Actual Fluency Podcast - podcast cover

Actual Fluency Podcast

Kris Broholmactualfluency.com
Conversations with language learners, polyglots and teachers about what actually works when learning a language: methods, motivation and the messy reality of fluency.
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Episodes

Nelson Dellis: Using Memory techniques for languages

Kris Broholm interviews memory champion Nelson Dellis about his background, memory techniques, and applying these strategies to language learning, including Dellis's project of learning Dutch in one year. Dellis shares his personal journey and motivations for memory training.

Jul 05, 201948 minEp. 159

Ben Worthington: Improve your English and pass the IELTS exam!

Kris Broholm interviews Ben Worthington about improving English and passing the IELTS exam. Ben shares concrete strategies for success on the IELTS test, noting their applicability to general English proficiency. He also details his personal journey and experience specializing in IELTS instruction.

Jun 29, 20191 hr 10 minEp. 158

Pablo Roman: Japanese in 6 months and DreamingSpanish

Kris Broholm interviews guest Pablo Roman about his experience learning Japanese in just six months. They also discuss Pablo's project, Dreaming Spanish, which provides Spanish learning materials.

Jun 21, 20191 hr 3 minEp. 157

Iker Uriarte: italki past, present, and future

Kris Broholm interviews Iker Uriarte, Italki's Marketing Director. They discuss Italki's mission to connect language learners with teachers, its origins, and Iker's personal language learning experiences. Iker shares his journey learning Basque, English, and French, highlighting the value of practical language use.

May 26, 201952 minEp. 156

Marija Dobrovolska: Confidence in language learning and teaching German

Kris Broholm hosts Marija Dobrovolska from Deutsch mit Maria. They discuss Marija's background as a native Russian speaker in Latvia, including the country's linguistic and political dynamics. The conversation also covers her journey to becoming a full-time German teacher and building her successful online business.

May 10, 201959 minEp. 155

Silver Ilves: Language Startups and Development

Kris Broholm speaks with Silver Ilves, co-founder of Magic Lingua, a voice recognition language learning app. They discuss Silver's language background, the company's development, its Kickstarter launch, and future plans. The conversation also covers applying Lean Startup principles to language learning businesses.

May 03, 201959 minEp. 154

Norbert Wierzbicki: Learning, teaching, and travelling!

Kris Broholm welcomes Norbert Wierzbicki, a Polish teacher and linguist, to discuss his journey becoming a language teacher. They cover Norbert's personal language learning background, including his experiences with English and Hungarian, and extensive world travels. The conversation also explores effective and underrated methods and techniques for learning languages.

Apr 19, 20191 hrEp. 152

Andrew Feinberg: Learning Japanese and Japanese Culture

Kris Broholm welcomes Andrew Feinberg to discuss his experiences learning Japanese. Andrew shares insights from his time teaching English in Japan through the JET Program, contrasting it with his prior Norwegian learning journey. They also offer practical cultural and linguistic tips for those planning to visit Japan.

Apr 11, 20191 hr 23 minEp. 151

Lindie Botes: Growing up in multiple languages and cultures

Kris Broholm welcomes Lindie Botes to discuss her experiences growing up immersed in various languages and cultures. They explore the unique journey of navigating different linguistic and cultural environments from a young age. The conversation delves into the impact of this upbringing on identity and language acquisition.

Mar 30, 201953 minEp. 150

Gabriel Gelman: How to become a language hero

Kris Broholm and guest Gabriel Gelman discuss Gabriel's personal language learning journey, from his bilingual upbringing to immersion experiences in Australia and France. They cover practical methods and strategies to help listeners achieve faster and better language learning results.

Mar 23, 201954 minEp. 149

Àdhamh Ó Broin: The Languages of Scotland and Reclaiming Gaelic

Kris Broholm interviews Àdhamh Ó Broin about the languages of Scotland, providing a primer on their history and development. They discuss the role of minority languages like Scottish Gaelic, Àdhamh's personal journey of reclaiming his ancestral tongue, and cultural preservation in the face of globalization.

Mar 15, 20191 hr 16 minEp. 148

Marek Kohn: The benefits of multiple languages in society

Kris Broholm speaks with author Marek Kohn about his book "Four Words For Friend." They discuss the societal benefits of multiple languages, focusing on challenges in the UK regarding foreign language education, integration, and nationalism, using Brexit as a context. Kohn explains his motivation for writing on the importance of language understanding.

Mar 08, 20191 hr 7 minEp. 147

Aviva Levin: Coincidental French Teacher in British Colombia

Kris Broholm welcomes Aviva Levin, a teacher who unexpectedly started teaching French in British Columbia despite limited prior skills. They discuss her journey into language instruction, methods for engaging students, and the unique dynamics of French learning across Canada, including textbook choices.

Jan 31, 201946 minSeason 1Ep. 143

Amarinder Grewal: Pidgins and Creoles

Kris Broholm and guest Amarinder Grewal discuss pidgins and creoles, exploring these fascinating contact languages. Amarinder shares his background growing up in multilingual Detroit, Michigan, and explains how this experience sparked his interest in the topic.

