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I’ve had a lot of questions come in  about different ways to learn vocabulary from reading and the best books to use if you want to read to learn a language.

 I do quite a lot of episodes on reading and this is going to be a rapid fire one. I'm going to very quickly go through a bunch of different types of books that you can read and tell you if they're helpful or not.

Mentioned in this episode:

📖 My 101 Conversations books: https://l.storylearning.com/books

🎓 Sangers, N.L., van der Sande, L., Welie, C. et al. Learning a Language Through Reading: A Meta-analysis of Studies on the Effects of Extensive Reading on Second and Foreign Language Learning. Educ Psychol Rev 37, 96 (2025). https://link.springer.com/article/10.1007/s10648-025-10068-6

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Guide, Xiaoma’s 7 Best Tips for Learning Any Language: https://l.storylearning.com/xiaoma

Today's guest, Xiaoma NYC, a.k.a Arieh Smith, probably needs no introduction. He first came on the podcast in 2020, so it's high time we caught up with him. He's been busy since then, managing to learn 70 languages. So how did he do it?

Links mentioned in this episode:

Arieh’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@xiaomanyc

Teacher AI: https://yourteacher.ai/

Arieh’s language courses: https://www.streetsmartlanguages.com/

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Speaking Guide: https://l.storylearning.com/speaking_guide 

Today's question is about speaking and how to go from knowing a lot of stuff in a language to actually speaking the language fluently.

 As I always say, if you want to speak fluently, so if you want to be able to interact in the real world confidently and fluently like a native speaker, you've got to be speaking a lot.

Let’s look at some ways to do that, both by yourself and with other people.

Mentioned in this episode:

Langua: https://l.storylearning.com/Langua-AI

Daniel's podcast, My Fluent Podcast: https://www.youtube.com/myfluentpodcast

LanguaTalk: https://l.storylearning.com/Langua-Talk

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/goals

As a beginner language learner, you feel progress happening very quickly. Everything you learn is useful and practical.

But once you've learned the basics, it’s normal to get stuck. In fact, it's so normal that it has a name: the intermediate plateau. Every learner reaches it, generally around the one to two year mark.

So, how do you get over it?  When you’re stuck and you just can’t break through to fluency, there are only two possibilities and two ways to fix it. And one thing you must never do.

Mentioned in this episode:

Find high-quality language teachers on LanguaTalk: https://l.storylearning.com/langua_talk

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE guide, How to Read in Any Language: https://l.storylearning.com/6_steps_read 

I don’t know if you've noticed, but language learning advice is often geared towards extroverts - put yourself out there, just speak, don't be shy.

That makes perfect sense if you're that way inclined. But if you're at all like me and you identify as an introvert, or at least have very strong introverted tendencies, that kind of advice is very, very difficult to take.

So let’s take a look at what introverts can do instead to get fluent fast.

Mentioned in this episode: The StoryLearning App: https://l.storylearning.com/app

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Difficulty Guide: https://l.storylearning.com/difficulty_guide 

Today we have a question about choosing your next language. And it comes from someone who's already a polyglot, who speaks four languages and is a bit confused over what their fifth language should be. An interesting problem.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Get Your Free Guide, Dr Popkins' 8 Best Tips to Learn a Language and Keep Going https://l.storylearning.com/dr-popkins-tips

 

In this episode, I'm very happy to welcome Gareth Popkins, longtime friend and language compadre, to the StoryLearning podcast. Gareth got the language bug in his early twenties and took his French further, learned Welsh and then worked on German and Russian. He’s had a rather chequered trajectory, starting as historian of Russian history. He then went to law school in his early thirties, continuing with languages and starting to blog and vlog about his language learning experiences. He now does that full-time, focusing in particular on teaching intermediate German learners. We come from a similar place in that our lives have been characterised by a love for languages. And we've since taken that passion and that experience and are using it to help other people learn.

