I speak 20 languages. I've been learning languages for over 50 years and I've tried all kinds of approaches. I talk about my experiences, my approach to language learning, what I enjoy about learning languages and all manner of other topics related to language. If you love languages, or think you would if you hadn't been discouraged by past experiences, this is the podcast for you. Anyone can learn a language. You just need the right attitude and the right approach!
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The Language Mastery Show brings you conversations with the world's best language learners. Get an inside look at how polyglots, linguists, and everyday people master languages the smart way, and how YOU can, too. I'm your host, John Fotheringham, a linguist, teacher, and the author of Master Japanese and Master Mandarin. For more language learning tips, tools, and immersion resources, visit LanguageMastery.com.
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Stop obsessing over grammar: focus on this instead
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Is vocabulary more important than grammar? In this video, I'll explain why I believe it is and share insights on how focusing on vocabulary can boost your progress.By Steve Kaufmann
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Challenging myself to learn 100 WORDS EVERY DAY
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13:27
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In my last video, I shared my goal of learning 20,000 words before my trip to Turkey in September. Today, I'm going to show you exactly how I'm making that happen!By Steve Kaufmann
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I’ve learned 20 languages: what keeps me going?
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I reflect on my language-learning journey and discuss the importance of various types of connections: linguistic, emotional, neural, and more.By Steve Kaufmann
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Challenging myself to learn 20,000 words before my trip to Turkey
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9:19
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In today's video, I'm reflecting on what has and hasn't worked for boosting my language skills for travel and sharing my (quite ambitious!) Turkish learning plan.By Steve Kaufmann
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Speaking or comprehension: which comes first?
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In this video, I discuss the differences between comprehensible input and the output hypothesis and explain why speaking a foreign language isn't always the same as engaging in meaningful communication.By Steve Kaufmann
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I often get asked whether it's better to focus on one language and become fluent in it or to explore many languages. In this video I talk about why I don't think there's one answer to this question.By Steve Kaufmann
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I’ve read books in 12 languages. Here’s how I do it
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Reading books has many benefits for our brain, and it's also a great way to learn a language. In this video I talk about my approach to reading in different languages and how I manage to enjoy the process despite the difficulties.By Steve Kaufmann
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Don’t memorize vocabulary. Do this instead
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In this video I discuss some common misconceptions about language and vocabulary acquisition and share my strategy for learning vocabulary in a new language.By Steve Kaufmann
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My Arabic journey: why it’s been so difficult
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I have been learning Arabic since 2017 and I have to admit that it hasn't been easy. In this video you'll learn why I find Arabic so challenging and what I do to keep going despite the obstacles.By Steve Kaufmann
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Technology won’t KILL language learning. It will make it more FUN
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In this video I explain why I don't think technology will eventually kill language learning and how it has been instrumental in my learning journey.By Steve Kaufmann
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6 habits that made me a successful language learner
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In this video, I share the six key elements that shaped my language learning journey. Find out why the usual ways might not work and how a different approach can make a big difference.By Steve Kaufmann
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Q&A with Steve Kaufmann: 1 million subscriber edition
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To celebrate the milestone of reaching 1 million subscribers, I answer your most pressing questions about language learning. Thank you for continuing to support this channel!By Steve Kaufmann
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David Stirling on the Life-Changing Rewards of Immersion & His Experience Teaching English in Thailand
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David Stirling is a Thailand-based English teacher from the UK and the founder of Go-Interview.com, which helps English learners build the language skills they need to get their dream job. In the interview, we discuss: How David fell in love with Thailand Why he got into English teaching The different types of teaching jobs available in Thailand …
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How U.S. diplomats learn languages | FSI language courses review
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I often get asked how long it really takes to learn a language. In this video I discuss the FSI language difficulty ranking and whether it's really possible to achieve a high level of fluency within the timelines they provide.By Steve Kaufmann
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Is there a shortcut to conversational fluency?
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Ever wondered if rapid conversational fluency is just a myth? In this video I share my opinion and lay out the roadmap to genuine conversational skills.By Steve Kaufmann
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No Intentes Dominar Lo Básico Del Idioma Mejor Haz Esto
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In this video, I explain why trying to master the basics of a language is not a good idea.By Steve Kaufmann
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To improve in a language… take a break from it
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In my last video, I talked about how to boost your energy levels. This video is all about rest and why taking a break from a language can help you recuperate energy and motivation.By Steve Kaufmann
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Always tired? Then this video is for you! Here I share 6 tips to boost your physical and mental energy.By Steve Kaufmann
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Should you learn similar languages? Pros and cons
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In today's video I discuss the pros and cons of learning similar languages. Join in on the discussion in the comments!By Steve Kaufmann
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Should we strive to THINK in a foreign language?
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The topic of thinking in the language we are learning comes up all the time. In this video I talk about why we shouldn't force the process and why thinking in the language does not guarantee fluency.By Steve Kaufmann
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2023 is almost over and I wanted to share my plans for 2024 as well as some advice for those of you who will be starting or continuing to learn languages next year.By Steve Kaufmann
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Author & Digital Nomad Daniel Rusteen on How He Learned Spanish After Two Failed Attempts
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Daniel Rusteen is an author, full-time traveler, digital nomad, short-term rental expert, and former Airbnb employee. He is best known for his books Optimize Your BnB and Profitable Properties, but he has also written a book on learning languages: Zilch to Conversational. In our conversation, Danny shares why he failed to learn a foreign language h…
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Aramaic, Greek and Latin: a linguistic history of Christmas
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What connects Christmas, Christianity and languages? In this video I discuss the origins of Christianity, its global spread, and the languages spoken during its early days.By Steve Kaufmann
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Do I agree with @JustinSung's language-learning advice?
