AI translation promises frictionless communication — but what are we losing when we outsource meaning? In this episode, LJ explores why learning a language will always matter more than any algorithm, examining what gets flattened in translation, how language learning transforms identity, and how to use technology as a tool rather than a replacement.

Welcome to the new Beyond Fluency — a consolidation of The Fluency Fix, Native To Me, and Teach Me, Too into one cohesive podcast exploring language learning through critique, conversation, and resource.

In this inaugural episode, LJ explains why running five podcasts became unsustainable, how the three-energies framework works, and what listeners can expect moving forward. Using the theme "What Does It Mean to Sound Like Yourself?" — the episode demonstrates how critique (dismantling accent reduction myths), conversation (exploring linguistic identity through a student's story), and resource (introducing the Voice Mapping exercise) work together in every episode.

Let me ask you something. When was the last time you sat down to study grammar — and actually enjoyed it?

If you're drawing a blank right now, you're not alone.

For most people, grammar feels like punishment. Like something you have to do, but would rather avoid. You know you need to understand it. But every time you sit down to study it, you're bored out of your mind.

Verb conjugation tables. Conditional tenses. Subjunctive moods. Rules upon rules upon exceptions.

And you think: Is there really no way to make this interesting?

In this episode, we're talking about how to actually enjoy studying grammar. Yes, really.

You'll learn why grammar feels so boring in the first place — and why it's not grammar's fault. How grammar is actually the architecture of meaning, revealing how languages think about time, possibility, and relationships. Why approaching grammar as discovery instead of memorization changes everything. And five strategies to study grammar in a way that's curious, playful, and actually engaging.

Grammar isn't boring. The way it's usually taught is. And when you put it back into context, tie it to meaning, and approach it with curiosity instead of obligation — it becomes something you explore, not something you avoid.

You don't have to love grammar. But you also don't have to hate it. You get to choose how you engage with it.

Want full transcripts, extended show notes, and bonus resources for every episode? Podcast Pro gives you the tools to transform grammar from a chore into exploration — with strategies rooted in curiosity and real communication.

Learn more and subscribe at theimmersionstudio.com.

New year. Fresh start. And maybe you're sitting down right now thinking, This is it. This is the year I get serious about my language learning.

You want to set goals. You want to make progress. You want to finally feel like you're getting somewhere.

But here's the thing — every time you've done this before, one of two things happens.

Either you set the bar too high — I'm going to be fluent by June, I'm going to study two hours a day — and you burn out before February even ends.

Or you set the bar too low — I'll just try to do something when I have time — and months go by without any real progress. And you feel stuck.

In this episode, we're talking about how to set language learning goals that don't burn you out. Why traditional goal-setting doesn't work for language learning. And how to design goals that actually fit your life and move you forward without breaking you.

You'll learn why outcome-based goals set you up to fail — and what to focus on instead. How to build process goals that measure connection, not hours. Why flexibility is what makes goals sustainable. How to align your goals with how you actually want to use the language. And how to check in and adjust as your life changes.

Your goals don't have to look like anyone else's. You don't have to be fluent by June. You don't have to study two hours a day. You just have to stay connected to the language in a way that works for you.

Progress doesn't have to be fast to be real. It just has to be yours.

Want full transcripts, extended show notes, and bonus resources for every episode? Podcast Pro gives you the tools to design language learning goals that actually work with your life — not against it.

Learn more and subscribe at theimmersionstudio.com.

You're trying to have a conversation. Someone says something to you. And before you can respond, your brain does this: it translates what they said into your native language, then translates your response back into the target language, then checks if it's grammatically correct, then—

And by the time you've done all of that, the moment has passed. The conversation has moved on. And you're left feeling slow, stuck, like you're always one step behind.

In this episode, we're talking about how to stop translating in your head — without forcing it. Why translation happens, why it's not actually a problem, and how to soften that reflex so you can start thinking in the language instead of about it.

You'll learn why translation is a natural bridge, not the enemy. What makes translation stick and what loosens it. How to build sensory associations so words mean something beyond their translation. Why encountering words in context creates pathways that bypass translation entirely. And how to give yourself permission to translate — for now — while training your brain to access the language more directly.

Translation isn't a failure. It's not a sign you're doing it wrong. The goal isn't to never translate. The goal is to stop needing to translate. And that happens when your brain has other ways to access meaning.

You can't force that shift. But you can create the conditions for it.

Want full transcripts, extended show notes, and bonus resources for every episode? Podcast Pro gives you the tools to soften the translation reflex and start thinking in your target language — naturally, without force.

Learn more and subscribe at theimmersionstudio.com.

You can understand so much.

You listen to podcasts and actually follow what's being said. You watch shows without subtitles. You read articles and get the nuance.

You've put in the work. You've consumed hours and hours of input.