More from today's guest:

Gareth’s website: https://howtogetfluent.com/Gareth’s

YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@DrPopkinsGermanGareth’s

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/drpopkinsgerman/

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/fluency-resources

Understanding native speakers on the streets is one of the most difficult, challenging and disconcerting elements of language learning. But when you learn to deal with fast speech, it is the most exhilarating, wonderful, rewarding feeling you can possibly imagine. And this is the question we're gonna get into today on the StoryLearning Podcast.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Russian Immersion Lab: https://l.storylearning.com/russian-immersion-lab

Conversations: https://l.storylearning.com/conversations

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/free-fluency

Today I’m answering a question from a frustrated Japanese learner with a 650-day streak on Duolingo. Their question:  What do I do? Do I keep on, do I switch to a different language?  Do you have any advice for a frustrated language learner? I really like this question. I've got so much to say about it so I'm looking forward to answering, particularly as an often frustrated Japanese learner myself.

Link mentioned in this episode:

My Japanese course, Japanese Uncovered: https://l.storylearning.com/japanese-uncovered

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/fluency_goals

In this episode I’m going to be talking about this old chestnut: learning two languages at the same time. I’ve got two questions on this that have come from a recent video. Long-term listeners will be very familiar with my take on learning two languages at the same time. But my questions today are about a rather specific scenario, learning two very different languages together. So how would I approach this?

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE guide, Dave Pinto's 7 Best Tips to Sound Like a Local: https://l.storylearning.com/sound-local

I am absolutely delighted to welcome to the StoryLearning podcast, my longtime friend, partner in crime and fellow language enthusiast, Dave Pinto. Professionally Dave focuses on language teaching, but many language teachers that I've met over the years in different countries never really get to grips with language learning themselves. Dave is not that! Dave, to my ears anyway, passes as a native Spanish speaker. Discover what it took to get there and how you too can sound like a native speaker in your new language.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Dave’s Youtube - https://www.youtube.com/@elprofeguiri

Dave’s Instagram - https://www.instagram.com/elprofeguiri/

Dave’s website - https://elprofeguiri.com/

StoryLearning Spanish Pronunciation course, taught by Dave: https://l.storylearning.com/spanish-pronunciation-mastery

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/fluency

In this episode, I’m tackling a really difficult question that I feel a lot of sympathy for: how you can learn a language when you have no motivation? I taught English for five years in Asia and the Middle East. I met a lot of students who had to learn English because they needed it for their job. They had no desire to learn, but they had to. So if you’re trying to learn without motivation, I can imagine myself looking right into your eyes and understanding the situation you're in. Let’s see if I can help.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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Links mentioned in this episode:

LanguaTalk is my favourite place to find 1:1 language teacher: https://l.storylearning.com/languatalk

#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉Join the app waiting list: https://l.storylearning.com/app_wait_list

In this episode, I’m doing something a little bit different. I'm going to take you behind the scenes of the new StoryLearning app that I've been building. It's a work in progress, but I thought you might like a sneak peek. I'm pretty excited about it. In fact, I haven't been as excited about something since I wrote my first book of short stories over 10 years ago. I have the feeling that you’re going to find this app really useful. I’ve been using it daily to read in Italian.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner https://l.storylearning.com/goal_plan

How do you bridge the gap between being a complete beginner and not being able to read anything and then doing what I did a few years ago, which is to learn Italian from scratch in 90 days through reading? That's what I'm going to cover in this episode.

Mentioned in this episode:

Olly Italian project playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9F81zlDaaE&list=PLQJscr8iS4eEuHPHQerHMBxZ68O8jiq12

Details of the materials I used as a beginner are on my Italian project page: https://storylearning.com/italian-project-home

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Guide, Luca's 12 Rules for Learning Any Language Faster in 2026: https://l.storylearning.com/Luca_tips

 I am absolutely thrilled to be joined by Luca Lampariello who has been teaching languages online longer than I have. He was one of my very first references when I first started creating content online. He’s been on the podcast a number of times over the years and here is again to talk about how he’s learning languages these days.

More about today's guest:

Luca Lampariello is an internationally recognised language coach, polyglot, and communication expert who has spent over three decades mastering more than a dozen languages. He is the founder of Smart Language Learning, where he helps learners worldwide bypass traditional, rigid methods in favour of natural, highly effective acquisition strategies. Through his coaching, writing, and videos, Luca focuses on the psychology of learning, phonetics, and building the core habits necessary to achieve true fluency.

