Language Chats
118 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 2 months ago - ★★★★★ - 8 ratingsTune in as Penny and Bec share their experiences of language learning with you, as well as the stories of other Australians (and a few international guests!) who love learning, working with, and communicating using other languages.
Subscribe for your fortnightly dose of language love, from an Australian perspective.
Find out more: www.languagelovers.com.au
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Episodes
Not just textbooks: Structure in language learning
November 01, 2021 07:06 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBHow does the word ‘structure’ make you feel in the context of learning a language? The idea of structured learning might conjure images in your mind of textbooks or classrooms, but structure can come in many forms - some more or less effective for different people in a different stages of their learning. In this episode of Language Chats, we’re chatting about our experiences of learning languages in both structured and less structured environments, and the kinds of structure that have worked...
Leading a bilingual school: A chat with Stanley Wang, Principal of Abbotsford Primary School
October 04, 2021 05:05 - 49 minutes - 45.2 MBBilingual education is being embraced by more schools, educators and communities in Australia, as its benefits become more established and accepted. Although still a niche part of the Australian educational landscape, there are a number of bilingual schools around the country, which allow students to learn through another language in addition to English. In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Stanley Wang, Principal of Abbotsford Primary School in Melbourne, the home of Australia’s ...
Bringing Filipino cuisine, culture & community to Australians: A chat with Fides Mae Santos-Arguelles from The Entree.Pinays
September 20, 2021 07:04 - 48 minutes - 44.2 MBHow much do you know about Filipino food, culture and language? Did you know that Australians of Filipino heritage make up the fifth largest group of Australians born overseas*? In this Language Chat, we speak with Fides Mae Santos-Arguelles, independent business consultant and co-founder of The Entree.Pinays, a food-loving entrepreneurial group of Filipinas working together to bring Filipino cuisine, culture and community to the hearts, minds and tastebuds of Australians on Wurundjeri countr...
Teaching Australians another language: A chat with Margaux Josse
September 06, 2021 20:27 - 45 minutes - 41.9 MBAustralians aren’t well known for their language skills (unfortunately)… But is this just a stereotype? Do we really struggle at learning languages, or are we just expecting too much, too soon, when we set out on a language learning journey? In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Margaux Josse, a Melbourne-based French language teacher who has been teaching French to Australians of different ages, backgrounds and motivations across a range of professional contexts for over six years...
The 'F' word: Fluency in French with Bec Howie
August 16, 2021 09:38 - 35 minutes - 32.7 MBIn this episode of Language Chats, we’re talking the ‘F’ word! Maybe not the F word you are thinking about…. but FLUENCY. Our very own Language Chats co-host Bec talks about her French language learning experience from a beginner 5-year-old kid to becoming ‘fluent’. What does fluent mean to you? Is it a goal of yours? Can you be fluent in a particular context and not in others? What about all the pressures of admitting you are fluent? Does it take confidence to talk about your language s...
The ’F’ word: Fluency in French with Bec Howie
August 16, 2021 09:38 - 35 minutes - 32.8 MBIn this episode of Language Chats, we’re talking the ‘F’ word! Maybe not the F word you are thinking about…. but FLUENCY. Our very own Language Chats co-host Bec talks about her French language learning experience from a beginner 5-year-old kid to becoming ‘fluent’. What does fluent mean to you? Is it a goal of yours? Can you be fluent in a particular context and not in others? What about all the pressures of admitting you are fluent? Does it take confidence to talk about your language skil...
Combining what you learn with what you love: A chat with Ermy from The Language Rose
August 02, 2021 09:35 - 37 minutes - 34.3 MBIn this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Italian teacher and artist Ermy Pedata of The Language Rose. Ermy is passionate and enthusiastic teacher (her positivity is infectious!), who loves to help her students learn Italian through their interests and passions. We chat with her about her own language learning journey and how art led her back to languages, her tips to help people connect their language learning with what they love, and how she has applied this approach to her own langu...
