How to Learn a Language

By Lindsay DowEducation Language Learning

How to Learn a Language episodes

September 07, 2018BONUS MINI: Costa Rica + Is Immersion Everything?
"If I went there, I'd be fluent..." "Immersion is all you need!"...Is it? In this Bonus Mini episode, I reflect on my time in Costa Rica and how immersion changed my Spanish.
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
4 min
August 31, 2018BONUS MINI: Pipil + Language Nests
Pipil is a language spoken in El Salvador. There's not many speakers nowadays, but revitalisation efforts are happening, including the beautifully named language nests...
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Links:
Pipil language - Wikipedia
Courses for Pipil - Tushik
Revitalising Te Reo Māori – a language activist reflects on how far we have come
Language Nest Program - First Peoples' Cultural Council
Language Nests and Language Acquisition: An Empirical Analysis - a dissertation by Eve K. Okura
Language Nest Handbook Online Companion Toolkit - First Peoples' Cultural Council
Pipil - The Endangered Languages Project
5 min
August 24, 2018BONUS MINI: Garifuna + Gender Differences
Researching Garifuna led me down the first of many internet rabbit holes from this Bonus Mini series. This time, it's all about different languages for different genders.
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Links:
Garifuna Language - Wikipedia
Gender Specific Vocabulary - Wikipedia
5 min
August 17, 2018BONUS MINI: Cuba + Is Cuban Spanish Hard?
Ooo! Bonus Mini episode?! Yes! Over the next 7 weeks, I'll be sharing 7 Bonus Mini episodes with you. To get us started? We're in Cuba and asking the question: Is Cuban Spanish hard?
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
8 min
June 08, 2018BONUS: Dalriada Gaelic - Back From The Brink
Bonus Language Stories?! Yup. Woohoo! This episode, I chat with Àdhamh Ó Broin who is working to bring Dalriada Gaelic, an endangered dialect of Scottish Gaelic, back from the brink.
The Video
Click here to watch the sister video to this podcast episode.
To keep track of future episodes in video form, click here to subscribe on YouTube.
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Special Guest: Àdhamh Ó Broin - Dalriada Scottish Gaelic Consultant.
Links:
Àdhamh Ó Broin - contact Àdhamh directly to learn more about his work in general or enquire about teaching and tours.
Gáidhlig Dhail Riada Facebook Page - Àdhamh regularly updates this page with real life vocab and updates on when Dalriada Immersion Weekends are running.
Dalriada Gaelic – Growing an Endangered Gaelic Dialect - read Maureen's blog post recounting her immersion weekend.
LearnGaelic.net - great place to start to learn some Scottish Gaelic (not the Dalriada dialect but would help to give you a foundation in the language)
Learner Links - more links to help you learn Scottish Gaelic (again, the language in general here not the dialect!)
26 min
May 25, 2018Guarani in the Heart of South America
Guarani is an indigenous language that defies all odds to exist today as it does alongside Spanish in Paraguay. But what odds? How does it thrive in the modern world? In this episode of Language Stories, we're exploring the story of Guarani in Paraguay.
THE VIDEO
Click here to watch the sister video to this podcast episode.
To keep track of future episodes in video form, click here to subscribe on YouTube.
SUPPORT THE SHOW
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
SHARE YOUR STORY
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Special Guests: Cecelia - Guaraní Tutor at IDIPAR, Guaranglish, Marcelo Alvarenga - Guaraní Tutor, and Romy Natalia Goldberg - Author of Paraguay Other Places Travel Guide .
Links:
Newfound Pride in Guaraní, a Language Long Disdained in Paraguay - an article from the New York Times
Language Planning and Policy in Paraguay - a document about how Guaraní and Spanish live alongside each other in Paraguay.
Land and Dignity in Paraguay - a Google Book covering Guaraní under Stroessner.
Language Planning and Policy in Latin America, Volume 1 - another Google Book with some interesting points on Guaraní under Stroessner.
Guarani course on Duolingo (in Spanish)
Peace Corps PDFs for Guarani
26 min
April 27, 2018Nicaraguan Sign Language
Every language has a unique story, but Nicaraguan Sign Language is pretty special. A language emerging in the 80s amidst a revolution? In this episode of Language Stories, we're exploring the story of Nicaraguan Sign Language.
THE VIDEO
Click here to watch the sister video to this podcast episode.
To keep track of future episodes in video form, click here to subscribe on YouTube.
SUPPORT THE SHOW
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
SHARE YOUR STORY
