Language Chats: A podcast for language lovers in Australia and beyond.
We can’t tell you how to get fluent in fifteen days… But we can share our experiences of language learning with you, as well as the stories of other Australians (and a few international guests!) who love learning, working with, and communicating using other languages.
Tune into the Language Lovers AU podcast, Language Chats, wherever you listen to podcasts - find us on Apple Podcasts | Spotify | Google Podcasts or via the links below.
Episode 103
Researching language to make society better: A chat with Dr Howie Manns
In this episode, we’re chatting with Dr Howard (Howie) Manns, Senior Lecturer in Linguistics and Applied Linguistics at Monash University. Howie grew up in a monolingual environment and then (unexpectedly) became a linguist through joining the US Navy, and now works as a researcher who studies Australian English, Indonesian, tactile (deafblind) Auslan and intercultural communication. Click here to listen.
Episode 102
When passions for language, tourism & Asia combine: A chat with Andrea Plawutsky
Andrea Plawutsky has brought her interest in tourism, China and Asia together across her career. From teaching English in north-eastern China, living and working in Thailand and then working in the travel & tourism industry in Australia. Click here to listen.
Episode 101
More meaningful travel experiences through culture & language
Penny is a long-time travel lover and in this episode, she tells us about her most recent international trip which was actually a bit of a reconnaissance mission… As she will soon be helping others to discover new cultures, languages and adventures through her new venture, Pip & Co Travel. Click here to listen.
Episode 100
Our favourite Language Chats so far
100 EPISODES of Language Chats have now made it out into the world! To celebrate this exciting occasion, we’re going back through our archive to reminisce about some of our favourite episodes. Click here to listen.
Working as a Community Linguist in the NT: A chat with Karla Zuluaga
In this episode, we’re welcoming linguist Karla Zuluaga back to Language Chats to hear more about the interesting work she is involved in as a Community Linguist in Groote Eylandt, Northern Territory. Click here to listen.
Hit the nail on the head: A chat with Rune Pedersen, host of The Idiom podcast
Feeling a bit ‘under the weather’ because it’s been ‘raining cats and dogs’? Idiomatic expressions are a really interesting part of language and in this episode, we’re chatting with Rune Pedersen, host of The Idiom, a podcast co-produced Think HQ CultureVerse and SBS Audio which explores culture through weird and wonderful idioms from Australia and around the world. Click here to listen.
Penny’s Epic Trip Around Australia!
In this episode, we’re chatting with our intrepid traveller Penny, who is on the trip of a lifetime around Australia with her family! Penny and her family are discovering parts of Australia that they’ve never been to before and encountering different languages and cultures. Click here to listen.
A chat with Language Lovers AU Community members, Han-Yu Ong & Ingrid Botha
In this episode, we’re again chatting with two members of the Language Lovers AU Community - Han-Yu Ong and Ingrid Botha - who both kindly took the time to talk about their respective experiences of learning other languages, the part that language plays in their lives, and what has motivated and inspired them. Click here to listen.
A chat with Language Lovers AU Community members, Lily Cerôn-Fernández & Deb McLeod
In this episode, we’re chatting with two members of the Language Lovers AU Community - Lily Cerôn-Fernández and Deb McLeod - who both kindly took the time to talk about their respective experiences of learning other languages. Click here to listen.
Teaching AI to speak: A chat with Conversation Designer, Grace Frances
AI (Artificial Intelligence) is a hot topic at the moment, and in this episode of Language Chats we’re speaking with Melbourne-based conversation designer Grace Frances. Click here to listen.
In this episode, we’re speaking with David Hua, Director of Audio and Language Content at SBS (Special Broadcasting Service) Australia. Click here to listen.
Extending the classroom beyond four walls: A chat with Tom Shugg from Meg Languages
Tom Shugg, the co-founder of Meg Languages is our guest in this episode. Meg Languages focuses on creating global citizens and getting students excited about learning a language by providing live Mandarin & Spanish language instruction in classrooms across Australia and around the world. Click here to listen.
A choc top and a movie with subtitles, please: What Bec has seen at the cinema in 2023
Love watching movies from around the world? It turns out that Bec goes to the cinema quite a lot and always has a recommendation for a film up her sleeve! Click here to listen.
Raising multilingual and multiliterate children: A chat with Yoshito Darmon-Shimamori
Yoshito grew up in France, bilingual in French and Japanese, and learnt English and Spanish at school. His wife is Korean and they are now bringing up their children to be multilingual and multiliterate in their three home languages: Korean, French and English. Click here to listen.
