In this episode, I talk about my discovery of "good enough" language learning and how it led me to identify, accept, and appreciate the entire process of language learning in all its intricate moments. By focusing on communication as the goal of language, we're better equipped to settle on a good enough way of expressing ourselves in our target languages according to each situation, our current level, and our mental energy. Finding contentment -- being good enough now -- at each level along our language journeys is beneficial to making progress toward the next level, and it becomes a less stressful, more enjoyable process. Sometimes, setting "good enough" goals is the key to making progress toward bigger goals. If you're like me, and you often set goals that don't reasonably take into account your actual time, motivation, and energy level, then thinking about what's good enough may help you focus better and move forward without worrying about the bigger, long-term goals. Thinking about what's good enough for you at each level of language acquisition, in each situation of using your target language, and for your desires of your langauge journey is an excellent way to reduce language overwhelm, focus on growth, and find contentment and pride in yourself as a language learner.

In this episode, I talk about times when language learning becomes overwhelming. Whether there doesn't seem to be enough time for focused language study, there are too many (or not enough) resources to choose from, or our expectations aren't reasonable for our unique lives, language learning can feel overwhelming. It doesn't matter if you're a beginner in your first language or advanced in your fifth -- language learning can be overwhelming. When overwhelm doesn't pass on its own, how can we deal with it? What can we do to reduce the pressure of overwhelm and get back to focusing on growth and progress? In this episode, I discuss my top three tips for getting past overwhelm -- whether it stems from time, resources, or expectations -- and taking steps forward instead. I talk about these tips with respect to language learning, but they can easily be applied to other aspects of our lives to reduce overwhelm on the whole. Listen in to start thinking about how you could use these tips in your daily life or start creating your own unique methods for dealing with overwhelm.

In this episode, I get the pleasure of chatting with Marjolein Benschop of The Language Community to talk about being a multi-passionate person and language learner. Marjolein is a Dutch Polyglot, Language Coach and MSc in Psychology of Social Relations from the Goldsmiths University, London. Marjolein has worked in various countries (the Netherlands, Spain, England and Peru), teaching and helping students learn more effectively. She has given workshops on how to learn languages while managing one’s expectations, and co-founded an online environment for language learners called The Language Community. Having managed to learn 8 languages to a conversational or even near-native level, she has discovered several key factors to staying motivated and reaching your language goals. In this interview, Marjolein gives us a glimpse of her experiences, struggles, and perceptions as a multi-passionate language learner. She also shares so much insightful wisdom regarding limiting beliefs and how to shift our mindset to allow for progress and growth, making room for fulfilling all the passions we have in our lives. We discuss how passion can be discovered in any number of life situations to create a more enjoyable experience and how gathering community can build inspiration for accomplishing the things you want. MULTI-PASSIONATE RESOURCES MENTIONED: How to Be Everything: A Guide for Those Who (Still) Don't Know What They Want to Be When They Grow Up, by Emilie Wapnick I Want to Do All the Things: Finding Balance as a Polymath, Multipotentialite & Renaissance Soul, by Arcadia Page Podcast Français Authentique, by Johan Tekfak WHERE YOU CAN FIND MARJOLEIN: Instagram: @marjolein.polyglotinsights Instagram: @the.languagecommunity Podcast: Polyglot Insights Podcast The Language Community: https://www.thelanguagecommunity.mn.co

In this episode, I talk about avoidance in language learning, something I really struggle with. From avoiding speaking to ignoring the book we want to read but can't seem to get started, avoidance can be a serious conflict in our lives as language learners. To make things even harder, there are numerous reasons why we avoid particular activities, and those reasons vary from person to person, activity to activity. I avoid speaking because I don't want to be judged for my mistakes. I avoid reading because I don't like the vulnerability of feeling inept or not good enough. I avoid other things for reasons I can't quite pinpoint. No matter the case, there are several language learning or language related things I really want to do, but this avoidance is holding me back. In this episode, I start digging into these activities and my superficial excuses for not facing them. I also introduce the Face the Avoidance challenge I've created so you can join me in facing the language activities we've been avoiding. This is a completely free challenge taking place in the online language community (via #FaceTheAvoidance on Instagram and Twitter) 9 & 10 April 2022. Listen in for more details on my vision for this challenge, how I will be encouraging and cheering you on every step of the way, and what we can do through this challenge to start facing the avoidance and continuing to create a sustainable, guilt-free language learning plan for ourselves.

