The Easy Languages Podcast
Who said language learning has to be difficult? Join the teams from the Easy Languages network as they share their stories of language learning and answer your questions.
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22: It’s a Wrap (For Now)
It’s a wrap for season 1! The Easy Languages Podcast is taking a break. We hope you have enjoyed the past 21 episodes, found our language stories interesting, and our tips useful and actionable. As for the future… stay tuned on the Easy Languages YouTube channel and on our website: easy-languages.org
On behalf of the Easy Languages team, thanks for listening, and happy language learning!
21: 4 Asian Languages You Can Learn Together (With Hyperpolyglot & Author Tim Keeley)
Join Rita in this special episode and listen to our remarkable guest, Tim Keeley - a hyperpolyglot & author - as he tells us about his fantastic life journey in 30 languages and gives us valuable insights into the historical and cultural ties that bind 4 of the major East Asian Languages: Chinese, Vietnamese, Korean and Japanese. Tim explains - examples in support - the fascinating similarities these languages share and how it is an advantage to learn them together.
20: New Languages for New Worlds: ConLangs and the Case of Esperanto
In this episode we introduce artificial languages: a group of languages spoken, among other places, on Avatar's Pandora, or Tolkien's Middle-Earth. But the first stop of our trip is actually in Eastern Europe, where Esperanto was created in 1887.
In the second part of the episode, we answer questions from two of our listeners, Anna and Joanna.
Tune in and join the language talk!
19: The Hardest Language in the World (Isn’t the One You Think…)
What makes some languages harder to learn than others? In this episode, we attempt to entangle the objective factors - as to why a language is complex - from the subjective ones. We also dedicate a section to talking about our experiences with those languages which we traditionally think are the most difficult to master.
18: This is Why We Use Subtitles in 2 Languages
Join Rita and Raffaele in this new episode as they discuss the importance of using comprehensible input throughout your language learning journey, and how a certain degree of difficulty is needed and welcome while consuming language-related content.
In the second part of the episode, they share a few resources like apps, books, and courses that make use of this principle and have helped them in the past and can help you too!
But what does Rita really think about all this? Can you believe that even in-comprehensible input can help?
17: The Spirit of the Sakha Language (Yakut) With Tatiana O. & Olga Y. From Easy Sakha
Yakutia, also known as the Sakha Republic, the land where the Taiga meets the Tundra, is one of the coldest inhabited areas in the world and home to one of the most unique and thrilling languages and cultures in the Russian Federation. At Easy Languages, we are happy to count Easy Sakha as one of those languages.
In this episode, you'll listen to Tatiana O. & Olga Y. share all the essential facts about their fascinating language, the Sakha language, and give us their tips for learning languages in the second section.
And if you want to learn some basics in Sakha, become a member & join us for a fun after-show!
16: Språkmelodi, or the Sound of Swedish: Fredrik's Language Journey Around the World
In this episode, we have a guest: Fredrik grew up in a small town close to Gothenburg, Sweden, but has lived in Australia, Turkey, Hungary, and Spain, where he lives now. When he's not studying languages, he teaches Swedish as the Swedish Linguist. In the first section of this episode, Fredrik tells us a bit more about his story.
In the second section, we discuss the intelligibility between Scandinavian languages, and one of the features that make Swedish unique: språkmelodi, or the distinctive intonation of this beautiful language. But we also investigate the unusual meaning hidden behind a Swedish day of the week...
Finally, in the last section of the episode, Fredrik opens up about how he really learns languages, and what lesson Hungarian taught him... Tune in and enjoy Fredrik's language journey around the world!
15: Reasons You Should Join an Online Language Learning Community
In this episode, we discuss why you should consider joining an online language-learning community if it still needs to be made the case. And there is no lack of reasons to do so! You can also listen to us share our experiences with language Apps, Forums and how you could use those cooperative settings to level up your language game! Besides, we talked about how a language challenge could benefit your learning and how to choose the community that suits you best. There's so much power when language enthusiasts come together! Listen up and join the fun!
