America the Bilingual

Steve Leveen
  • 4.9 (37)
  • SOCIETY & CULTURE
  • UPDATED BIMONTHLY

America the Bilingual is a storytelling podcast designed to inspire people on their journey to bilingualism. We'll listen to people who have become bilingual, especially native-English speakers who learned another language as adults (that is, the hard way). How did they do it? Why did they do it? How do they lead their bilingual lives? You'll find out every two weeks.

  1. 80 - Season 6 - You Can Finally Learn That Next Language You’ve Been Thirsting to Speak

    DEC 15

    80 - Season 6 - You Can Finally Learn That Next Language You’ve Been Thirsting to Speak

    “The whole idea of language learning is saying things wrong until you begin to say them right.” That’s Steve Leveen, founder of America the Bilingual, diving deeper into three new perspectives he encourages adult language learners to adopt. He also shares details of the new Levenger Master Class workbook, How to Learn a Language for Life, that he and multilingual entrepreneur Akshay Swaminathan, cowrote. Episode 80 of the America the Bilingual podcast, You Can Finally Learn That Next Language You’ve Been Thirsting to Speak, is now live. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music credits, in order of appearance: Soft and furious - Super connected sleep https://bit.ly/3rN902r Kevin Macleod - Quasimotion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Soft and furious - What’s your name again https://bit.ly/456BynS Lloyd Rogers - Twelve from the black book https://bit.ly/44uduv4 Peter Gresser - Skipping in the no standing zone https://bit.ly/49bUZOw Fernando Air-Nandez - You live the language Loyalty Freak Music - Everything is so alive https://bit.ly/3MYSPJu

    19 min
  2. 79 -Season 6- “What Language Barrier?” Meet the Indiana Jones of Language Learning

    NOV 13

    79 -Season 6- “What Language Barrier?” Meet the Indiana Jones of Language Learning

    “I've never learned how to say no properly in my life, to prepare myself properly for things. I just figured if I kept saying yes to things, eventually something good would happen.” For Mark Ford, not saying no has allowed him to do some of the most important things in his life. Which is why it became easy—in his heterodox fashion—for him to learn first French, then Latin, and now Spanish. The Spanish is the result of his building an award-winning resort in Nicaragua and the community foundation he created right across the road, which has become an education and trades hub for the non-English-speaking local people. The French gave him entrée to the Peace Corps after college. But only because the officials didn’t give him the boot for not knowing a word of it when he landed in French-speaking Chad. The Latin was to meet a PhD requirement. Although let’s just say that the former altar boy in him might have frowned on his modus operandi. But he’s forgiven for that, because good things for many people have happened thanks to his determination to embrace other languages. In this lively conversation with Steve, Mark also shares his secret for learning a language. And you won’t have to crack open an app to do it. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, the editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music credits (in order of appearance): HoliznaCC0 - Whatever https://bit.ly/4qDgZsk Koi Discovery - Beer blues https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion HoliznaCC0 - ICE temple https://bit.ly/4qHGb1c HoliznaCC0 - Sunny afternoon https://bit.ly/47vvyp9 HoliznaCC0 - Unwind https://bit.ly/3X4hb6m Koi-discovery - END https://bit.ly/4qDhLFK HoliznaCC0 - Laundry on the wire https://bit.ly/3Jc8R1p Wax lyricist - Green https://bit.ly/4qA7c6s Koi-discovery -Synthetic_synapse https://bit.ly/4oOlxup

    29 min
  3. 78 - Season 6 - Meet Ilan Stavans, a Tocqueville for our century

    SEP 24

    78 - Season 6 - Meet Ilan Stavans, a Tocqueville for our century

    Professor/publisher/author/OED consultant Ilan Stavans has written books about all three of the languages he speaks: his native Mexican Spanish, his heritage Yiddish, and his adopted English. In Episode 78, Ilan and Steve have a far-ranging conversation that touches on how American literature is becoming multilingual literature, why prescriptive dictionaries don’t work for English, and the secret to seeing your children embrace the language of their heritage. Listen and you’ll soon know why America the Bilingual has dubbed him a Tocqueville for bilingualism in America. Enjoy! Music credits, in order of appearance: HoliznaCC0 - Tranquil Mindscape ( Lofi , Happy , Reflection ) https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/public-domain-lofi/tranquil-mindscape-lofi-happy-reflection/ U.S. Army Blues - Kelli's Number https://freemusicarchive.org/music/US_Army_Blues/Live_At_Blues_Alley/0_-_08_-_The_US_Army_Blues_-_Kellis_Number/ John Bartmann - African Moon https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/african-moon/ John Bartmann - Somewhere nice https://freemusicarchive.org/music/John_Bartmann/Public_Domain_Soundtrack_Music_Album_One/somewhere-nice/ HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute Meditation 1 https://freemusicarchive.org/music/holiznacc0/space-sleep-meditation/20-minute-meditation-1/ U.S. Army Blues - Oginiland https://freemusicarchive.org/music/US_Army_Blues/Live_At_Blues_Alley/0_-_06_-_The_US_Army_Blues_-_Oginiland/ Komiku - In the restaurant https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Komiku/THE_GIRL_WITH_THE_BASEBALL_BAT/Komiku_-_THE_GIRL_WITH_THE_BASEBALL_BAT_-_03_In_the_restaurant/ Koi-discovery - Oxforf by Night https://freemusicarchive.org/music/koi-discovery/ante-chrysalide/oxforf-by-nightmp3/

