813. Language Learning is a Voyage of Discovery / Steve Kaufmann Interview

Рет қаралды 175,914

Күн бұрын

Steve Kaufmann is a very prolific language learner. He has learned at least 20 languages to varying degrees during his life. Some of them he learned during his career as an international diplomat and businessman, and others he has learned during his (semi) retirement.
In this interview Steve talks about his language learning experiences, methods and motivations. We talk about various metaphors and similes for language learning including ocean voyages 🚢, cows 🐮, skiing ⛷ and cutting grass🏡 and I ask Steve about cross-cultural experiences he has had during his career.
The audio version of this episode contains my intro and ending rambles about getting my hair cut and how you need to remember that you’re a baby cow-shark on skis 🐄🦈🎿😅.
Subscribe to the audio podcast in a podcast app plinkhq.com/i/312059190?to=page
Episode page with audio version, links, etc wp.me/p4IuUx-sLt
@Thelinguist
00:00 Hello Steve
01:11 How many languages do you speak?
02:49 Why so many languages?
04:09 How did you learn Mandarin Chinese?
06:38 Did you ever lose motivation?
08:38 How did you feel when using Chinese while working as a diplomat?
11:35 Languages are like cake, wine or cheese
12:07 Is Steve a special case? Can everyone learn like Steve?
14:15 What stops people from learning languages?
15:25 Is it all just input, or is deliberate practice useful too?
17:36 How do you learn a language from scratch? (e.g. Persian or Arabic for Steve)
21:37 Steve's motivation and tolerance for failure/mistakes/"fuzziness"/forgetting
24:15 If Steve was learning English, what would he do?
27:30 Language learning metaphors and smilies
37:29 Steve's career as an international diplomat and businessman
45:16 Learning about Persian and Arabic history and culture

Пікірлер: 198

@LukesEnglishPodcast Жыл бұрын

Thanks again to Steve for the interview!

@Flaviaregina69 Жыл бұрын

👏👏👏👏 4:56

@Thelinguist Жыл бұрын

A pleasant interview. It was an easy conversation on a subject of interest, which you kept going with your varied and probing questions. Thank you.

@LukesEnglishPodcast Жыл бұрын

Glad you enjoyed it!

@ziaulhaque4462 Жыл бұрын

I am learning Persian on my own,could you share PDFs or any stuff with me?i am from India.

@najmehmoradi5122 Жыл бұрын

@@ziaulhaque4462 I am a native in Persian. If you need help, I will be happy to help you.

@nara5680 Жыл бұрын

I have successfully kept my LingQ streak for 153 days since I subscribed the premium last September(Although it takes some 'extra effort' to use it as normal in mainland China). Great thanks to Steve! It really helps me to enjoy the pleasure of reading and learning English at the same time. What's more you inspires me to learn another new language and help me a lot in building a proper, not frustrated attitude in the process of learning a language.

@drakonnchanel8653 Жыл бұрын

2 of my favourite english maker people together, speaking with each other in 1 video. What can be better? Like a dream come true! Thank you a lot Luke and Steve!

@martinuniverse Жыл бұрын

I've done that kind of intensive courses at home (self-study) and I noticed that works for me, however, I prefer not to do it beacuse I feel like I'm a machine absorbing things without any pleasure. In my case I'm not in a hurry with English and also love the language, so I try to enjoy the process of learning. Luke's channel is one of my faves to practise listening as well as learning new words, expressions, different accents, etc. I'm at the moment that I'm noticing better comprehension of music and films, and I'm very grateful for the effort that Luke makes to do these videos/podcasts. Thanks a lot Luke!

@siamakalaei1148 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, dear Luke and Steve, for the podcast and the video and all your efforts. As a languages lover and a Persian native speaker, I really enjoyed it. Best wishes. ❤❤❤

@andreaalves6797 Жыл бұрын

Absolutely amazing. I'm feeling encouraged to continue my study in English. Thanks Luke and thanks Mr Steve.

@aknurrejepowa Жыл бұрын

You both are the great teachers , all your suggestions and experiences are inspirational . To be honest when i watch your episodes , you make me feel easy on this way. Thank you so much and keep it up 👍👍👍 i am the one who is waiting to your new episodes always 🤩

@vityatarasov4666 Жыл бұрын

That's magnificent ☺️. My favorite KZfaqrs together. I'm so excited!!! Keep it up!!! I'm really grateful for it.