Connecting language learners through TV: A chat with Lauren Williams from Polyglot Station
In this episode, we’re speaking with US-based Lauren Williams, a speech language pathologist and founder of Polyglot Station and Language TV Club. Click here to listen.
Passion for languages, learning and podcasts: A chat with Michelle Parkin
In this episode, we’re speaking with Michelle Parkin, a member of the Language Lovers AU Community! Michelle is a passionate teacher and language enthusiast, who has studied German, French, Italian and Portuguese, and LOVES listening to podcasts! Click here to listen.
Inspiring kids to enjoy Indonesian: A chat with Damian Bolton
In this episode, we’re chatting with Damian Bolton, an Indonesian language teacher based in Canberra who brings his passion and fascination for languages into the primary school classroom. Click here to listen.
Motivation, inspiration and regrets: Where language has taken us in life
Penny & Bec talk about what language has inspired us to do - as well as the things that we perhaps wish we had (or hadn’t!) done along the way. Click here to listen.
Creating Australia’s first comprehensive language policy: A chat with Prof Joseph Lo Bianco
In this episode of Language Chats, we spoke with Joseph Lo Bianco, Professor Emeritus of Language and Literacy Education at the Melbourne Graduate School of Education, University of Melbourne. Click here to listen.
From doctor, to priest, to language app CEO: A chat with John Jang
In this episode, we’re chatting with John Jang, a Korean-born Australian. John’s first language is Korean and he learnt English as his second language after migrating to Australia as a kid, but he has also studied Japanese, Italian, German, Tunisian Arabic, and French. Plus he is now working in languages! Click here to listen.
Being bold and brave in language learning: A chat with Natalie King
In this episode, we’re chatting with Natalie King, a member of the Language Lovers AU Community. Natalie has studied Latin, German, Japanese, French, Italian, Mandarin Chinese and Turkish at different times in her life and we’re so inspired by her story! Click here to listen.
Bec & Penny Catch-Up: Language in practice and plans for 2023
What are your language plans for 2023? Bec and Penny chat about their language learning plans for 2023, including re-starting a language with a new strategy and speaking other language during travels over the summer. Click here to listen.
Embrace feeling like an idiot: A chat with Benny Lewis from Fluent in 3 Months
Benny Lewis is well known in the language learning world for his ‘speak from day one’ attitude. Tune into this episode to hear from Benny about how he went from feeling like he just didn’t have the ‘language gene’ to speaking seven languages at B2+ level (and being conversational in many others), everything that Fluent in 3 Months encompasses and why he’s proud to be “the idiot polyglot that the world needs”. Click here to listen.
Inspiration Station: Gift Ideas for Language Lovers in 2022
In this episode (our last for 2022), we’re chatting about gift ideas for language lovers whether the language lover in question is you or someone else! Click here to listen.
If you need a recommendation for a new TV series or film to watch, look no further - our annual ‘What We’ve Been Watching’ episode is back for 2022! And for this episode we are joined by Lamont from Days of French ‘n’ Swedish. Click here to listen.
Ditch the insecurity: Embracing a beginner’s mindset for language learning
Does learning a new skill (e.g. a new language!) make you feel energised and excited, or frustrated and anxious? We discuss our own experiences of being beginners in different languages, tempering the very real anxiety and insecurity that we can all face in the struggle of learning something new. Click here to listen.
A fresh approach to PD for languages teachers: A chat with Kelly Harrison from Languages Roadshow
In this episode, we chat with Japanese teacher, Kelly Harrison, the founder of Languages Roadshow. Kelly chats with us about her Japanese journey and why she started the business to support other teachers. Click here to listen.
Help! I’m not a beginner anymore: Navigating the intermediate language learning stage
So… You’re not a beginner anymore in the language that you’re learning, but you’re still a long way from considering yourself fluent. How do we deal with this hazy - and sometimes, seemingly endless - period of being kind of intermediate? Click here to listen.
All the places a language can take you: A chat with Jenna Lo Bianco
Jenna is one of the most enthusiastic and passionate language educators we know! Italian language and culture have been the thread that has connected Jenna’s career, from teaching to further study, to writing fiction and non-fiction. You will be inspired! Click here to listen.
