Episodes
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“Learning other languages makes you a more open person and makes you understand we are not in a vacuum.” - Fadi BouKaram
When it comes to learning a new language, fear of acceptance by native speakers is often a barrier to practising and improving. But Fadi BouKaram believes sharing language with others is a powerful tool in breaking down cultural barriers.
Fadi BouKaram is a Lebanese-born photographer and language lover whose TikTok videos on language and culture have amassed more than 5 million likes. He uses his platform to tell stories of language and how it has impacted and enriched his life. Fadi is fluent in Arabic, English and French and is currently learning Irish.
This series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
How to overcome the fear of practising a new language with native speakers How you can grow as a language learner by understand just how deeply intertwined language is with cultural identityThe importance of understanding the etymology of wordsFind out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com
Follow Fadi on TikTok here.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: thelanguagepodcast.com/
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“When writing, you're using the language a lot more intentionally than when you’re speaking.” - Judith Meyer
Have you ever been put off learning a new language because it uses a different writing system to your first language? If so, you’re not alone.
Judith Meyer says learning to write in a new language can seem daunting - especially if it uses a different script. But she claims writing is the key to improving your spoken language and finding more joy in conversations with native speakers.
Judith, known as the German Polyglot, is the inventor of the Script Hacking method, a system which makes learning different writing systems easy. Judith speaks 14 languages and is behind both Learnlangs.com and The Polyglot Gathering.
“When writing, you're using the language a lot more intentionally than when you’re speaking.” - Judith Meyer
Have you ever been put off learning a new language because it uses a different writing system to your first language? If so, you’re not alone.
Judith Meyer says learning to write in a new language can seem daunting - especially if it uses a different script. But she claims writing is the key to improving your spoken language and finding more joy in conversations with native speakers.
Judith, known as the German Polyglot, is the inventor of the Script Hacking method, a system which makes learning different writing systems easy. Judith speaks 14 languages and is behind both Learnlangs.com and The Polyglot Gathering.
This series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
Why writing is the key to better pronunciationThe first steps of putting pen to paperHow “romanticising” your writing practise can helpThe challenges of writing and how to overcome themGet 20% off Judith’s Script Hacking books at https://teachyourself.com/discount/JMPOD20?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fauthor-judith-meyer-pid-190309.
Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com
Find out more about Judith’s work here.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: thelanguagepodcast.com/
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Episodes manquant?
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“The very fact that you can do (read) anywhere, without barriers, makes it an incredibly important tool.” - Olly Richards
For many, reading is the least of their worries when it comes to learning a new language but Olly Richards, inventor of the StoryLearning method, says it’s not something to be overlooked.
Olly’s method teaches reading skills through stories - using the same natural learning process children use to learn their native language. The polyglot, who speaks 8 languages, calls reading the “brain-friendly” way to learn a new language and claims it can speed up your overall learning.
This series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
The biggest mistake people make when they start reading in a new language How to choose the correct reading materialWhy you don’t need to understand every word on the pageGet 20% off Olly’s Short Stories books and audiobooks at https://teachyourself.com/discount/ORPOD20?redirect=%2Fcollections%2Fauthor-olly-richards-pid-193257.
Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com
Find out more about Olly’s StoryLearning Method here.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: thelanguagepodcast.com/
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“Once you embody it, once you’re producing it in song, it really improves pronunciation, confidence, memory.” - Desta Haile
Listening to music isn’t just an enjoyable way of learning a new language, it can also teach you so much about culture, about politics and about the words people are really using.
Desta runs the Languages Through Music programme, bringing two decades of experience to help her students make music an effective and intentional part of their learning. And in this episode, she shares her top tips.
This brand-new series of The Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
How music’s ability to tap into our emotions aids language learningWhat types of songs you should be picking to integrate music into your journeyStories of how music deepens human connectionWhat you should be listening out for and focusing on during the listening processFind out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you.
If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“It’s more reliable to feel what you’re saying, than to hear it” - Anneli Haake
Getting pronunciation right when you’re learning a new language is a challenge people often find most terrifying. If you’re struggling to ‘listen and repeat’, Anneli Haake has a much more effective method for you to try.
Anneli Haake is a Swedish Language teacher, author, and founder of Swedish Made Easy. After scanning her vocal tract in an MRI machine, Anneli developed a unique approach to teaching pronunciation, focusing on vocal anatomy - how our mouths and tongues move when we say certain words.
This brand-new series of The Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
The importance of pronunciation and why it’s not the same as ‘accent’How to focus on your own vocal anatomy to improve your pronunciationWhy you should learn reductions and contractions as soon as possibleWhat to do if you can’t make a certain soundGet 20% off Anneli’s book The Language Teacher Rebel, and her Language Teacher Rebel Toolkit, with the code AHPOD20.
Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you.
If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website:
https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“You’re going to feel like an idiot. You’re going to feel self-conscious. But you’re going to learn a lot quicker” -Benny Lewis
Afraid of having conversations in a new language? Unsure how to get started? Benny Lewis will get you chatting with the locals in no time.
