StoryLearning Podcast

Shane asks: "I'm learning Chinese and Thai. What's the best way to learn the tones, or tonal languages in general?"

In this episode:

• How to approach learning tonal languages
• Why top-down approaches beat bottom-up approaches for learning tones

How I approach learning a tonal language:

1. Make sure you understand the tones in the language you're learning
2. Start listening to recorded dialogues from your textbook every day
3. Work with a tutor right from the start, so you can practise speaking and get feedback
4. Write down new words and phrases with the tone indicated
5. Give yourself time to get used to it all!

[Tweet "You don't learn a language, you get used to it - Khatzumoto"]

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

• Tone Pair Drills - a great article on the Sensible Chinese blog.

Olly speaking Cantonese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QRVpNbNzK8

Start speaking today

I'd like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordable and effective native speakers teachers and tutors. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, simply visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes

Do you have a question?

Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I'll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you've got any comments about the show then please leave them in the "comments" section below! If you'd like to help me out, then I'd love it if you could...

• Share the episode using the social media buttons around you
• Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that)

iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

In this episode, I'm joined by Shayna from Espresso English to talk about learning English grammar!

In this episode:

• Does grammar matter?
• Why do students struggle to learn English grammar?
• Does learning grammar change at different levels?
• Tips for mastering English grammar

Resources mentioned in this episode:

• Espresso English - Shayna's awesome blog for learning English!
• Espresso English Podcast - Shayna's podcast

Start speaking today

I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. iTalki is the best place online to connect with affordable and effective native speakers teachers and tutors. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, simply visit:http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes

Do you have a question?

Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Thanks so much for listening to this episode of the podcast! If you’ve got any comments about the show then please leave them in the “comments” section below! If you’d like to help me out, then I’d love it if you could...

• Share the episode using the social media buttons around you
• Leave an honest review and rating of the podcast on iTunes (click here to do that)

iTunes reviews in particular really help the rankings of the podcast and help me to reach other aspiring language learners out there! See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!

In this episode, I interview my Arabic teacher Mona about how I made quick progress in my Arabic.

In this episode:

• My progress compared to Mona's other students
• In what ways I progressed
• What techniques I use during the lesson

Here is a video of the conversation: https://youtu.be/TSsSO-JOcCA

Resources mentioned in today's episode:

• Language Learning Foundations - my course for learning to speak a new language quickly, where you can find the full 1-hour interview
• Mona's iTalki teacher profile
• ArabicGlobal.com

Start speaking today

We're about to release a special new range of intermediate StoryLearning programmes, and I'm sooo excited!

And as a loyal listener, I'd like to offer you early access and a very special offer to celebrate the launch. (It's something I always like to do whenever we release something new!)

To get on the notification list, click: https://storylearning.com/intermediate

The new programmes are:

• Spanish Uncovered (Intermediate)
• German Uncovered (Intermediate)
• French Uncovered (Intermediate)
• Italian Uncovered (Intermediate)
• Japanese Uncovered (Intermediate)

Today's episode features a question from Kevin: "How can I take vocabulary from songs and use it in my conversations?"

In this episode:

• The benefits of learning languages through songs
• How to re-articulate language from songs in everyday conversation
• How natural is language from songs?
• How songs work in different languages
• Songs as a tool for "discovering" language

Strategies for learning songs:

1. Identify key words and phrases from the song that I want to be able to use. Then put them in a flashcard app.
2. Keep a list of the words I want to be able to use and keep it next to me during a language exchange/lesson
3. Use the vocabulary for writing. For example, write a monologue/mini-speech, then memorise it.

Links and resources mentioned in this episode:

• FluentU - Language learning with video
• My review of FluentU
• Let It Go (ありのままで): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cvj3-MZO9Tw
• Olly singing in Portuguese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sReTCr-WPxc
• Olly singing in Cantonese: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l9Z20Bg8Ppg

Flashcard apps mentioned:

• Memrise
• Anki
• Flashcards Deluxe

Other websites:

• Lang-8 - corrections from native speakers
• Rhinospike - audio recordings from native speakers

Today's featured resource

• FluentU.com - language learning with video

Do you have a question?

Ask me your language learning questions by clicking here, and I'll do my best to feature it on the show! Also, please subscribe to the show on iTunes to get automatic updates.

Win a copy of my course!

To celebrate the launch of the podcast, I'm giving away 3 free copies of my Language Learning Foundations video course, worth $97 each! To be in with a chance of winning, simply head over to iTunes, search for the "I Will Teach You A Language Podcast" in the store, and leave me an honest review and rating for the show! After episode 10 of the podcast, I'll choose 3 lucky winners from around the world!

See you in the next episode of the I Will Teach You A Language podcast!