Independent but not alone: Self-managed language learning
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, and how we’ve decided what works for us (and how to acknowledge when something isn’t working). Click here to listen.
From Linguistics to Speech Pathology: A chat with Erin Tibbitts
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. Click here to listen.
Re-tuning your ears: Practising listening skills in another language
In this episode, 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. Click here to listen.
An Aussie language learner on YouTube: A chat with Lamont from Days of French ‘n’ Swedish
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Lamont, the creator behind the Days of French ‘n’ Swedish YouTube channel. We chat with Lamont about his own language learning experiences, his YouTube channels and how he has over 54,000 subscribers! Click here to listen.
Normalising multilingualism in Australian families: A chat with Sheila Ngọc Phạm
Writer, editor, producer and scholar Sheila Ngọc Phạm 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. Click here to listen.
What gives you that ‘buzz’: Incentives & rewards in language learning
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? 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. Click here to listen.
Living and loving a language-filled life and career: A chat with Katerina Forrester
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. Click here to listen.
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 lives with her family in Switzerland and 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. Click here to listen.
Make language learning fun again
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. Click here to listen.
Keeping a mother tongue alive through community radio: A chat with Kathy Ismail
We chat with Kathy Ismail, who was born in Malaysia, and now calls Melbourne home about her love of languages and how she got involved in hosting a show in her mother tongue on local community radio. Click here to listen.
Page-turners for language lovers: our favourite books about language & travel
In this episode, we chat about our favourite books about language, travel or both. From novels that whisk you away to another place where you find yourself surrounded by new sounds and experiences, to non-fiction reads about how language is changing and where it has come from. Click here to listen.
Embracing passion for language as self-care: A chat with Elfin from @allaboutitalian
In this episode, we speak with Elfin Waters from All About Italian, who helps people who are passionate about Italy to nurture their connection to the country and the language through TV shows, her podcast and language immersion retreats. Click here to listen.
Learning, living and working in Asia: A chat with Jess from @aussieinasia
In this episode, we chat with Jess (you might know her as @aussieinasia on Instagram or Mindful Lang on YouTube) who is currently teaching English in South Korea. She tells us about her experiences of learning Chinese, Korean, Spanish and Arabic, her path to living, studying and working in Asia, her goals for this year and some of her learning tips. Click here to listen.
Connection & Community through Women In Language: A chat with Lindsay Williams
Women in Language is the virtual place where we first got in touch with each other and realised that, yes - there are other people just like us, who love languages too! We speak with Lindsay about this year’s event and how the amazing community around this fun, exciting and accessible online event has grown over the years. Click here to listen.
Low pressure, low commitment: Let’s dabble together in March!
To get the year started, in this episode we’re announcing something fun for our community - a low-pressure, low-commitment language challenge which was suggested by one of our members (and past Language Chats guest), Evan, which will be focused on having a dabble in a new language. Click here to listen.
Reflections: Looking back on our language learning in 2021
It’s our last episode for 2021, and we’re reflecting on our language learning this year and how this might impact our plans for 2022. How do you feel about your language learning in 2021? Click here to listen.
Unwrapped! Christmas Gift Ideas for Language Lovers
What language-themed gifts would you like to give or receive this festive season? In this episode of Language Chats, we’re talking about what we’d like Santa to bring us, as well as gift ideas for language lovers like us, whether they are near or far. Click here to listen.
Foreign Language TV Series - What We’re Watching in 2021
In what has become an annual tradition for Language Chats, we’re chatting about what we’ve been watching this year - from light-hearted Scandinavian series to French reality TV, drama to documentaries, we’ve covered some serious multilingual viewing in 2021! Click here to listen.
Not just textbooks: Structure in language learning
In this episode of Language Chats, we’re chatting about our experiences of learning languages in both structured and less structured environments, and the kinds of structure that have worked (and those that haven’t) for us. Click here to listen.
Leading a bilingual school: A chat with Stanley Wang, Principal of Abbotsford Primary School
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Stanley Wang, Principal of Abbotsford Primary School in Melbourne, the home of Australia’s longest running Chinese-English Bilingual Program. We chat with Stanley about bilingual education and his own personal experiences of learning and enjoying language, including the free online Mandarin Conversation Club (中文之友会) he runs online for adults. Click here to listen.
How much do you know about Filipino food, culture and language? In this Language Chat, we speak with Fides Mae Santos-Arguelles, independent business consultant and co-founder of The Entree.Pinays, a food-loving entrepreneurial group of Filipinas working together to bring Filipino cuisine, culture and community to the hearts, minds and tastebuds of Australians on Wurundjeri country. Click here to listen.
