The Language Mastery Show

Feb 23 2024 79 ep. 56 mins 1.9k
The Language Mastery Show Podcast artwork

The Language Mastery Show brings you conversations with the world's best language learners. Get an inside look at how polyglots, linguists, and everyday people master languages the smart way, and how YOU can, too. I'm your host, John Fotheringham, a linguist, teacher, and the author of Master Japanese and Master Mandarin. For more language learning tips, tools, and immersion resources, visit AnywhereImmersion.com.

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David Stirling on the Life-Changing Rewards of Immersion & His Experience Teaching English in Thailand

Feb 23 2024 59 mins  
David Stirling is a Thailand-based English teacher from the UK and the founder of ⁠Go-Interview.com⁠, which helps English learners build the language skills they need to get their dream job. In the interview, we discuss: How David fell in love with Thailand Why he got into English teaching The different types of teaching jobs available in Thailand How to break through

Author & Digital Nomad Daniel Rusteen on How He Learned Spanish After Two Failed Attempts

Dec 23 2023 43 mins  
Daniel Rusteen is an author, full-time traveler, digital nomad, short-term rental expert, and former Airbnb employee. He is best known for his books Optimize Your BnB and Profitable Properties, but he has also written a book on learning languages: Zilch to Conversational. In our conversation, Danny shares why he failed to learn a foreign language his first two attempts, the method

Former Airborne Cryptologic Linguist Ian Fritz on What He Learned at the Defense Language Institute & Spying on the Taliban

Dec 04 2023 57 mins  
Ian Fritz is the author of What the Taliban Told Me, a nuanced look at what it was like to undertake intensive language training at The Defense Language Institute (DLI) in not one, but two languages (Dari and Pashto), serve as an "Airborne Cryptologic Linguist" (ACL) in the United States Air Force (USAF), and spy on the Taliban from low-flying gunships. During his two to

Language Coach Stéphane Angeles on How to Use the "Barbie Method" & Improve All 4 Language Skills

Sep 15 2023 49 mins  
Coach Stéphane Angeles is a language coach who helps expats speak better Spanish through expert habit formation strategies, accountability, and one-on-one guidance via Zoom and audio check-ins. In the interview, we discuss: Why you should use a walkie talkie app to practice listening and speaking. Why you should practice writing daily (and how it can help you speak better). Ho

LightSpeed Spanish Founders Gordon Smith & Cynthia Durán on Banishing Fear & Mastering Spanish Accents

Aug 25 2023 59 mins  
Gordon Smith and Cynthia Durán are the dynamic duo behind LightSpeed Spanish, where they teach people Spanish through courses, books, and online lessons. In this conversation, we discuss: How Gordon fell in love with Spanish, how Cynthia fell in love with English, and how they fell in love with each How to choose which Spanish accent to learn and tips for mastering Spanish p

Coach Elena Mutonono on How to Build a Sustainable, Profitable & Rewarding Online Language Teaching Business

Jul 28 2023 45 mins  
Elena Mutonono is a business coach, author, and former English teacher who helps overwhelmed online language teachers work less but make more while better serving students along the way. In her words: "I help overwhelmed and exhausted online language teachers change their teaching format so they can work less and make more. As a former ESL teacher myself, I know your struggl

How Real Fast Spanish Founder Andrew Barr Went From a Monolingual Aussie to a Budding Polyglot

May 13 2023 79 mins  
Despite doing well in other school subjects, Andrew Barr failed French in secondary school. Upon hearing this news, his supportive father assured him: "The Barrs don't do languages. We do maths and sciences. You will never have to speak of a word of French again!" It turns out that this prediction was a bit of the mark. Today, Andrew speaks multiple languages and ha

Leo Listening Founder Cara Leopold on How She Got Fluent in French + How to Learn Languages Through TV & Films

Dec 12 2022 46 mins  
Cara Leopold is the founder of Leo Listening, where she helps "intrepid travellers and adventurous expats improve their English listening skills so they can better understand and better connect with fast-talking native speakers through their love of films." In the interview, we talk about how she learned French and the best way to learn languages through TV shows and movi

Hyperpolyglot & LingQ Co-Founder Steve Kaufmann on How He Learned 20+ Languages

Nov 18 2022 41 mins  
Steve Kaufmann is a hyperpolyglot who has learned more than 20 languages (!!!) and the co-founder of LingQ, an online language learning platform that helps you acquire languages using content you love. He was my second guest on the Language Mastery Show way back in 2009, and returns 13 years later to offer new insights and encouragement for independent language learners. For show

"Spanish and Go" Founders Jim & May on How to Immerse Yourself in Spanish Anywhere in the World

Sep 02 2022 52 mins  
Jim and May describe themselves as a "gringo/Mexican international couple" on a mission to connect English speakers to the Spanish-speaking world. Their excellent podcast, YouTube channel, blog, and Spanish immersion retreats in Mexico help learners bridge the gap between learning and actually living in Spanish. In the interview, they share what they have each learned in