Fluent•ish, the Podcast

Little Crab Educational Press
  • 5.0 (4)
  • LANGUAGE LEARNING

Dreaming of learning a new language but feeling stuck? Fluent•ish is for polyglots, aspiring language learners, parents raising bilingual kids, and classroom teachers. Join your hosts, Canadian sisters Rebecca (a CELTA-certified EAL teacher and long-term Mandarin learner) and Lisa (self-studying French) as they share strategies, mindset shifts, and motivation to help you go from hesitation to conversation. No snobbery —just useful strategies + LOTS OF FREEBIES to keep you going! Produced by Canadian, independent, women own+oper. Little Crab Educational Press. Learn more at littlecrabpress.ca

  1. 2025-07-15

    S 1 Ep. 10 - Season Finale! - “Do I Hafta Handwrite in My Additional Language? Typing Is Enough, Isn’t It?”

    🎧 Episode 10 | “Do I Hafta Handwrite in My Additional Language? Typing Is Enough, Isn’t It?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Wondering if handwriting really matters when learning a new language—or if typing is just fine? In this Season 1 finale, we unpack how handwriting and composition affect fluency, confidence, and memory—and why your method of writing might matter more than you think. In this episode, we explore: ✅ How handwriting strengthens brain connections and deepens learning ✅ Why writing systems like Chinese characters, Sanskrit, and Japanese kanji are worth slowing down for ✅ What research says about the benefits of freehand writing over typing ✅ How to build a flexible, judgment-free writing habit that supports your goals Whether you’re learning French, Mandarin, or any other language, this episode will help you choose between handwriting and typing without guilt—and show you how both can support your language journey in different ways. Let’s connect: 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecrabpress.com⁠⁠ 📧 Newsletter: ⁠⁠Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca⁠⁠ 📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress 🌱 Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social

    29 min

  2. 2025-07-12

    S 1 Ep. 9 - "What if I am 'Just Not a Reader?'" - VIDEO

    🎧 Episode 9 | “How Can I Get Better At Reading in My New Language When I Don’t Really Enjoy Reading in My Native Language Either? What If I’m Just Not a Reader?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Do you feel stuck because you don’t love reading—even in your native language? Wondering if you can still make progress in your second language without focusing on reading? In this episode, we explore: 📚 Whether reading is really essential to fluency📖 The surprising variety of reading formats that might actually spark your interest🧠 The difference between Extensive vs. Intensive reading (and why both matter)✨ How to find your own reading rhythm, even if you’ve never identified as “a reader” PLUS: Lisa shares major insights into combatting dyslexia Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, Farsi, Yoruba, or anything in between, this episode will help you rethink what it means to read in your new language. Let’s connect:🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecrabpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress📌 Pinterest: Little Crab Educational Press📧 Newsletter: Sign up on our website to get podcast extras and language learning freebies!

    37 min
  3. S 1 Ep. 9 - "What if I am 'Just Not a Reader?'"

    2025-06-23

    S 1 Ep. 9 - "What if I am 'Just Not a Reader?'"

    🎧 Episode 9 | “How Can I Get Better At Reading in My New Language When I Don’t Really Enjoy Reading in My Native Language Either? What If I’m Just Not a Reader?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Do you feel stuck because you don’t love reading—even in your native language? Wondering if you can still make progress in your second language without focusing on reading? In this episode, we explore: 📚 Whether reading is really essential to fluency📖 The surprising variety of reading formats that might actually spark your interest🧠 The difference between Extensive vs. Intensive reading (and why both matter)✨ How to find your own reading rhythm, even if you’ve never identified as “a reader” PLUS: Lisa shares major insights into combatting dyslexia Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, Farsi, Yoruba, or anything in between, this episode will help you rethink what it means to read in your new language. Let’s connect:🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecrabpress.com⁠⁠⁠⁠📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress📌 Pinterest: Little Crab Educational Press📧 Newsletter: Sign up on our website to get podcast extras and language learning freebies!

    37 min
  4. S 1 Ep. 8 - “Can I Improve my Mindset Around Studying (Read - Loathing) Grammar?”

    2025-06-13

    S 1 Ep. 8 - “Can I Improve my Mindset Around Studying (Read - Loathing) Grammar?”

    🎧 Episode 8 | “Can I Improve My Mindset Around Studying (Read—Loathing) Grammar?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Wondering if there’s a better way to approach grammar without the dread? In this episode, we explore:✅ Why grammar feels so hard—and how mindset shifts can help✅ The truth about grammar and fluency (hint: you don’t need perfection!)✅ Practical, fun ways to build grammar skills without just relying on drills✅ Expert insights from Diane Larsen-Freeman, Michael Swan, Rod Ellis, and more Whether you’re learning French, Mandarin, or any other language, this episode will help you build confidence and break down grammar anxiety. Let’s connect: 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecrabpress.com⁠⁠📧 Newsletter: ⁠⁠Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca⁠⁠📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress🌱 Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social

    34 min

  5. 2025-06-13

    S 1 Ep. 8 - “Can I Improve my Mindset Around Studying (Read - Loathing) Grammar?” - VIDEO version

    🎧 Episode 8 | “Can I Improve My Mindset Around Studying (Read—Loathing) Grammar?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Wondering if there’s a better way to approach grammar without the dread? In this episode, we explore:✅ Why grammar feels so hard—and how mindset shifts can help✅ The truth about grammar and fluency (hint: you don’t need perfection!)✅ Practical, fun ways to build grammar skills without just relying on drills✅ Expert insights from Diane Larsen-Freeman, Michael Swan, Rod Ellis, and more Whether you’re learning French, Mandarin, or any other language, this episode will help you build confidence and break down grammar anxiety. Let’s connect: 🌐 Website: ⁠⁠⁠⁠littlecrabpress.com⁠⁠📧 Newsletter: ⁠⁠Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca⁠⁠📸 Instagram: @littlecrabpress🌱 Bluesky: @littlecrabpress.bsky.social

    34 min
  6. S 1 Ep. 7 - "Do I HAVE to study lots of vocabulary? How much is enough?”

