Speaking Tongues Podcast: Celebrating Voices, Stories, and Flavors From Around the Globe

This week I’m so happy to bring you this truly awesome conversation I had with Kris Broholm of Actual Fluency about the Danish language. Kris was delightful to talk with and I learned a lot about the Danish culture and language.

In this episode, Kris tells us some of the nitty gritty things about the language including Danish pronunciation, some fun facts about counting in Danish and we learn a thing or two about the grammar. We also talk about the similarities and differences between Danish and other Scandinavian languages. We discuss why English becomes the lingua franca of Scandinavian language speakers and other topics include the ups and downs of moving to a new country, learning to speak Russian and Hungarian and something I never even knew about Toki Pona. Kris talks to me also about what being able to help people along their language journey has meant to him and keep listening to find out how he views his own role within the language learning community.

Big thanks to Kris for coming onto my show and for providing such thoughtful and thought provoking conversation. As always if you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe on Instagram & rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

To Find Actual Fluency

Blog: https://actualfluency.com/blog/

Podcast: https://actualfluency.com/actual-fluency-language-learning-podcast/

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

For this episode, you long time listeners will find something different. For the first time in doing this show for one year now, I have two guests in one show. This week, I am joined by my friends over at Diversilingua Podcast, Diego & Renata and they are talking to us about Brazilian Portuguese.

Diego & Renata are both members of a polyglot club in Brazil and in this episode, they are telling us some strategies for understanding new vocabulary in other languages, the differences between spoken Portuguese in Brazil, Portugal, Angola & Mozambique. We are learning about the Brazilian Portuguese pronunciation of the letter R and Diego and Renata are teaching us some expressions in their native cities that we should all know. You’ll also want to listen to find out which city in Brazil has a notorious reputation and why it’s important to not stereotype anyone but especially when thinking about a country as diverse as Brazil.

Big thank you to the Diversilingua podcast and to Diego and Renata for sharing their culture and their language with me for this episode. As always if you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe on Instagram & rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

To Find Diversilingua: 

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/diversil%C3%ADngua/id1516686920

Instagram: @diversilingua

Twitter: @diversilingua

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxxNa9_fvv3XLZlBEOigIlQ?view_as=subscriber

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/diversilingua/

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

Today, I’m speaking with Carol, a Levantine Arabic teacher and the founder of NASMA of New  York and the host of Levantine Arabic Made Easier Podcast.

Friends this conversation was so much fun because as you know by now if you’ve listened for a long time, I love the Arabic language and am always happy to learn about Arab culture from my arabic speaking friends. In this episode, we talk about the lebanese school system, living in an international city in the Gulf, the differences in dialects of Levantine Arabic from country to country and the advantages of learning an Arabic dialect over MSA which is commonly taught in classrooms.

I also just want to give a heads up and perhaps a trigger warning on this episode because Carol and I take an opportunity during this conversation to discuss the heavy topic of microagression and racism that has persisted throughout the Arab speaking world. I didn’t want to shy away from this topic and though it is not the most pleasant thing to discuss, it is a part of the reality. As you’ll hear in the episode, we both encourage everyone to take the opportunity to learn about other cultures and educate yourselves on our ethnic differences.

Huge thank you to Carol for this conversation and sharing her language with me in this episode  and for always shedding a positive light on middle eastern culture!  As always if you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe on Instagram & rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

To Find NASMA of NY:

https://nasmaofny.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/levantinearabic_bynasmaofny/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Levantinearabic/

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCZ3xodgJWwMeRCE59ZNNCTQ

Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/levantine-arabic-made-easier/id1516944621

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

Today, my guest is Mickael, founder of FrenchClass NYC and we are talking about creole spoken in Martinique and French spoken in France.

Actually, in this episode, we’re talking about a multitude of topics that include the perception versus reality of people of color in France, diversity and the expression of black voices  in France. I’m asking Mickael about  representation of French Caribbean culture in Paris and we’re even discussing the similarities and differences among French, creole and French spoken in the diaspora.

If you want to hear Mickael’s advice for learning the real French in 2021, and for what parts of France to visit that are not Paris, he gives us his advice and he even tells us his one biggest achievement that he’s experienced since starting FrenchClassNYC.

