Denise asks: "Is now a good time to learn Italian?"

Episode Summary:

• There's rarely a "right time"
• I usually suggest getting a language to an Upper-Intermediate level (B2) before starting another one
• However, Italian and Portuguese are closely related. You might not have to do as much study as you think.
• It might also be easier than learning English
• Spend a bit of time each day simply listening and reading to basic Italian. You don't have to do any speaking, or heavy study, just start to put it on the map
• Time will do the rest!

Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode:

• Italian Short Stories For Beginners - my book of Italian stories!

Today's Quote:

“I would rather die of passion than of boredom.” —Vincent van Gogh

Start speaking today:

I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

Gabrielle asks: "When I don't understand, I often just smile, nod, and pretend I do. How can I stop this?"

Episode Summary:

• Is it normal to pretend you understand?
• Every language learning journey starts like this
• Persistence is the name of the game

In terms of stages, here's how I see it:

• Lower level: You still have a lot to learn, so don't be surprised if you don't understand. Keep studying. Have conversations with sympathetic listeners.
• Higher level: This is the stage where you need to get used to the vocabulary of everyday life, especially if you've been in "study mode" for a long time. Speak as much as possible, and focus on the situation/conversation, not the language. Record your conversations and analyse them later.

Remember:

• You don't need to understand everything
• Keeping the conversation going is key
• Make general points
• Tell stories
• Ask questions

Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode:

• Core Study Sequences: Listening Comprehension

Start speaking today:

I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes 

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

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

Yuta asks: "Should I be relying on Google Translate?"

Episode Summary:

• Effective language learning means learning to communicate within your means
• The problem with relying on Google Translate is that you stop relying on yourself
• Paraphrasing is a key speaking skill, and you develop it by learning to communicate in spite of a lack of vocabulary
• HelloTalk is great for practising stuff you already know, but not necessarily for developing fluency
• I would devote time instead to live conversation
• While talking, make a note of the things you can't say, and learn them later

Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode:

• 13 Ways To Beat Your Fear and Start Speaking Foreign Languages - a blog post I wrote to help you start speaking
• HelloTalk review  - one of my favourite language practise tools
• Frantastique review - a great website to learn French

Start speaking today:

I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes 

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

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

Selman asks: "How many hours a week do you study?"

Episode Summary:

• Here's what I aim for: Focused study every weekday morning (1 hour), sporadic flashcards + listening during the day (0-60 mins), at least 3 speaking sessions a week (30-60 minutes)
• A rough total is around 5 hours study + 3 hours speaking
• Add on top of that watching TV, reading books, going out etc
• However, I often go for days without studying, and don't often stick to this schedule, but it tends to come back to this
• Remember that the success you have depends much more on the range of activities you do - speaking, reading etc. Are those considered studying?
• With my stronger languages like Spanish, Japanese etc, I don't study them any more, I just use them

Resources Mentioned In Today's Episode:

• Core Study Time In Your Language Routine - a popular blog post on the topic of study and routine

Start speaking today:

I’d like to thank iTalki for supporting the show. To claim your free lesson and start speaking today, visit: http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/italkishownotes 

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

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

This is a re-broadcast of the most popular 3-part series from the podcast. I answer the question: "I'm simply too busy to learn languages. How can I find the time?"

In this episode:

• The power of tiny
• How I learnt Cantonese during an extremely busy period in my life
• Why “1 hour” will put you off, whilst “30 seconds” will get you started!
• How to create micro habits so you can effortlessly get up and study any time and fill your day with language learning

Resources mentioned in todays episode:

• Time Control - a brand new training course where I walk you step by step through the process of becoming an ultra-efficient language learner, however busy your schedule!

Visit this link to find out more: http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/moretime

Start speaking today

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

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

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

Are you learning English? 

If so, please answer a few short questions for me...

http://iwillteachyoualanguage.com/englishsurvey

This is a re-broadcast of the most popular 3-part series from the podcast. I answer the question: "I'm simply too busy to learn languages. How can I find the time?"

In this episode:

• How to use the power of the “One Thing” to make massive progress towards your goals
• The importance of saying “no”
• How to focus on your goals like a laser

Resources mentioned in todays episode:

• Time Control - a brand new training course where I walk you step by step through the process of becoming an ultra-efficient language learner, however busy your schedule!

Visit this link to find out more: http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/moretime

Start speaking today

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

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

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

This is a re-broadcast of the most popular 3-part series from the podcast. I answer the question: "I'm simply too busy to learn languages. How can I find the time?"

In this episode:

• Why goal setting is often overlooked, but is the key to everything
• How people set unachievable goals
• What a sensible goal looks like
• Defining your next-step goal

Resources mentioned in todays episode:

• Time Control - a brand new training course where I walk you step by step through the process of becoming an ultra-efficient language learner, however busy your schedule!

Visit this link to find out more: http://www.iwillteachyoualanguage.com/moretime

Start speaking today

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

Do you have a question?

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

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

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

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