    2025-06-07

    S 1 Ep. 7 - "Do I HAVE to study lots of vocabulary? How much is enough?”

    🎧 Episode 7 | “Do I HAVE to Study Tons of Vocabulary? How Much is Enough?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Feeling overwhelmed by all the words you don’t know in your new language? Wondering if there’s a smarter way to build vocabulary that actually sticks? In this episode, we explore: How many words you really need at different stages of fluency The difference between recognizing a word and being able to use it LCEP's Tortoise Tile Method for studying vocabulary - smarter, but also lazier Self-assessing your current strengths and blind spots with our bonus materials Whether you’re learning Tagalog, Arabic, or German, this episode will help you shed impostor syndrome in vocabulary study. ✨ Grab our FREE Word Mastery Self-Assessment and bonus material: ⁠⁠littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab⁠⁠ Let’s connect: Website: ⁠⁠⁠littlecrabpress.com⁠ Newsletter: ⁠⁠Subscribe at littlecrabpress.ca ⁠Instagram: @littlecrabpress Bluesky: ‪@littlecrabpress.bsky.social‬

    31 min

  7. 2025-06-07

    S 1 Ep. 7 - "Do I HAVE to study lots of vocabulary? How much is enough?”" - VIDEO version

    🎧 Episode 7 | “Do I HAVE to Study Tons of Vocabulary? How Much is Enough?” Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Feeling overwhelmed by all the words you don’t know in your new language? Wondering if there’s a smarter way to build vocabulary that actually sticks? In this episode, we explore: How many words you really need at different stages of fluency The difference between recognizing a word and being able to use it LCEP's Tortoise Tile Method for studying vocabulary - smarter, but also lazier Self-assessing your current strengths and blind spots with our bonus materials Whether you’re learning Tagalog, Arabic, or German, this episode will help you shed impostor syndrome in vocabulary study. ✨ Grab our FREE Word Mastery Self-Assessment and bonus material: ⁠⁠littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab⁠⁠ Let’s connect:Website: ⁠⁠littlecrabpress.comNewsletter: ⁠⁠Subscribe here⁠Instagram: @littlecrabpressBluesky: ‪@littlecrabpress.bsky.social‬

    31 min
  8. S 1 Ep. 6 - "But, If We’re Aiming for a Legitimate Accent Rather Than a Native Accent, How’s it Possible to Improve Speaking and Pronunciation?" - VIDEO version

    2025-05-31

    S 1 Ep. 6 - "But, If We’re Aiming for a Legitimate Accent Rather Than a Native Accent, How’s it Possible to Improve Speaking and Pronunciation?" - VIDEO version

    🎧 Episode 6 | “But, If We’re Aiming for a Legitimate Accent Rather Than a ‘Native’ Accent, How’s it Possible to Improve Speaking and Pronunciation?” --> Psst! This Episode is a TWOFER. Fluent•ish the Podcast | Hosted by Rebecca & Lisa from Little Crab Educational Press Does your mind go blank when it's your turn to speak in your second language? Do you feel like your voice sounds stiff, robotic—or just not like you? In this episode, we follow up on Episode 4’s discussion about accents and dive into practical ways to improve your Speaking and Pronunciation—without getting stuck in perfectionism or frozen by fear. You'll learn: The difference between receptive and productive language skills Why it’s okay (and totally normal) to focus on listening before speaking Speaking sub-skills like sentence stress, filler words, and improvisation How to use games to improve clarity, rhythm, and flow How self-assessment questions can guide your next steps Why being understood matters more than sounding native Whether you’re learning Mandarin, French, or another language, this episode is packed with tools to help you speak more naturally and confidently—even when your instinct is to stay quiet. ✨ Grab our FREE Speaking & Pronunciation Self-Assessment Tool: ⁠littlecrabpress.ca → Fluent•ish tab⁠ ✨ Try the ChatGPT prompts designed to fit your personalised language goals 👂 You’re probably more fluent than you think—and you definitely don’t need to sound native to be understood. Let’s connect: Website: ⁠littlecrabpress.com ⁠Newsletter: ⁠Subscribe here ⁠Instagram: @littlecrabpress Bluesky: ‪@littlecrabpress.bsky.social‬

    46 min
See All (21)

Trailers

Ratings & Reviews

5
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

Dreaming of learning a new language but feeling stuck? Fluent•ish is for polyglots, aspiring language learners, parents raising bilingual kids, and classroom teachers. Join your hosts, Canadian sisters Rebecca (a CELTA-certified EAL teacher and long-term Mandarin learner) and Lisa (self-studying French) as they share strategies, mindset shifts, and motivation to help you go from hesitation to conversation. No snobbery —just useful strategies + LOTS OF FREEBIES to keep you going! Produced by Canadian, independent, women own+oper. Little Crab Educational Press. Learn more at littlecrabpress.ca

Information

  • Creator
    Little Crab Educational Press
  • Years Active
    2K
  • Episodes
    21
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Little Crab Educational Press
  • Show Website
    Fluent•ish, the Podcast