“I took four years of (language) in high school and I learned nothing!” Well, there might be a reason for that. Like any method, taking a language class is an active process. Luckily, Marina and Jeremiah are here to help with evidence-based strategies to optimize your time both in and out of class.

Sources:
Lai, C., Zhu, W. and Gong, G. (2015), Understanding the Quality of Out-of-Class English Learning. Link

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang

You unlock this episode with the key of curiosity. Beyond the door is a journey into the realm of self-directed language learning. "Can you learn a language by yourself?" is not just a question, but a portal, where sociocultural theory and Vygotsky's insights await. Brace yourself, for you are entering—the Zone of Proximal Development! 

Bonus: if drinking games are your thing, take a drink every time we say the word “zone.” 

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang

It’s touted as the holy grail of language learning: move abroad, live the language, and see your language skills skyrocket in no time. Is it too good to be true? Join Marina and Jeremiah as they tackle the immersion method, a powerful tool that’s a lot more complicated—and even damaging—than you might think. 

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang

 What makes a native speaker a native speaker? Why do we strive to be like them? Do native speakers even exist? The answers to these questions are a lot more complicated than you might think. Jeremiah and Marina drop some truth bombs in this essential How to Language episode.

Sources:
Canagarajah, S. (1999). Interrogating the 'Native Speaker Fallacy': Non-Linguistic Roots, Non-Pedagogical Results. Link
Cook, V. (2016). Where Is the Native Speaker Now? Link

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang

Who is your ideal self? Do they have a million dollars? Do they travel the world? Are they…multilingual? Join Marina and Jeremiah as they explore the theory of the ideal multilingual self and how it can boost your motivation when learning another language.

Sources:
Dörnyei, Z. (2009). 18. Motivation, Language Identities and the L2 Self: Future Research Directions. Link
Henry, A. (2017). L2 Motivation and Multilingual Identities. Link
Kuyper, H. (2023). Multilingual Motivation: The Case of North Korean Language Learners (Presentation). Link
Nakamura, T. (2019). Understanding motivation for learning languages other than English: Life domains of L2 self. Link
Thompson, A. (2020). My many selves are still me: Motivation and multilingualism. Link

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang

In their inaugural episode, Marina and Jeremiah explore the elusive and dreaded intermediate plateau. Through personal experience, scholarship, and reflection on the subject, beginner, intermediate, and advanced learners alike can find solace in this deep dive that asks the question: is the intermediate plateau really such a bad thing?

Sources:
Mirzaei, M., Zoghi, M., & Davatgari Asl, H. (2017). Understanding the Language Learning Plateau: A Grounded-Theory Study. Link
Murphy, L. J. (2017). Why some ESL students experience a language learning plateau while others do not. Link
Richards, J.C. Moving Beyond the Plateau: From Intermediate to Advanced Levels in Language Learning. Link

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang

Welcome to How to Language! Join us on October 4th for our three-episode premiere to learn more about the science behind language acquisition. For now, learn more about your hosts, Marina and Jeremiah, and why this topic is so important to them.

New episodes every month! Transcripts available at howtolanguagepod.com. To stay in the loop, follow us on Instagram @howtolang