Language Chats

Language apps that we’re loving, loathing or that have lost our interest!

Some language apps are really gamified, some have video, animations or audio, and some use spaced repetition. There have been some fad apps that have come in and been replaced by others – there sure is lots going on in this app world! In this episode of Language Chats, Bec and Penny reveal their favourite apps and others that aren’t near the top of the go-to list. What apps do you love or loathe? Let us know! And don’t forget to join our Facebook group to be part of future discussions just like this. For episode details and links: www.languagelovers.com.au/podcast/ep-034Connect with us:@languagelovers.auBec: @irregular.endingsPenny: @lingo_mama

Language and personal identity: A chat with polyglot Lina Vasquez

Lina Vasquez is a Latvian-Australian personal development coach, polyglot, YouTuber, speaker and entrepreneur. Having been immersed in a multicultural environment from a young age, she studied law and languages in Australia and Germany and now speaks a total of eight at various levels. Lina has always been curious and a free soul and her experiences of other countries as a teenager, led her to create this global life for herself.Penny and Bec got to “meet” Lina at the recent 2020 Women in Language online conference, with her presentation “Redefining the Language of Our Personal Identity & Breaking Binary Linguistic Stereotypes".In this episode of Language Chats, we talk with Lina about how languages have changed her life, and about the links between our own identities and language.How can we ask better questions? How can we be less judgemental and more open-minded?For more please visit www.languagelovers.com.au/podcastLet us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram!Follow@languagelovers.auPenny - @lingo_mamaBec - @irregular.endingsEpisode LinksYouTube @linavasquezFacebook @linavasquezofficialLinkedIn @linavasquezInstagram @_linavasquezWebsite lina-vasquez.comWomen in Language 2020 Conference presentations (plus access is available for 2019 and 2018 too)

Accents and language learning - is there a ’right’ one? And does it even matter?

From the Quebecois accent to the Southern Vietnamese accent, we've both had experiences of struggling with accents or feeling proud of their accent in their second language. In this episode, we ask if accents matter, or is the main goal actually just comprehension?In this episode, we’ve done something a bit different and put some questions out to our Language Lovers AU Community Facebook group about accents and language learning and got some amazing responses back.What are your experiences of accents in your language learning? Let us know! And don’t forget to join our Facebook group to be part of future discussions just like this.For episode details and links: www.languagelovers.com.au/podcast/ep-032Be proud of your accent and the story that it tells!Connect with us: @languagelovers.auBec: @irregular.endingsPenny: @lingo_mama

When is the right time to introduce a new language into the mix?

Is there such a thing as a right time to introduce a new language? Do we need to be at a certain level such as B1 or equivalent before adding in a new language? Or does it all come down to your motivation and goals and it when it just feels right? In this episode, Penny and Bec talk about if there is a right time to introduce a new language into your language learning mix. What's been your experience with adding a new language? Let us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram! @languagelovers.au@lingo_mama (Penny)@irregularendings (Bec)

Foreign Language TV Series - What We’re Watching in 2020

What we’re watching!We love watching foreign language TV and in this episode we round up our latest discoveries.From German fantasy thrillers to Danish political drams and Spanish food documentaries to Indian love stories, we cover all kinds of genres and languages in this episode! What have you been watching? Let us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram!Head to our website for the shownotes and links for this episode.

Sharing the voices of Women In Language: A chat with Kerstin from The Fluent Show

