WRITTEN TRANSCRIPTION OF THE PODCAST:

Hello and welcome to my podcast My Life and Other Funny Stories. My name is Dagmar Tomášková, I am an English tutor and coach and I created this podcast for English students who want to improve their oral comprehension. As always you can find the transcription of this episode and vocabulary list in the notes of the podcast. 

Today we will talk about language learning and some useful tips to improve. So, are you ready to unlock the secrets to success? Here we go.

First on our list of language learning tips is the power of immersion. Immersion is a state where you become completely involved in something. The best way to get immersed is, of course, to live in a foreign country where the target language is spoken. But that is not always realistic. We have families and jobs and can’t just pack our bags and disappear for a few weeks to a different county. So how can we do it even in our own country?

Immerse yourself in the language as much as possible. Surround yourself with it by listening to podcasts, watching movies or TV shows, and even changing the language settings on your devices such as on your phone and laptop. Changing the language to French on my phone and in all my applications has been really helpful. I found out that I can now actively use words that I didn’t even know I learned. Just because I see them every day. Sure, sometimes it is a struggle because it is harder for me to find everything I need in French but if you switch your device language to English, it can be hard in the beginning but you will get used to it.

Think about it like this: the more you swim in the language pool, the more comfortable you’ll become. 

Next up, let’s talk about the importance of repetition. Repetition is key to language learning success. Don’t be afraid to repeat words and phrases multiple times until they stick That means until you remember them. 

A great technique for this is a shadowing technique. It means repeating what you heard as best as you can. Of course, this one is always the best with native speakers as their pronunciation is perfect and without a foreign accent. I have a Czech language, a little bit.

When I listen to French podcasts, I always repeat the phrases or pronunciations out loud. Yes, it might look weird to strangers if they see me on the street but I don’t really care.

Imagine it like planting seeds in a garden. The more you water it and nurture it, the more it will grow. So keep on repeating, and watch your language skills bloom!

Let’s look at grammar now. Yes, grammar can be intimidating, but don’t let it scare you off. Instead of diving headfirst into complex grammar rules, focus on learning basic grammar structures and patterns first.

Think of it like building a house. You wouldn’t start with the roof, would you? No, you’d start with the foundation. So lay down those grammar foundations and try to find some patterns or groups. What I like to do with my students is drawing mind maps where we chunk the grammar down. When we talk about tenses, we look at different categories. Form of the tense, where to use it, and signal words. And under every category, we chunk it down again. When you see the system of the language, it is easier to understand the logic and connections.

And finally, let’s talk about the importance of practice. Practice, practice, practice! The more you practice speaking, writing, and listening, the more confident you’ll become in your language skills.

You can’t get better at things you never do. You will always get better at things that you do again and again. So what is it gonna be? You can’t get better at speaking without speaking. You can’t get better at writing without writing and getting feedback on your mistakes. That is just the way it works.

But wait, there’s more! Another fantastic language-learning hack is to find a language-learning buddy or join a language exchange group. Practice speaking with native speakers, fellow learners or language tutor, and don’t be afraid to make mistakes. It’s all part of the learning process!

Of course, don’t forget about making it fun and using technology. There are countless language learning apps, websites, and online resources available to help you on your journey. Take advantage of them and use them in your daily routine. Great apps are Duolingo (if you use it as a supplement and not as the main way to learn language), Quizlet, Falou, Reading app Ewa, Duocards, HelloTalk or Elsa Speak. So if you are interested, you can check these out. You will find the names in the transcription.

Well, there you have it, I hope you found these tips helpful and inspiring. Don’t forget to let me know your thoughts and any language learning hacks that work for you. 

Thank you so much for listening to this episode and don’t forget that you can find the transcription and vocabulary list in the notes. Please give it a five-star rating if you liked it and I will see you next time, bye-bye.