Language Chats

A first-timer at the Polyglot Conference - the event for everyone who loves languages

Bec has just come back to Australia from Japan, where she went to attend the 2019 Polyglot Conference in Fukuoka! This was Bec’s first time at this special event for everyone who loves language, so in this Language Chat we talk all about what it was like and how it works, the kinds of presentations and workshops there were to see, and the experience of being in the same place as 400 other language lovers from all over the world!Have you attended the Polyglot Conference (or an event like this) before? Or do you have any questions for Bec about this event? Contact us here.

What’s a tonal language, anyway? (And what it’s like to learn one)

In this episode of Language Chats, Bec asks Penny about learning tonal languages. In particular, the two tonal languages Penny has learned - Vietnamese and Mandarin Chinese. Penny talks about the process of learning a tonal language as a beginner (lots of drills and repetition!), the importance of trying to mimic the sounds you hear, going back to basics and losing your inhibitions. Are you learning a tonal language? Let us know what works for you and what your challenges have been!Lingo Mama - Check out Penny’s blog posts on Vietnamese and Chinese!

A Weekend For Language Lovers: The Language Event - Melbourne

In this Language Chat episode we chat about our experience of taking part in the inaugural Language Event - Melbourne held on 21-22 September 2019.It was a weekend filled with presentations on a range of language-related topics like raising a multilingual family (Richard Simcott), language reclamation and revival (Professor Ghil'ad Zuckermann), how the voice works and using it in different languages (Sarah Lobegeiger de Rodriguez, Voice Science), and how to have immersion language experiences locally rather than travelling abroad (our own Rebecca Howie), while also providing an amazing opportunity for a bunch of language lovers to meet, hang out and chat.Bec interviewed Richard Simcott who is the convenor of this event and the annual Polyglot Conference, plus some of the other attendees at the event. We’ve included these in segments in our chat.Enjoy!

Looking for Language Learning Inspiration? Our Favourite Language Bloggers To Follow

Learning a language takes time – it can be both fun and fulfilling, but that doesn’t mean that it’s not hard work! Outwardly, it can seem like it happens overnight for polyglots, but we have to remind ourselves that this isn’t the reality. So it’s always refreshing (and comforting!) to read and hear from other language learners who have had the same struggles and challenges as us!In this episode of Language Chats, Bec and Penny discuss their favourite language bloggers to follow for inspiration, motivation and language learning tips and resources.There are so many more language bloggers out there! Do you have any favourites or go-to language blogs? Let us know who or what you’ve been following lately! Find links for all the bloggers we mention over on www.languagelovers.com.au/podcast/ep-011

Finding Your Language Learning Sweet Spot

We all learn differently, but how do we find our ‘sweet spot’ for language learning?What methods and tools do you find work most effectively for you? It’s pretty easy to get distracted by the bright and shiny new tools out there… But do you prefer ‘old-school’, more traditional methods, like being guided by a textbook and making flashcards? Or do apps and online lessons take up the majority of your study time? Maybe you use a combination of both?In this episode, Penny and Bec talk about what type of language learners they think they are and the kinds of language learning methods they think work best for them. What language learning style suits you best? And does this change depending on the language you’re learning or the language learning goals you’ve set? Let us know!

The Backstory: Our Focus Languages and Why We Studied Them at Uni

This episode of Language Chats is two listener questions combined. Jess from Melbourne wrote in to ask about how important it was to undertake formal qualifications in a language, and Jo also from Melbourne asked how we both ended up studying European (Bec) languages and Asian (Penny) languages predominantly.We chat about our experiences studying at uni and how we developed our love of the languages we’ve chosen to study.

