Language Conversation Groups as Third Places — Paula Guard

‘Language conversation groups as third places – how I found mi gente and how I want to help others do the same’. The idea of third places has been around for a long time – a place separate to home or work where we feel safe, accepted, and have a sense of belonging. A place where social status, background, age doesn’t matter. A place where we congregate with like minded people simply to chat and pass time together.

My third place is a bar in Newcastle-upon-Tyne. Specifically, the seats by the window, 6-8pm every Wednesday. It’s where the Spanish conversation group that I’m a member of meets. It’s the two hours a week when I forget about everything else thats going on in life and work, it’s where I learned real Spanish, it’s where I feel comfortable making mistakes, it’s been a constant in my life during the best and worst of times for more than 10 years. I’ve met anthropologists from Mexico, sommeliers from Nicaragua and everyone in between

So many people have stories about how they found a community through language, I wanted to start to collect and publish them, not just because they are super interesting but because they might just inspire someone to learn a language and find their people just like I did. I will talk about how finding mi gente has enriched my life, my adventure in documenting mine and other peoples stories, and how I plan to use my linguistic powers for good to help other people find that same sense of community.

Learning Languages with Artificial Intelligence — Stefano Lodola

A few years ago, teaching Italian meant spending hours in video calls, working one-on-one with students. It was the only way to ensure a personalized learning experience. However, the limitation was my time—each lesson could only reach one student, and private lessons were expensive, limiting access to regular conversation practice.

Today, thanks to AI, my students no longer need to wait for a lesson with me. They can converse with my virtual counterpart, which speaks like me, corrects errors, and answers questions in real-time. This way, I can “be present” for thousands of students at once, anytime.

Since the release of ChatGPT, I’ve spent over 2,000 hours working with AI to develop an app that can teach in my place. My language learning method is simple: listen and imitate. Many polyglots agree this is the most effective way to communicate, and AI is a perfect fit for this approach, handling tasks like translations, answers, and corrections.

AI adapts to each student’s needs, offering personalized learning experiences that keep motivation high. It also democratizes access to language tutors, which are usually expensive. AI tutors can hold intelligent conversations, translate instantly, suggest responses, provide real-time corrections, and even adapt to the user’s language proficiency, personality, and interests.

While AI brings significant advantages, it has its limitations. It can generate large amounts of educational content quickly, but this content may not always be perfect or natural, requiring human oversight. Still, the quality of AI-generated language is improving with each new version.

In the future, AI has the potential to transform language learning apps by making them more interactive, personalized, and effective. This opens up endless opportunities for learning and practicing languages anytime, without the pressure of judgment.

thinkinitalian.com

AI Swirl: Safeguarding Vulnerable Languages through Translation Applications — Dr. Devina Krishna

Languages are integral for the existence of cultures, beliefs, peace building and sustainable development. However, many languages face the cliff of extinction and the reasons are varied. However, in the present digital times, Artificial Intelligence acts as a savior to the vulnerable languages across globe. AI technology provides several uses and one among those is to provide access to digital services such as translation applications in Indian languages. AI creates hopes in the race against language loss. The present work sheds light upon the impact of artificial intelligence in bringing out the digital services in Indian languages to reduce linguistic loss. The work attempts to find out the common perception regarding AI impact among students of young generation. It measures the impact of popular translators to find how vulnerable languages can be stored and taught to future generations. The work will highlight the translating applications’ usage that optimizes language’s use outside the domain of home and make it easier to learn the language. The following applications such as Google Translate, Bhashini and various others that support the Indian linguistic diversity would be examined that lead to preservation and popularisation of the diversity by producing linguistic storehouses.

instagram.com/devinakaul

International Education shouldn't cost a mother Tongue — Eliza Keyton

Eliza Keyton suggests ways to improve Malayalam language education while elucidating the social landscape, student workload, teacher ability, and other factors that impact the same. This case study opens a broader discussion on Language policy and the socio-political factors that influence its development.

elikutty.com
instagram.com/eli.kutty
youtube.com/c/LearnMalayalamwithEliKutty
facebook.com/learn.malayalam.elikutty

Malay and Maltese: Intertwined Words and Meanings — Brian Loo Soon Hua

Malay-Indonesian is an Austronesian language spoken in Southeast Asia. Maltese is a Mediterranean Semitic language derived from old Sicilian Arabic with numerous Romance loanwords. The odd thing is, after many centuries of contact with traders from the Middle East, Malay-Indonesian has numerous ancient Arabic loanwords still recognisable to 21st Century Maltese speakers.
In Malaysia, if you want to know how old your friend is, just ask them for their “umur”. If a woman is carrying a child, she is “hamil”. If you want to know the news, you read the “akhbar”. If something is invisible, it is “ghaib”. If you want someone to be patient, you tell them, “Sabar!”. And if you want compassion and forgiveness, you ask for “rahmat”.
Join Brian as he delves into the fascinating world of word origins. Let’s discuss how trade has spread the same words and meanings to distant corners of the world.