Website: lucalampariello.com

YouTube Channel: @LucaLampariello

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/TV_movies 

I've had a lot of comments come in all asking the same thing: when you watch TV or movies, should you use subtitles or not? Subtitle on or subtitles off? Subtitles in which language? Which subtitle-audio combination is best? I have a rather controversial take on this, which is that I generally don't recommend TV or movies for language learning. Now, before you throw me under the bus, let me explain why.

Mentioned in this episode:

The main StoryLearning channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storylearning

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/language_plan

Why do we fail at language learning? It's not that we find it difficult, it's that staying consistent is difficult. We set ourselves this target of studying for an hour a day and invariably life gets in the way. And before you know it, three months have gone past and we've done nothing. This is the uncomfortable truth about language learning works - we struggle to be consistent. So we have to confront the question - how can we best make sure that we are moving towards our goals and that we don't fall off the horse? That’s what this episode is all about.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/plan_study

What's the best way to learn a language as a complete beginner? The whole premise of my method, StoryLearning, is that you learn a language through reading. People understand the concept. But then they say - I'm a complete beginner, how on earth do I start to read? I don't know any words!  So how do you get started? Should you download an app? What should you be doing? Let's start from the bird's eye view and work our way down.

Mentioned in this episode: The main StoryLearning YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storylearning

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/fluent_resources 

How do you learn difficult languages with the StoryLearning method? This is a question that came from Carlos Rabino 5125. He asked - how does your method work with Russian, Chinese, or Japanese? Reading between the lines, I guess what Carlos is asking is: how do you read when the language is really difficult? So let's get into why stories are so powerful and how to learn with story when a language is hard.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Language Guide, A Polyglot's “No-Method” Method: https://l.storylearning.com/polyglot-tips

Stefano Suigo is one of the most interesting language people (if I can put it that way) that I know, and I know quite a few. He’s fluent in 10 languages and can get by in more. A lot of people claim to speak lots of languages, but Stefano is the real deal, and I know he is because I've just spent a lot of time with him and I’ve seen him use these languages. He really does have a unique profile with languages that we dig into in this interview. Enjoy!

More from today's guest:

Stefano’s YouTube channel, linguaEpassione: https://www.youtube.com/@linguaEpassione

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Grammar and Vocabulary Study Sheet: https://l.storylearning.com/learn-vocab 

In this episode I'm going to tackle the second most popular question I've ever been asked about language learning: How do I stop translating in my head? It is easy to say "stop translating in your head" and that is well-intentioned advice, but not very practical. The truth is, translation is inevitable and not necessarily a bad thing, at least at first.

Research mentioned in this episode: The Effects of Using L1 Translation on Young Learners’ Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning, Jan 2015, Aïda Codina Camó and Elisabet Pladevall Ballester: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297653279_The_Effects_of_Using_L1_Translation_on_Young_Learners'_Foreign_Language_Vocabulary_Learning

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/set-goals

What do you do if you hate the language you're learning? Is this even possible? I'm tackling a genuine listener question about this topic. It's something that can happen to a lot of immigrants, but there is a way around it.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE StoryLearning Blueprint: https://l.storylearning.com/free_story

In this episode of the StoryLearning podcast, I reconnect with longtime language-learning friend Kerstin Cable, creator of The Fluent Show podcast and teacher on my course, German Uncovered.

Kerstin is one of my oldest internet friends who gave me some excellent advice in the early days of my blog that I still remember 13+ years later!

We talk about AI, choice overload in the modern world, habits and why my parent's generation were such good language learners.

More about today's guest:

Kerstin Cable is a language learning expert and consultant living in England. 

Kerstin is the author of 15+ books and courses for language learners including German Uncovered at StoryLearning, co-founder of AI Language Club and the Women in Language conference, and creator of the Fluent Show podcast. 