@mahindasiriwardena7404 Жыл бұрын

Hello! I'm excited about this conversation. I wanted to add this comment before starting to listen to the conversation, because I know that this is going to be very useful program for learners of English as a second language. I first watched a few episodes of Kaufman's presentations in early 2020. His ideas about the acquisition of English language are innovative, novel and result oriented. Hopefully, this episode is full of ideas that every lepster is certain to be satisfied with!

@mariapersico3438 Жыл бұрын

Kudos to Steve for having learned and/or keeping on learning languages with a different alphabet. Respect! Incidentally, your remark about the importance of repetition reminded me of a very dear English language teacher of mine who used to tell us that one should learn "by dint of repetition". Now I see it may not be everybody's cup of tea, but it certainly did work for me. Thank you!

@celtellez8085 Жыл бұрын

It´s taken me ages to learn English and I´ve felt frustrated several times but nowadays I´ve found a new encouragement that has allowed me to develop the intensity that Mr. Kaufmann says and spite the fact I´m still feeling in the plateau, I´m learning a lot listening podcasts of my interests and reading, the only thing is I haven´t found nobody to talk to

@sandrafarsky1101 10 ай бұрын

@mariama987 Жыл бұрын

I didn't know Steve, so thank you for this content. So inspiring. Thank you for this channel!

@amanialzhrani4811 Жыл бұрын

What an inspirational interview! Thank you so much Luke for sharing such informative and brilliant content.

@umidjonqobiljonov4221 Жыл бұрын

Hello from Uzbekistan, I have really appreciate to Mr. Steve's knowledge about Movarounnahr's(Uzb) and Xuroson's(Afg) history. In fact, these regions produced many scholars who were responsible for the first and second renaissance of the world after the AD.

@NedaNevermind Жыл бұрын

Great inspiring interview for all language learners! Thank you!

@kscaranari Жыл бұрын

Fantastic and informative interview covering topics that I have never seen before about Steve’s life, even in his channel. Thanks, I really appreciate it!

@jackxuor8601 9 ай бұрын

Hi Luke, Thank you so much for this interview, Steve is very encouraging for People who are learning à langage whatever it is. You must stay positive and motivated and the progress will come at the end.

@tammiesterling4631 Жыл бұрын

Luke, you are a great interviewer. Thank you for doing your homework and research about Mr Kaufman.

@sergboorow5868 Жыл бұрын

Never before the process of rumination hadn't been described in such an entertaining manner, well done Luke! Thanks for fascinating stuff. You are definitely taking the cake. Cheers!

@aminanasser7083 7 күн бұрын

Thanks a lot for sharing this information with us .especial thanks for your guest mester steve

@Katya-li4bi Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much for this episode. I was listening it during my day walk in a town. Very pleasure ☺️

@audreygvz8675 Жыл бұрын

Motivation and practice now I know how to improve my English ! Thanks. Steve I hope you enjoyed your stay in Grenoble.

@sukjaipholampaisathit6635 10 ай бұрын

Hi Teacher Luke, Glad I found you on the podcast. I still have been searching for the way practicing my English. Having finished your podcast, I feel more motivation to keep practicing my English which is being my obstacle. Thanks so much.

@tahep3906 Жыл бұрын

Just like Steve has said I've always believed the most important thing is understanding the person you're talking to, because if you don't understand him you can't talk but if you understand him you can pass to other person what you want to say in some way, so the key is listen a lot and being acquainted with words

@karengomez3143 Жыл бұрын

I can barely keep up my English language skills but hearing this interview made me realise we don’t need to have a wall, we can keep going and going, ty!

@someone-tm5gv Жыл бұрын

Thank you I learn many things from this conversation. I will see it again and again

@GitkaKottmanova Жыл бұрын

Great episode. Thank you both.

@hm.dasjerdi-yd2us 10 ай бұрын

Wow, thanks alot for this. It is full of helpful stuff which I will use and positive encouragement. Thank you luke and Steve.