Benny is known as the Irish Polyglot and speaks more than ten languages. He runs the language learning blog fluentin3months and is the author of the Teach Yourself series Language Hacking. His method is all about learning by doing, embracing your mistakes and having conversations in your new language as fast as possible.
This brand new series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
How to overcome the fear of getting things wrong so you can start building connections in months, not years.Why moving to a country to learn a language is NOT the best advice.How to avoid defaulting to your mother tongue during the learning process.The exact methodology Benny uses to get people to conversational level in just 90 days.Get 20% off Benny’s Language Hacking series with the code BLPOD20.
Find out more about Teach Yourself here: www.teachyourself.com
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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“Life is just so much more fun when you speak a bunch of languages, is it not?” - Jo Franco
Where should you start if you want to learn a new language? To inspire the beginning of your journey, we bring you social media sensation Jo Franco.
Jo is a Netflix travel host, filmmaker, writer and founder of JoClub, a global online journaling community. She has been documenting her language learning process and travels on social media for several years. Jo currently speaks six languages, and uses multilingualism as a way to connect to the world to tell authentic stories about humanity.
This brand new series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
In this episode you will learn:
About Jo’s personal journey through language learning, and what it has brought to her life and travels.About her own process for language learning, how it’s developed and how you can put it into practice for yourself.What resources you should start your journey with.How to find the motivation to keep going, even when it gets tough.Check out Jo’s language learning planner and journal ‘Fluentish’: www.teachyourself.com/products/fluentish . Use code JOPOD20 for 20% off!
Find out more about Teach Yourself here:
www.teachyourself.com
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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This brand new series of the Language Podcast is a toolkit for all you language learners out there - whether you’re learning for the first time, or adding another language to your arsenal.
"Life is just so much more fun when you speak a bunch of languages, is it not?” - Jo Franco
Find out more about Teach Yourself at www.teachyourself.com.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: https://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Join renowned writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster, David Crystal, as he delves into the ever-evolving nature of English and explores the intriguing question of linguistic ownership. In this episode, Crystal explores the potential future of English as a global lingua franca, the inevitability of language change and the necessity for a global or international standard of English.
“Everybody owns English now. If you have taken the trouble to learn it, and if you are in a country where it has a significant presence, then you have rights in it.”
From South African English to Singaporean English, many varieties of English exist. But how are these variations shaping the evolution of the language? And as technology continues to bring us all closer together, will we eventually see all of these varieties converge?
David Crystal is a writer, editor, lecturer, and broadcaster, who has written over 100 books on the English language. In this episode he explores the question of ownership - can any one country lay claim to the language anymore? He discusses whether it’s likely English will one day lose its status as a global lingua franca. And he explains the inevitability of language change, and why we should embrace it.
Check out David’s latest book Everyday Shakespeare, Lines for Life.
Find out more about our sponsor, Chambers here and sign up to their newsletter. Chambers is the number 1 brand for word lovers, and publishers of Everyday Shakespeare.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Meet Ellen Jovin, the brilliant mind behind the Grammar Table, engaging in language conversations with strangers across the US since 2018. In this enlightening episode, Ellen delves into some of the most frequently asked grammar questions she's encountered on her journey – from the infamous Oxford comma to the singular 'they'. Ellen’s passion for language is catching, but she’s the first to remind us why we shouldn’t get so hung up on all these rules.
“Grammar is actually fun. If you approach it in a way that engages the human spirit, it's exciting, you know, it's sexy.”
Do you know your commas from your apostrophes - your pronouns from your prepositions? Whether you have a burning question about English grammar, or you need to get your head around that one rule that always trips you up, it’s probably time to head to the Grammar Table.
Check out Ellen’s book Rebel with a Clause: Tales and Tips from a Roving Grammarian.
Find out more about our sponsor, the Michel Thomas Method here and sign up to their newsletter. To take advantage of their special 30% discount for listeners of The Language Podcast, just choose your course and enter code MTPOD30 at checkout.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Join renowned applied linguist Michael McCarthy to discover the dynamic journey of the English language as it spreads across the globe. Witness how English enriches and adapts, sometimes borrowing words and expressions, and other times merging with local tongues to form pidgins and creoles. Explore the most radical changes to the English language today and join the debate on the future of English.
“It adapts itself. That's built into its very nature. It cannot stand still.”
In every English-speaking country of the world, the language takes on a life of its own – molded and shaped to fit into its environment. So what makes English so adaptable? Why do so many unique and distinctive varieties exist, and how is it evolving and changing? Where does English end and pidgins and creoles begin?
Michael McCarthy is Emeritus Professor of Applied Linguistics at the University of Nottingham in the UK, and has written more than 50 books about the English language. In this episode he discusses the many ‘Englishes’ of the world, and why the language travels so well. He explores how foreign ideas and ‘loanwords’ have entered and altered the language and where its future is headed in a world of less formality.
Check out Michael’s latest book McCarthy's Field Guide to Grammar: Natural English Usage and Style - published by Chambers.
