Learning a language gives you a huge career advantage over others who don't have a language. One example is working for the EU, one of the world's largest international organisations.

But could the EU be for you?

My guest for today’s episode is Paul Kaye, language officer of the European Commission's representation in London.

Get Paid For Your Languages

Paul is the European Commission's language officer in the UK, so he was my top person to ask about the secrets of working there. Listen in and learn how Paul became a translator, and his answers to these questions:

Plus, halfway through the episode Paul went ahead and surprised me with a quiz about the EU's official languages, which is just THE BEST.

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Special Guest: Paul Kaye.

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• EU in the United Kingdom
• Eucareers.eu
• Home | Erasmus+
• Erasmus+ | EU programme for education, training, youth and sport
• Creative Europe | Supporting Europe's cultural and creative sectors
• Translation - tenders and contracts | European Commission
• Evertype
• More about Paul in Babel Magazine

In this episode, I answer a listener question with the listener on the line!

My friend Nicky Roberts (near-miss Welsh learner of the year 2018) meet up with me at last year's Welsh national festival and during our long chat he asked this question:

When do you stop being a learner and consider yourself a speaker?

Is it a problem to hold on to your identity as a "learner" and hide from speaking your target language?

This week, I brought Nicky to the show to talk about it.

Thank you to Nicky for this episode introduction.

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Special Guest: Nicky Roberts.

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• The Fluent Show: What Is Fluency, What Is Mastery...And How Do You Get There?
• Mynd am beint gyda PILOT EPISODE.... Kerstin Cable (fluentlanguage.co.uk) - YouTube
• Use your Welsh! Defnyddiwch eich Cymraeg!
• How to enjoy Language Learning more by being lousy at it by Fluent Language
• Developing a Growth Mindset with Carol Dweck - YouTube

“The merit of all things lies in their difficulty.”

In this podcast, Lindsay and I discuss what makes a language easy or hard to learn, and share our own Top 5 easiest languages. Listen to find out more.

We have a full blog article to go with this episode, where you can leave a comment to tell us your own thoughts:

Thank you to the Fluent Language Learners Facebook Group for their contributions. You can join this group if you also want to talk about languages over there and check in regularly with other learners.

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• The Fluent Show: "French is Romantic, Arabic Is Aggressive"...Does Culture Stop Us from Learning Languages?
• Nigerian Pidgin - Wikipedia
• How To Say "I love you" in Nigerian Pidgin English - YouTube
• How to Learn a Language You Hated In School | Joyoflanguages
• Focus & Fluency | Fluent Language — Focus & Fluency, my course about learning a language with smarter study methods and a stress-free approach
• Lindsay's Webinar

In today's episode, my retreat group from the summer retreat in Munich

Head to www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/retreats to discover the upcoming retreats - in Hamburg (June 2019) and the Loire Valley (June 2019).

My guests also share tips on creating an immersion environment no matter where you live.

Special Guests: Anne Semmler and Renato and Catarina.

Links:

• The German Pronunciation Masterclass | Fluent Language — My German pronunciation course
• How to Learn Several Languages At The Same Time by Fluent Language
• Gabe Wyner on the Fluent Show
• Tim Ferriss | How to Learn Any Language in 3 Months
• Deutschlandfunk. - German Talk Radio
• Coffee Break German – Coffee Break Languages
• Deutsch Perfekt - Einfach besser Deutsch | Spotlight Verlag
• Power Wörterbuch Deutsch & DaF | Langenscheidt — Monolingual German dictionary
• Language Hacking German (Language Hacking with Benny Lewis): Benny Lewis: 9781473633155: Amazon.com: Books
• Mittelpunkt range by Klett Sprachen
• How to get fluent, with Dr Popkins - How to learn a foreign language. Methods, matrials and stories to help you maximise your effectiveness on the road to fluency
• italki - the place to find online tutors in any language

This episode, I'm bringing you an interview with experimental psychologist and author Dr Roger Kreuz. Along with Richard Roberts, Roger is the co-author of my favourite language learning book ever, Becoming Fluent.

“People think about fluency as perfection as opposed to something that’s achievable by almost anybody with some effort. There really is a different way of thinking about it that makes all this much more achievable.”