@nilsbore1611 Жыл бұрын

Thanks both of you for very interesting talk…))🧡🎈☀️

@Random-fw2rh 10 ай бұрын

الله يكتب اجرك يالوكاس على هالبودكاستات مررره استفدت منها ❤️❤️

@ventsislav1796 Жыл бұрын

I liked that man. He's got smart sight. Learning language no matter what is function of our intellect. The more intelligent we are, the easier it is.

@purplebutterfly4078 6 ай бұрын

I thought I m good for speaking 5 languages...Steve s a whole different level...he s motivated me to improve the languages I already speak and maybe learn something new...he s awesome!

@suzzywong Жыл бұрын

Thank you Luke ,it’s a great Chanel to learn English!

@inganagifka Жыл бұрын

What a charming man Steve is, like the actor from Crocodile Dundee! Thanks for the inspiring interview!

@GahlyHassan 10 ай бұрын

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉🎉

@als3odyah Жыл бұрын

Im native Arabic speaker and i speak english, i have tried to learn another language (Spanish) but it i have noticed it effected my english in negative way!!

@DragonLong-vs3zf Жыл бұрын

Well,I’m Chinese guy and I really obsessed in George Orwell’s book so I spent a millions of time like Steve said over and over again practice till you exhausted!I feelings good while I’m in processing in learning English.By the way,Thanks both of you ❤

@najmehmoradi5122 Жыл бұрын

Thank you Luke and Steve. It was an amazing podcast, particularly when you were talking about learning Persian, my native language :)

@tetianamandrykina1853 Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much for amazing interview!

@javadj4246 20 күн бұрын

I really enjoyed this podcast Thank you for making it Frome iran 🇮🇷

@elenaekanathapetrova2282 Жыл бұрын

Steve really inspires me. As a good role model.

@user-tw7kc4ns8b Жыл бұрын

You are my favorit coaches in the language lerning area I am so glad to see you together

@Teachersoyeon Жыл бұрын

Fascinating and informative interview!

@cinthialopezlopez9772 Жыл бұрын

Luke thank you so much for your excellent job ❤ I’ve been learning English for a while and recently I started with French. Definitely, Steve is amazing, he’s motivation and determination is remarkable 🤩 I follow him on Facebook 😊

@Duc3120 7 ай бұрын

This is a very interesting dialogue . I truly enjoyed listening to Steve on his milestones in lingual skills.

@gulcanturgut3216 4 ай бұрын

Thank you from Türkiye 😊l always try to listen you.Your videos help me a lot my learning language process.😊

@Atmanyatri Жыл бұрын

Wow 20 languages that’s amazing, Great podcast and great questions, thank you so much teacher luke for this channel i listen to you everyday, I wouldn’t be able to learn english if it weren’t for your channel. Thank you so much

@tamara6222 Жыл бұрын

Great interview! Thank you for sharing. It's made motivated to continue with learning German and Lithuanian 💪😎

@ingwaz8402Mag Жыл бұрын

Wonderful conversation, thanks 👏

@muslimbek_isroilov Жыл бұрын

Nice metaphors and similies, especially the one with a cow. I also have one metaphor and I'd like you to know Luke. It goes like this: Learning a language is like a magic. Being able to speak and understand people from completely different part(s) of the world is something incredible, like magic. Nowadays, in many countries people learn English by using textbooks, videos , films and podcasts. Most of these learners don't get the chance to talk to native speakers and yet when they meet a native speaker (English in this case) ( or any other language one is learning), these people can understand each other easily without any trouble. thanks to the podcasts and especially for Luke's English podcast. I like the diversity of the content of your work, especially the ones where you teach different accents across the UK and british expressions only brits know. When I talk to my British friend, she often gets surprised by some vocabularies I use which I learned through listening to your work. I now know English and Korean and little Russian and I feel like a magician too. Overall, teacher Luke, you are a magician maker/producer I'd say. You are also a magician in terms of French and Japanese(not sure about the second one but anyway). Have a good day and keep up the good work. All the best. Your long-term ninja magician l, Isroilov Muslimbek. 😅

@DearLittleSable Жыл бұрын

wowowow!

@jannas.1662 Жыл бұрын

❤ It was nice to listen to! Thanks a lot!

