Episodes
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Episode 13: What Have We Been Up To During the Quarantine?
Rick and Dave check in on each other to make sure they’re still practicing good lollygagging language skills, or at least good hygiene. (Oh, the suspense!) They also discuss the Virtual Polyglot Gathering, Rick’s Listening/Reading efforts, Dave’s big move, and some nasty and threatening comments...
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Episode 12: Random Questions We Ask Each Other
Dave and Rick pick each other’s brains regarding the polyglotosity (yes, that’s a real word, maybe…?) of London and other parts of the world, meetups and silent periods, and something called “daving,” which is most likely illegal, or at least immoral. Download the flipping audio already Show…
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Episode 11: Post-Gathering Motivation (Part II–Dave’s Amazing Plan (Because Dave’s Amazing!)
Upon returning from the well-beloved Polyglot Gathering, Rick and Dave discuss what they want to accomplish for the next year. In this episode, Dave says so much by saying so little. Or is it the other way around? Either way, it’s going to be the best podcast you’ve ever heard because it’s Dave....
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Episode 10: Post-Gathering Motivation (Part I–Rick’s crazy scheme!)
Upon returning from the well-beloved Polyglot Gathering, Rick and Dave discuss what they want to accomplish for the next year. In this episode, Rick talks about a new (to him) concept that he hopes will “melt and rewire” his brain and make him a superhuman Italian-speaking dynamo. If only he…
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Episode 9: Expanding Your Vocabulary
Rick and Dave discuss ways to acquire subject-specific vocabulary and to expand your vocabulary with subtle shades of meaning. Use technology to find words specific to a specific field or use a an old-fashioned book. Learn how to say “infinitesimal,” preferably correctly. Download The Audio Show...
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Episode 8: Questions, Part II: This Time, It’s Personal!
Rick and Dave answer questions about flow, conversational fluency, materials in the target language, and Harry Potter. Listen as Rick takes the lead and discusses how he shares his techniques on pushing the intermediate-language-learning envelope, taking the listener on a thrill ride of…
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Episode 6: Sound Advice (Accents and Pronunciation)
How do you acquire a decent accent? What do those weird symbols in transcriptions and fancy books mean? What does our mouth need to do in order to sound like an authentic Mongolian speaker, and will it get us arrested or admired? Heck if we know, but we talk like we do. Now with 20%...
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Episode 5: Do You Have What It Takes?
What are some qualities that will help you with language study? Do you have to be a language nerd? Should you aspire for perfection? What do Rick and Dave think are helpful traits for language learning? If you answered “yes, I can!” to any of these questions, go back and read them again because...
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Episode 4: I Can’t Do This Alone (How Your Loved Ones Can Help)
In this episode, Rick and Dave talk about how you might get your family and/or friends to support your foolish language habit. But don’t expect anyone to be happy about that hat you’re wearing! Download The Audio
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Episode 3: Reality vs. Hype (and How Long Does It Really Take?)
In this episode, Rick and Dave explore the myths of learning languages in unreasonably short periods of time and describe how painfully hard it is to learn a language. In fact, learning a language is almost as hard as listening to Rick talking. Still want to listen to the podcast and/or study a...