It's language trivia time! Celebrating our 50th episode
July 19, 2021 09:34 - 1 hour - 58.3 MB50 episodes of Language Chats! We can hardly believe it! It’s been a little over two years since we started recording this podcast and we’re still here… But so are you! We have a lot of fun chatting language between ourselves and with others, but it’s extra special that there are other language lovers out there who enjoy listening to these language chats too. So, thank you for tuning in and engaging with us on our favourite topics! To celebrate this little milestone, we’re putting each othe...
It’s language trivia time! Celebrating our 50th episode
July 19, 2021 09:34 - 1 hour - 58.4 MB50 episodes of Language Chats! We can hardly believe it! It’s been a little over two years since we started recording this podcast and we’re still here… But so are you! We have a lot of fun chatting language between ourselves and with others, but it’s extra special that there are other language lovers out there who enjoy listening to these language chats too. So, thank you for tuning in and engaging with us on our favourite topics! To celebrate this little milestone, we’re putting each other ...
Connecting to indigenous culture through language: A chat with Yaaran from @wiradyuri
July 05, 2021 05:45 - 38 minutes - 35.5 MBWiradjuri is the Australian indigenous language of Wiradjuri country, in central-southern New South Wales. As a revival language, it is experiencing growth and provides an important connection to the local indigenous culture; however it also faces significant challenges to keep it alive and active. In this episode, we speak with Wiradjuri man Yaaran (Aaron) Ellis who currently teaches the Wiradjuri language in Young, New South Wales. We chat about his experience of learning and teaching the l...
Learning Farsi: A chat with Candace Powell
June 21, 2021 07:30 - 38 minutes - 34.9 MBFarsi (Persian) may not be a language that you hear about people learning often in Australia; however the official language of Iran has an estimated 70 million native speakers and 110 million speakers worldwide, and it’s the language that has captured Sydney-based Candace Powell’s language-loving heart for the last several years. In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Candace about how she became interested in learning Farsi, how she has been learning the language and finding resour...
The power of podcasts for language learning: A chat with Pete from Aussie English
June 07, 2021 07:52 - 36 minutes - 33.1 MBHow important are podcasts to you for learning a language? Being so accessible, podcasts are a great way to practice your listening skills for any language! But it’s not always just about the language itself. Listening to podcasts can also be a way to learn more about another culture and about other more subtle aspects of communicating in another language too. In this episode, we speak with Pete Smissen, creator of Aussie English, a podcast and learning platform that helps advanced English s...
Languages at work and at home: A chat with Andrew & Xuran
May 24, 2021 10:23 - 39 minutes - 36.3 MBIn this episode, we speak with two members of our Language Lovers AU Community - Andrew & Xuran (Sharon), who are both currently language teachers of Chinese at schools in Geelong, Victoria. We chat with them both about their respective journeys with language learning and how they became interested in languages, teaching Chinese in Victorian high schools and how they bring many languages into their home with their two young sons. Can you relate to their experiences? Do you have any questions...
More than A to Z: Learning languages with another script or alphabet
May 10, 2021 06:52 - 23 minutes - 22 MBHave you learned (or would you like to learn) a language that uses another script or alphabet? Or does the idea of learning a language that is written in a *completely* different way scare you? In this episode of Language Chats, we chat about Penny’s experience of learning Japanese and Mandarin, the excitement of learning to ‘crack the code’, the visual nature of learning other scripts and alphabets, whether it would be possible to skip learning a script (#controversial), and which scripts we...
Making language learning accessible & exciting: A chat with Philippa Kruger from Education Perfect
April 26, 2021 06:16 - 34 minutes - 31.8 MBThe world of EdTech is growing and dynamic, offering greater access to exciting and diverse learning materials to students around the world. In this episode of Language Chats, we had the pleasure of speaking with Philippa Kruger, Global Head of Languages at Education Perfect. We chat about Philippa’s background as a French teacher and how she progressed into the exciting world of EdTech, what EP is, how it came to be what it is today (hint: it started with languages!) and how it can help stu...
Introduction to Australian indigenous languages: A chat with Karla Zuluaga (Part 2)
April 12, 2021 09:23 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBIf you haven’t already listened to Part 1 of this conversation, you can listen to it here. This is Part 2 of our chat with linguist Karla Zuluaga, who gives us an introduction to Australian indigenous languages and their current context, based on her studies, knowledge and experience to date. In this second half of our conversation, we chat about bringing indigenous languages into education in indigenous and non-indigenous communities, as well as how we can better inform ourselves on indigeno...
