fun, natural dialogues for language learners Cantonese listening materials - a new project coming soon Short Stories - a big (but sti...
155: How long should I study with the same material?
December 26, 2016 06:00 - 12 minutes - 9.79 MBClay asks: "For how long should I use the same material?" In this episode: One of the most destructive language habits is jumping from one material to the next Usually, my advice is to stick with ONE thing, simply to guard against the "butterfly" problem "Don't let the great be the enemy of the good" When I'm studying, I usually have a few different strands to my learning: Speaking on a regular basis Flashcard review of vocabulary Study time In my study time, I tend to do one t...
154: How to teach languages to children
December 23, 2016 06:00 - 15 minutes - 12.6 MBChen asks: "How can I teach my child a foreign language without a native environment?" In this episode: Studies comparing school education systems don't find any benefits to starting school tuition before the age of 11. However, this is an indictment of the education system more than anything It is possible to teach children many languages at the same time It's always good to follow the child's interests, but since children change their tastes so frequently, I would pick the language y...
153: Tips to learn languages abroad
December 21, 2016 13:37 - 17 minutes - 13.8 MBIn this episode, I discuss learning languages abroad. In this episode: Moving abroad to learn a language isn't always as easy as it seems The need to feel comfortable can lead to decisions that aren't helpful for language learning What I've been doing in Hong Kong: Talking to people on the street is neither easy nor productive. Create dedicated opportunities to speak: ConversationExchange.com, MyLanguageExchange.com Learning local vocabulary for daily life is the biggest benefit to ...
152: I don't sound like a native
December 03, 2016 06:00 - 14 minutes - 11.3 MBMarco asks: "My teacher says I don't speak like a native. What should I do?" In this episode: When you begin talking to native speakers, most of the value comes from simply speaking Getting used to speaking is the most important thing If you have a lot of existing language knowledge from school, you need to spend time with native speakers in order to get used to how they actually speak Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Speaking Bootcamp - A crash course in speaking fluently and c...
151: Why am I still a beginner?
December 01, 2016 12:06 - 15 minutes - 12.2 MBAndy asks: "Why am I still a beginner?" In this episode: Asian languages can take a long time to get used to 6 months seems to be the length of time it takes to become familiar with a new language If you're not seeing progress, you need to increase the frequency and depth of your learning Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Olly's YouTube channel - subscribe for regular videos from Hong Kong! Start speaking today I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the be...
150: Expressing time in Chinese
November 25, 2016 19:16 - 16 minutes - 13.2 MBTadeusz asks: "Do Chinese concepts of time differ from English?" In this episode: In this episode, I'm joined by Chris Parker. We discuss... How to express time in Chinese Potential confusion with English Similarities in Cantonese and Japanese Language Examples: Before and after, not really front and behind 5 years ago - 5年以前 = 5 years before (not really front) 5 years time - 5年以后 = 5 years after (not really behind) (trad chars = 五年以後） 前 = before or in front 后 = after + be...
149: Looking back on 3 months of Thai
November 22, 2016 13:01 - 11 minutes - 9.52 MBIn this episode, I look back on the last 3 months of learning Thai. In this episode: What I've done since returning from Thailand Is one lesson a week enough? Learning two languages at once Advice for a "minimum" time commitment Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Olly's YouTube channel: http://youtube.com/iwtyal Learn Thai Video Series: Click here Start speaking today I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordabl...
148: How to learn a language from home
November 10, 2016 06:00 - 14 minutes - 11.3 MBRana asks: "How can you learn a language without traveling abroad?" In this episode: Traveling abroad isn't necessarily a good thing You can easily learn the basics of a new language from anywhere Get a good textbook & take online classes Plan a trip abroad later on, once you can speak Longer-term, the mosts important thing is to stay motivated in your learning Resources Mentioned in This Episode: Do you need to live abroad to learn a language? - An interesting piece by Jana Fad...
147: Are word frequency lists useful?
November 08, 2016 13:44 - 11 minutes - 9.37 MBDave asks: "How useful are word frequency lists?" In this episode: A small number of words account for a disproportionate amount of use in spoken language But does it make sense to memorise the most frequent words? What about nuance, or context? Why a holistic approach is best - you'll learn those words naturally anyway Frequency dictionaries can be useful for filling in gaps Resources Mentioned in This Episode: The Science Of Successful Blogging - My talk from the Montreal Lan...
146: How to enrich your vocabulary
November 03, 2016 06:00 - 10 minutes - 7.77 MBSyawal asks: "How can I enrich my vocabulary when speaking?" In this episode: Why we tend to use the same limited vocabulary when we speak Syawal's English is already strong, so we're talking about finer shades of meaning and expression How does a native English speaker enrich their vocabulary? Extensive reading is the ultimate way to expose yourself to new linguistic possibilities Combine that with memory techniques to make sure you don't forget the vocabulary Resources Mentione...
145: Staying safe in language exchanges
November 01, 2016 11:55 - 10 minutes - 7.7 MBAshley asks: "How do you stay safe when doing language exchanges?" In this episode: Making connections is the real joy of language learning My perspective as a man It's undeniable that some people are looking for more - just like real life! Just as in real life, you need to stay aware Corresponding in advance, talking about the terms of your exchange, and trusting your gut is probably best Beyond that, if you're meeting online (such as Skype), you're safe - just don't reveal any...