My Fluent Podcast
E72 - Can you become fluent in a month?
Podcast summary created with Snipd AI
Quick takeaways
- Fluency in a language cannot be achieved in just one month, unless the learner already has previous knowledge of the language.
- Advertisements that promise fluency in a short period are misleading and exploit people's lack of understanding about language learning.
Deep dives
Fluency in a month: A marketing myth
The podcast discusses the unrealistic claim made by a well-known company that one can become fluent in German in just one month. The speaker expresses skepticism towards this claim, stating that fluency in such a short timeframe is unlikely, unless one already has previous knowledge of the language. The advertisement is deemed misleading and an exploitation of people's lack of understanding about language learning. The speaker emphasizes that fluency is a long-term process that requires consistent effort and dedication.
The importance of realistic expectations
The podcast highlights the unrealistic expectations set by advertisements that promise fluency in a short period. The speaker and various guests agree that while it may be possible to start speaking and having basic conversations after one month of intensive lessons, true fluency in a language takes much longer to achieve. They discuss the complex nature of fluency, indicating that it varies depending on the context and specific vocabulary knowledge. The podcast emphasizes the need for realistic expectations and criticizes misleading advertising tactics.
The role of motivation and effort in language learning
The podcast emphasizes the importance of motivation and consistent effort in language learning. While fluency in a month may not be feasible for most people, the speaker acknowledges that with intense dedication and daily practice, significant progress can be made in a short period. However, the podcast stresses the need for learners to have realistic expectations and for advertisements to focus on the hard work and commitment required to achieve fluency, rather than making unrealistic promises.
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What's your opinion about the ad saying: "Speak German fluently in a month?" We asked learners from Spain, the USA and other countries about their opinion. Listen up and enjoy this week's episode:
Full Transcript:
Daniel: Can you become fluent in a month? This is today's topic. I am your host Daniel Goodson
Matt: So there is a advertisement from a well known company that says speak German fluently in a month. Okay. 19 hours and blah, blah, blah. Yeah. That's just very funny to me always. It's just marketing to me because first off, what is fluently?
Alani: It's an interesting pitch I would say it's probably not true. I don't think it's possible to, start from zero.
Patrick: That sounds amazing. Why spend the 700 to 800 hours that most sources cite for fluency when it can be done at 19, seriously, you get a solid service there. Don't mess up your reputation with bands like that.
Zdenek: It's selling people a dream that cannot be achieved unless you are a genius.
Gabriel: I'm not saying that it's not possible. Okay. Maybe it is possible, but their ad, of course is not paying attention to the important aspects of that. You know, that process, which is you need to be 200% motivated. You have to work your ass off in order to be able to actually get fluent just in one month.
Juan: You cannot learn a language in one month, three months, or even in three years - okay. I don't really like this kind of things.
Irene: Hi, I'm Irene from Spain. I'm both teacher and student on . And I would say that this statement can't be true, unless you already have some previous knowledge.
Matt: Maybe if you dropped me in to a room with a. Don't tell my wife with a supermodel with Heidi Klum and we have to stay together for one month. Maybe I would be getting much better for it.
Introduction Daniel:
So guys, first and foremost, I want to give a disclaimer. I am not an affiliate to Italki. This episode is more about the notion to become fluent in a specific period of time. Mostly you hear the term one year or three months. And to be more specific in our case in the advertisement It's in one month by taking 19 one on- one lessons. Well, it's just a great topic and I stumbled upon these advertisement again and again. So Italki, which is a huge platform on which you can find online teachers or learners thought I was learning German. And showed me their advertisement again and again. You can have a look in my show notes. So. Basically, I asked to different guests of my fluent podcast who already appeared on the podcast show or are going to appear. So, but I also asked other learners. And just so you know, for example, I integrated Matt's opinion. You can have a listen to his interview on episode 71. Or Juan from Espanol con Juan who got interviewed on episode 70 just to name a few. but now. Without any further ado, let's dive into today's question. Is it possible to become fluent in German? In a month. By taking 19 one on one lessons. Oh, I almost forgot to tell you that I have made a full transcript of the whole episode. So for those one want to read along while listening just go to my show notes.
Matt:
I highly highly doubt that you can do that in one month. Language is a long, long marathon. It's a long journey and we're always improving little by little in one month. Maybe if you dropped me in to a room with don't tell my wife with a supermodel with Heidi Klum and we have to stay together for a month maybe I would be getting much better for it.
Daniel: And it's hilarious.
Matt: One month. I don't know, fluidly. I still don't believe that. Yeah. What do you think about that? You see these a lot around. NA?