@Cristype1diabetic Жыл бұрын

Great vídeo, I could understand 80 per cent. Congrats and keep doing this great job.

@faithful567 11 ай бұрын

Love you both Steve and Luke ❤❤. You are the best👍💯

@marymary-9811 Жыл бұрын

One of your ‘gold’ episode 😍

@namaste2 Жыл бұрын

Dear Luke, I am so happy for you and this interview was inspirating with this gentleman. Your tone is very pleasant and I appreciate that you always bring us exciting topics.🙂 Your guest is pretty intelligent, and diligent, I have been learning English for almost 15 years but I still haven't claimed my goal, to be fluent. Our teachers in the school were not too qualified, because they were Russian teachers and they were retrained to English teachers in the 90s, so they were almost learning the English with us, with plenty of mistakes in the language, but this is not their fault, they tried their best. Today is so much easier for kids.🙂 When I went to the U.K.to get some job and I picked up the language very quickly. I also had German in high school but I did not like it, so I was not able to learn it properly. I think you have to love the language if you would like to learn it properly. Since I am not there in the U.K, I am listening podcasts and reading articles and comments on English sites. I learn 3 or 4 hours a day and I really enjoy it. I do not need it to my work or anything, just for fun. Keep it up, Luke, take care.🙂

@JorgeLima-qi2lh Жыл бұрын

Congratulations, I really appreciate your story

@namaste2 Жыл бұрын

@@JorgeLima-qi2lh thank you and have a nice day.🙂

@ericwalker5186 10 ай бұрын

@@namaste2thank u and have a nice food.

@thecfclad Жыл бұрын

I've been watching some of Steve's countless number of collaboration with other KZfaqrs the past 2 days and here you are coming up with a collaboration with him yourself 😂 Was an absolute blast watching you two speak and could well say it was a one hour worth of english listening material.

@eminbey3382 Жыл бұрын

Teşekkürler efendim

@latifaalsayed38 Жыл бұрын

Amazing conversation,thanks a lot.

@estelapalomeque9085 8 ай бұрын

Thanks for the interview.

@lucettekittaviny1315 Ай бұрын

Thank you so much Luke for the vidéo ❤ I love it so much ❤I am from Guadeloupe ❤❤❤

@ibtihelcharabi5346 Жыл бұрын

I enjoyed the episode it's very interesting and motivating to improve my english skills. thank you very much

@kiranbajgain4439 Жыл бұрын

Thanks Steve for your motivation! From Nepal 🇳🇵

@domnicazaharia5983 Жыл бұрын

Thanks for your lovely recommendations

@carolefoschiani1251 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting and motivating ! 🎉

@usert-71 Жыл бұрын

Very motivating your channel, for learning englsh. It´s of great value

@sajidahanif2811 Жыл бұрын

Great,a lot of stuff to get the knowledge .enjoying a lot.

@carenj1657 Жыл бұрын

Incredible interview. :).

@vavilovasvetlana9044 Жыл бұрын

I really like your videos with interviews with well-known personalities.Thans a lot for your video

@nikolaybilov9539 Жыл бұрын

Thank you very much. A really interesting interview. I have not so excellent ability for languages unfortunately. I am learning only English for long years. It is constant, i think even infinite occupation. But quite a nice one, it can easily fill almost any gaps in my activities even in such circumstances when none other kid of activities could. And it fights depression quite well.

@davydovataisiia7585 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot for this talk! it was fascinating, as always:)

@bashiirahmed5643 Жыл бұрын

It's really amazing, this gentleman speaks 20 languages, but there are people who struggle to learn only one language, so where the problem lies in? We, the language learners are expecting more from him.

@user-do7ih1ez5u Жыл бұрын

Me too I prefer this channel Thank you so much sir

@user-wu8zx7zw6d Жыл бұрын

Amazing interview!

@mahmoudabbaszadeh469 Жыл бұрын

I listened to this podcast yesterday. It's amazing. BTW, I am Iranian and living in South London (Tooting). I'd be happy to have a chat with you if you wanna know more about the Persian language and culture.