    29 min
  4. 77- Season 6 - A trumpeter's tale

    MAY 1

    77- Season 6 - A trumpeter's tale

    The multilingual Esteban Battalán, principal trumpet of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra Brass, shares how his language odyssey has sounded important notes in his music odyssey. Hear his story on Episode 77 of the America the Bilingual podcast, “A Trumpeter’s Tale.” America the Bilingual is a project of the Levenger Foundation, which supports bilingualism and biliteracy in the Americas. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed this episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music performed by Mr. Batallán is from these recordings: Haydn Trumpet Concerto in Eb, Nightfall, and Premiere,“Mr. Batallán.” Further details on estebanbatallan.com/videos. Additional music, in order of appearance Koi Discovery - Beer blues https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi Illinois Brass Band - Wright, Tam O'Shanter's Ride https://bit.ly/4iGDOXc CSO Principal Tuba Gene Pokorny - Schifrin's Tuba Concerto https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kG4lZ-2zWao Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Frederic Lardon Feat Laura Palme - Dans la méditation transcendantale https://bit.ly/3PsIzaE Monplaisir - Jam with me https://bit.ly/3EO0o23 Esteban Batallan - Hummel trumpet concerto 1st Movement https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tXV7V4ipl1s&t=1s

    30 min
  5. 76 - Season 6 - Meet the maestro behind the new language gym

    JAN 15

    76 - Season 6 - Meet the maestro behind the new language gym

    The conventional description of someone who speaks as many languages as Akshay Swaminathan does is “polyglot.” But as you’ll quickly hear when you listen to this episode, there’s nothing conventional about how this Knight-Hennessy scholarship recipient and PD Soros fellow approaches languages. There is, however, a solid commitment to use what he’s learned about learning languages to help other adults learn, too. His new, virtual language workouts focus on speaking fluently in the language you’re learning, and getting there quickly. Episode 76 of the America the Bilingual podcast is now live! Music Credits: HoliznaCC0 - 20 Minute Meditation 1 https://bit.ly/492XPlN Nomadic - Pictures of the floating world https://bit.ly/3RyMxjV Kevin MacLeod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Sam Natarajan (Akshay’s father), thiruppAvai #01 and #02 - nAttai and gowLa.m2ts https://bit.ly/40q8xln Komiku - Helice’s theme https://bit.ly/425trHy Loyalty Freak Music - Waiting TTTT https://bit.ly/3HEwICx Ghanam Krishna Iyer, Thiruvotriyur Thyagarajan -Atana- Rupakam, performed by Shreyas Muralidharan and Akshay Swaminathan https://bit.ly/4gRhCtm Frederic Lardon Feat Laura Palme - Dans la méditation transcendantale https://bit.ly/3PsIzaE HoliznaCC0 - Sky Scrapers https://bit.ly/4j9T2W4

    28 min
  6. 75 - Season 6 - Recipe: Mix Jewish with Mexican, Add Maine

    11/16/2024

    75 - Season 6 - Recipe: Mix Jewish with Mexican, Add Maine

    Meet Margaret Boyle, coauthor with Ilan Stavans of “Sabor Judío: The Jewish Mexican Cookbook”. Margaret and Ilan have added their own ingredient to the cookbook: the history behind many of the recipes, some of them their families’, others the history of Jewish immigration to Mexico over the centuries. If you’re a foodie, find history fascinating, or would like to sample the Spanish language through the culinary fusion of Jewish and Mexican cultures, quench your appetite now with Episode 75 of the America the Bilingual podcast. Thanks to our America the Bilingual team who worked on this episode: Mim Harrison, our editorial and brand director, who wrote and directed it; Fernando Hernandez Becerra, who produced the episode from his studio in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esta No Es Radio; and Jen Cavañaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music credits in order of appearance: John Bartmann - Somewhere nice https://bit.ly/3ZqUpGv Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv Demoiselle Döner - Autodétermination - Free Music Archive https://bit.ly/3OeUzM2 Komiku - In the restaurant https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs Pictures of the floating world - Nomadic https://bit.ly/3LVlpYV Monplaisir - J A https://bit.ly/3uNedIT TRG Banks - Horse ride 2 https://bit.ly/3LRPuZv Holizna CC0 - 20 minute meditation 1 https://bit.ly/492XPlN John Bartmann - Bouncy Gypsy Beats https://bit.ly/4aR7RZv

