On today’s episode, I’m joined by Trisha Collins Dunbar, founder of Language Learners Journal, a site designed to empower independent language learning and teaching via a more holistic approach.

In this episode, we discuss:

How mindfulness can improve your focus and concentration (and therefore make you a better learner!)

The power of deep breathing in your language learning

How language learning can improve mental wellbeing and cognitive functions

This conversation is a fun and refreshing take on language learning and I really think you’ll enjoy learning about Trisha’s philosophies.

Don’t forget to check out the links in the show notes at http://www.linguamaterna.com/ep-16-mindfulnes-language-learning/ to learn more about everything we discuss in this episode!

Of course, as always if you enjoy the show, please consider taking a moment to leave me a positive review on iTunes or share the episode on social media. I’d really appreciate it.

Welcome to Episode 15 of the Lingua Materna Podcast!

On today's episode, I'm joined by Daria - founder of Real Russian Club and host of the Slow Russian Podcast.

In this episode, we discuss:

Why learning grammar isn’t as important as you think

How you can use short, fun stories to kick start your speaking (in Russian or in any other language)

The first thing you should learn as a beginner in Russian

…and much, much more.

If you’re learning Russian or you’ve always wanted to, I know you’re going to love this interview! But even if you’re not that interested in Russian, I think you’re going to find Daria shares a lot of excellent, practical advice that you can apply to whatever language you are learning right now.

Of course, as always if you enjoy the show, please consider taking a moment to leave me a positive review on iTunes or share the episode on social media. I’d really appreciate it.

Finally, if you are learning Russian, come and join us in the Russian Learner’s Support Group on facebook. This is a special private group I’ve set up for Russian Learners of all levels to support each other in their learning.

Russian is a tough language to learn and there are lots of ups and downs along the way - so don't do it alone! Join the group for free and you'll have all the support you need from fellow learners and teachers. Click here to join.

Welcome to Episode 14 of the Lingua Materna Podcast!

On today's episode, I'm joined by Lithuanian polyglot Antanas from Talk Like Antanas.

In this episode, we discuss:• The process of learning a language• Experiencing 'A-ha!' moments in your learning• How to learn more efficiently

To listen to more episodes of the Lingua Materna podcast and access free language learning materials go to www.linguamaterna.com/podcast

My guest for episode 12 of the Lingua Materna Podcast is Conor Clyne from Language Tsar.

For more than a decade Conor has been combining his academic and professional life with his passion for languages and travelling.

His voyage has taken him all over the world from the sunny beaches of Rio to the political power centres of Washington and Brussels to a rapidly emerging Asia. Along the way, he's acquired proficiency in more than 10 languages.

In this episode, Conor shares with us:

How he maintains so many languages

How speaking Portuguese and Russian has enhanced his travel experiences

The biggest mistake most language learners make and how to fix it

His upcoming course about learning languages for travel

And much more ...

My guest for episode 11 of the Lingua Materna Podcast is Kerstin Cable from Fluent Language. In this episode we talk about the role habits play in learning a language. We discuss setting vision goals to inspire you, taking control of your learning as an independent learner and how to add extra accountability to your language routine. Find out more at www.linguamaterna.com/podcast

My guest for episode 10 of the Lingua Materna Podcast is Jonathan Huggins from Huggins International. Jonathan recently ran a 30-Day Language Speaking Challenge, which I was delighted to participate in, and is currently preparing for another one. We discuss what led Jonathan to start the speaking challenge in the first place, his previous experience of challenge-based learning and his plans for a new TOEFL specific speaking challenge for English learners.

My guest today is Jack Askew from ToFluency.com. Jack is an English language teacher and coach from the UK who's doing great work encouraging learnersto take control of their learning, enjoy the experience and make real progress in English. In this episode, we discuss the discrepancy many learners experience between their abilityto understand a language and their ability to speak it as well as looking at some potential solutions. We also chat about what intermediate learners can do to push on towards greater fluency.

In this episode of The Lingua Materna Podcast, I speak with Tamara Marie from Negringa and Spanish con salsa about the role of music, dance and culture in learning Spanish. We also touch on learning different Spanish dialects and the challenges of teaching a language to your child.

Do you need to bring a bit more energy, fun and organisation to your language learning?

In this episode of The Lingua Materna Podcast, I speak with Lindsay Williams of Lindsay Does Languages about a whole bunch of language learning topics. We talk about social media, self-study and even find time to mention Indonesian Idol and Spongebob in Irish! "Huh? What's that all about?" You'll have to listen to find out!