facebook.com/brian.l.hua.5
instagram.com/linguaphile_brian

Language Alter Ego: building blocks & stages of development — Ekaterina Matveeva

This presentation explores the concept of Language Alter Ego (LAE), a dynamic framework for understanding how individuals develop a personality (alter ego) within a new language and cultural environment. LAE involves the integration of multiple building blocks, including cognitive, communicative, emotional, social, and other dimensions. Each block plays a critical role in the gradual assimilation of linguistic and cultural elements, enabling learners to embody the target language and culture at increasingly sophisticated levels.

linkedin.com/in/ekaterina-matveeva
instagram.com/languagealterego
twitter.com/matvekav
ekaterinamatveeva.com

Skyrocket Your Language Acquisition with a Method of Professional Coaching — Anna Bakova

Introduction to the Competencies of a Professional Language Coach Based on International ICF (International Coaching Federation) Standards.
Explore how a language coach helps a learner effectively remove barriers and find a goal that will fill them with great energy and meaning throughout the language acquisition journey.
Discover how, in partnership, the coach and client create an optimal project path to achieving the goal, enriching it with tailored accelerators.
Get to know the techniques of professional coaching, tailored to the needs of language learners in three sessions: Introduction to ICF Language Coaching, a demo session of language coaching, and a Q&A analysis of the coaching session.
Learn about several opportunities to become a professional language coach.

instagram.com/stories/lingvo_coach_anna_bakova/ instagram.com/language_coaching_academy
languagecoachingacademy.eu

Languages and AI. Is it worth learning languages? — Antonio Guiñon Vivó

Join Antonio Guiñon Vivó as he explores the fascinating intersection of languages and AI in his talk, “Languages and AI: Is it worth learning languages?” In this session, Antonio delves into how AI is transforming language learning and communication, and whether learning languages still holds value in an increasingly digital world. Discover the future of human languages in the age of AI and what it means for language enthusiasts, learners, and polyglots alike. Don’t miss this thought-provoking discussion that challenges the role of language learning in our technological era!

An AMA with italki! — Jon Cook

Jon from italki will be discussing italki as a language learning tool, and answering your questions about online language learning and teaching.

"Non-native"/L2 speakers: an under-utilized and under-appreciated resource in language learning! (In English, German, Russian and Serbian) — Timothy Douglas

“Native”/L1 speakers of languages can be very difficult to understand! Their use of language is intended for other native”/L1 speakers; they speak very fast, do not pronounce all words and syllables clearly, they use many colloquial expressions and cultural references, and their manner of speaking is specific for their culture. All of the above present challenges for “non-native”/L2 speakers, who are not always familiar with “native”/L1 culture or countries.

Many, if not most, learners of English have little or no contact with “native”/L1 English speakers. This is not an obstacle to learning English, as many reach a high level primarily through interaction with other “non-native”/L2 speakers.

Although “non-native”/L2 speakers are therefore a valuable and effective resource for language learning, I have the impression that their usefulness is not generally recognized, less still promoted, neither for learners of English nor for other learners of other languages.

In this talk, drawing on personal experience, I will describe how “non-native”/L2 speakers have helped me to learn German, Russian and Serbian, in particular how:
– the interactions with them provide can more comprehensible and input than when talking to “native”/L1 speakers, particularly when I was at lower and intermediate levels
– they inspired me to learn more
– our common interest in learning the same language created connection, one of the main reasons to learn languages

I don’t believe in talking about learning LOTEs (Languages Other Than English) in English, so I will tell the story in German, Russian and Serbian!

x.com/timothyeldougl1
instagram.com/timothydouglas26

Conserving Tujia: Tales of the Mysterious Xiangxi — Xing-Yi Loy

The Tujia are an ethnic group and, with a total population of over 8 million, the eighth-largest officially recognized ethnic minority in the People’s Republic of China. They stay near the borders of Hubei, Hunan and Guizhou provinces or in the larger area generally termed as Xiangxi. Due to their similarity with the Miao people, who receive comparatively more attention in Chinese literature and media, they are often considered to be one and the same, but though practices are similar, the Tujia are the guardians of a unique and ancient culture.