Teaching Australians another language: A chat with Margaux Josse
Australians aren’t well known for their language skills (unfortunately)… But is this just a stereotype? We chat with Margaux Josse, a Melbourne-based French language teacher about teaching Australians another language, her experiences of her students’ challenges, strengths and motivations and how things have changed since the COVID-19 pandemic. Click here to listen.
The ‘F’ word: Fluency in French with Bec Howie
In this episode, we chat all about the ‘F’ word with our very own Language Chats co-host Bec Howie. Bec’s French is superbe and she shares how she got to a ‘fluent’ level. But what does fluency even mean? Click here to listen.
Combining what you learn with what you love: A chat with Ermy from The Language Rose
Ermy Perdata is an enthusiastic Italian teacher and artist. In our chat with Ermy, we learn how to connect our language learning with our passions, how Ermy has done this with her own language learning and how she encourages her students to do the same. Click here to listen.
It’s language trivia time! Celebrating our 50th episode
To celebrate this little milestone, we’re putting each other to the test with some language trivia! If you’re a fan of the occasional pub quiz but have always wished that there were a few more language-themed questions so you can show off your real talents… You’ll love this episode! Click here to listen.
Connecting to indigenous culture through language: A chat with Yaaran from @wiradyuri
In this episode, we speak with Wiradjuri man Yaaran (Aaron) Ellis who currently teaches the Wiradjuri language in Young, New South Wales. We chat about his experience of learning and teaching the language, the importance of language as a way of connecting to culture within his own family, sharing Wiradjuri in classrooms and online via social media, the challenges ahead and his hopes for the language’s future. Click here to listen.
Learning Farsi: A chat with Candace Powell
In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Sydney based Candace Powell about how she became interested in learning Farsi, how she has been learning the language and finding resources as a learner in Australia, tracking habits for language learning, what it means to be conversationally ‘functional’, her favourite words in Farsi and more. Click here to listen.
The power of podcasts for language learning: A chat with Pete from Aussie English
In this episode, we speak with the very funny Pete Smissen, creator of Aussie English, a podcast and learning platform that helps advanced English students level up their Australian English whilst also learning about our country’s unique culture, history, and more. Click here to listen.
Languages at work and at home: A chat with Andrew & Xuran
We love our chats with Language Lovers AU Community members! In this episode, we speak with Andrew & Xuran (Sharon), who are both language teachers of Chinese. They’re also raising their two kids to be multilingual. Click here to listen.
More than A to Z: Learning languages with another script or alphabet
Does the idea of learning a language that is written in a completely different way scare you? Or is learning languages with different writing systems ‘your thing’? Click here to listen.
Making language learning accessible & exciting: A chat with Philippa Kruger from Education Perfect
In this episode of Language Chats, we had the pleasure of speaking with Philippa Kruger, Global Head of Languages at Education Perfect. We chat about Philippa’s background as a French teacher and how she progressed into the exciting world of EdTech. Click here to listen.
Introduction to Australian indigenous languages: A chat with Karla Zuluaga (Part 2)
This is Part 2 of our chat with linguist Karla Zuluaga, who gives us an introduction to Australian indigenous languages. We chat with Karla about bringing indigenous languages into education in indigenous and non-indigenous communities and how we can learn more about our local indigenous languages. Click here to listen to part 2 of our conversation.
Introduction to Australian indigenous languages: A chat with Karla Zuluaga (Part 1)
Karla Zuluaga gives us an introduction to the indigenous languages of Australia and we talk about the important work being undertaken to revitalise and renew these languages. Plus we chat about how we can all learn more about the first languages of our country. Click here to listen to part 1 of our conversation.
Finding support & solidarity in language challenges: A chat with Debs Bensaul
Debs is a committed learner of French and Italian who regularly takes part in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge as a learner and volunteer community coach. We talk about her experiences of learning languages so far, why she’s found the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge and its community so helpful, some of her favourite resources for French and Italian. Click here to listen.
Native or Non-Native Teachers/Tutors: The Pros & Cons
In this episode of Language Chats, we chat about our different language experiences over the years and the pros and cons of both native and non-native teachers and tutors. Click here to listen.