She is a native German speaker who hails from the beautiful Moselle valley. Kerstin studied 6 languages in Germany and has added 4 more so far, including her language crush, Welsh. 

AI Language Club: https://www.ailanguageclub.com/

Kerstin's website: https://www.fluentlanguage.co.uk/

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/free_planner

There are all kinds of techniques and tricks and that you can use to learn a language. But they're all just that - tactics and techniques. In today’s episode, I’m answering an interesting question about the deep truths that I’ve learned over the years that I’d like to pass on to the next generation of language learners.

Link mentioned in this episode:

Story about my breakthrough in Spanish: https://storylearning.com/olly-story

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE Language Difficulty Guide: https://l.storylearning.com/free_difficulty

Today's question is about the most asked about topic in the more than 10-year history of this podcast: learning two languages. So many of us want to learn tons of languages, so we often study two at once. And then we realise, hang on, this is creating a few problems because we get muddled up. This episode is all about how to deal with that.

Link mentioned in this episode:

Angela de Bruin, Liv J. Hoversten, Clara D. Martin, Interference between non-native languages during trilingual language production, Journal of Memory and Language, Volume 128, 2023, 104386, ISSN 0749-596X.

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0749596X22000730

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Grammar and Vocabulary Study Sheet : https://l.storylearning.com/read_sheet

I'm always going on about why it's so important to read a lot if you want to learn a new language - and I'll do it again in this episode. But is it enough to be able to speak a language fluently?

Links mentioned in this video:

Reverse translation: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8VXmDiBfzwA

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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👉 Grab your FREE StoryLearning Blueprint: https://l.storylearning.com/free_fluency

In this episode of the StoryLearning podcast I chat to my good friend and fellow podcaster Anna Tyrie, creator of the popular YouTube channel, English Like A Native.

Anna started her career in acting and, via some twists and turns, made her way into teaching English to an audience of millions on YouTube.

You’ll discover her surprising journey from fearful to confident. She’ll also share her best tips for helping you speak with more confidence and clarity, no matter what language you’re learning.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Anna's YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/c/EnglishLikeANative

Anna's podcast: https://www.youtube.com/@englishlikeanativepodcast

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/lang_goals 

Can you be too old to learn a language? What about kids? They soak up languages like a sponge, so surely that means there's never any chance of me learning another language. Well, we'll see about that. Tune in for some inspiring examples of 60 + people learning languages and tips for any age.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

Link mentioned in this episode: Siddiqui, J. S. Second Language Acquisition Beyond Critical Age: A Case Study of an Old Second Language Learner. Journal of Social Sciences and Humanities. https://doi.org/10.46568/JSSH.V55I2.81

👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Get your FREE Grammar and Vocab Study Sheet: https://l.storylearning.com/study_kanji

In this episode, I tackle a question from four years ago, but the topic is as relevant as ever: how to learn Japanese kanji. There are strong opinions online about the best way to learn Japanese, kanji included. I share my experience from learning Japanese in Japan and what I would do if I could start learning kanji over again.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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In this episode,  we're revisiting a topic that I feel we'll be talking about until the end of time.  The sun's going to expand to engulf the Earth and we're all going to be frazzled up like sausages and I'll be there until the end talking about this topic, which is flashcards.

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Link mentioned in this episode:

What Really Matters in Vocabulary Acquisition?: https://gianfrancoconti.com/2025/04/26/what-really-matters-in-vocabulary-acquisition-a-ranked-analysis-of-key-influencing-factors/

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In this episode of the StoryLearning podcast I chat to my good friend and fellow language enthusiast John Fotheringham, creator of Anywhere Immersion.

John has been blogging and podcasting about language learning since 2009 and his podcast (formerly the Language Mastery Podcast) was the first one I ever went on!

Now he's returning the favour by coming on this refreshed video version of my podcast to talk about language immersion, how he's using AI to learn languages and more.

Links mentioned in this episode:

Anywhere Immersion: https://www.anywhereimmersion.com

Teacher AI: https://l.storylearning.com/teacherAI

Olly’s interview on John’s podcast in 2020: https://www.anywhereimmersion.com/blog/olly-richards-returns

More about today's guest:

John Fotheringham is a linguist, teacher, and author of Master Japanese and Master Mandarin.