From crying on one’s wedding day to favouring pure silver over gold, bits of heritage are embedded in every part of their language, Tujia. Though the community is considerably large, there is limited, if any, use of the language outside of certain geographical boundaries. Follow along on a journey to discover the mysteries of Xiangxi, to uncover what makes the Tujia so unique and different from the other ethnic minorities of China, and to find out what you can do to help protect this language.

polyglotclubsg.com
instagram.com/polyglotclubsg
youtube.com/@polyglotclubsg

Substitution Drills: The Key to Mastering Inflected Languages — Yan Aleshkevich-Suslov

The Semitic languages, like many Indo-European languages (especially older ones), have a great deal of inflection, which can seem intimidating to speakers of more analytic languages like English, Spanish, French, or Swedish. While everyone may have their own approaches to getting over this hurdle, I believe that substitution drills can be a wonderful and easy-to-use tool for anyone who studies inflected languages, be it Latin, Old Norse, Sanskrit, Slavic, or Semitic!
In this masterclass I will explain what subsitution drills are and what their purpose is, how to make time for them, and how to best utilise them for your language study. Specifically, I will demonstrate how I used substitution drills to enhance my command of Latin and Old Norse, and I will also demonstrate how one could use them for other Indo-European languages, as well as Biblical Hebrew and Classical Arabic.
In order to make sure that you got the hang of this technique, I will invite you, the audience, to come up with your own examples for any of the languages that you may have studied or are currently studying, and present them live!

First Aid Kit for Frustrated Language Learners: Instantly Increase Hope in challenging language learning seasons — Emily Harris

This presentation will go into the research that lead researcher Dr. Lopez established while scientifically measuring and studying what increases and decreases hope in human beings. We will apply these findings together, rate where we are in terms of hope using a provided scale calculation, and I will offer practical strategies and coaching solutions for language learners (both experienced and new) to increase their hope that they can use any time when facing a challenge (and feeling hopeless, or less hopeful than they want to be).

facebook.com/profile.php?id=100089352878080

youtube.com/channel/UCp-HcdqX1iSlUok92r8-t9w

.instagram.com/languagetraveladoptee

twitter.com/LangTravAdoptee

Understanding the Mind and Procrastination for Language Acquisition — Kirana Aisyah

Are you a master procrastinator? Does the thought of learning a new language excite you until you remember how much effort it seems to require? What if I told you that procrastination and perceived laziness could be your greatest assets in mastering new languages? In this innovative talk, we delve into the art of learning languages for those who prefer the path of least resistance. Drawing from the groundbreaking research of linguist Stephen Krashen, economist Daniel Kahneman, and my personal experience from my own language learning journey — as someone who thrives on procrastination and self-identified laziness — I will unveil how to transform your language acquisition process into an enjoyable form of productive procrastination. Discover the way to absorb new languages without drudgery, leveraging comprehensible input to make language acquisition not just accessible but irresistibly fun. Say goodbye to traditional, strenuous methods and hello to a world where language acquisition aligns with your most laid-back self. This session aims to not only redefine your approach to acquiring new languages but also to celebrate the procrastinator in you.

Navigating Macedonian: A Cross-vision from Student and Expert — Patrick Lencastre and Andrijana Smiljkovska

Andrijana Smiljkovska, as Patrick Lencastre’s teacher over the past year, will share their collaborative journey in learning Macedonian. Their talk will reflect on the strategies Andrijana employed to guide Patrick through the intricacies of Macedonian grammar, pronunciation, and vocabulary. They will discuss the challenges Patrick faced as a learner and how Andrijana tailored her teaching methods to his needs, drawing on her deep understanding of language acquisition and her expertise in Macedonian linguistics. Their conversation will likely highlight breakthrough moments, cultural insights gained through language immersion, and the broader impact of mastering Macedonian on Patrick’s language learning journey. Their shared experience will offer a compelling narrative of effective teaching and learning dynamics in the context of mastering a complex Slavic language like Macedonian.

instagram.com/patrick.lencastre
instagram.com/macedonianlanguagecorner

Beyond fluent: what it really takes to call yourself "bilingual" — Cathy Introligator

I’m proposing to go over “imposter syndrome” as a non-native speaker and give pointers on useful mindset shifts to stop wasting energy feeling bad about oneself, and instead put this energy into improving advanced language skills.
Language learners may have a skewed perception of what bilingualism is. I’ll go over some specificities of bilingual brains, based on research in neuroscience. Then I’ll explain why advanced learners cannot shy away from working on their mindset and use critical thinking to find their place in relation to native speakers. Having a C2 certificate doesn’t automatically translate into feeling legitimate calling oneself bilingual.
I’ll give some practical tips to help learners go beyond fluency through a 3-pronged approach: developing advanced language skills, cultural awareness and working on one’s mindset to overcome psychological blocks.
To illustrate what I mean by advanced language skills, I’ll use languages I know to provide examples of grammar points and study methods. By cultural awareness I mean knowing cultural codes, history and pop culture (learning advanced French to work in Francophone Africa, Quebec or France is different). Cultural codes also come into play to shape expectations relative to non-native speakers’ abilities. We’re expecting language learners to learn the same skills as highly educated native speakers, but is it really helping them when they navigate day-to-day life in small-town France or small talk at work?
Let’s demystify bilingualism and help learners figure out how far they want to go down that road!

