Episodes

  • Why I DON’T use spaced repetition to learn vocabulary

    Why I DON’T use spaced repetition to learn vocabulary
    Jun 25 2026
    Vocabulary is the clearest measure of your level in any language, so here is how I acquire and review words, and why I skip most of the popular methods.
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    10 mins
  • Languages or Sudoku? The better choice for a healthy brain

    Languages or Sudoku? The better choice for a healthy brain
    Jun 18 2026
    At 80, I'm still learning languages every day, and I'm convinced it does more for your brain than any Sudoku puzzle ever could.
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    7 mins
  • Don’t LEAVE your comfort zone, MOVE it

    Don’t LEAVE your comfort zone, MOVE it
    Jun 11 2026
    Everyone says you have to leave your comfort zone to learn a language, but is it really true?
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    9 mins
  • I learned Chinese in 1968. Here's how I would do it now

    I learned Chinese in 1968. Here's how I would do it now
    Jun 4 2026
    I started learning Mandarin in 1968 with flashcards and reel-to-reel tapes, and here is what I would do differently today.
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    11 mins
  • Why SLOW IS BETTER in language learning

    Why SLOW IS BETTER in language learning
    May 28 2026
    Today I want to talk about learning slowly — and why if you accept that learning a language takes time, learning slowly actually gets you there faster.
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    8 mins
  • Why reading is the KILLER APP for language learning

    Why reading is the KILLER APP for language learning
    May 21 2026
    After an hour of focused reading in Persian, I felt my grasp of the language jump forward, and it reminded me why reading is the most powerful tool we have for acquiring a new language.
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    7 mins
  • Can we learn to sound native in another language?

    Can we learn to sound native in another language?
    May 14 2026
    Most adult language learners are chasing a goal they're unlikely to reach, and I want to share what I think we should focus on instead.
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    8 mins
  • The 3 stages of comprehension every language learner goes through

    The 3 stages of comprehension every language learner goes through
    May 7 2026
    There are three stages of comprehension in any new language. Early on, you barely understand anything — and that's fine. The goal at that stage isn't comprehension; it's letting your brain pick up the patterns. Then comes the long middle stretch where you're learning words but listening still feels patchy, until one day you notice you understand more than you used to. Where are you right now?
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    8 mins