There’s a lot happening in this episode on many levels that anyone learning french or is interested in French culture can take away. Big thank you to Mickael for sharing bits of your heritage and language with us. As always if you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe on Instagram & rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

To Find Mickael:

https://www.frenchclassnyc.com/

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

On this first episode of the new year, I’m speaking with Anike, a writer, storyteller from London about her heritage language of Yoruba.

In this conversation, we’re not just talking about Yoruba language, friends. Oh no no…. We’re talking about Nigerian heritage and the culture of British Born Nigerians & how their culture is expressed in the UK.  We discuss the connection between storytelling and language, the links between Yoruba language and culture throughout parts of the Caribbean and how proverbs in the Yoruba language relate to the Yoruba culture and lifestyle.

And one more thing, Anike is also the author of Connecting to Self Through Ancestry, a collection of essays exploring themes in relation to womanhood, identity, mental health and spirituality whilst deconstructing ten elements of Yoruba heritage and highlighting how they relate to the past experiences of a young woman growing up in the diaspora. You can hear her talk about her book in this episode and find a link to her site in the show notes.

I really enjoyed having this conversation and I think the beauty of doing this show is that we can hear many perspectives on language and culture from so many different people. For example, we’ve spoken about Yoruba last year, We’ve spoken about London last year but in this episode we’re speaking about Yoruba and London in a totally different way so if you’ve enjoyed those conversations, you will enjoy this one 100%

Thank you Anike for sharing bits of your language and your heritage with us in this episode. As always if you enjoy this episode, don’t forget to like and subscribe on Instagram & rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

To Find Anike:

https://www.oroanike.com/

https://www.oroanike.com/shop 

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

My guest today is Yoko, the creator of Foodstory, a Japanese food experience that offers cooking classes in Los Angeles & Culinary Tours in Japan.

In this episode, I talk with Yoko not just about the Japanese language and vocabulary but also about the culture. We discuss the differences between men’s and women’s vocabulary, dialects throughout Japan and the influence of indigenous people in Hokkaido. She even gives a surprising tip for anyone wanting to learn or improve their Japanese language skills.

But because we also like to talk about culture on this show, Yoko also tells us about Japanese foods including the origin story of Matcha and sushi and some of the big differences and similarities between Japanese and Japanese-American foods. We even learn a bit about Japanese traditional color names. In short, this episode is FULL of information about Japan.

Thank you so much to Yoko for taking the time to have this conversation about Japanese culture. If you like this conversations or any of the other language conversations we’ve had this year, please rate and review the show on Apple podcasts, from wherever you are in the world, so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show.

And one more thing, this episode will be the last one for 2020. The Speaking Tongues Podcast will be back on January 4 with a brand new episode. In the meantime, please visit the website, instagram or facebook page to follow our news!  

To find Foodstory

Web: https://www.ifoodstory.com/

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/japanesefoodstory/

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/JapaneseFoodStory

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCFzjIKdUy9YrfoBsPWSq3sg

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. My guest today is Sarah, joining me from London to talk about the Danish language. This is the first time I’ve featured Danish on the show and I’m really excited to have had this opportunity to learn a bit about it from Sarah’s perspective.

In this episode, Sarah tells us about growing up in a house with Danish speaking parents and how she ended up learning Danish abroad while studying in Denmark. We talk about similarities between the Danish language and culture and other countries in the region. She gives us some insight into what it can be like for someone looking at Danish culture as an outsider.

And because Sarah lives in London and I live in New York City, we had a chance to talk about our respective cities and how cultures from all over the world are expressed around town. Listen to hear the one brilliant way in which Sarah has been able to connect with some of the multi cultural communities that flourish in her neighborhood.

Big thank you to Sarah for having this conversation with me, for sharing your story and for teaching us all a little bit about the Danish language and culture. As always, don’t forget to like and subscribe, rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

Fun Danish Links:  

Danish Language comedy Sketch (from Norwegian TV): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s-mOy8VUEBk&feature=emb_logo

History of the Danish Folk High Schools: https://www.danishfolkhighschools.com/about-folk-high-schools/history/

Piet Hein poem: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Piet_Hein_(scientist)

More Piet Hein Poetry: https://piethein.dk/shop/118-wallstickers-gruk---dk/980-af-mad-paa-fad-og-vin-i-glas-wallsticker/

The Kingdom ( Danish Show): https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0108906/

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. Today I’m speaking with Tyler, a language lover who began his road to speaking a second language as an adult and if you love to read or love literature, you’re going to love this conversation.