youtube.com/@Cathy-Intro
instagram.com/cathy.intro
linkedin.com/in/catherine-introligator

Training The Transcreator — Dr. Lalia BELABDI

Transcreation is a holistic approach. Various transcreation processes identify its nature and definition based on the degrees of change applied when translating a content. To quote, “all change is a kind of transcreation” (Leibniz, 1676). In translation market, transcreation is the combination of language, culture and emotion for many language services providers. However, this equation seems not inclusive nor accurate of what transcreation really is, the fact that enlarges the confusion gap among scholars and practitioners for confusing transcreation with localisation, cultural adaptation, creative translation …etc. However, each term has accurate meaning, functionality and results. The necessity in this case for an interdisciplinary approach of research outside translation obit is very important to connect the dots and trace the progress line of various neighbouring terms collision.

researchgate.net/profile/Lalia_Belabdi

Għidha bil-Malti / Say it in Maltese (REC) — Reuben Degiorgio

Reuben talks to Richard about the use of Maltese in Malta, explaining the genesis of his social media work to promote the use of the language in Malta and beyond.

facebook.com/ghidhabilmalti

instagram.com/ghidhabilmalti

Language Learning in later Years (REC) — Amalia Rubin

Amalia takes some time to talk to Richard about her language learning journey, discussing the stories behind each one, as well as the important lessons learnt in the process. We take in language learning choices that would be lesser trodden paths for most, such as Tibetan and Mongolian. This journey has been one of discovery of the skeleton framework of language needed to start communicating and has led Amalia to a method that works with her students too.

instagram.com/thewildamalia

tiktok.com/@thewildamalia?lang=en

youtube.com/channel/UCbrC124XtZujuHPa3s4W6eQ

alatala.org
baganmongolian.com

Chat with Laurie (LIVE) — Laurie Knox

Laurie joins Richard to talk about his work as an English teacher and educator online. We explore his dives into stories and etymology to uncover just how much of a polyglot language English really is.

instagram.com/knoxstudy

tiktok.com/@knoxstudy

youtube.com/channel/UCVLaB7JlyBOiVaF-UQ-1Xkw

Chat with Steve (REC) — Steve Kaufmann

Steve joins Richard for a chat about how things have changed over the years in language learning. They discuss what worked well then versus the innovations in recent years with technology. They also talk about Steve’s personal language journey and where he’s going with his languages in the coming months nad years.

youtube.com/channel/UCez-2shYlHQY3LfILBuDYqQ

x.com/lingosteve

instagram.com/lingosteve_

tiktok.com/@lingosteve

lingq.com

Teaching Maltese (LIVE) — Jordan De Bono

Jordan joins Richard for a chat about teaching Maltese to people online. They discuss the experience from both sides of the learning process.

italki.com/en/teacher/7202354

Babylonian: studying an ancient language — Martin Worthington

Babylonian is a doubly fascinating language to study. Not only does it have, in abundance, the beautiful and highly regular structures which are characteristic of the Semitic family: it also has an extra layer of philological challenges. This is because we do not access the language directly through informants, but rather through writings which use a complicated and sometimes defective system of spelling. The challenge thus never ends: beginners can happily learn their way round the verb, but professional scholars are still working out bits which are ‘fuzzy round the edges’.

This talk (by the author of Teach Yourself Complete Babylonian) will give you an idea of how this all works, taking you through simple sentences from the lawcode of Hammurabi and other sources, and then illustrating the ‘state of the art’ in philological research. No previous knowledge is required.

Llanito Standardization: Preserving Gibraltar's Distinct Linguistic Heritage — Dr. Carlos Yebra Lopez

In this presentation we will delve into the fascinating world of Llanito, a unique language that stands as a testament to Gibraltar’s rich cultural tapestry.

An extraordinary linguistic blend of Andalusian Spanish and British English, interwoven with elements from Italian, Portuguese, and Hebrew and even Maltese, Llanito embodies the historical and social evolution of Gibraltar, reflecting its diverse influences and multicultural essence. Historically, Llanito held covert prestige, primarily used in informal settings and often overshadowed by Spanish and English. However, recent years have seen a remarkable transition towards overt prestige, with growing recognition of its cultural significance and identity.

As part of this transition, we will discuss and problematize the standardization of Llanito as a means to preserve it. To that effect, we will focusing on the case study of the “Llanito Standadaizeixon Grup”, created in 2012 to standardize Llanito with a view to reverting its perceived lack of prestige and decline. To that effect, this group has produced an orthography, a grammar and an online dictionary.

We will conclude that while preserving Llanito through the development of orthography, grammar, and an online dictionary does present challenges, it need not replicate colonial models. Instead, these can serve as tools for a powerful act of linguistic and cultural affirmation, fostering a living, breathing language that resonates with the unique idiosyncrasy of its speakers.