In this episode, I talk about all-or-nothing thinking and how this perfectionist tendency has shown up in so many areas of my life. From cleaning house (or not) to working out (or not), an all-or-nothing mentality is at the core of when and how I do these things...and whether or not I do them at all. I discuss why this way of thinking prevents me from getting things done and can lead to negative self-talk and a defeated mindset. I talk about small changes I've made in how I approach simple chores or activities I enjoy, which have begun to change how I think about those things, less restricted by the all-or-nothing thinking. Bringing this exposure to flexibility in accomplishing everyday tasks has made it easier for me to work in this way as a language learner. No longer believing that study time must be a solid hour studying vocab and grammar with a textbook, for example, has better postured me to study more throughout the day and consider all the things I'm actually doing with my languages that didn't feel like "studying" in the past. As a busy mother, expat, and student during a pandemic, it's not easy to find time for the language learning things I want to do. But learning to identify and work against this ingrained pull toward all-or-nothing has made so much difference in how I learn languages (and accomplish other things), as well as in how I now see and celebrate my progress along the way.

In this episode, I talk about my history as a perfectionist, which goes back to early childhood. I explore some of the ways perfectionism has shown up in my language learning experiences and how it led to language learning behaviors that slowed down my progress. Some of these perfectionist tendencies -- like procrastination and avoidance or all-or-nothing thinking -- led to a very rigid way of learning, which felt restrictive and frustrating. But the restrictive tendencies were symptoms of my perfectionism, and once I decided to face that root cause of my restrictive tendencies, I started making real, sustainable progress. Here, I bring a couple of my top tips for combatting perfectionist tendencies in language learning so you can start brainstorming new ideas for how to work around your own prohibitive tendencies. Get to know me as a perfectionist language learner in the final piece to my introduction story in Love, Joy, and Languages.

In this episode, I talk about my history as the parent of my little language learners who have learned the community languages where we've lived. Parenting is hard, and adding a new immersion experience in the mix can get really muddy. I made so, so many mistakes trying to support my kids on their journeys -- from forcing my own expectations onto my kids to letting guilt and shame determine my reactions. Many of the things we've struggled with are common things non-native families go through, and I want to share our story in order to connect with others like us and also show that no one is alone. We build this supportive parenting community together, and transparency is the first step to true connections and building each other up. Get to know me as a parent of little language learners this second episode of Love, Joy, and Languages.

In this episode, I detail my history as a language learner, from classroom learning in high school to immersion in adulthood. I've made so many mistakes as a language learner, not just in using the wrong word or verb conjugation, but also in how I've tried learning languages. Many of the things I've struggled with are common things language learners do, and I want to share my story in order to connect with others like me and also show that no one is alone. We all have our own particular journey, and talking about what's worked or not worked really helps build community together. Get to know me as a language learner on this breakout episode of Love, Joy, and Languages.

Welcome to Love, Joy, and Languages! Today I'm introducing my Podcast, in which I'm going to talk all about the lovely world of language learning. Here, I'm going to talk about my own experiences as an adult language learner & mother of two littles learning the community language where we live. I want to talk about everything -- mistakes, failures, challenges, successes -- all of it. I'll be joined, also, by other language learners to talk about a vast array of language learning topics so that you, my listeners, can feel inspired and empowered to create a language learning journey that fits your personal lifestyle. Official launch of Episode 1 will be Monday, 28 February 2022. I'll release the first 4 episodes weekly, and then they'll come to you fortnightly. I hope you join me on this journey!