#18 Kerstin Cable on Slow Learning

#18 Kerstin Cable on Slow Learning

Author: Fluent in 3 Months October 5, 2020 Duration: 52:13

Kerstin Cable from the Fluent Language Blog shares her experience learning English to full fluency as a native German speaker, her method for acquiring new vocabulary and her long-term, slow approach to learning new languages.

Featured Resources

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

  • How the bigness of our world inspired Kerstin to learn languages
  • Learning English using 90s Brit-pop
  • Kerstin’s curiosity and excitement for learning Welsh
  • Kerstin’s biggest challenges learning Mandarin
  • Using mnemonics and visual images to learn new vocabulary
  • How to find your language learning personality so you can find the right approaches and resources for you
  • How Kerstin takes language learning slow, studying only 2-3 hours a week
  • Kerstin’s top tips for language learners from her experience as a one-to-one language coach
  • How to choose the best language learning resources for you
  • Using handwriting in vocab notebooks as a memory strategy
  • How teaching German helps Kerstin feel like she knows the language better than ever
  • Kerstin’s German student immersion retreats
  • “Your solid vocab memory” - Kerstin’s method of acquiring, memorizing, and reviewing vocabulary

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
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