But then someone asks you a question in your target language — and you freeze.

The words are in your head. You know them. But they won't come out. Or they come out so slowly and broken that you give up halfway through.

In this episode, we're talking about what to do when you understand everything but can't speak. Why this gap exists, why it's so frustrating, and most importantly — how to start closing it.

You'll learn why understanding and producing are two completely different skills. What makes speaking harder than listening — processing speed, vocabulary access, performance pressure, grammar in real time. Why the gap between receptive and productive skills is predictable, not a personal failure. And five low-stakes strategies to start practicing output without an audience.

Understanding and producing are two different muscles. If you've only been training one, the other is going to feel weak. But weak doesn't mean broken. It just means untrained.

You don't need to sound fluent to start speaking. You just need to start speaking to become fluent.

Want full transcripts, extended show notes, and bonus resources for every episode? Podcast Pro gives you the tools to bridge the gap between understanding and speaking — with strategies designed for real, sustainable progress.

Learn more and subscribe at theimmersionstudio.com.

You start strong. You tell yourself, "This time it's going to be different. I'm going to study every day. Thirty minutes, no excuses."

And for a while, you actually do it. You show up. You put in the time. You feel proud.

But then life happens. Work gets busy. You get sick. You're just... tired. And suddenly, that routine you built? It falls apart.

You miss one day. Then two. Then a week. And you start thinking, I'm so inconsistent. I just don't have the discipline. What's wrong with me?

In this episode, we're talking about how to build a language routine that doesn't rely on willpower. Why motivation always fails. And how to design a practice that adapts to your life instead of demanding that your life adapt to it.

You'll learn why sustainable routines are built on systems, not discipline. How to use habit stacking to layer language learning into what you're already doing. What "minimum viable practice" means and why it's the key to consistency. How to create a flexible menu of options that adapts to your energy levels. And why redefining success as connection — not perfection — changes everything.

You don't need more discipline. You don't need more motivation. You need a routine that bends without breaking. A routine that makes space for your actual life.

Want full transcripts, extended show notes, and bonus resources for every episode? Podcast Pro gives you the tools to deepen your practice and design a language routine that actually works with your life — not against it.

Learn more and subscribe at theimmersionstudio.com.

You've been working so hard. Studying every day. Listening to podcasts. Reading articles. Practicing with a tutor. And for a while, it felt like you were getting somewhere. You could feel yourself improving. New words stuck. Conversations got easier. You were making progress.

But now? Now it feels like you've hit a wall.

You're doing the same things you were doing before. But nothing's changing. You're not getting better. You might even feel like you're getting worse.

In this episode, we're talking about why your progress doesn't feel linear. Why language learning looks more like a spiral than a straight line. And why the plateau you're experiencing right now isn't a problem to fix — it's a season to understand.

~~~

Want to go deeper? Head to theimmersionstudio.com to explore Podcast Pro — full transcripts, extended show notes, and bonus resources to help you navigate every season of your fluency journey.

Learn more at theimmersionstudio.com.

Thanks for listening. See you next time.

You've studied this word a hundred times.

You know it when you see it. You've written it down. You've reviewed it on flashcards. You've even used it correctly in exercises.

But when you actually need it — mid-conversation, mid-sentence — it's gone.

And you think: What's wrong with me? Why can't I remember words I've literally drilled for months?

You're not alone. This is one of the most common frustrations language learners face. You're putting in the work. But the retention isn't there.

In this episode, we're talking about why your vocabulary doesn't stick — and what actually works instead. Why flashcards give you recognition but not recall. Why repetition alone isn't enough. And how to build vocabulary that becomes part of you, not just part of your study routine.

Your brain doesn't remember lists. It remembers stories.

You understand so much now.

You can follow podcasts. You can read articles. You can watch shows without subtitles and actually get what's happening.

But when it's your turn to speak? Nothing comes out.

Or maybe something comes out — but it's slow, halting, nothing like the fluency you hear when you're listening.

And you think: I'm just not ready yet. I need more time. More vocabulary. More practice.

But what if "ready" isn't something you wait for? What if it's something you build — by using what you already know, even when it feels uncomfortable?

In this episode, we're talking about how to actually use what you're learning — before you feel ready. How to close the gap between understanding and speaking. And how to practice output in ways that don't require confidence, an audience, or perfect grammar.

You don't use language because you're ready. You become ready by using it.

The Immersion Studio 3-2-1

Weekly guidance to help you rethink language learning — 3 ideas, 2 resources, 1 reflective question. Plus instant access to The Worksheet Library with free tools for voice-first vocabulary, sustainable routines, and strategies to start using what you know.

→ Subscribe at theimmersionstudio.com

Work with LJ on italki

If you're learning English and want personalized guidance rooted in The Fluent Framework, you can book lessons with LJ.

→ Book a lesson