Language Learning with Netflix: A Game Changer for TV Lovers

If you’re into watching foreign language TV shows on Netflix as much as we are, you’ll love the Language Learning With Netflix Chrome Extension. In this episode of Language Chats, we talk about what this Chrome extension is, how to set it up (it’s free!), which languages it supports, and some of our thoughts on making the most of it for language learning.We chat some of this tool’s features and how we’ve been using it, including:Having two sets of subtitles (both the original language and a language of your choice) as you watchWatching a series you’re already familiar with and changing the audio and primary subtitles to your target language (while also having secondary subtitles in your mother tongue)Slowing speech segments (80% speed)Keyboard shortcuts – play, pause, and forwards/backwards to the next set of subtitlesHovering over the words in the primary subtitles to show the meaning in context, as well as some secondary meaningsSelecting your level when choosing subtitles and more difficult words will be highlightedWe also discuss some of the current limitations and improvements we’d like to see:Currently only possible to use this on desktop via Google ChromeSubtitles are not always spot on – make sure you select human translated subtitles (over machine translated subtitles) in Options if this is available for your target languageBec would love to see the gender of nouns (relevant for languages such as French, Italian, German etc. that have grammatical gender) also noted in the pop-up ‘meaning’ box when hovering over the word in the subtitlesAre you using Language Learning With Netflix? What shows are you watching and what languages are you watching them in? Get in touch to share your thoughts!Episode LinksLanguage Learning with Netflix - Chrome ExtensionLanguage Learning with Netflix - CatalogueDark (TV Series - German original language)Jackpot (Film - Vietnamese original language)Office Girls (TV Series - Mandarin Chinese original language)The Crown (TV Series - English original language)

Dabbling: Why It’s Ok To Not Commit

About this Language ChatIn this episode of Language Chats, we talk about dabbling in a language and why there’s nothing wrong with just learning a few words without committing to larger, long-term goals. Penny is dabbling in French at the moment and, by not fully committing to learning the language, she admits that it’s taken the pressure off - she can just enjoy just having fun and mucking around with the language without thinking about whether or not she’s making enough progress.We chat about:What ‘dabbling’ even means to both of usHow an initial dabble can take the intimidation out of starting to learn a language (which can sometimes be the biggest hurdle!)How dabbling in a language can create a deeper and more meaningful travel experienceWhy only learning small amount doesn’t make the learning any less interesting or usefulWhen does dabbling stop and ‘serious learning’ begin? And when is the right time to make that transition? (For Penny, a potential upcoming trip to a French-speaking country might just get her over the line…)Who else is dabbling or playing around in a language? Get in touch! We’d love to hear your story!

From Third Culture Kid in France, to teaching French in Australia: Interview with Devy Baseley

For the first time, we have a guest with us on Language Chats!Devy Baseley is a language lover in Brisbane, who grew up in France with an Irish Mum and a Cambodian Dad. We chat to Devy about speaking more than one language as a child and now, as an adult, her experiences of teaching (and learning) languages here in Australia. Devy is the founder of French Speak, a French language school in Brisbane.Tune in to also hear Devy’s top tips for French beginners (and don’t worry if you’re not learning French - her tips are great guidance for any language learner)!Merci beaucoup to Devy for joining us and we hope you enjoy this chat!If you’re a language lover in Australia (or an Australian living abroad) and you’d like to share your experiences of language learning with us, please get in touch with us - we’d love to hear from you.

Maintaining One Language While Learning Another

This episode is a listener Question from Deborah in Sydney.Deborah’s question - “I have been learning French for a number of years. I struggled with various means until I finally hit upon a combination of styles that worked for me. The class room environment just didn't suit me. I was one of those people who sat at the back and didn't answer, and there was always that one person who would constantly interrupt the lesson to argue a grammar point with the teacher. Once I discovered Italki things got better, I had the teacher all to myself, and I was encouraged to talk in French. But I discovered I missed the social aspect of language learning. So I joined various Facebook groups, and did different challenges until I found one that fit and now I have the best of both worlds. So much so that I've started learning Italian. The problem is, how do I maintain one language while learning a new one?”Bec and Penny discuss how we’ve been here too - learning two languages at once and going through phases in our language learning, mixing up words and completing forgetting words. Learning one language already puts you in a great position to learn a new language, because you’ve had the chance to put into practice the methods and tools that work for you.We ask is learning two languages from the same language family a help or a hindrance?We also discuss time and how to allocate language learning time to both the language you’re maintaining and the new language.