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@JustinSung is someone I follow and find very knowledgeable when it comes to learning. But is his language learning advice as good as his videos on general studying? Let's find out.By Steve Kaufmann
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Why I stopped studying grammar (and what I do instead)
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In this video, I talk about why grammar instruction is not as important as we are taught to think and why you're better off focusing on reading, listening, and speaking.By Steve Kaufmann
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Former Airborne Cryptologic Linguist Ian Fritz on What He Learned at the Defense Language Institute & Spying on the Taliban
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Ian Fritz is the author of What the Taliban Told Me, a nuanced look at what it was like to undertake intensive language training at The Defense Language Institute (DLI) in not one, but two languages (Dari and Pashto), serve as an "Airborne Cryptologic Linguist" (ACL) in the United States Air Force (USAF), and spy on the Taliban from low-flying guns…
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6 Tips To Become A Better Reader In Any Language
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In this week’s video I about why reading is so important for language learners and how to use technology to supercharge your reading skills.By Steve Kaufmann
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Do I agree with @IAmMarkManson's language learning advice?
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Some recently suggested that I give my opinion on language-learning advice from bestselling author @IAmMarkManson.By Steve Kaufmann
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Lazy language learning has been a hot topic lately. In this video, Steve explains why he considers lazy learning to be the best approach to learning a language, even if some researchers say otherwise.By Steve Kaufmann
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You Don't Have to Be Perfect to Become Fluent
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This week’s video is all about perfectionism. I talk about why, where, when and how language learners should or shouldn’t pursue perfection.By Steve Kaufmann
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STOP Making These EXCUSES Not to Learn a Language
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I received a comment recently, saying that learning languages as an older person is almost an impossible task. As someone who has learned 10 languages after turning 60, here’s what I think about the topic.By Steve Kaufmann
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In this video I talk to @JForrestEnglish about the most common mindset mistakes language learners make.By Steve Kaufmann
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Improve Your Reading and Listening Skills With This Strategy
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I often get asked whether it's better to listen or read first. In this video, I talk about my approach to improving listening and reading comprehension and explain why it's important to adapt your strategy to your level.By Steve Kaufmann
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How to REALLY Increase Your IELTS, TOEIC & TOEFL Scores
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Standard language tests exist for many languages. IELTS, TOEFl and TEOIC are some of the best known tests for English. Keith, of Keith's Speaking Academy, is an expert on these tests and how to prepare. ✅ Learn more in this interview with him.By Steve Kaufmann
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Study Smarter, Not Harder: Tips From ‘Make It Stick’
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Many people try to read and reread things to force them into their brains through massed practice. 🛑 This is not the best way to learn things!📚 We need to learn how to learn, as described in the book "Make Things Stick" by Peter C. Brown. In this video I share with you the most helpful tips and information.…
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Learning Styles Are a Myth! This is How EVERYONE Learns Languages
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🦄 Think you are a “visual,” “auditory,” "book," or “kinesthetic” learner? Think again! According to psychologists Cedar Riener and Daniel Willingham in their 2010 paper “The Myth of Learning Styles,” “There is no credible evidence that learning styles exist.”In this video, I explain more about why learning styles are a myth and the universal ways i…
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Don’t Always Do the Same Thing When Studying a Language
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🚀 In this video, I share what I do at various levels in the language learning journey and the best way to get up to the delightful upper-intermediate stage where your fluency really starts to take off.By Steve Kaufmann
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Language Coach Stéphane Angeles on How to Use the "Barbie Method" & Improve All 4 Language Skills
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Coach Stéphane Angeles is a language coach who helps expats speak better Spanish through expert habit formation strategies, accountability, and one-on-one guidance via Zoom and audio check-ins. In the interview, we discuss: Why you should use a walkie talkie app to practice listening and speaking. Why you should practice writing daily (and how it c…
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Gigachad Polyglot LanguageSimp Gets Serious About Languages
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🙀 Popular entertainer and polyglot @LanguageSimp joins me to talk about why language learning should be fun and how he got started in languages, TikTok, and YouTube. He also teaches this 77-year-old language grandpa the meaning of the Gen Z term "simp" (it is NOT what I assumed)...By Steve Kaufmann
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Can You Speak a Foreign Language Well Without Studying Grammar?
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📚 In this video, I explain the best way to improve your speaking skills, why vocabulary tends to be more important than grammar, why second-guessing grammar harms your ability to communicate, and why you don't need to STUDY grammar rules to correctly FOLLOW them.By Steve Kaufmann
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Will a Spaced Repetition System (SRS) Help You Learn a Language Faster?
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⏳ Some people swear by "spaced repetition systems" (SRS). Others think they are waste of time.What's my take? I've learned 20 languages so far in my life, but have only relied on spaced repetition for a few specific needs in language learning. Watch on to see what those use cases are and what approach I think is generally more effective than using …
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LightSpeed Spanish Founders Gordon Smith & Cynthia Durán on Banishing Fear & Mastering Spanish Accents
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Gordon Smith and Cynthia Durán are the dynamic duo behind LightSpeed Spanish, where they teach people Spanish through courses, books, and online lessons. In this conversation, we discuss: How Gordon fell in love with Spanish, how Cynthia fell in love with English, and how they fell in love with each How to choose which Spanish accent to learn and t…
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