Find out more about our sponsor, Teach Yourself here and sign up to their newsletter here. To take advantage of their special 30% discount on language eBooks for listeners of The Language Podcast, just enter code TYPOD30 at checkout. You can then access the title online, or download it to the accompanying Teach Yourself app. Please note: You will not be able to save the files to your computer.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Join Len Pennie, the renowned Scots poet celebrated for her Scots word of the day on Twitter and TikTok, and Dr. Michael Dempster, director at the Scots Language Centre, as they discuss the historical divergence of Scots from English and uncover the rich tapestry of creative works that have flourished in the Scots language. Engage in the debate surrounding the thorny issue of a standardised orthography for Scots, as well as the pressing threats that endanger the future of the language.
“The time has now come for conversations about Scots to be in complete isolation from English.”
Scots and English are sister languages with many similarities, but they are not the same. These days, Scots is minoritised and often seen as ‘bad English’. But how did it get this reputation, and is its future under threat?
Len Pennie and Dr Michael Dempster join Richard to explore the divergence of Scots from English, Scots’ rich history as a language of creative works, and they share the vibrancy of the language through some of their favourite words, phrases and dialects.
Follow Len’s ‘Scots Word of the Day’ on TikTok and check out Michael’s website mindyerlanguage.scot.
Take a look at the special section on Scotticisms in The Chambers Dictionary here.
Find out more about our sponsor, the Michel Thomas Method here and sign up to their newsletter. To take advantage of their special 30% discount for listeners of The Language Podcast, just enter the code MTPOD30 at checkout.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Prepare to be amazed by an array of fascinating etymological revelations, including the surprising (and sometimes cheeky) origins of English words, as we continue our journey through the evolution of English and trace its transformation from Old English to Middle English. Join Jess Zafarris, the woman behind Useless Etymology and Words from Hell, as she talks about The Great Vowel Shift, a turning point in linguistic history, and demonstrates the intriguing sounds of Middle English.
“One of the great joys of studying Middle English is learning how the words that we use today are rooted in the past and in different languages.”
Why do we say words like ‘ruthless’, but not ‘ruth’, or ‘disgruntled’ but not ‘gruntled’? And does the word ‘female’ come from the word ‘male’? All these questions and more are answered as we continue our journey through the evolution of English, and find out how it shifted from Old English to Middle English.
Jess Zafarris has a blog, two books and a TikTok channel dedicated to the subject of etymology. In this episode she explains how Old English morphed into Middle English, and how it ended with The Great Vowel Shift. She shares an incredible array of etymological wonders, explaining the (sometimes naughty) origins of English words. And she gives us a glimpse into how Middle English may have sounded, and how you can learn it yourself.
Check out Jess’ latest book Words from Hell - Unearthing the darkest secrets of English etymology.
Find out more about our sponsor, Chambers here and sign up to their newsletter. Chambers is the number one brand for word lovers! And they’re publishers of Jess Zafarris’ latest book Words from Hell.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Notes:
www.gutenberg.org/
Archive.org
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Join us as we delve into the rich history of Old English and its enduring influence on Modern English with Dr Mark Atherton, lecturer at the University of Oxford. Discover the origins of the language of Chaucer and the epic Beowulf, and explore the differences between Old, Middle and Modern English.
“In a way you could say that Old English is still with us. It's the language that each generation has been passing on.”
The English language is full of contradictory rules and peculiarities. That’s because it’s a hybrid language, one which has evolved over many years. To make sense of it, we must go back in time and look at its roots in Old English.
Dr Mark Atherton is a lecturer and author on the subject of Old English at the University of Oxford, and in this episode he tells us how it’s changed to become the language we know today. He shares some of the fascinating phrases and words that make up Old English, like 'overmodiness' and ‘hus’. From Beowulf to Chaucer, he discusses and translates moments from some of the most famous works of Old English literature.
Check out Mark’s book Complete Old English: A Comprehensive Guide to Reading and Understanding Old English, with Original Texts.
For a special treat, listen to Mark’s full musical rendition of the Old English poem Riddle 60 here.
Find out more about our sponsor, Teach Yourself here and sign up to their newsletter. Teach Yourself is offering listeners of The Language Podcast a special 30% discount on all language eBooks, including Mark Atherton’s Complete Old English. Just enter code TYPOD30 at checkout. You can then access the title online, or download it to the accompanying Teach Yourself app. Please note: You will not be able to save the files to your computer.
Your host is polyglot Richard Simcott. The Language Podcast is an OG Podcasts production.
If you enjoyed this episode, please leave us a review and a 5-star rating - it really helps to reach more language lovers like you. If you want to see more of us, you can find us on:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/language.pod/
YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheLanguagePod
Website: http://www.thelanguagepodcast.com
Hosted on Acast. See acast.com/privacy for more information.
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Welcome to the Language Podcast, where we meet some of the world's foremost experts to discuss the ins and outs of the one thing that makes us uniquely human--language. Listen to this brand new series about the evolution of English.
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