Want to learn a language without moving abroad? His Anywhere Immersion Method (A.I.M.) teaches you how to create a full language immersion environment right where you live. From beginner basics to advanced fluency, he provides the roadmap you need to master a new language right at home.

Download his free Quickstart Immersion Guide at AnywhereImmersion.com to learn how to immerse yourself in any language, anywhere, anytime.

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Should you bother taking language proficiency tests like IELTS ( International English Language Testing System) or the JLPT (Japanese Language Proficiency Test)? Two listeners asked me the similar questions about exams. As a former IELTS examiner and as someone who took the JLPT, I’ve got thoughts on the matter!

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Grammar and Vocabulary Study Sheet: https://l.storylearning.com/vocab_sheet 

Today we've got a question that is going to strike to the heart of every single language learner listening to this podcast: why can’t I remember the words I know when I’m speaking? It’s something we all struggle with and it’s perfectly normal. In this video, I share 3 techniques to help you overcome it.

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Want to pick up vocabulary naturally while exploring topics that interest you? I've got the perfect the solution and I lay it all out in this episode, including how I used this habit myself to expand my Japanese vocab about a rather specialised topic.

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I don't aim for C2 in the languages I'm learning and I don't think you should either. But it is possible to get there with a lot, and I mean a lot, of time and effort. So, the real question is, is it worth it?

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Can you really perfect your accent to the point where no-one knows you're not a native speaker? You can get close, even as an adult, but the real question is - is it actually worth the time and effort?

Link mentioned in this episode: Speaking Accent-Free in L2 Beyond the Critical Period: The Compensatory Role of Individual Abilities and Opportunity Structures (Applied Linguistics, Volume 41, Issue 5, October 2020, Pages 787–809, https://doi.org/10.1093/applin/amz029)

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Success in language learning almost always comes down to a very small number of things done well. Successful language learners understand what those few things are, and they do them very consistently and very well. And thanks to this episode, you're going to join them.

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t#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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Struggling to bridge the gap between understanding and speaking? You’re not alone. I’ve been there too, specifically when I learned Japanese. Discover the exact steps I took to go from silent to confident Japanese speaker.

Links mentioned in this episode:

🗣️ LanguaTalk: https://l.storylearning.com/LanguaTalk

💬 Langua: https://l.storylearning.com/langua

📢 TeacherAI: https://l.storylearning.com/teacherAI

❓Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

👉 Grab your FREE Tips for Learning a Language with AI (inside the Bonus section of my FREE StoryLearning Kit): https://l.storylearning.com/fluency_AI 

The Black Friday offer mentioned in this video is no longer available.

If you’ve learned languages in the last week or two, have you used AI? AI has landed like a rock in a pond in the last couple of years and is upending the way we learn. I'm finding that AI is more and more part of my language routine. But can AI replace real people? That’s the question I’m answering in this episode.

Links mentioned in the episode:

🗣️ LanguaTalk: https://l.storylearning.com/LanguaTalk

📖 LingQ: https://www.storylearning.com/lingq

💬 Langua: https://l.storylearning.com/langua

📢 TeacherAI: https://l.storylearning.com/teacherAI

❓ Got a question you want Olly to answer? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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Can you really learn a language in 12 months? Definitely, with the right mindset, approach and effort. To give you inspiration for and insight into fast language learning, I look back on two of my wildest language learning challenges: Thai in 2 weeks and Italian in 3 months.

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Videos mentioned in this episode:

🇹🇭 Thai project playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqoRsDX67Qg&list=PLQJscr8iS4eEA0CRSgEhNJ6sM0p-Y2Im2

🇹🇭 Olly speaking Thai after 2 weeks: https://youtu.be/K4tAwFRzAWc?si=YeR-NLpXOl5uZ3VS

🇮🇹 Italian project playlist: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=N9F81zlDaaE&list=PLQJscr8iS4eEuHPHQerHMBxZ68O8jiq12

🇮🇹 Italian project finale in Venice: https://youtu.be/irHzPRySKU0?si=SqLbs7bJBzBQ-0Kg

#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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I’ve learned eight languages - so how on earth do I maintain them all? It’s a question people often ask me. And my answer surprises and confuses them. Find out why.

