Language Bits - podcast cover

Language Bits

Nerrian Possamaipodcasters.spotify.com
Conversations about learning and teaching languages. I have some grasp and experience regarding English, Portuguese, Spanish, Italian and German. How to study, improve, evolve in your skills and have fun while doing it!
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Episodes

[POR] Aprendizagem de línguas online em tempos de Corona vírus.

Como utilizar o seu tempo em quarentena para aprender ou aprimorar os seus conhecimentos de uma língua estrangeira. Este episódio é falado lentamente, para que aqueles que estão aprendendo português possam entendê-lo.

Apr 05, 202012 minSeason 2Ep. 1

Episode 14: Don't be afraid of making mistakes.

There are four main reasons why students are afraid of making mistakes: 1) perfectionism; 2) judgment of others; 3) defeatist mentality; 4) temporary inability. Each one of these presents their own challenges and has to be tackled in a different way. On this episode, I talk about every one of them and suggest ways to remedy these problems. I speak in a very honest way, albeit respectful, and hope that no one takes offence. REMEMBER: if this episode is very difficult for you, try to listen to it ...

Nov 04, 201920 minSeason 1Ep. 14

Episódio 13: Palavras em português que os brasileiros não sabem utilizar.

[PODCAST IN PORTUGUESE] Neste episódio, falarei sobre palavras que não escuto serem muito usadas por brasileiros, seja por desconhecimento do seu significado, seja por desuso. Percebi, à medida em que ia falando, que eu mesmo sou vítima da própria pobreza que critiquei: eu também utilizo muito o adjetivo "triste" no sentido figurado de "ruim", como é costumeiro na minha geração. Acabei por utilizar esse vocábulo inúmeras vezes durante este episódio. Isso acontece quando se escolhe uma palavra qu...

Oct 17, 201917 minSeason 1Ep. 13

Episode 12: Tips to learn a language.

On my shortest episode yet, I gave some tips on how to learn a language. Basically the idea here is to stop making excuses for not being able to do it and just give it a try. Hopefully you'll find it useful. Keep having a nice day! If you'd like to get in touch, please write to: languagebits2020@gmail.com.

Oct 08, 20195 minSeason 1Ep. 12

Episode 11: Interview with Brad Hillas.

On this week's episode, I interviewed my friend Brad Hillas, who is a British-Australian teacher of English as a second language. He tells us about his studies, what made him decide to become an English teacher, his travels around the world on his bike and his experience of teaching English to kids in China. Due to low volume on Brad's microphone, this episode has no background music. If you wish to get in touch, please write to languagebits2020@gmail.com. Enjoy!...

Oct 02, 201938 minSeason 1Ep. 11

Episode 10: Legal English - terms of art and legalese

On this first episode regarding Legal English, I'll talk about the difference between terms of art and legalese, and react to some discussion points raised by the matter: should lawyers remove legal Latin expressions from their writing? Should they delete old-fashioned English words such as 'heretofore', 'hereby' and 'foregoing'? I speak from the perspective of lawyers whose first language is English (therefore, professionals who have been trained in the Common Law system) but also approach the ...

Sep 21, 201917 minSeason 1Ep. 10

Episódio 9: Entrevista com Alexander Heinz

[PODCAST IN PORTUGUESE] Neste episódio de Language Bits, entrevistei o meu aluno de português, Alexander Heinz, que é alemão e trabalha como engenheiro de refratários. O Alexander nos conta das suas experiências ao visitar o Estado brasileiro de Minas Gerais, além de falar sobre suas dificuldades e conquistas ao aprender o português brasileiro. Ele é um aluno recentemente aprovado para o nível B1 de português. Espero que vocês gostem!

Sep 11, 201913 minSeason 1Ep. 9

Episode 8: improving your use of adjectives and adverbs.

