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

Ron asks: "How do you learn colloquial language with limited resources?" In Today's Episode: There's a perennial problem with materials in minority languages Textbooks are simple and boring The next level up is native level... far too hard It's a real problem without a good solution Long-term, you're only going to crack this problem by learning to understand native material and speaking with people a lot Take the long view and do what you can Keep studying the best you can Speak regularly and spend time with people Learn to read It will come eventually, but you've got to maintain a positive attitude over time Resources Mentioned: Talk In Arabic - The best resource on the web for learning colloquial Arabic and Arabic dialects Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do m

Fletcher asks: "Have your views on flashcards changed?" In Today's Episode: I've been using input-based methods to learn languages recently But does this change my approach to learning vocabulary with flashcards? Do I display the word in the target language first on my flashcards? Resources Mentioned: Make Words Stick - my popular guide for using flashcards to memorise words and phrases in another language Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Shar

Johanna asks: "How important is it to review your lesson notes?" In Today's Episode: The principle of review is super important In the past, I've spent 15 minutes at the end of the day reviewing what I did in the morning, and it's very effective The foundation of memory and mastery is repetition Your teacher is right that reviewing your notes is the best way to learn the stuff from the lesson However, the question remains... why? If the topics aren't relevant to you, it can be demotivating But if you have follow-up lessons on the same topic, then reviewing your notes is bound to help you It's the big conundrum of classroom learning - is the stuff actually relevant or interesting to you? I suggest dealing with the reality in front of you and doing your best to learn it Review the whole text, not just the vocab Study "smart" not "hard" - e.g. identify the really important words and work hard to remember them Resources Mentioned: Free Listening Course - a free email course to help you memorise vocabulary

In this solo episode, Olly gives you some updates on what's been going on. In Today's Episode: Update on the Short Story Book launch, worldwide and in US & Canada How to claim your book launch bonuses Random coincidences Language Masters event in London with Michel Thomas About the Language Influencer Summit Polyglot Conference 2019 New language material to master grammar Resources Mentioned: Short Story for Beginner Books with Teach Yourself (including information on bonuses) Language Influencer Summit 2019 - for bloggers, YouTubers, IG'ers, podcasters in the field of language learning Polyglot Conference - Slovenia October 2018 Conversations - story-based listening material for intermediate learners Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on th

In this episode, you're going to hear an interview I did on another podcast, the newly-released Reaching for Words show. The reason I wanted to share this episode on this show was that I thought the interview was uncommonly good, and host Rob asked me a lot of good questions that allowed us to discuss a lot of common topics from a beginner perspective. In Today's Episode: Rob talks with Olly Richards about the role of memorisation in language learning: Do memory champions make the best language learners? Is memorisation really important? Active vs passive memorisation Memorisation tips and techniques for language learning Resources Mentioned: Reaching for Words Podcast - iTunes, Website   Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, ple

Austin asks: "Any tips for learning French together with my wife?" In Today's Episode: Learning your partner's language can be fraught with problems Learning a new language with your partner sounds like a great idea! The activity itself, and the benefit for your relationship is far more important that the efficacy of the approach, I think You might find yourself with different learning preferences, and that will be something you'll need to compromise on If you want to learn the language to a higher level, you'll need to find your own path in time Resources Mentioned: Short Stories in French for Beginners - my new book of short stories with Teach Yourself French Foundations - master the basics of French in two weeks Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to featu

Maria asks: How can I integrate revision into my schedule? In Today's Episode: Revision needs to be meaningful and you need to know it works It's possible to waste a lot of time with revision, time that you could be spending with more content It can be tricky with multiple languages I tend to think of revision now more as a question of repeating content - listening/reading to things over and over Important point: Things that you want to "revise" will learn themselves naturally over time Taking notes is a funny one... many people literally never look at them again My personal revision process involves: Putting key phrases into flashcards and reviewing regularly Highlighting useful words/phrases for lessons Covering topics multiple times in speaking sessions I deal with grammar by: Putting complete sentences into flashcards Looking briefly at rules, and then noticing how that grammar is used in real content Resources Mentioned: Bulletproof Memory - My complete programme for developing a world-class mem

Ellen asks: How should I supplement my university language course? In Today's Episode: It's good to think about how you want your language skills to develop post-uni, not just how to pass your exams! Many people studying languages at uni cannot speak when they graduate At uni, you'll get a huge amount of "education"... there's no risk of you not learning all the important stuff It's natural to want to master the vocabulary and grammar you meet, but you won't be able to do that by more study The way to master vocab and grammar, and to learn to speak the language confidently over time is by making the language a part of your life Find things you like in Spanish and German and spend as much time as possible enjoying them! I give you permission to put the books away and have fun! Resources Mentioned: Casa de Papel - an extraordinarily good Spanish tv series Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyou

Terry asks: What should I do when I lose my motivation? In Today's Episode: Motivation to learn makes or breaks your learning project Sunk cost fallacy - the more time you've put into something the harder it is to let go Languages need to be a living breathing part of your life, or it's hard to keep them up Resources Mentioned: IWTYAL 256: The extraordinary power of haircuts in language learning New Books - visit the launch page to find out about the books and bonuses! Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If

