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://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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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 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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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…

• 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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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 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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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 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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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, you can select your dictionary (monolingual, bilingual) and highlight words with one touch, then create flashcards automatically
• Separate the tasks of "reading" and "study" - Don't make flashcards while you're reading!

Much of this comes back to our perception of vocabulary being everything. In many ways, it is! But that doesn't mean that stopping to look up every word is the best way to get there!

Resources:

• How to read effectively in a foreign language - my complete guide to effective reading in a foreign language

Helpful tools:

• LingQ
• Kindle Paperwhite
• Readlang

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 re

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 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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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 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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

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:

1. 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
2. Speak regularly - it's how you gain confidence over the usage of the verbs
3. 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//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 me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!