    27 min
  7. 74 - Season 6 - The unexpected truth about languages in America

    09/04/2024

    74 - Season 6 - The unexpected truth about languages in America

    The United States leads the world in bilingualism. No kidding. Because of this, no country understands the world as well as the United States. Seriously. Ah, you may be thinking, there must be a catch. No catch—just a different way to understand the uncontested data that’s been accumulating for decades. So…how did we get here, and how might we use this newly unveiled status to the betterment of the country? In this episode, America the Bilingual founder Steve Leveen takes you through the history, context and science that have led him to this realization of America’s leadership role in bilingualism. Whether or not you’re bilingual, you’ll want to hear this good news for America. Thanks to our America the Bilingual team: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director, and early advocate of quizzes as a way to enliven ideas; Fernando Hernandez Becerra, who produced this episode from his studio in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio; Alli Torban, who designed the data visuals in the quiz; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music and sounds in order of appearance by: Monplaisir - Be a good punk https://bit.ly/3Xe2z4f Anthousai - 23cm glass bowl - tone - cloth mallet 02.wav https://bit.ly/3MsBh5d License: Creative Commons 0 Kevin Macleod - Quasi Motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion Monplaisir - Garage https://bit.ly/3XbPokd Stomachache - Take me Out to the Ball Game by stomachache -- https://bit.ly/3z65vb4 -- License: Creative Commons 0 Nikitralala - korea_baseball.flac by nikitralala -- https://bit.ly/3MuT23J -- License: Creative Commons 0 Tylermyers1992 - MLB Crowd Cheer - 09032022.wav https://bit.ly/3MsL3Ev -- License: Creative Commons 0 The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps - United States National Anthem (The Star Spangled Banner) https://bit.ly/3Mx7RTi The United States Army Old Guard Fife and Drum Corps - Reveille Variation/Drum Call/Slow Scotch/Quick Scotch/Yankee Doodle/Mont.... https://bit.ly/3Tf4Qei Komiku - De l'herbe sous les pieds https://bit.ly/3z66eJk Komiku - In the restaurant https://bit.ly/3OfJTOs Komiku - Beach https://bit.ly/4e8qEjH Komiku - Where you hear the prayer (McGuffin theme) https://bit.ly/4g1ZyMS Komiku - Everything is groovy (how to move your body) https://bit.ly/3xejA4I Komiku - The road we use to travel when we were kids https://bit.ly/47fG2Zw

    27 min
  8. 73 - Season 6 - Global English: Blessing or Curse?

    07/10/2024

    73 - Season 6 - Global English: Blessing or Curse?

    While the whole world does not speak English, it’s nevertheless a ubiquitous language worldwide. Is that a good thing or bad? Or is it, perhaps, more complicated than that? Professor Rosemary Salomone, both linguist and lawyer, knows how to answer this question perhaps better than anyone. In this episode, she and Steve discuss her newest book, The Rise of English: Global Politics and the Power of Language, where she takes readers around the world to see just what kind of a global player English really is. Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed this episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website. Music Credits, in order of appearance Koi - discovery - beer blues https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion TRG Banks - evening journey https://bit.ly/4bzZZur Holizna cc0 - advertisements https://bit.ly/4eTrXEl Soft and furious - you’re magic https://bit.ly/3LjJYhq Soft and furious - game on https://bit.ly/3VUuRjz Koi Discovery - Spike protein https://bit.ly/3S1leya Wax liricyst - big green https://freemusicarchive.org/music/wax-lyricist/the-wax-lyricist/big-green/ He can jog - Prelude (Two Hour Delay, Dane County) https://bit.ly/3zBaq3G Soft and furious - When the blood driving the self https://bit.ly/4aaMt0H Maarten Schellekens - free classical theme https://bit.ly/4cXxSXj

    30 min
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4.9
out of 5
37 Ratings

About

America the Bilingual is a storytelling podcast designed to inspire people on their journey to bilingualism. We'll listen to people who have become bilingual, especially native-English speakers who learned another language as adults (that is, the hard way). How did they do it? Why did they do it? How do they lead their bilingual lives? You'll find out every two weeks.

Information

  • Creator
    Steve Leveen
  • Years Active
    2017 - 2025
  • Episodes
    89
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © All rights reserved
  • Show Website
    America the Bilingual

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