Excuse us while we have a little fangirl moment on the podcast because, in this episode, we chat with someone who has been a massive inspiration to us both - Kerstin Cable from fluentlanguage.co.uk and The Fluent Show!Kerstin tells us about where Fluent Language started, how her podcast grew out of a series of interviews on her blog, a bit about her personal experience of learning languages and about Women In Language, an online conference that she organises with Lindsay Williams and Shannon Kennedy, which is designed to champion, celebrate, and amplify the voices of women in language learning. (Fun fact: Penny & Bec actually met through the first Women In Language conference in 2018!)We loved speaking to Kerstin and hope you enjoy this Language Chat too. Have you listened to The Fluent Show before? Join Kerstin on 9 October for a livestream to celebrate the 200th Episode of The Fluent Show!This year’s edition of Women In Language will be happening from 17-20 September 2020. Are you excited to attend Women In Language (again or for the first time)?Let us know here, in our Facebook Group or Instagram!Episode Linksfluentlanguage.co.uk - Kerstin’s websiteThe Fluent Show - Kerstin’s podcastEpisode 131 - The Fluent Show - "The Tyranny of the Shoulds" with Dr Roger KreuzEpisode 172 - The Fluent Show - Marc Okrand on Creating the Klingon LanguageFind Kerstin on Facebook (Fluent Language Learners) / Instagram (@kerstin_fluent) / Twitter @fluentlanguage - @thefluentshowWomen in Language - 17-20 September 2020. Tickets on sale now!

From being the only student at school studying Chinese to certified translator: A chat with Maddy Norris

In this episode, we chat with Maddy Norris - a fellow language lover here in Australia and long-time Language Chats listener! Maddy is a NAATI-certified Mandarin Chinese to English translator and has also spent time learning a number of other languages including Japanese, Korean and French. She tells us a bit about her experience of studying languages in Australia at school and university, working as a translator and her language learning ambitions that lie ahead.Can you relate to some of Maddy’s experiences? Would you love to work with a language that you’re learning? Let us know!Episode Links@maddyloveslanguages - Maddy’s Instagram profileKorean courses at the Centre of Adult Education, MelbourneFrench courses at the Alliance Française de MelbourneLanguage Lovers AU Community - Facebook groupLanguage Lovers

Is it really a choice? Formal language learning as a school-aged kid in Australia

If we had our time again, would we choose the languages we studied? Languages are often chosen for us, rather than us choosing them when we’re kids. If Bec had her time again, would she choose French? Is it really a choice? Penny chose to learn Japanese after school in year 7, but what drew her in?In this episode of Language Chats, we talk about language learning as children in school. How difficult is it for kids to develop an emotional connection to the language if it’s thrust upon them? How do we make it more about just learning the language?Would we change what we studied if we could? Is there anything you’d change about your language learning experience as a kid?Get in touch and let us know! We love hearing from you.Share your thoughts and questions with us here, on Facebook or Instagram.Full shownotes and links available at www.languagelovers.com.au/podcast/ep-027Follow: @languagelovers.auFollow Bec: @irregular.endingsFollow Penny: @lingo_mama

Enriching your travel experiences with language: A chat with Michele Frolla (The Intrepid Guide)

In this episode, we’re chatting with a fellow Melbournian and Australian language lover - Michele Frolla from The Intrepid Guide. Now based in the UK, Michele tells us about how she became interested in languages, how her blog and website The Intrepid Guide came about and, most recently, how she has started sharing her own love of ltalian through her new online course!Do you love to learn even just a little bit of a language before you travel? Like Michele, have you seen the impact of having a deeper connection with the language that you’re learning on your learning success?Share your thoughts and questions with us here, on Facebook or Instagram.Full shownotes and links available at www.languagelovers.com.au/podcast/ep-026Follow: @languagelovers.au Follow Bec: @irregular.endingsFollow Penny: @lingo_mamaEpisode LinksThe Intrepid Guide | Language Guides & Travel Tips from Around the WorldThe Intrepid Guide | Facebook | InstagramMichele’s Italian Phrases for Travel course

The Language Learning Landscape in Australia: how it’s changed for adults and independent learners

Technology, access to resources, and motivations to learn a new language have completely changed in the three decades since Australia’s National Policy of Languages was written. In this episode, we chat about what these changes mean for adult independent learners today, plus the power of online communities for support, motivation and inspiration. We also lament the lack of public profile people celebrating their bilingualism - and mention a few names you might not even know speak a second language!Stay tuned for further episodes about the Language Learning Landscape in Australia - we have plenty to say on this topic! What are your observations? Let us know your thoughts!