I've previously raved about this book on my blog (see link section), and in this interview I was excited to get the opportunity to discuss the psychology of language learning with Roger.

Click here to get my free Becoming Fluent book notes and action plan

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Special Guest: Roger Kreuz.

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• The Book That Will Change How You See Language Learning (+ Clever Notes & Action Plan FREE) by Fluent Language
• Becoming fluent : how cognitive science can help adults learn a foreign language (eAudiobook, 2016) [WorldCat.org]
• Book Notes and an Action Plan for Becoming Fluent
• Fluent Forever | How to learn any language fast and never forget it — Gabe Wyner's company Fluent Forever
• German Uncovered | Fluent Language

Click or tap here to get the free guide to building your language learning habit

Thank you to Bonnie Z for this episode introduction.

Today’s question comes from Elizabeth - here's a summary of what she's asking:

I am attempting to learn Japanese. I’m trying out different methods in order to establish a routine that works best for me. This is starting to frustrate me because I feel like I am going in circles without making any real progress in the language.

I absolutely love Japan, and so I’m trying hard to stay motivated and keep going, but the lack of progress is starting to zap my enthusiasm.

Is this type of “wheel spinning” typical when you are a first time, self-directed language learner?

OMG ELIZABETH I LOVE THIS QUESTION!!!!!!

You’re taking your first baby steps into indie learning and choosing what is right for you, and that’s just super strong and amazing.

In today’s episode, I’ll take the opportunity to talk you through a few key steps as I teach them in the Language Habit Toolkit, my all-in-one package to help you create a great language learning routine.

The idea of this language HABIT is so important because of what a good habit signifies.

You want a guiding resource, some input resources, and a few reference materials.

There are two types of goals you need for language learning:

If your goal is the habit, progress is coming closer to the language being an absolutely irremovable part of your life. Progress isn’t always about knowing one more word of vocabulary, but instead about one tiny little degree of comfort.

My most basic check-in is the “daily contact”, keeping me feeling accomplished even on super busy days.

This is where we find out what’s real and what’s not, and that means whether you are actually spinning your wheels. The key is to answer questions like

TRUST IN YOURSELF you’re doing an awesome job Elizabeth!!

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• Free Guide: Building Your Language Habit
• Language Learning Retreats — Retreats in Hamburg (DE) and Blois (FR) in June 2019
• German Course - Open Today
• The Language Habit Toolkit [Bonus Edition] | Fluent Language
• Guest Post: Progress is Invisible, Until It Isn't by Fluent Language — The Language Dojo,
• Send Your Question / Intro to the Show

Inspired by one of the discussion panels at Women in Language, Lindsay and I dedicated this episode to creativity in language learning.

We shared 9 cool ideas that you can use for your own language learning routine, and then got to the deeper question:

Why do you feel like creative language learning activities aren't "real learning?"

Make sure you read the in-depth blog article on fluentlanguage.co.uk to join our conversation about creative language learning routines.

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Get in Touch

Send us an email to [email protected] or say hi on Twitter (@thefluentshow) or Instagram (#thefluentshow).

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• On The Need For Fun And Creativity In Languages
• Language Stories: Keeping K'iche - Episode 9 - Lindsay Does Languages
• Science Stuff(ish!): Planning Classroom French Lessons with Ash by Teach Languages Online • A podcast on Anchor
• The Fluent Show: The Secret Languages of Great Britain (with expert voice Simon Ager)

¡Hola Radioyentes!

This week I'm answering a listener question (asked in Spanish AND English!):

The question came from Tomás, 45 years old and a native speaker of Spanish. Tomás has good English and regular exposure through books and TV, but he feels unsure about whether he's ready to add a new language like German or English.

This has happened to me a few times, and I’ve also studied up to 3 languages at the same time.

In this episode, I reflected on what matters most when you are facing this question and shared 3 core rules for you:

Not practicing a language doesn’t mean that you’ll never remember it again. In fact, you are unlikely to ever go all the way back to zero.

But it does mean that your progress will slow down and if you don’t do anything, it means that you will forget some of what you practiced in the language most recently. Remembering that memory is all about repetition and exposure, it seems likely that you’d lose what you were last exposed to.

