Connecting language learners through TV: A chat with Lauren Williams from Polyglot Station
May 29, 2023
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Speech language pathologist and language enthusiast, Lauren Williams, discusses her work, language learning experiences, and the growth of Polyglot Station and Language TV Club. They explore the field of speech pathology, personal language learning journeys, and using TV shows to connect language learners. They also talk about their language learning plans and starting an English TV Club.
Polyglot Station and Language TV Club is a language learning community that focuses on watching TV shows in different languages and provides a platform for language learners to discuss the shows and practice their language skills.
The Language TV Club helps participants expand their vocabulary and engage in meaningful conversations by discussing cultural norms and personal experiences related to the shows they watch.
Deep dives
Language Chats Podcast Introduction and Guest Introduction
In this episode of Language Chats, the hosts introduce the podcast and their guest, Lauren Williams. They discuss their backgrounds in language learning and speech language pathology, highlighting the diverse aspects of speech language pathology and its impact on communication. Lauren shares how she became interested in languages, her experience working with children as a speech language pathologist, and her motivation to start Polyglot Station, a language learning community.
The Language TV Club
Lauren discusses the Language TV Club, a language learning initiative she started as part of Polyglot Station. The TV club focuses on watching TV shows in different languages and provides a platform for language learners to discuss the shows and practice their language skills. She shares examples of discussions that arise from the TV club, such as cultural norms and personal experiences related to the shows. Lauren explains how the TV club helps participants expand their vocabulary and engage in meaningful conversations.
Future Language Learning Plans and Language Breaks
Looking ahead, Lauren shares her language learning plans, including focusing on Mandarin and learning Afrikaans before her trip to South Africa. She also mentions taking a short break from active language study to gain clarity and direction in her business and personal life. Lauren emphasizes the importance of taking breaks and acknowledges that languages are an important part of our lives, but not our entire identities. She expresses excitement for future language learning opportunities and the growth of the Language TV Club.
In this episode, we’re speaking with US-based Lauren Williams, a speech language pathologist and founder of Polyglot Station and Language TV Club.
As well as working with language day-to-day, Lauren is also a long-time language enthusiast who has studied French, Spanish and Mandarin Chinese (and dabbled in others!). We chat with her about her work as a speech language pathologist, her language learning experiences, how Polyglot Station and Language TV Club began and how they have grown.
We hope you enjoy this Language Chat! Have a question for Lauren or for us? Get in touch or join our Facebook group, Language Lovers AU Community, to connect with other like-minded language lovers in Australia and abroad!