I am no language expert, nor do I claim to be one. In fact, for a long time, I fell into the same language learning traps as many other people.
I thought I didn’t have the “language gene”. That I was too old. That I simply didn’t have time. I now know all of these are false… unless you believe them to be true.
Living much of my life knowing only English and enforcing it onto other people has always been a huge source of regret, as it is for many others too. Even with years overlapping with different cultures, I did not know enough of their language to create nuanced interactions that can be so special and memorable.
But now, learning a language has been one of the most enriching experiences of my life so far. I have learned so much about my own mind, the limits of my comfort zone, and Spanish culture through language.
Along this journey, I had the opportunity to interview two well-known polyglots in the online language-learning world. These conversations equipped me with methods, mindsets, and the motivation to make language learning more fun — and more effective.
The language experts
Early into the pandemic, I started a job in the content team at Preply, a platform that connects tutors and students for 1-on-1 language lessons.
Preply’s mission is to “shape the future of effective learning”. So as a content creator, I felt obliged to understand the minds of polyglots and successful language learners, so I could seek advice that would help me learn Spanish practically from scratch.
I have always been someone geared towards self-improvement. Writing for huntingthemuse.net, I am always curious to find the small ideas that make a long-term difference in our lives. I took this approach into two, hour-long interviews with Olly Richards and John Fotheringham, who live in the world of language learning 24/7.
Olly Richards speaks eight foreign languages, and is well known online for being the man behind the popular website I Will Teach You a Language and the creator of the StoryLearning® method. He has published 10s of books devoted to helping language learners learn through story. He also creates some brilliant content on YouTube too.