@devendratambe6718 Жыл бұрын

Yes I am walking in park and listing ur good communication 🙂

@tchernobalde8106 Жыл бұрын

Amazing Teachers

@alexyoung3609 Жыл бұрын

great episode!👍

@isma5649 Жыл бұрын

He s a really amazing man Luke I liked when he said brain works with repetition and novel to avoid being bored with old information and it really works and will empower brain to well sement informations.nice video well done

@user-ye8bz8im3l Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot, it was really fascinating interview

@romanvladimirovichpetrikov4947 Жыл бұрын

Hello from Russia. Peace and Love ❤. Thank you Luke for the inspiring conversation and the video ! Keep it up! I live in Russia and I love and respect Ukraine 🇺🇦, you will definitely win... I hope it will be very soon....

@usert-71 Жыл бұрын

Love & peace for russian people. Everyone want to finish the wa r.

@didfrost Жыл бұрын

This war is stupid and senseless.

@usert-71 Жыл бұрын

Ask it to Putin

@InglesDinamico100 Жыл бұрын

@@Ihor_Ab who started was putin not russian people

@volna880 Жыл бұрын

@@Ihor_Abit’s so weird to ask someone who doesn’t support this war, who didn’t start this war, about the reasons of this war… People in Russia are the same as everywhere. Not every US citizen bombed Hiroshima and Nagasaki, for example. There were also many innocent people who died without any reason.. The reason is unprofessionalism of politicians of all countries…

@wei.h5689 Жыл бұрын

wonderful conversation

@noushadbekur Жыл бұрын

both are my favourites thanks lot 😍

@kcmuanpuia 8 ай бұрын

These insights are great!!

@nicknigel7168 Жыл бұрын

I've been learning English for 30 years... Still it’s going on...I'm fond of it🎉

@belstar1128 Жыл бұрын

Steve kaufmann is my inspiration.

@sambkk5873 Жыл бұрын

Very interesting, his analysis about Persian is indeed true

@ritah791 Жыл бұрын

Steve is an amazing gentleman. I have some Swiss friends in Switzerland who learnt Chinese but they only could read and recognised Chinese pinyin (kind of Chinese phonic, no words). Compare to Steve, I am such a stupid lady, although I had lived in London more than 3 years, I couldn't watch BBC without subtle 😅

@maryamhajiakhondi3199 Жыл бұрын

Thanks a lot i enjoyed it 🙏

@fowmow5431 Жыл бұрын

Thanks, luke I can't thank you enough. I ran lately on a tv show called mind your language I wonder if you watched it before it is hilarious.

@didfrost Жыл бұрын

I like this: "Novelty and repetition". Easy-peasy!

@ozanarcan9152 Жыл бұрын

I am so happy for i have seen you together

@kaimolle9386 Жыл бұрын

absolutly awesome interview, really motivating. I ask me in which language is steve dreaming ?!

@user-ft8sy8ts3h 8 ай бұрын

You guys are cool 😎 hey 👋 from Kiev

@TrangNguyen-yr7hd Жыл бұрын

Thank you so much. How about Paris now. Hope that everything is good

@harvinbismark513 9 ай бұрын

"Enjoy the process" , ❤

@user-ot2zt5ue2m Жыл бұрын

Спасибо!

@kittinlikitparinya2824 Жыл бұрын

I love you both

@letusplay2296 2 ай бұрын

46:05 As a Persian I feel like I should mention that the Persian language is 1 language in 3 countries (at least officially) with three standard varieties that are slightly different from each other (mostly just in pronunciation but also some vocabulary). The colloquial dialects in each country, namely Iran, Afghanistan and Tajikistan can be quite a bit more different from each other, though not much more than American English and British English, Iranians just aren't usually exposed to Tajik or Dari speakers much at all, so they usually have a harder time understanding people outside of Iran than Tajiks or Afghans do Iranians or each other

@csoftgst9041 Жыл бұрын

Finally going to the UK.

@AminaStr Жыл бұрын

Hi Luke! How did you know I’m at the gym? I just laughed out loud when you said it and people kind of started casting weird looks at me 😅

@sajadalsalm662 Жыл бұрын

That's really impressive meeting. May I ask you? Why you don't respond to me? I'm appreciated your utmost efforts and grateful forever. I'm from Iraq.