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Special Guests: Antonio Prieto Buñuel - Cafe de las Sonrisas and James Shepard-Kegl - Nicaraguan Sign Language Projects.
Links:
Oralism - Wikipedia
Psychological Effects of Oralism - a study on the psychological effects of oralism
Hammocks from Cafe de las Sonrisas - learn more about Tio Antonio, Cafe de las Sonrisas and treat yourself to one of their handmade hammocks if you fancy!
Nicaraguan Sign Language Projects - learn more about the work James and his wife Judy do.
Visual Dictionary - a dictionary for Nicaraguan Sign Language
A Life Without Words - a documentary about bringing Nicaraguan Sign Language to rural communities.
Sign: A Game About Being Understood - a silent game based on the emergence of Nicaraguan Sign Language.
28 min
April 14, 2018MINI: The Panama Canal
Trade has always influenced the languages we speak. But what happens with language at one of the busiest and most important trade routes in the world, the Panama Canal? In this episode of Language Stories, discover languages at The Panama Canal.
The Video
Click here to watch the sister video to this podcast episode.
To keep track of future episodes in video form, click here to subscribe on YouTube.
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Links:
The Panama Canal - Wikipedia
Agreement from Panama Canal - the agreements document issued by the Panama Canal with the "Important Notice" at the top.
English Test Guidelines - the English Test Guidelines for jobs at the Panama Canal.
Jobs at the Panama Canal - the list of jobs at the Panama Canal (in Spanish).
No accident: Ancient walnut forests linked to languages, trade routes - an interesting read about research involving languages, trade, and walnuts...
6 min
March 30, 2018Keeping K'iche'
K'iche' is a Mayan language spoken in Guatemala by over a million people. Join us for this episode of Language Stories as we explore K'iche' Maya at a local homestay and in a busy market town, as well as learning how to learn K'iche'.
THE VIDEO
Click here to watch the sister video to this podcast episode.
To keep track of future episodes in video form, click here to subscribe on YouTube.
SUPPORT THE SHOW
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
SHARE YOUR STORY
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Special Guests: Carlos and Family - Guatemala, Dave Prine - K'iche' Learner, and Juan Leon Cortez - Galeria Pop Wuj.
Links:
Stay with Carlos and family in the Mayan Countryside - check Carlos' Airbnb listing to stay for yourself with him and his family.
Galeria Pop Wuj - learn more about the art and classes taking place at Juan's gallery.
Can Knowing Some K’iche’ Save Your Life and Make You Rich? - Dave's presentation on K'iche' from the Polyglot Gathering 2017.
Online free K'iche' course from The University of Texas
Further resources to learn K'iche' - a few extra links from the University of Connecticut.
Institute of World Languages - the initiative that Dave is learning K'iche' through.
Mayan Languages: How I Learned to Speak Tz’utujil in Guatemala - Fluent in 3 Months
Academy of Mayan Languages in Guatemala
19 min
March 16, 2018MINI: All About You
As we've been travelling through Latin America and heading into a new Spanish-speaking country every few weeks, I've realised something. I arrive in a new Spanish-speaking country and don't know how to address YOU.
The Video
Click here to watch the sister video to this podcast episode.
To keep track of future episodes in video form, click here to subscribe on YouTube.
Support The Show
The best thing you can do right now to support the project is threefold, and if you've ever listened to any podcast before, I'm sure you'll be familiar with what I'm about to say!
Subscribe - by subscribing to the Language Stories podcast in your favourite place and YouTube for the sister videos, you're going to keep up with all future episodes. Woop!
Review - when it comes to the tech stuff, reviews are pretty important. Reviews help to tell iTunes that people like the podcast, and that helps to raise the profile so that new people can find it easily. Yay!
Tell a friend - word of mouth still wins! If you know someone who would love Language Stories, tell them about it. And if they're new to podcasts, walk them through the process to subscribe them. Woohoo!
To make it as easy as possible to share the podcast, click here to tweet about episode.
Share Your Story
If you have a Language Story you’d love to share, or if you know someone that does, get in touch.
I always love to hear from you! Your feedback helps to shape future episodes so thank you.
Links:
Duality - Wikipedia
Saying 'you' in Japanese - Nihon Shock
100 Ways to Say 'You' in Japanese - Japanese Level Up
Japanese Personal Pronouns - Wikipedia
Subjectless Sentences in Child Language - academic paper sharing research on children dropping subject pronouns.
7 min