The Actual Fluency Podcast for Language Learners

Kris Broholm interviews Ekaterina Matveeva about her book "Language Alter Ego," exploring how cultural identity influences language learning. They also discuss Ekaterina's personal language journey, her upbringing, and how she became a polyglot.

Kris Broholm interviews Lea Tiralarc, creator of the Staircase method. Lea discusses her experience as an online teacher, having completed over 5,000 lessons. She also explains the Staircase method, which uses laddering vocabulary to build longer sentences.

Kris Broholm interviews Scott Young about his book, Ultralearning. They discuss his language learning project, "A Year Without English," where he traveled to four countries speaking minimal English. Young also shares insights from his MIT challenge, completing a four-year degree in one year.

Kris Broholm interviews Mait Müntel, a physicist who helped discover the Higgs boson at CERN. They discuss his transition from nuclear physics to founding the Linguist language learning app. Mait explains how his scientific background informs his approach to language acquisition and designing a tool for faster learning.

Kris Broholm welcomes Steve Kaufmann to discuss his popular YouTube channel, world travels, and passion for language learning. Steve shares his journey from diplomatic and business careers to semi-retirement, where he co-founded LingQ and continued acquiring new languages. The conversation explores strategies for language learning at any stage of life.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kris Broholm welcomes Tamara Marie from Spanish Con Salsa, who teaches Spanish using music. They discuss why music is beneficial for language learning. Kris also shares his experiences applying music to his Russian studies.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

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.

Kris Broholm and guest Anja Spilker discuss using language learning and travel as a personal reboot from difficult mental states. They explore what it means to feel stuck and share techniques used to move forward in their lives.

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.

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.

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.

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.