Jan 24, 20191 hr 4 minSeason 1Ep. 142

Kerstin Cable on Goalsetting and New Year's Resolutions

Kris Broholm welcomes Kerstin Cable to discuss effective strategies for setting and tracking language learning goals. They explore the utility of New Year's resolutions, debating whether they are beneficial or should be avoided for sustained progress. The conversation offers practical insights for achieving linguistic aims.

Jan 07, 20191 hr 19 minSeason 1Ep. 140

Lucas Bighetti: The silent method and parrot conversation

Kris Broholm welcomes Lucas Bighetti, who shares his journey from failing languages in school to becoming a passionate learner. Lucas explains how a joke Russian textbook sparked his interest. They discuss his unique "silent method" and the "parrot conversation" technique for language acquisition.

Dec 23, 20181 hr 13 minSeason 1Ep. 139

Michele Frolla: Travelling and Languages the Intrepid Way!

Kris Broholm welcomes Michele Frolla from The Intrepid Guide to discuss enhancing travel experiences with and without languages. They share tips for better trips, highlighting how even a few phrases can provide significant benefits. Michele also recounts how she started her travel blog.

Dec 09, 201857 minSeason 1Ep. 137

Maureen Millward: 1200+ tutoring lessons later + LingoFringo

Kris Broholm interviews Maureen Millward about her journey learning over nine languages and completing 1300+ online tutoring lessons. Maureen discusses her preference for speaking over books and co-organizing the new LingoFringo event for language learners in Edinburgh.

Dec 01, 201850 minSeason 1Ep. 136

Season Review & Updates (2/2)

Kris Broholm reviews the second half of the previous podcast season, sharing behind-the-scenes thoughts. He explains his decision to continue the show, highlighting the value of language learning and cultural exploration. Kris also revisits episode 125 with Joey Perugino, organizer of LangFest.

Nov 15, 201833 minSeason 1Ep. 135

Season Review & Updates (1/2)

Kris Broholm, joined by a guest, reviews lessons learned from the podcast's past 18 episodes. He provides behind-the-scenes details, updates on his language learning, and discusses the podcast's future plans.

Nov 11, 201848 minSeason 1Ep. 134

Miroslav Šedivý: Seize every opportunity to learn languages!

Kris Broholm interviews Miroslav Šedivý, a long-time supporter, about his language learning journey. Miroslav shares his origin story, detailing early exposure to Slovak, Czech, Hungarian, Croatian, and German through family, travel, and television in Bratislava. Kris acknowledges Miroslav's significant contributions to the podcast's success.

Nov 04, 201857 minSeason 1Ep. 133

Josh Koehn: Be inspired by your community

Kris and Josh Koehn discuss Josh's early language learning journey. Born in California, Josh was inspired by his diverse community, starting Spanish in fourth grade. He also began learning Chinese from books at a young age, fascinated by the culture.

Oct 21, 20181 hr 17 minSeason 1Ep. 132

Conor Clyne: Eastern European Travels and Experiences

Kris Broholm welcomes Conor Clyne to explore his unique experiences traveling and dating across Eastern Europe. Conor highlights how his language abilities facilitate deeper connections and shares practical tips for navigating the region.

Oct 17, 20181 hr 5 minSeason 1Ep. 131

Dave Prine: Polyglot Therapy Part 2/2

Kris Broholm and Dave Prime continue their discussion on polyglotism and existentialism. They explore managing ambitious language goals, the value of dabbling, and overcoming comparison to others. Dave helps Kris address his own language learning mindset.

Oct 09, 201851 minSeason 1Ep. 130

Dave Prine: Polyglot Therapy Part 1/2

Kris Broholm hosts Dave Prine for a "Polyglot Therapy" discussion. Dave offers Kris advice on language learning, helping him navigate personal challenges and reconsider his "ten languages in ten years" goal. Kris gains clarity, deciding to shift focus towards a reporting role in the language community.

Oct 09, 201852 minSeason 1Ep. 129

Mike Campbell - Glossika and Repetition Learning

Kris Broholm and guest Mike Campbell discuss effective language learning strategies. They explore the importance of repetition and context, along with the dynamics of input versus output in language acquisition. Campbell shares his academic insights on why specific learning methods are effective.

Oct 04, 20181 hr 10 minSeason 1Ep. 128

Susanna Zaraysky: Music and endangered languages

Kris Broholm interviews polyglot pioneer Susanna Zaraysky about her work with music and endangered languages. They discuss her books and a feature film focusing on Ladino, an endangered language. Susanna also shares insights from her personal language learning experiences.

Sep 01, 20181 hr 9 minSeason 1Ep. 127

Azren the Language Nerd

Kris Broholm interviews Azren, The Language Nerd, about his language journey and the languages he speaks. They discuss common psychological traps the brain sets in language learning and practical ways to overcome these difficulties.

Aug 18, 201858 minSeason 1Ep. 126
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