Introduction to Australian indigenous languages: A chat with Karla Zuluaga (Part 1)
March 29, 2021 02:42 - 30 minutes - 27.9 MBThere are over 250 indigenous languages in Australia, but most Australians know very little (if anything at all) about them. There is important work being done around the country to document, revitalise, revive and share the languages which have existed in Australia since long before colonisation, but if you’re like us and you want to know more - where does one even begin? In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with linguist Karla Zuluaga who gives us an introduction to Australian indige...
Finding support & solidarity in language challenges: A chat with Debs Bensaul
March 15, 2021 07:21 - 26 minutes - 24.7 MBHave you ever taken part in an online language challenge to keep yourself on track and stay motivated in your learning? Debs Bensaul (@franklyfrancophone | @essentiallyitalian | @towardsfluency ) is a long-time Language Chats listener and member of our Language Lovers AU Community. Based in Sydney, Debs is a committed learner of French and Italian who regularly takes part in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge as a learner and volunteer community coach. We talk about her experiences of learning ...
Native or Non-Native Teachers/Tutors: The Pros & Cons
March 01, 2021 02:19 - 26 minutes - 24.2 MBWhat’s been your experience with tutors and teachers? Have you had mostly native teachers or a mix of non-native and native teachers? In this episode of Language Chats, Bec and Penny chat about their experiences over the years, and the pros and cons of both. Plus are you going to be at the Women in Language online conference? It's from 4-7 March 2021 - you can get your ticket here! Italki Get your Women In Language ticket here! 4-7 March 2021 Language Lovers AU Community on Facebook Bec ...
Enthusiastic about linguistics: A chat with Gretchen & Lauren from Lingthusiasm
February 15, 2021 05:24 - 46 minutes - 43 MBYou might not know it yet, but you’re about to get very enthusiastic about linguistics. Yes, that’s right! The science of language and communication is fascinating and we recently had the pleasure of chatting with Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne, hosts of Lingthusiasm, a podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics. We talk about what linguistics is, why it is so interesting and relevant (especially to those who love learning other languages!), whether we should all learn the Internation...
Looking back to look ahead - our language plans for 2021
February 01, 2021 08:58 - 30 minutes - 27.8 MBWas 2020 a year you needed a break from language learning? Did you step back and change your direction and plans? In this episode of Language Chats, Bec and Penny reflect on the past year and think about the learnings they will take with them into 2021. Consistency, not being hard on ourselves, getting back to what we love doing, not wanting to lose our sense of self and discovering what really works for us are just some of the learnings we talk about! Are you taking on something new this yea...
Embarrassing mistakes: Short-term pain, long-term gain
December 14, 2020 05:54 - 26 minutes - 24.4 MBMistakes are a natural part of the learning process but that doesn't mean that they are always pleasant! In this episode of Language Chats, we chat all about embarrassing mistakes we’ve made in our language learning, how we recovered and what we learned. From tonal mishaps to pronunciation blunders, we’ve made a few! What funny/embarrassing experiences have you had when trying to speak another language? Let us know! We love hearing from you. And don’t forget you can join our Facebook group t...
Fascinated by sound: A chat with opera singer and speech pathologist, Sarah Lobegeiger de Rodriguez
November 23, 2020 10:04 - 39 minutes - 36.4 MBHow does a love of music and a love of language come together? In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Melbourne-based speech pathologist and opera singer, Sarah Lobegeiger de Rodriguez, who describes herself as “a person with a complete and utter fascination with sound”. We chat about her love for music, words and sound, how this impacts her experience of learning other languages, fighting for empathy with respect to accents, and the complex way that our voice and language can influ...
What to do when it all goes to sh!t and you lose your language learning mojo!
November 08, 2020 08:25 - 36 minutes - 33.5 MBThis year has been a test for us all! When life intervenes (and this is not just during pandemics, but other life changes can throw up big changes in how we approach language learning), it’s important to have a few reasons at your disposal to keep you going in language learning. In this episode, we chat about our different motivations for language learning and what has kept us on track this year during the pandemic and why even when we have lots of time we still find we get tripped up and f...