Have you been studying English for a long time and the only adjectives you ever use are: good, bad, nice, OK, beautiful and great? If that's the case, you might want to listen to this episode, in which I'll suggest the use of some regular and strong adjectives to help you colour the way you speak or write and make your discourse more expressive. I also talk about the use of adverbs to modulate the meaning of your adjectives (to make them sound stronger or weaker). Hopefully, you'll find this hig...

Sep 09, 201910 minSeason 1Ep. 8

Episodio 7: Entrevista con Flávia Lange.

[PODCAST IN SPANISH] En este primer episodio de Language Bits en español, invité a mi ex-alumna y amiga Flávia Lange para hablar un poco sobre sus experiencias con el aprendizaje de lenguas extranjeras. Flávia es una empleada pública en Brasil, economista y abogada, además de entusiasta del estudio de lenguas. Ella tiene el nivel C1 de inglés comprobado por el CAE (Certificate of Advanced English) de la Universidad de Cambridge, además de ser alumna de español del nivel B2. Para practicar, prefe...

Sep 07, 201934 minSeason 1Ep. 7

Episode 6: Interview with Fernando and Renata.

This is the first episode of Language Bits in which I made an interview: you'll get to know my students, Fernando and Renata, a Brazilian couple of B1 English students, who have had some experience travelling abroad. We talk about learning English, its ups and downs, and using English as you travel around. If you would like to contact me, write an e-mail to languagebits2020@gmail.com or record an audio message on this podcast's Anchor page. Hope you enjoy it!

Aug 28, 201925 minSeason 1Ep. 6

Quinto episodio: le origini del vocabolario italiano

[PODCAST IN ITALIAN] In questo podcast, parlerò delle origini del vocabolario italiano: ci sono parole che hanno avuto origine dal latino, greco, ebraico, arabo, francese, inglese, spagnolo e portoghese. Se hai domande o desideri interagire con me, invia un'e-mail a languagebits2020@gmail.com. Grazie per il tuo gentile ascolto. Buona giornata! Ciao!

Aug 24, 201912 minSeason 1Ep. 5

Episódio 4: Qual português devo aprender, o brasileiro ou o europeu?

[PODCAST IN PORTUGUESE] Neste primeiro episódio do podcast Language Bits em português, responderei à pergunta que dá nome ao episódio. Além disso, explicarei porque não acredito que exista uma variação linguística do português que seja "melhor" ou "mais correta" do que a outra, argumentando através de duas correntes opostas, a corrente colonialista e a corrente utilitarista ou colonialista ao reverso. Finalmente, falarei sobre as maiores diferenças entre as variantes vernaculares do português br...

Aug 23, 201920 minSeason 4Ep. 1

Episode 3: The importance of repetition.

Elementary students (A0 to A2 levels) usually come up with unrealistic goals for their learning and soon enough lose all their original enthusiasm. They want to be able to read a book in English, to listen to music and to watch films without subtitles on their own language. These are goals to be achieved later on in your learning process but if you are an elementary student you should first master the art of repetition. On this episode I give you tips on how to use a simple Workbook exercise to ...

Aug 21, 201923 minSeason 1Ep. 3

Episode 2: Is it hard to use the Present Perfect?

Students of English as a second language may find it very challenging to use the Present Perfect. Although they understand its form, they might find it hard to know what situations require the use of this tense. My approach here is to talk about form and compare it to German, Italian, Spanish and Portuguese. The latter is the most different to English in terms of form so Portuguese speakers will find it particularly difficult to master the use of Present Perfect. I also talk about the following ...

Aug 20, 201915 minSeason 1Ep. 2

Language Bits: an introduction.

Hello everyone and welcome to the first episode of Language Bits. On this first episode, I introduce myself, say why I'm doing this podcast, what I'm going to do here, and who I think this podcast is for. If you want to interact with me, please write to this e-mail: languagebits2020@gmail.com Thanks for listening!

Aug 20, 20197 minSeason 1Ep. 1
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