The Fluent Show

The Hidden Cost of Cheap & Easy Language Learning


Listen Later

We've never had it so good, have we? Language instruction is easily available these days through apps, social media, and teaching platforms. And it's so affordable ...if not entirely free!

Sounds great, right?
Well, just like every other big global industry "disruption", things aren't so simple with this one either.

In today's podcast episode, we bring you a deep dive into that Boston Review article called "Who Pays for Cheap Language Instruction?"

We discuss:

  • working conditions of language teachers and course creators
  • how the apps profit from language learners
  • what the tutoring market is like for teachers from different parts of the world
  • why this is weakening the language learning industry
  • what you can do about this right now
  • "We have put up with “products” inspired less by linguistic justice than by game design.

    We have acquiesced to corporate cognitive-science experiments that harvest and mold our habits as data
    When it comes to acquiring languages, we have learned to ignore our agency, our sense of ethics and social justice, even as we have flexed these same faculties to support a bookstore or a clothing company.
    Simply put, we have consented to being the consumers that the language industry wants us to be.

    Where do you listen?

    Take a photo of where you're listening to the Fluent Show and share it on social media to say hello! Here's where you can tag me:

    • Twitter: http://www.twitter.com/thefluentshow
    • Instagram: http://instagram.com/kerstin_fluent/ and #thefluentshow
    • Love the show? Rate & Review it here

      Links:

      • Ending & honoring our volunteer Contributor program — A listener supplied this article to show that Duolingo no longer has volunteer course creators. Thanks!
      • My Bonuses for Lindsay Williams' Online Teaching Starter Kit — Aspiring language teachers: Navigate the online teaching world in the best possible way with Lindsay's Online Teaching Starter Kit and click here to secure my Bonus Pack while you're at it!
      • Duolingo Events — Make up your own mind about this one 😞(while they take 20%)
      ...more
      View all episodesView all episodes
      Download on the App Store

      The Fluent ShowBy Kerstin Cable

      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6
      • 4.6

      4.6

      134 ratings


      More shows like The Fluent Show

      View all
      Speak English with ESLPod.com - Learn English Fast by ESLPod.com

      Speak English with ESLPod.com - Learn English Fast

      2,543 Listeners

      6 Minute English by BBC Radio

      6 Minute English

      1,791 Listeners

      Learning English Conversations by BBC Radio

      Learning English Conversations

      1,046 Listeners

      RealLife English: Learn and Speak Confident, Natural English by RealLife English

      RealLife English: Learn and Speak Confident, Natural English

      494 Listeners

      Espresso English Podcast by Shayna Oliveira

      Espresso English Podcast

      427 Listeners

      Real English Conversations Podcast – English for Global Professionals | Speak Clearly & Confidently at Work by Real English Conversations: Amy Whitney & Curtis Davies - English Podcast

      Real English Conversations Podcast – English for Global Professionals | Speak Clearly & Confidently at Work

      398 Listeners

      Speak English Now Podcast: Learn English | Speak English without grammar. by Georgiana, founder of SpeakEnglishPodcast.com

      Speak English Now Podcast: Learn English | Speak English without grammar.

      571 Listeners

      Conversation & Pronunciation: Learn English with The Rachel's English Podcast by Rachel's English:  American Accent Trainer

      Conversation & Pronunciation: Learn English with The Rachel's English Podcast

      618 Listeners

      Speak English with Tiffani Podcast by Teacher Tiffani

      Speak English with Tiffani Podcast

      165 Listeners

      American English Podcast by Shana Thompson

      American English Podcast

      570 Listeners

      Confident Business English by Anna Connelly

      Confident Business English

      144 Listeners

      Learn English Vocabulary by Jack Radford

      Learn English Vocabulary

      168 Listeners

      Thinking in English by Thomas Wilkinson

      Thinking in English

      96 Listeners

      Listening Time: English Practice by Sonoro |  Conner Pe

      Listening Time: English Practice

      541 Listeners

      Miss Honey: Slow English Podcast by Tayanna Ortiz

      Miss Honey: Slow English Podcast

      51 Listeners