So maybe as a rule of thumb expect that you’ll step down one level. But if you’re already a few years in, you won’t lose all those years.

If you stop actively studying after 3 months = it can feel like nothing sticks.

You could be learning five, ten languages at once and in fact there are ways in which this will absolutely propel you forward. But don’t expect the results of a sprint when you are in fact practicing a triathlon. Progress is not linear - it’s not always what you expect or predict, and often your destination changes

Once you have worked out your goals and you got in touch with what you really want, you get to decide and move forward. Your decision is not forever.

And as far as I can see, you are in an absolutely perfect position. Good luck!

Like all podcasts, the Fluent Show is supported by your online reviews and word of mouth.

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Thank you to Maria for this episode introduction.

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• The Fluent Show: Q&A: How to Re-Learn a Language You’ve Forgotten
• Has Language Guilt ever Ruined your Day? by Fluent Language
• Losing Motivation is Not Failing: 4 Smart Tips for Positive Language Learning by Fluent Language
• Refuse To Choose!: Amazon.co.uk: Barbara Sher: 9781594866265: Books
• German for Beginners

What's it like to realise you're getting good at the language you're learning?

Where do you go when you don't need handholding anymore?

In today's episode, I'm talking to Nicole Miles, an advanced level French learner preparing for her C1 exam this year. Her language learning story is all about how she made it work as an adult learner with a positive attitude.

If you wonder about advanced level study, the kinds of questions that come up when you’re like "OMG I’m good at this", and moving towards taking on your next foreign language, then our interview will answer so many questions.

If you're at the start of your language learning journey and wondering how you'll ever get anywhere, then Nicole's got tips that you need to hear - especially you introverts out there!

Here's what's in store in our podcast

Support This Podcast

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Special Guest: Nicole Miles.

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• Language Coaching with Kerstin Cable
• italki - the place to find online tutors in any language — With a special offer for all new italki learners
• Episode 40 - Reni Eddo-Lodge - 🇬🇧 La Poudre podcast
• Lettre à un otage - Classico Collège - Belin Gallimard - Site Gallimard
• Et pourquoi pas Coline ? - blog feelgood
• Why I’m No Longer Talking to White People About Race: Reni Eddo-Lodge in conversation

Do you love languages, and want to live and learn, create a successful career or travel the world as a multilingual person?

This year, let the Women in Language conference show you how! This is one of my FAVOURITE language projects and you'll have SO MUCH FUN with us.

Women in Language is a 4-day online event filled with talks presentations from 30+ female language experts who have done amazing things and documented their journey.

The conference is open to everyone, regardless of gender identity.

Get your ticket at www.womeninlanguage.com

"It is by seeing other people like us that we get inspired and that we believe we can do things and there is a space for us"

In the podcast you'll hear speakers and guests at the conference talk about the upcoming event, what they're looking forward to, and why it matters that there women in the spotlight.

Here's the full schedule they are looking at:

Got your ticket yet? If not, here is where you can get one

Me! Haha, of course

Like all podcasts, the Fluent Show is supported by your online reviews and word of mouth.

If you liked this episode, please tell someone about it. Click here to tweet about the show, go to your Podcasts app and leave us a review, or simply text a friend about the Fluent Show. Thank you!

Special Guests: Alba Casado, Cara Leopold, Chenelle Hancock, Deborah Janik, Jennifer O'Donnell, Maria Seco, María Ortega García, Michele Frolla, Penny Wilson, Rebecca Howie, Sara Holmes, Sara Maria Hasbun, and Shahidah Foster.

Sponsored By:

• italki: Get $10 USD in italki Credits with your first lesson purchase - no code required, click here to claim this offer

Links:

• Relax, guys – it’s International Men’s Day (the official one) | Richard Herring | Opinion | The Guardian
• The Fluent Show: Understanding TV and Film Dialogues Without Subtitles (with Cara from Leo Listening) — More from Cara Leopold
• Elfin Waters (@allaboutitalian) • Instagram photos and videos
• German for Beginners
• WOMEN IN LANGUAGE 2019 — Online conference, 4 days, 30 speakers, join us and have all the language fun!