In this episode, Tyler tells us how his mormon upbringing helped spark his curiosity with foreign language and travel. We talk about how Tyler developed his love of the French language through literature and a wedding trip to Europe that pushed him to go all in on learning the French language. He also tells us about how his love of history sparked his interest in Old Norse, Norweigian and Irish. You’ll want to hear his tips for discovering a language through the written word and the one tool that he used for an entire year to learn the French language.

I think this episode is important because as many of us know, the value for being multi lingual in the US is not very high. Certainly not as high as it is in other parts of the world. It’s something that I have thought about for many years. I enjoyed this opportunity to talk with another person who grew up in the US about the way language study is viewed in our country.

Big thank you to Tyler for having this conversation with me and sharing his story and sharing what worked for him when it came to learning another language. As always, don’t forget to like and subscribe, rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show!

To Find Tyler: 

Blog: https://armchairlinguistbl.wixsite.com/tonguetiedblog

Twitter: @tiedblog

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC8kVVhhWAjeqiaMfG6GJo5w/

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multi linguals. Today I’m speaking with Dr. Carlos Yebra-Lopez of Ladino 21 and The Hyperpolyglot Activist, about the endangered Judeo-Spanish language also known as Ladino.

In this episode, Carlos gives us all an overview of Ladino starting from its origins and its spread throughout the diaspora. If you’re only slightly familiar with Ladino or unaware of it, as I was, this is a great conversation to help you understand the language and how it continues to be spoken and to thrive into the 21st century. He also helps us to understand the separation between the language and the religion which are often associated with the language.  Because Carlos is also familiar with many other languages, we also talk about what being a polyglot means to him personally and what it can mean to some in the language learning community.  Other topics include: cultural appropriation, his methods for language learning, lyrics and subtext of Reggaeton and we uncover why so many of us have trouble translating numbers into other languages.

For more information about the Ladino language, please check out Ladino21 and Carlos’s YouTube Channels which you can find links to in the show notes. And as always, don’t forget to like and subscribe, rate and review the Speaking Tongues Podcast on Apple Podcasts so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show! 

To find Dr. Yebra-Lopez: 

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/languagefreedo1

Ladino 21 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Ladino21

Ladino 21 YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbXGQJkl9WL1DnJM8Je0RRg 

The Hyperpolyglot Activist YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCGfgMUzPSAR_hkV6KVLignw

Website: https://www.thehyperpolyglotactivist.com/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/LanguageFreedo1

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast

Thank you for joining me for this episode of Speaking Tongues- the podcast in conversation with multilinguals. This episode we are talking with Wairimu, creator of Mwalimu Wairimu about Swahili, Kikuyu and Sheng.

Friends, I loved having this conversation and in fact we talked for over two hours and I still didn’t get to talk about all of the things that were looming in my mind -- but more on that later. Wairimu tells us about growing up and being encouraged by teachers to speak English in school instead of her native Kikuyu. We talk about her journey to learning Swahili from time spent both in and away from Nairobi and we even get into the origins of the Swahili language through the island of Zanzibar and the spread of the language through east African nations. Other topics include: Costal Swahili vs. Nairobi Swahili, a reading in Kikuyu and the one big misconception that some people have about the Swahili language.

And because you’re all long time listeners, you know that I usually like to step into the shoes of a first time learner to practice some phrases that I’m unfamiliar with. This time, my attempt does not disappoint and we practice it slowly enough for you all to follow along.

Now, as I said, this conversation was originally over two hours and I didn’t have a chance to include everything we discussed. So, if you head on over to my blog at speakingtonguespodcast.com, you will find Wairimu’s answers to a few questions we missed in the recording of this episode. As always, if you are listening with Apple podcasts, please don’t forget to hit subscribe and to  rate and review the episode so that other language lovers like ourselves can find the show. Ok, let’s chat!

To find Wairimu:

Instagram: @mwalimuwairimu

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLay6TfE2Fn2iHzmBXLR10kY6_o7UAb-bK

YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/weatherish101 

Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/playlist/0cpmtSz77n5SiXRk5PPjAr 

Speaking Tongues Podcast:

www.speakingtonguespodcast.com

Follow on IG: @speakingtonguespod

Follow on Twitter: @stpodcasthost

Like our Facebook Page: www.facebook.com/thespeakingtonguespodcast