14: New Year, New Language: SMART Resolutions That Actually Stick
Happy New Year, language lovers! Have you ever set a new year's resolution to learn a new language? If so, you're not alone! Learning a new language is a common goal for many people at the start of the new year, but unfortunately, a majority of these resolutions fail. Why is this? Rita and Raffaele discuss the common pitfalls of language learning resolutions and how to avoid them by setting SMART goals instead.
In the second half of the episode, Rita and Raffaele will share their own experiences with language learning resolutions, including the challenges they've faced and the strategies they've used to overcome them. Plus, there's a resolution they want to share with you...
13: More Than Words - The Importance of Culture in Language Learning With Marian From Easy Welsh
Marian was raised bilingual Welsh-Dutch at home in Wales. She traveled quite a bit and has been teaching Welsh and English abroad for some time. In 2020, Marian B. went to Argentina for a year to work as a Welsh teacher in Patagonia and is currently studying Linguistics at the University of Bangor in North Wales. In this episode, she shares valuable tips for those who want to join the ever-growing number of students learning Welsh and other critical cultural facts about Wales, mysterious names in Welsh, and the biggest Cultural event in Europe.
12: Self-Talk Your Way to Fluency
In this episode Raffaele “goes solo” and tells you everything about Self-Talk, the incredibly underrated technique that can boost your speaking skills all the way to basic fluency. But how does it work exactly? What are its pros and cons? Join Raffaele and you’ll find out!
Raffaele also shares the news about the most recent addition to our Podcast network, and replies to a question from Easy French’s Hélène about frustration in language learning.
11: The Success Formula - Habits Building In Language Learning With Kerstin Cable
Kerstin Cable is a language and communications coach, writer, and podcaster living in England. She is a native German speaker who has studied 10 languages, including her language crush, Welsh. Kerstin is the author of 15+ books and courses for language learners, co-organizer of the Women in Language conference, and creator of the Fluent Show podcast, along with being a popular speaker at language events. Kerstin Cable has been featured on BBC World Service, Süddeutsche Zeitung, and The Cut.
10: The Pareto Principle, or the Economically Efficient Way to Learn Vocabulary
Is there a way to apply economic laws to language learning, in order to make it more efficient? Yes indeed! Come and find out about the true and trusted shortcut to learning vocabulary!
9: ÞEtta Reddast, It Will All Work Out Just Fine in Icelandic if You Follow the KISS Principle!
This episode discusses how Arabic varieties around the "Arab world" differ from each other and where a beginner should start their journey with a fascinating yet not fully appreciated language.
8: Arabic: Great Language, Low Profile
This episode discusses how Arabic varieties around the "Arab world" differ from each other and where a beginner should start their journey with a fascinating yet not fully appreciated language.
7: ¿Tú o vos? Which Spanish should you learn?
In this episode, we meet José, a polyglot from Bolivia who moved to Spain and currently studies linguistics, but only when he's not creating content for Easy Spanish. We discuss how Spanish varieties around the world differ, and what is *voseo.* But most importantly, we answer the ultimate question for those who want to learn Spanish: which variety should you study?
6: No Fear, No Hurry: How Long Does It Really Take to Learn a Language?
What do Corgi dogs, a slogan and a bottle of whiskey have in common? And is it even possible to learn a language in just 3 months?
5: Big Fat Greek Worms: Discovering the Ingenious Language with Dimitris
Dimitris from Easy Greek shares his hobbies, family stories and love for the Greek language. But does really Greek have such a significant influence on Western cultures? And how should we teach languagues to our little kids?
4: Journey From Berlin to Rio With Our “Multiple” Personalities
Learn finally what "Saudade" means and two other very intriguing untranslatable words in Portuguese.
3: Cari’s "Big" Business : Past, Present and Future of Easy Languages
Meet Cari from Easy German and co-founder of Easy Languages, and learn more about her journey, favorite German expression, plus something you might not have expected.