What to do when it all goes to and you lose your language learning mojo!
November 08, 2020 08:25 - 36 minutes - 33.6 MBThis year has been a test for us all! When life intervenes (and this is not just during pandemics, but other life changes can throw up big changes in how we approach language learning), it’s important to have a few reasons at your disposal to keep you going in language learning. In this episode, we chat about our different motivations for language learning and what has kept us on track this year during the pandemic and why even when we have lots of time we still find we get tripped up and fin...
Language apps that we’re loving, loathing or that have lost our interest!
October 26, 2020 08:54 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBSome language apps are really gamified, some have video, animations or audio, and some use spaced repetition. There have been some fad apps that have come in and been replaced by others – there sure is lots going on in this app world! In this episode of Language Chats, Bec and Penny reveal their favourite apps and others that aren’t near the top of the go-to list. What apps do you love or loathe? Let us know! And don’t forget to join our Facebook group to be part of future discussions just...
Language apps that we're loving, loathing or that have lost our interest!
October 26, 2020 08:54 - 28 minutes - 25.9 MBSome language apps are really gamified, some have video, animations or audio, and some use spaced repetition. There have been some fad apps that have come in and been replaced by others – there sure is lots going on in this app world! In this episode of Language Chats, Bec and Penny reveal their favourite apps and others that aren’t near the top of the go-to list. What apps do you love or loathe? Let us know! And don’t forget to join our Facebook group to be part of future discussions j...
Language and personal identity: A chat with polyglot Lina Vasquez
October 12, 2020 08:45 - 37 minutes - 34.4 MBLina Vasquez is a Latvian-Australian personal development coach, polyglot, YouTuber, speaker and entrepreneur. Having been immersed in a multicultural environment from a young age, she studied law and languages in Australia and Germany and now speaks a total of eight at various levels. Lina has always been curious and a free soul and her experiences of other countries as a teenager, led her to create this global life for herself. Penny and Bec got to “meet” Lina at the recent 2020 Women in La...
Accents and language learning - is there a ’right’ one? And does it even matter?
September 28, 2020 06:27 - 32 minutes - 29.4 MBFrom the Quebecois accent to the Southern Vietnamese accent, we've both had experiences of struggling with accents or feeling proud of their accent in their second language. In this episode, we ask if accents matter, or is the main goal actually just comprehension? In this episode, we’ve done something a bit different and put some questions out to our Language Lovers AU Community Facebook group about accents and language learning and got some amazing responses back. What are your experiences ...
Accents and language learning – is there a ‘right’ one? And does it even matter?
September 28, 2020 06:27 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBFrom the Quebecois accent to the Southern Vietnamese accent, we've both had experiences of struggling with accents or feeling proud of their accent in their second language. In this episode, we ask if accents matter, or is the main goal actually just comprehension? In this episode, we’ve done something a bit different and put some questions out to our Language Lovers AU Community Facebook group about accents and language learning and got some amazing responses back. What are your experienc...
Accents and language learning - is there a 'right' one? And does it even matter?
September 28, 2020 06:27 - 32 minutes - 29.3 MBFrom the Quebecois accent to the Southern Vietnamese accent, we've both had experiences of struggling with accents or feeling proud of their accent in their second language. In this episode, we ask if accents matter, or is the main goal actually just comprehension? In this episode, we’ve done something a bit different and put some questions out to our Language Lovers AU Community Facebook group about accents and language learning and got some amazing responses back. What are your experienc...
When is the right time to introduce a new language into the mix?
September 08, 2020 06:30 - 26 minutes - 24.3 MBIs there such a thing as a right time to introduce a new language? Do we need to be at a certain level such as B1 or equivalent before adding in a new language? Or does it all come down to your motivation and goals and it when it just feels right? In this episode, Penny and Bec talk about if there is a right time to introduce a new language into your language learning mix. What's been your experience with adding a new language? Let us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram! @langua...
Foreign Language TV Series - What We’re Watching in 2020
August 25, 2020 23:20 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBWhat we’re watching!We love watching foreign language TV and in this episode we round up our latest discoveries. From German fantasy thrillers to Danish political drams and Spanish food documentaries to Indian love stories, we cover all kinds of genres and languages in this episode! What have you been watching? Let us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram! Head to our website for the shownotes and links for this episode.