In this episode, I finally reveal the "big news" I've been teasing you with for over 2 years! In Today's Episode: For complete information on today's episode, please visit the main blog post at: Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help m

In this episode, I react to the never-ending belief that children's book are good for language learning. In Today's Episode: Why I'll never recommend that adults should use kids' books for language learning: The vocabulary is NOT high-frequency The grammar is NOT simple The content is NOT interesting or relevant Readings from: Harry Potter and the Philsopher's Stone Hansel and Gretel Jack and the FlumFlum Tree Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could…

In this episode, Olly continues a new series covering what he believes to be the fundamental rules of language learning. Click here to listen to part 1 Click here to listen to part 2 The Rules: Rule 7: Listen with the transcript Rule 8: Don't worry about something until it’s actually a problem (Spanish varieties, Italian dialects, a notorious grammar point) Rule 9: Do something every day...however small Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share

In this episode, Olly continues a new series covering what he believes to be the fundamental rules of language learning. Click here to listen to part 1 The Rules: Rule 4: Never take language learning advice from native speakers (watch movies, read translations, read kids books) Rule 5: Same study routine every day (discipline in the small things gives you freedom in the bigger!) Rule 6: Look for "big dominos", not new tactics (e.g. read for 1 hour a day, start speaking) Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If

Kristin asks: "How can I learn vocabulary from reading without stopping every 5 seconds?" In Today's Episode: Consider this analogy: When you're pushing yourself on the treadmill and working hard, it can get uncomfortable. However, you keep going because  you know it's doing you good. Try to extend that analogy to the act of "reading without stopping". By keeping reading, without stopping to look up words, you're pushing yourself beyond your comfort zone. Some practical tips to make reading easier: Everyone has a strong desire to understand every word, but there is so much value in being content not understanding 100% To combat that, try a "zero stopping" policy for a while, and see how it feels. After you finish the entire chapter, go back and look at vocabulary. You'll find that - from continued reading - you've already understood words that flummoxed you earlier If you really must look words up, only look up vital words that keep coming up Read electronically so you can look up words instantly On Kindle,

Simon asks: "How can I use storytelling with my students?" In Today's Episode: Anecdotes are stories... Providing continuity between those anecdotes would be great if possible. The key with storytelling is to motivate, interest and captivate your students Stories don't have to follow a structural approach, so don't worry about teaching specific grammar up-front Teachers can observe students' reactions to the story and teach based on emerging needs Resources: TPRS - Teaching proficiency through reading and storytelling Dogme / Unplugged language teaching - a teaching methodology based on holistic methods Spanish Uncovered - learn Spanish through stories German Uncovered - learn German through stories Natural Order Hypothesis - we learn grammar in a set order! Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by

David asks: "How many words can you learn per day?" In Today's Episode: In language teaching theory, 8-12 new words a day is often used as a rule of thumb How many words you learn in a day isn't a great measurement of progress in a language It's impossible to control when a word is actually learnt The most effective way to learn vocabulary is in the context of the "whole language" - i.e. through listening, reading and speaking Resources: Bulletproof Memory - My complete memory course where I teach you the most effective techniques for learning vocabulary in a foreign language Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the

Ron asks: "What's the best way to learn verb conjugations?" In Today's Episode: Here are what are the big-picture principles for learning and memorising verb conjugations in Spanish or any other language: Make sure you're getting lots of exposure through listening and reading - learning verb conjugations ultimately will come down to whether you can get used to the language through a lot of exposure Speak regularly - it's how you gain confidence over the usage of the verbs Some focus on rules and deliberate practice helps - whether that's practice exercises, drills or something else Resources: Follow along with my Italian project: Italian Mission Control - where I'm posting all the resources I'm using, plus regular video updates My YouTube channel - subscribe to my YouTube channel to get notifications as soon as new videos go live Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkisho

In this episode, Olly introduces his new project to learn Italian! In Today's Episode: Note: For full show notes, please visit the main blog post introducing the project. To view the "mission control" for the Italian project, including all the resources I'm using, click here: Italian Project Resource Page Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcas

In this episode, Olly speaks with Shannon Kennedy from Eurolinguiste.com. In Today's Episode: Minimalism in the language sphere Introversion and shyness, and how it affects the learner Moving from Romance to Asian languages https://youtu.be/iwPu0WoNpFQ Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates. Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could… Share the episode using the social media buttons around you Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that) iTunes reviews in p

Luca asks: "Are you changing your view on the best way to learn a language?" In Today's Episode: Luca's noticed an evolution in the way I've been talking about language learning on the podcast He finds a Krashen-esque "input-based" methodology to be the most effective and wonders if I'm becoming a convert to this I've found my experiences influenced a lot by the languages I've been learning In certain languages, reading is a genuine barrier (Japanese, Chinese) I'll be able to say more after my Italian project this summer! Resources Mentioned: Conversations - learn to understand fast, spoken language Make Words Stick - my complete guide to flashcards for language learning Start Speaking Today: I’d like to thank italki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: https://iwillteachyoualanguage.com//italkishownotes Do You Have A Question? Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to