Languages or Sudoku? The better choice for a healthy brain
18/06/2026 | 6min
At 80, I'm still learning languages every day, and I'm convinced it does more for your brain than any Sudoku puzzle ever could.
Don’t LEAVE your comfort zone, MOVE it
11/06/2026 | 8min
Everyone says you have to leave your comfort zone to learn a language, but is it really true?
I learned Chinese in 1968. Here's how I would do it now
04/06/2026 | 11min
I started learning Mandarin in 1968 with flashcards and reel-to-reel tapes, and here is what I would do differently today.
Why SLOW IS BETTER in language learning
28/05/2026 | 8min
Today I want to talk about learning slowly — and why if you accept that learning a language takes time, learning slowly actually gets you there faster.
Why reading is the KILLER APP for language learning
21/05/2026 | 7min
After an hour of focused reading in Persian, I felt my grasp of the language jump forward, and it reminded me why reading is the most powerful tool we have for acquiring a new language.
I speak 20 languages. I've been learning languages for over 50 years and I've tried all kinds of approaches. I talk about my experiences, my approach to language learning, what I enjoy about learning languages and all manner of other topics related to language.
If you love languages, or think you would if you hadn't been discouraged by past experiences, this is the podcast for you. Anyone can learn a language. You just need the right attitude and the right approach!