Enthusiastic about linguistics: A chat with Gretchen & Lauren from Lingthusiasm
We recently had the pleasure of chatting with Gretchen McCulloch and Lauren Gawne, hosts of Lingthusiasm, a podcast that’s enthusiastic about linguistics. Through their podcast and a number of other projects, Gretchen and Lauren make linguistics so accessible, interesting and fun that you can’t help but wonder if you made a terrible life decision if you didn’t study linguistics at university. Click here to listen.
Looking back to look ahead - our language plans for 2021
In this episode, we reflect on the past year and think about the learnings we will take with us into 2021. Click here to listen.
Embarrassing mistakes: Short-term pain, long-term gain
From tonal mishaps to pronunciation blunders, we’ve made a few mistakes in language learning! In this episode of Language Chats, we talk all things mistakes, recovery and learnings. Click here to listen.
Fascinated by sound: A chat with opera singer and speech pathologist, Sarah Lobegeiger de Rodriguez
How does a love of music and a love of language come together? In this episode of Language Chats, we speak with Melbourne-based speech pathologist and opera singer, Sarah Lobegeiger de Rodriguez. Click here to listen.
What to do when it all goes to sh!t and you lose your language learning mojo
This year has been a test for us all! In this episode, we chat about our different motivations for language learning and what has kept us on track this year during the pandemic and why even when we have lots of time we still find we get tripped up and find slumps of motivation hitting us. Click here to listen.
Language apps that we’re loving, loathing or that have lost our interest!
There sure is lots going on in the world of language apps! 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. Click here to listen.
Language and personal identity: A chat with polyglot Lina Vasquez
Lina Vasquez is a Latvian-Australian personal development coach, polyglot, YouTuber, speaker and entrepreneur. 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? Click here to listen.
Accents and language learning – is there a ‘right’ one? And does it even matter?
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. Click here to listen.
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? In this episode, Penny and Bec talk about whether we need to be at a certain level before adding a language or if it comes down to when it just feels right? Click here to listen.
Foreign Language TV series: what we’re watching in 2020
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! Click here to listen.
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! Click here to listen.
Maddy is a long-time Language Lovers supporter and Language Chats listener. She joins us on the podcast to chat about her experiences learning Chinese (plus other languages) and becoming a certified translator. Click here to listen.
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? 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? Click here to listen.
Enriching your travel experiences with language: A chat with Michele Frolla (The Intrepid Guide)
In this episode, we’re chatting with a fellow Melburnian and Australian language lover - Michele Frolla from The Intrepid Guide. We’ve been inspired by Michele’s language learning and travel jetsetting for so long! It was so much fun to chat to her and find out how she first became interested in languages, and then how The Intrepid Guide came about. Click here to listen.
The Language Learning Landscape in Australia: how it’s changed for adults and independent learners
There have been so many changes in the way we approach language learning over the past three decades. What does this mean for adult independent learners today? We also chat about the power of online communities for support, motivation and inspiration and lament the lack of public profile people celebrating their bilingualism. Click here to listen.
The Language Learning Landscape in Australia: Our Observations
For as long as we’ve known each other, we’ve been talking about our experiences of learning languages at school and uni, which languages were perceived as being ‘useful’ or ‘good for your career’, the power and prominence of English, and where languages other than English fit into our education systems. Here are a few of our observations. Click here to listen.
Episode 23
Russian, French and long-term goals in mind: A chat with Evan Walters
Evan Walters studied French at school and has been learning Russian for the last five years. We chat about his language learning story, his different motivations for learning French and Russian, the role of long-term goals and routine, and the place of travel in his language learning. Click here to listen.
Goals, progress and the unexpected: language learning in 2020 so far
There’s been a lot of changes to life in 2020. In this episode, we chat about our language goals and progress so far this year, and how these have been impacted by COVID-19. Click here to listen.
Online Language lessons (Part 2): Getting the preparation right
COVID-19 has impacted the world in a huge way - many of us are spending a lot more time than usual at home. As Bec gets ready for her first experience of finding and booking some one-on-one online lessons for German, we talk about getting prepared for your first online language learning sessions with a tutor. Click here to listen.
Bite-sized language podcasts for busy people: A chat with Mark from Coffee Break Languages
While Bec was in Scotland recently, she had the opportunity to meet and speak with Mark, the founder of Coffee Break Languages. Click here to listen.
Online language lessons (Part 1): Is this right for me?
Penny and Bec chat about how online language lessons work, the pros and cons of learning online and some tips on how to choose your teacher or tutor. Click here to listen.