Foreign Language TV Series - What We're Watching in 2020
August 25, 2020 23:20 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBWhat we’re watching! We love watching foreign language TV and in this episode we round up our latest discoveries. From German fantasy thrillers to Danish political drams and Spanish food documentaries to Indian love stories, we cover all kinds of genres and languages in this episode! What have you been watching? Let us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram! Head to our website for the shownotes and links for this episode.
Sharing the voices of Women In Language: A chat with Kerstin from The Fluent Show
August 10, 2020 07:51 - 46 minutes - 42.3 MBExcuse us while we have a little fangirl moment on the podcast because, in this episode, we chat with someone who has been a massive inspiration to us both - Kerstin Cable from fluentlanguage.co.uk and The Fluent Show! Kerstin tells us about where Fluent Language started, how her podcast grew out of a series of interviews on her blog, a bit about her personal experience of learning languages and about Women In Language, an online conference that she organises with Lindsay Williams and Shannon...
From being the only student at school studying Chinese to certified translator: A chat with Maddy Norris
July 27, 2020 06:32 - 30 minutes - 28.3 MBIn this episode, we chat with Maddy Norris - a fellow language lover here in Australia and long-time Language Chats listener! Maddy is a NAATI-certified Mandarin Chinese to English translator and has also spent time learning a number of other languages including Japanese, Korean and French. She tells us a bit about her experience of studying languages in Australia at school and university, working as a translator and her language learning ambitions that lie ahead. Can you relate to some of Ma...
Is it really a choice? Formal language learning as a school-aged kid in Australia
July 13, 2020 09:49 - 27 minutes - 24.8 MBIf we had our time again, would we choose the languages we studied? Languages are often chosen for us, rather than us choosing them when we’re kids. If Bec had her time again, would she choose French? Is it really a choice? Penny chose to learn Japanese after school in year 7, but what drew her in? In this episode of Language Chats, we talk about language learning as children in school. How difficult is it for kids to develop an emotional connection to the language if it’s thrust upon them? H...
Enriching your travel experiences with language: A chat with Michele Frolla (The Intrepid Guide)
June 29, 2020 07:43 - 30 minutes - 27.6 MBIn this episode, we’re chatting with a fellow Melbournian and Australian language lover - Michele Frolla from The Intrepid Guide. Now based in the UK, Michele tells us about how she became interested in languages, how her blog and website The Intrepid Guide came about and, most recently, how she has started sharing her own love of ltalian through her new online course! Do you love to learn even just a little bit of a language before you travel? Like Michele, have you seen the impact of having...
The Language Learning Landscape in Australia: how it’s changed for adults and independent learners
June 16, 2020 07:15 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBTechnology, access to resources, and motivations to learn a new language have completely changed in the three decades since Australia’s National Policy of Languages was written. In this episode, we chat about what these changes mean for adult independent learners today, plus the power of online communities for support, motivation and inspiration. We also lament the lack of public profile people celebrating their bilingualism - and mention a few names you might not even know speak a second la...
The Language Learning Landscape in Australia: how it's changed for adults and independent learners
June 16, 2020 07:15 - 27 minutes - 25.2 MBTechnology, access to resources, and motivations to learn a new language have completely changed in the three decades since Australia’s National Policy of Languages was written. In this episode, we chat about what these changes mean for adult independent learners today, plus the power of online communities for support, motivation and inspiration. We also lament the lack of public profile people celebrating their bilingualism - and mention a few names you might not even know speak a second l...
The Language Learning Landscape in Australia: our observations
June 01, 2020 08:54 - 24 minutes - 22.3 MBIn this episode, we share with you some of our general observations about what we like to call ‘the language learning landscape’ in Australia. For as long as we’ve known each other, we’ve been talking about elements of this in bits and pieces - our experiences of learning languages at school and uni, which languages were perceived as being ‘useful’ or ‘good for your career’ while others were seen to be an ‘unusual choice’ (!), the power and prominence of English despite the many languages use...
