ABOUT OUR GUEST: Steve Kaufmann is a former Canadian diplomat who has turned his passion for learning languages into a full time job.

He is the creator and owner of the popular language learning website LingQ, and can speak 20 languages, 18 of which he learned without formal academic instruction.

My conversation with Steve touches on what it's like to become proficient in a language over the age of 60, the secret sauce to Steve's language success, and his views on the future of language learning.

Listen to the episode to receive a code for a discount on a 1 year LingQ membership!

Steve's YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/user/lingosteve

LingQ: https://www.lingq.com/en/

Steve's website: https://www.thelinguist.com/about/

Listening as an intermediate learner is, in my opinion, is the most difficult phase of learning a language.

For an unknown period of months or even years, you may be hovering in between being able to understand only select words/phrases, and being able to understand an entire movie that you have always wanted to watch in your target language. This can be a frustrating experience that can make you want to give up on your language goals.

How can you make this stage of language learning a little easier?

In this episode, I provide you with a framework that will help you map your path through the expansive and dense territory that is listening as an intermediate learner.

I distill my years of learning Spanish into 30 minutes, as I give you specific examples of what to do and not to do in this critical phase of your language learning process.

Featured Languages: Spanish, Japanese

Get a 35% discount on a 1 year LingQ membership! With the link below!

35% discount on a 1 year LingQ membership

As an intermediate language learner reading and speaking can be difficult.

Large walls of text in your target language are still intimidating and having a true conversation seems beyond your reach.

So how can you improve both of these skills?

In this episode, I provide you with a few ideas for lower level reading materials and techniques for taking those first small steps into reading.

I also discuss how to approach sessions with conversation partners to maximize your speaking practice.

Featured Languages: Mandarin Chinese, Japanese

For more insight about the Beginner-Intermediate Gap in Language learning, take a look at an article that I wrote that explains more, here.

Let's be honest, studying grammar is usually not a language student's first priority when it comes to learning a foreign language.

But it is important. It can make the difference between sounding natural and sounding like an amateur in your target language. Most of us learn languages to be able to communicate well with others, good knowledge of grammar is another key piece of the puzzle.

How can you study grammar in a way that does not bore you or discourage you from learning the language?

In this episode I share practical strategies for absorbing grammar, as well as reveal my number one grammar technique that has allowed me to master grammar in Spanish and Japanese.

Let's be honest, studying grammar is usually not a language student's first priority when it comes to learning a foreign language.

But it is important. It can make the difference between sounding natural and sounding like an amateur in your target language. Most of us learn languages to be able to communicate well with others, good knowledge of grammar is another key piece of the puzzle.

How can you study grammar in a way that does not bore you or discourage you from learning the language?

In this episode I share practical strategies for absorbing grammar, as well as reveal my number one grammar technique that has allowed me to master grammar in Spanish and Japanese.

The Intermediate level of language learning is where many language students begin to have a hard time.

Routines become tedious and dull, motivation to study can plummet, overall interest in the language may slowly begin to vanish. All of these factors and many more may drive us to give up on our language goals.

But don't despair! This episode will be the first of several that will help you navigate through what in my opinion is the most difficult phase of the language learning process.

In this episode I focus on one of the biggest aspects of language learning: vocabulary acquistion.

I talk about ways to improve your memory, present various methods for learning large amounts of new words that helped me succeed as a Spanish medical interpreter, and reveal several personal methods that I have used that makes vocabulary learning less of a chore and more exciting.

Check out my article on Medium for more about mistakes I made in learning vocabulary here or on my website at keithhayden.net

The Intermediate level of language learning is where many language students begin to have a hard time.

Routines become tedious and dull, motivation to study can plummet, overall interest in the language may slowly begin to vanish. All of these factors and many more may drive us to give up on our language goals.

But don't despair! This episode will be the first of several that will help you navigate through what in my opinion is the most difficult phase of the language learning process.

In this episode I focus on one of the biggest aspects of language learning: vocabulary acquistion.

I talk about ways to improve your memory, present various methods for learning large amounts of new words that helped me succeed as a Spanish medical interpreter, and reveal several personal methods that I have used that makes vocabulary learning less of a chore and more exciting.

Check out my article on Medium for more about mistakes I made in learning vocabulary here or on my website at keithhayden.net

Learn about how having a plan to learn the language is the key difference between a beginner and an advanced beginner language learner.

Learn about how having a plan to learn the language is the key difference between a beginner and an advanced beginner language learner.

Calling all beginners! If you are just starting or are thinking about starting to learn a language, this episode is for you!

I cover the Dos and Don'ts for beginners of any language.

I also share a personal story about my first days learning Japanese!