Putting your language skills to work: Using another language for your job
Have you dreamed about using your language skills in your job? In this Language Chats episode, Bec shares her experience of using French in the workplace. Click here to listen.
Discovering languages around the world with Language Stories: A chat with Lindsay Williams
Lindsay Williams is a polyglot from the UK, well-known for her website Lindsay Does Languages. Bec and Penny chat to Lindsay about Language Stories: an audio and video series she created with her husband that tells the stories of the languages they’ve come across on their travels and the people who speak them. Click here to listen.
Language Travel - What is it and how to get the most from it
Penny is a long-term fan of language travel and has been on language trips to to Vietnam, China and Taiwan. With an upcoming French language trip planned for New Caledonia, Bec asks Penny why she loves language travel so much! Click here to listen.
How do you feel about grammar? Does it scare you like it does Penny? Or are you grammar-lover like Bec? In this episode, we chat about Penny’s fear of grammar, where it stems from, and some tips to help you move on and get learning! Click here to listen.
A first-timer at the Polyglot Conference - the event for everyone who loves languages
Bec has just come back to Australia from Japan, where she went to attend the 2019 Polyglot Conference in Fukuoka! We talk all about how it works and what it’s like being in the same place as 400 other language lovers from all over the world! Click here to listen.
What’s a tonal language, anyway? (And what it’s like to learn one)
Bec asks Penny about tonal languages and what it was like learning the two that she has studied - Vietnamese and Mandarin Chinese. Penny tells us all about the importance of repetition, mimicry, losing your inhibitions and going back to basics! Click here to listen.
A Weekend for Language Lovers: The Language Event, Melbourne
In this episode of Language Chats, we talk all about our experience of taking part in The Language Event - Melbourne which was held for the first time on 21st-22nd September 2019! Click here to listen.
Looking for Language Learning Inspiration? Our Favourite Language Bloggers To Follow
Learning a language is hard work, so it’s always refreshing to read and hear from other language learners who have had the same struggles and challenges as you! Bec and Penny discuss their favourite language bloggers to follow for inspiration, motivation and language learning tips and resources. Click here to listen.
Finding Your Language Learning Sweet Spot
We all learn differently, but how do we find our ‘sweet spot’ for language learning? In this episode, Penny and Bec talk about what type of language learners they think they are and the kinds of language learning methods they think work best for them. Click here to listen.
The Backstory: Our Focus Languages and Why We Studied Them at Uni
We answer two listener questions in this episode - about how we developed our love of the languages we’ve chosen to study and our (quite different) experiences studying languages at uni. Click here to listen.
Language Learning with Netflix: A Game Changer for TV Lovers
If you’re into watching foreign language TV shows on Netflix as much as we are, you’ll love the Language Learning With Netflix Chrome Extension. In this episode, we talk about what this Chrome extension is and some of our thoughts on making the most of it for language learning. Click here to listen.
Dabbling: Why It’s Ok To Not Commit
Penny is having a dabble in French, which got us talking about dabbling in a language and why there’s nothing wrong with just learning a few words without committing to larger, long-term goals. Click here to listen.
From Third Culture Kid in France, to teaching French in Australia: Interview with Devy Baseley
For the first time, we have a guest with us on Language Chats! We chat to Devy Baseley, founder of French Speak, about speaking more than one language as a child and her experiences of teaching (and learning) languages here in Australia as an adult. Click here to listen.
Maintaining One Language While Learning Another
In this Language Chat, we respond to a listener question from Deborah in Sydney about how to maintain one learning in language while also learning a new one. Click here to listen.
Language Events Worldwide (that we’d love to go to!)
Penny and Bec chat about all the language events happening around the world and discuss how it’s often the social aspects of language events and conferences, especially for independent language learners, that are the drawcard. Click here to listen.
Foreign Language TV Series - What We’re Watching
Penny and Bec chat about some of the foreign language TV series that they are enjoying at the moment (and the languages that they are enjoying - and getting tempted to learn! - through these shows). Click here to listen.
Independent vs Class Learning - The Pros and Cons
Penny is considering returning to uni to do a diploma in Mandarin Chinese, so we had a chat about some of the pros and cons of class/group learning compared to independent learning for languages. Click here to listen.
This first episode is just a little intro to who we are - what languages we’ve learnt, what we’re focused on now, our language idols… Click here to listen.