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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Spanish vs Italian: which is easier to learn for native English speakers? I’ve learned both - find out which one I found easier and why and which one I recommend you learn. And above all, how long would it take to pass my famous fluency "pub test" in these languages?

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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Are super hard languages like Japanese or Mandarin worth learning? I've learned three of the world's hardest languages, Japanese, Cantonese and Arabic. These category five languages were worth it for me, but what about you? Let's get philosophical about whether it's "worth it" and answer the practical question of how to learn very difficult languages.

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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What if you could learn a language without studying? Discover how to learn a language through reading and listening instead of memorising and drilling. Find out where to find the right materials as a beginner, why children's books don't work, and the 6-step process for learning naturally. No flashcards required.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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Stop obsessing over grammar rules! Discover why grammar study shouldn't be your focus, especially as a beginner language learner. Find out where to put your time and energy instead.

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👉 Grab your FREE Goal Planner: https://storylearning.com/goal_planner_2_languages

Want to learn multiple languages? Here's the truth nobody tells you: there's a specific level you need to reach in your first language before starting another. Miss this, and you'll stay stuck at beginner level in both.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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I've sold over 1.5 million copies of my short story books for language learners. But why did I write them all those years ago at my parent's kitchen table? Get the unfiltered, untold story of my books, including details of new languages coming soon.

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

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Vaughn Smith is a 26-language polyglot who had his brain scanned at MIT. Discover the man behind the scan and the surprisingly simple ways he learned so many languages.

👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question

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#storylearning #learnthroughstories

In this episode, Juan asks: “I’m learning Portuguese. Which language should I think in - English or Spanish?“ Find a 5* language tutor! We're proud to recommend LanguaTalk as the best place to take language lessons online with a real teacher. StoryLearning is now part-owner of LanguaTalk, and that's because we're committed to building the best possible service out there to practise speaking, find a new tutor, or get support with your learning. Click the link below and take a FREE trial lesson: https://storylearning.com/lt Do You Have A Question? This show exists to answer your language learning questions! Send me your questions by visiting: https://storylearning.com/ask ...and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show!  Leave a Review If you'd like to support the show, the best way to do that is to: Leave an honest review of the show wherever you get your podcasts. (You can normally do this within the app you're using.) Share this episode with a friend (use the share buttons on your screen) Olly's Language Courses If you're learning a new language, or improving an existing one, then check out my language  courses. From complete beginner courses, to grammar and listening training, I've created unique, story-based programmes to help you reach you language goals.  Please visit: https://storylearning.com/language-courses-select-your-language

In today's episode, Olly speaks with Sam Hendry, who lives in Dubai, about his amazing journey learning Spanish in one year. 

Here's where you can watch the video of Sam surprising his girlfriend in Spanish:

• Watch on Facebook
• Watch on Instagram

Find a 5* language tutor!

We're proud to recommend LanguaTalk as the best place to take language lessons online with a real teacher. StoryLearning is now part-owner of LanguaTalk, and that's because we're committed to building the best possible service out there to practise speaking, find a new tutor, or get support with your learning.

Click the link below and take a FREE trial lesson:

https://storylearning.com/lt

Do You Have A Question?

This show exists to answer your language learning questions! Send me your questions by visiting:

https://storylearning.com/ask

...and I’ll do my best to feature it on the show! 

Leave a Review

If you'd like to support the show, the best way to do that is to:

• Leave an honest review of the show wherever you get your podcasts. (You can normally do this within the app you're using.)
• Share this episode with a friend (use the share buttons on your screen)

Olly's Language Courses

If you're learning a new language, or improving an existing one, then check out my language  courses. From complete beginner courses, to grammar and listening training, I've created unique, story-based programmes to help you reach you language goals. 

Please visit:

https://storylearning.com/language-courses-select-your-language