StoryLearning Podcast

Olly Richards
  • 4.9 (244)
  • Language Learning
  • Updated Biweekly

Got a burning language learning question? I’m Olly Richards and I've learned 8 languages through stories. Every Wednesday, I answer your questions and chat to world-class language experts. Whether you're learning Spanish, German, Japanese, or something else, tune in for insider tips and practical strategies to get fluent fast. Each week you get: - Answers to your biggest language learning challenges - Story-based techniques to accelerate your progress - Tried and tested tips from my 25+ years of experience No flashcards or memorisation. Just story-based learning that actually works.

  1. 533: He learned 15 languages with this simple reading habit

    3d ago

    533: He learned 15 languages with this simple reading habit

    👉 Grab your FREE Guide, Luca's 12 Rules for Learning Any Language Faster in 2026: https://l.storylearning.com/Luca_tips  I am absolutely thrilled to be joined by Luca Lampariello who has been teaching languages online longer than I have. He was one of my very first references when I first started creating content online. He’s been on the podcast a number of times over the years and here is again to talk about how he’s learning languages these days. More about today's guest: Luca Lampariello is an internationally recognised language coach, polyglot, and communication expert who has spent over three decades mastering more than a dozen languages. He is the founder of Smart Language Learning, where he helps learners worldwide bypass traditional, rigid methods in favour of natural, highly effective acquisition strategies. Through his coaching, writing, and videos, Luca focuses on the psychology of learning, phonetics, and building the core habits necessary to achieve true fluency. Website: lucalampariello.com YouTube Channel: @LucaLampariello 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info

    42 min
  2. 532: Should you use subtitles to learn a language?

    May 20

    532: Should you use subtitles to learn a language?

    👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/TV_movies  I've had a lot of comments come in all asking the same thing: when you watch TV or movies, should you use subtitles or not? Subtitle on or subtitles off? Subtitles in which language? Which subtitle-audio combination is best? I have a rather controversial take on this, which is that I generally don't recommend TV or movies for language learning. Now, before you throw me under the bus, let me explain why. Mentioned in this episode: The main StoryLearning channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storylearning 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info#storylearning #learnthroughstories

    16 min
  3. 531: If you've got 15 minutes, you can learn a language

    May 13

    531: If you've got 15 minutes, you can learn a language

    👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/language_plan Why do we fail at language learning? It's not that we find it difficult, it's that staying consistent is difficult. We set ourselves this target of studying for an hour a day and invariably life gets in the way. And before you know it, three months have gone past and we've done nothing. This is the uncomfortable truth about language learning works - we struggle to be consistent. So we have to confront the question - how can we best make sure that we are moving towards our goals and that we don't fall off the horse? That’s what this episode is all about. 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info #storylearning #learnthroughstories

    14 min
  4. 530: How to learn any language fast starting from zero

    May 6

    530: How to learn any language fast starting from zero

    👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/plan_study What's the best way to learn a language as a complete beginner? The whole premise of my method, StoryLearning, is that you learn a language through reading. People understand the concept. But then they say - I'm a complete beginner, how on earth do I start to read? I don't know any words!  So how do you get started? Should you download an app? What should you be doing? Let's start from the bird's eye view and work our way down. Mentioned in this episode: The main StoryLearning YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@storylearning 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info #storylearning #learnthroughstories

    15 min
  5. 529: I learned impossible languages with stories - here's why it worked

    Apr 22

    529: I learned impossible languages with stories - here's why it worked

    👉 Grab your FREE Binge-Worthy Resources for Fluency: https://l.storylearning.com/fluent_resources  How do you learn difficult languages with the StoryLearning method? This is a question that came from Carlos Rabino 5125. He asked - how does your method work with Russian, Chinese, or Japanese? Reading between the lines, I guess what Carlos is asking is: how do you read when the language is really difficult? So let's get into why stories are so powerful and how to learn with story when a language is hard. 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info #storylearning #learnthroughstories

    19 min
  6. 528: Polyglot reveals how to learn 10 languages FAST

    Apr 15

    528: Polyglot reveals how to learn 10 languages FAST

    👉 Grab your FREE Language Guide, A Polyglot's “No-Method” Method: https://l.storylearning.com/polyglot-tips Stefano Suigo is one of the most interesting language people (if I can put it that way) that I know, and I know quite a few. He’s fluent in 10 languages and can get by in more. A lot of people claim to speak lots of languages, but Stefano is the real deal, and I know he is because I've just spent a lot of time with him and I’ve seen him use these languages. He really does have a unique profile with languages that we dig into in this interview. Enjoy! More from today's guest: Stefano’s YouTube channel, linguaEpassione: https://www.youtube.com/@linguaEpassione 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info #storylearning #learnthroughstories

    38 min
  7. 527: Why you can't stop translating in your head (and how to fix it)

    Apr 1

    527: Why you can't stop translating in your head (and how to fix it)

    👉 Grab your FREE Grammar and Vocabulary Study Sheet: https://l.storylearning.com/learn-vocab  In this episode I'm going to tackle the second most popular question I've ever been asked about language learning: How do I stop translating in my head? It is easy to say "stop translating in your head" and that is well-intentioned advice, but not very practical. The truth is, translation is inevitable and not necessarily a bad thing, at least at first. Research mentioned in this episode: The Effects of Using L1 Translation on Young Learners’ Foreign Language Vocabulary Learning, Jan 2015, Aïda Codina Camó and Elisabet Pladevall Ballester: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/297653279_The_Effects_of_Using_L1_Translation_on_Young_Learners'_Foreign_Language_Vocabulary_Learning 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info #storylearning #learnthroughstories

    14 min
  8. 526: How to learn a language you hate (and actually enjoy it)

    Mar 25

    526: How to learn a language you hate (and actually enjoy it)

    👉 Grab your FREE Language Goal Planner: https://l.storylearning.com/set-goals What do you do if you hate the language you're learning? Is this even possible? I'm tackling a genuine listener question about this topic. It's something that can happen to a lot of immigrants, but there is a way around it. 👉 Got a question you want Olly to answer on the podcast? Submit it here: https://storylearning.com/ask_Olly_your_question 👉 Get a 7-day FREE trial to one of my story-based language courses: https://storylearning.com/Language_Courses 👉 Check out my all-inclusive VIP language programme with guaranteed results: https://storylearning.com/StoryLearning_VIP_Info #storylearning #learnthroughstories

    12 min
See All (408)

4.9
out of 5
244 Ratings

About

Got a burning language learning question? I’m Olly Richards and I've learned 8 languages through stories. Every Wednesday, I answer your questions and chat to world-class language experts. Whether you're learning Spanish, German, Japanese, or something else, tune in for insider tips and practical strategies to get fluent fast. Each week you get: - Answers to your biggest language learning challenges - Story-based techniques to accelerate your progress - Tried and tested tips from my 25+ years of experience No flashcards or memorisation. Just story-based learning that actually works.

Information

  • Creator
    Olly Richards
  • Years Active
    2015 - 2026
  • Episodes
    408
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Olly Richards
  • Show Website
    StoryLearning Podcast

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