Language Chats

Independent but not alone: Self-managed language learning

When you think of self-study or independent language learning, do you picture yourself studying alone, at a desk, perhaps with a few books and a laptop? Maybe some headphones too? There’s nothing wrong with this image at all, of course! But learning a language in a way that is entirely self-directed, in a way that suits your needs, motivations and available time, doesn’t necessarily mean learning alone and without any support, resources or recommendations on where to go to next.
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak about our experiences of independent language learning over the years, methods and strategies that we’ve found helpful, how we’ve decided what works for us (and how to acknowledge when something isn’t working), and some other bits and pieces that we’ve learnt along the way about motivation, commitment, resources and goal-setting.
What are your experiences of independent or solo language learning? Join our Facebook group Language Lovers AU Community and share your thoughts with us!
Episode Links
Join us at Language Lovers AU Community on Facebook

From Linguistics to Speech Pathology: A chat with Erin Tibbitts

If you think that speech pathologists only work with stutters and lisps, then listen in - the world of speech pathology is much wider than you might realise!
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Melbourne-based speech pathologist (or ‘speechie’) Erin Tibbitts who has long had an interest in languages and linguistics. Born in New Zealand and having lived in a range of places around the world before studying and settling in Melbourne about 20 years ago, we speak with Erin about her language story, her ‘chameleon’ accent in English, her studies in linguistics and speech pathology, and her work as a speechie both in healthcare and more recently in the public service, where she now helps to facilitate communication in the justice system in Victoria.
Do you have any questions for Erin or for us? Get in touch or join our Facebook group Language Lovers AU Community to continue the conversation!
Episode Links
Language Chats Ep #036 - Fascinated by sound: A chat with opera singer and speech pathologist, Sarah Lobegeiger de Rodriguez
IPA Chart with Sounds | International Phonetic Alphabet
Language Chats Ep #072 - Re-tuning your ears: Practising listening skills in another language

Re-tuning your ears: Practising listening skills in another language

How do you like to practise your listening skills in another language? Does listening form a greater (or smaller) part of your language learning routine than reading, speaking or writing?
In this episode, Penny & Bec chat about different ways they like to work on their listening in other languages and some of their experiences with this developing this skill in different languages over the years. We speak about our favourite ways to get listening practice, how listening doesn’t have to be passive, and some methods and strategies we’ve found helpful along the way.
What have you found most helpful for your listening skills in another language? Join our Facebook group - Language Lovers AU Community - and share your thoughts with us!
Episode Links
Improve your Listening in a Foreign Language - The Ultimate Guide - Joy of Languages
Simple Danish Podcast - Denmark&Me
Coffee Break Languages (you can also listen to our chat with Mark from Coffee Break Languages in Episode 20!)
Japanese podcast for beginners (Nihongo con Teppei)
SBS Radio - Podcasts (available in 68 languages!)
SBS Italian - Slow Italian, Fast Learning podcast
SBS French - SBS Easy French podcast
SBS Japanese - Slow Japanese podcast
Language Reactor Google Chrome extension

An Aussie language learner on YouTube: A chat with Lamont from Days of French ‘n’ Swedish

YouTube can be a real treasure trove of information and inspiration for language learners, especially when it comes to hearing about other people’s experiences and how it might be able to help you in your own language learning journey. If you’re like us, we love hearing tips and recommendations from others!
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with NSW-based Lamont, the creator behind the Days of French ‘n’ Swedish YouTube channel. Lamont has been learning languages for over five years now with a major focus on Swedish and, with over 54,000 subscribers on YouTube (as of July 2022), his informative language learning videos clearly have a significant audience of interested viewers! We chat with Lamont about his own language learning experiences, his YouTube channels and how this started, why he decided to stop learning French, his favourite YouTube videos that he has created, and more.
Do you identify with some of the things we spoke to Lamont about in this chat? Have any questions for us or our guest? Contact us here.
Episode Links
Days of French ‘n’ Swedish - Lamont’s YouTube Channel
Italki
Language Reactor Google Chrome Extension (formerly called Language Learning with Netflix)
You can listen to some of our thoughts on the Language Learning with Netflix tool here: Language Chats Ep #008 - Language Learning with Netflix: A Game Changer for TV Lovers
Matt vs Japan YouTube Channel
IMMERSION: The Movie - Days of French ‘n’ Swedish
How to read FANTASY in a foreign language - Days of French ‘n’ Swedish
Find Lamont on Instagram at @days_french_swedish