Russian, French and long-term goals in mind: A chat with Evan Walters
May 18, 2020 06:16 - 33 minutes - 30.5 MBIn this episode, we’re chatting with another language lover living in Australia - Brisbane-based Evan Walters studied French at school and has been learning Russian for the last five years. We chat about his language learning story, his different motivations for learning French and Russian, the role of long-term goals and routine, and the place of travel in his language learning. Are you an Australian language lover who would like to share your story? We’d love to hear from you! Get in touch ...
Goals, progress and the unexpected: language learning in 2020 so far
May 04, 2020 06:57 - 29 minutes - 27.1 MBThere’s been a lot of changes to life in 2020. Bec and Penny chat about their language goals and progress so far this year and the impact of Covid-19. Bec has discovered she enjoys her ‘blended learning’ approach for German and Penny is intent on not being too hard on her self and celebrating her weekly French class. More: www.languagelovers.com.au/podcast
Online Language Lessons (Part 2): Getting the preparation right
April 20, 2020 06:50 - 23 minutes - 21.3 MBJust a couple of episodes ago, in Episode #019, we chatted about whether online lessons could be a good option for you as a language learner. In the meantime, COVID-19 has impacted the world in a huge way - many of us are spending a lot more time than usual at home, travel is out of the question and online learning for young people as well as adults has become more than just an interesting option, but a fact of life. As Bec gets ready for her first experience of finding and booking some one-o...
Bite-sized language podcasts for busy people: A chat with Mark from Coffee Break Languages
March 26, 2020 05:57 - 26 minutes - 23.9 MBWhile Bec was in Scotland recently, she had the opportunity to meet and speak with Mark, the founder of Coffee Break Languages (also known as the Radio Lingua Network). Bec got to chat with Mark about his own story as a language lover and how Coffee Break Languages came to be, as well as the podcasts and other products that Coffee Break Languages offers to language learners all around the world. Have you listened to any of the Coffee Break Languages podcasts? Which one would you like to start...
Online language lessons (Part 1): Is this right for me?
March 09, 2020 05:05 - 22 minutes - 20.6 MBIn this episode of Language Chats, Penny and Bec chat about how online language lessons work, the pros and cons of learning online and some tips on how to choose your teacher or tutor. Penny is a long-time convert to online language lessons and challenges Bec to give it a go! Do you take language lessons online? Let us know how you find it!
Putting your language skills to work: Using another language for your job
February 24, 2020 03:31 - 26 minutes - 24.1 MBHave you dreamed about using your language skills in your job? In this Language Chats episode, Bec shares her experience of using French in the workplace. Bec shares how a bilingual office operates in Australia as well as some tips about how to make the leap and work in an environment using your second language. Do you use your language skills in your job? Get in touch and let us know! We love hearing from you.
Discovering languages around the world with Language Stories: A chat with Lindsay Williams
February 10, 2020 05:48 - 33 minutes - 30.6 MBLindsay Williams is a polyglot from the UK and learns, teaches, blogs, vlogs, eats, sleeps, and breathes everything language. Languages were never really a thing for Lindsay until she decided to take Spanish at GCSE because she wanted to translate Shakira songs. Since then, it’s been a growing passion that has led to her making languages her business. Lindsay Does Languages was born in 2012 as a local company in the heart of little old England offering private language tuition. Since then, Li...
Language Travel - What is it and how to get the most from it
January 27, 2020 09:28 - 23 minutes - 21.7 MBPenny and Bec chat about language travel in this episode - what it is and how to get the most from it! Penny is a long-term fan of language travel and has been on language trips to to Vietnam, China and Taiwan as part of her Vietnamese and Chinese learning. With an upcoming French language trip planned for New Caledonia, Bec asks Penny why she loves language travel so much. Penny loves the face-to-face connections that language travel allows you to have, the opportunity to use phrases, words ...
Does Grammar Scare You?
January 12, 2020 04:41 - 27 minutes - 25.3 MBHow do you feel about grammar? Does it scare you like it does Penny? Or are you grammar-lover like Bec? In this episode we chat about the technical terms that can be off-putting and ways to overcome our fear of learning grammar. What’s your experience been with learning grammar? Are you a grammar lover or a grammar phobe?