Normalising multilingualism in Australian families: A chat with Sheila Ngọc Phạm

Our guest in this episode of Language Chats is Sydney-based writer, editor, producer and scholar Sheila Ngọc Phạm who has worked across radio, print, online and film. Languages are a big part of Sheila’s life, as a bilingual English/Vietnamese Australian whose interest in language led her to study linguistics and learn a number of other languages through her travels and experiences in life so far.
We chat about her linguistic background as the child of Vietnamese parents growing up in Sydney, her love and enjoyment of language, her work on two particular podcast series (Tongue Tied and Fluent on ABC Radio National and My Bilingual Family on SBS) which focus on language in Australia, the challenges for those trying to raise children bilingually, multilingualism in Australia, and more.
Sheila is also a member of our community on Facebook, Language Lovers AU Community - join us there too if you’d like to be a part of the conversation and connect with other like-minded language lovers!
We loved this chat (and could have spoken with Sheila for hours!) so we hope you enjoy it. Contact us here to let us know your thoughts about this episode or if you have any questions for us or Sheila.
Episode Links
Find out more about Sheila on her website here / Twitter: @birdpham
Tongue Tied and Fluent podcast (ABC Radio National), produced by Masako Fukui and Sheila Ngoc Pham
My Bilingual Family podcast (SBS), produced by Masako Fukui and Sheila Ngoc Pham
Some of Sheila’s writing on multilingualism:
Bringing up a bilingual child is hard work. But passing on your mother language is a gift beyond words by Sheila Ngọc Phạm for Tongue Tied and Fluent on Earshot (ABC Radio National)
Five common myths about raising bilingual children by Sheila Ngoc Pham, Masako Fukui
Language Death by David Crystal

What gives you that ‘buzz’: Incentives & rewards in language learning

Do incentives or rewards play a part in how you stay motivated in your language learning?
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak about how we incentivise or reward ourselves for our language learning efforts (if at all!) and the range of things and feelings that can serve us in this way as learners. Rewards don’t always come in physical, tangible forms - they can be something very internal, like a feeling of pride at having stepped outside of your comfort zone or having been understood in your target language. We also chat about how this relates to goal-setting, motivation and routines like habit tracking or maintaining a streak.
Are you a ‘slave to the streak’ like Bec? Or do you love travel like Penny and use your trips as both your motivation and your reward? Join the Language Lovers AU Community and let us know your thoughts!
From this episode onwards, we will also be starting each episode of Language Chats with an acknowledgement of country. This is something that has featured in two of our previous episodes - Ep #42 Introduction to Australian indigenous languages: A chat with Karla Zuluaga (Part 1) & Ep #49 Connecting to indigenous culture through language: A chat with Yaaran from @wiradyuri - and is a simple but important gesture to pay respect to the traditional custodians of the land on which we live today.
Episode Links
How the Acknowledgment of Country became a core national custom — and why it matters - ABC News

Living and loving a language-filled life and career: A chat with Katerina Forrester

Have you ever wondered what the most challenging and rewarding things about being a high school language teacher in Australia would be, when English is everywhere? It’s a task that teachers like Kat take on everyday and honestly - we’re in awe!
In this Language Chat, we speak with Kat Forrester, a Melbourne-based French language teacher, language enthusiast and self-confessed syntax geek who lives and breathes a love of language everyday. Kat tells us about her experiences of learning, studying and teaching, what’s inspired her, what motivates and challenges her to pass on her love of French to her school students, and lots more.
We hope you enjoy this chat as much as we did! Do you have any questions for Kat or for us? Contact us here.
Episode Links
You can find Kat online at I Love French Australia Blog | Instagram: @ilovefrenchaustralia | Facebook: I Love French Australia
Easy Languages YouTube channel
Camille - Le Fil
Tryo
Victorian Curriculum and Assessment Authority - French

An Aussie in Switzerland: A chat with Julie Eggleton

In this episode of Language Chats, we’re chatting with one of our Language Lovers AU Community members, Julie Eggleton. Julie is originally from the Gold Coast but now lives with her family in Switzerland (and we are very jealous of the beautiful view of the mountains which she has from her desk at home!).
We speak about her experiences of learning French and German over the years, living overseas and learning a language once you’re in a country where the language is spoken (hint: immersion isn’t a magical way to learn a language without any of the hard work!), the challenges of trying to learn another language for work and for life, and what kids can teach us all about persistence.
Do you have a question for us or for Julie? Contact us here.
Episode Links
Women In Language - a unique online event designed to champion, celebrate, and amplify the lesser-heard voices in language learning
Agnieszka Murdoch - 5-Minute Language
Forgetting your native language is a thing - Agnieszka Murdoch

Make language learning fun again

Have you lost the fun from your learning? What comes to mind when you think of fun + language learning? 
 
In this episode of Language Chats, together with some members of Language Lovers AU, we discuss the best tips to get the fun back into your languages.
 
From journaling to tracking your motivations, making real-life connections, gamifying your learning, and going to a cafe, we talk about what makes it fun for others and for us.
 
We love hearing from you. What’s your best tip for making your learning fun? Share your recommendations with us on the Language Lovers AU Community on Facebook or contact us here.
Episode Links
Eurovision - Ukrainian entry from 2021
Lyrics training
Lingo Legend app
Drops app
Say what with friends
Polygloss app
 

Keeping a mother tongue alive through community radio: A chat with Kathy Ismail

In this episode of Language Chats, we’re chatting with one of our Language Lovers AU Community members, Kathy Ismail. Malaysian-born and now based in Melbourne, Kathy is an enthusiastic language lover who grew up in a very multilingual environment in Kuala Lumpur and an interest in language has stayed with her ever since! Kathy is an architect by trade but also hosts a Malay language program on Melbourne community radio station 3ZZZ.
 
We speak with Kathy about her language learning story and the languages which have taken her interest, the role that language plays in her life and how she got involved in hosting a show in her mother tongue on local community radio.
 
Does Kathy’s story resonate with you? Do you have any questions for Kathy or for us? Let us know.
 
Episode Links
3ZZZ Melbourne Ethnic Community Radio
3ZZZ Malaysian Program