Daniel yes. I see. Well, as you said, it's, it's just marketing, you know, and it's clickbait as well, but I don't know, maybe some learners who don't know how it works maybe they get tricked a bit. So that's why I don't find it that good to do such an advertisement, but I find it hilarious to ask my guests also because my podcast is called my fluent podcast for everyone it means something different what it means to be fluent.
Matt: Fluent is such a difficult word. I mean, we can be fluent in another language in one situation because it's our hobby because we like it. But then let's speak about gardening. Or my son was born he's six years old was born in Germany, for example. So I know a lot of words about having a baby in German, but I don't know those words in Italian or even in English, there may be some words I'm missing because I never had that experience. That specific targeted group of vocabulary there. Yeah. Yeah. I think we can be fluent in some moments and then one hour later I could be a complete beginner again.
Yeah, sure.
Alani: And yeah, this advertisement is interesting, you know, speak German fluently in a month. I mean, it's an interesting pitch, you know, from Italkie I would say it's probably not true. I don't think it's possible to start from zero. Or if people are thinking starting from zero, no, it's probably not possible to learn fluently. Like maybe perfectly in a month. I think it's possible to get started speaking and having classes completely in your target language in one month. But I don't think that means that you're fluent necessarily.
Gabriel: Well, I would say, we have to be realistic in the end we are in a world that is a capitalist world or society and where we're basically in the two in order to gain a customer you need to have a catchy headline or a catchy ad. So I would say that these type of ads are catchy because it's like, Oh, you know, fluent in Germany one month. And it's like, Oh my God, in one month? That's really, really good. So in the end, maybe it's possible. I'm not saying that it's not possible. Okay. Maybe it is possible, but their ad of course is not paying attention to the important aspects of that. You know, that process, which is you need to be
a hundred percent, not a hundred percent, 200% motivated. You need to dedicate so much time to that because you need to have to make a big effort, you know, and you have to work really hard. You have to work your ass off in order to be able to actually get fluent just in one month. I think that a person should be like talking every single day, two or three times at least. To be able to, to acquire that kind of fluency. Definitely. Yeah, but the thing is that you see these everywhere, not only on ads that's sponsored ads, that's also on YouTube. You know, that sometimes YouTube videos that you see are catchy as well. the title, the headline is catchy, you know, trying to call your attention. The problem is that because you see it everywhere, people really believe that these kinds of things can happen. And in the end you can acquire a good level in like one month and he's like, Oh, hang on. You know,
Patrick: That sounds amazing. Why spend the 700 to 800 hours that most sources cite for fluency when it can be done at 19, seriously, you get a solid service there. Don't mess up your reputation with bands like that.
Zdenek:
Yeah, I have to say, I don't like this advert at all. I think it's unfair. It's basically taking advantage of the fact that people don't know anything about language learning. And if they do, they will probably never click this kind of advert because it's blown out of proportion. It's selling people a dream that cannot be achieved unless you are a genius. Most people are not able to do something like that. It's not really feasible. It's just an underhand tactic, really, because you're trying to sell a product you're trying to make money. Of course. And I think these adverts should be more considerate and they sh they should be done in a more careful way. And if you promise something, it should be something attainable and not anything like this.
Juan: Oh, I think don't, I don't really like this kind of things I didn't know that I was doing this kind of publicity because I collaborated with them for a while. When a teacher or companies make these kind of promises, it's very silly because you cannot get fluent in any language that's a waste of a month. No.
Daniel: What, whether you think, yeah, I totally agree with you. But the ad is very catchy.
Juan: Well, no, well, yeah. I don't know where they are doing this because they did it. He used to live this kind of thing.
Daniel: Yeah. I'm, I'm not sure why, because I think that a lot of people know about Italki and they are very popular.
Juan: No, but I think, I mean, I talk, it is, it's a company where you got can find online teacher. There's nothing wrong with this. Yeah.
Daniel: I had lessons there and yeah. And it was great.
Juan: Yeah. Is that like, it's like a Uber for more or less, all the companies promise three months get fluent in three months and now they are promising one month. Nah. You know, you are interested in languages, you know that it's impossible. You cannot,
you can, you cannot learn a language in one month, three months, or even in three years Okay,
Artem: You cannot learn a language in one month, three months, or even in three years Okay, yeah on. Yeah. If we were talking about particular subject topic here, so we can be fluent by speaking, but, so I think that if someone says that they want to be fluent, mean that they want has this ability to speak, , as they do it in their own native land. And yeah. And of course it's impossible in three months.
Daniel: No, no way. No. That they are actually saying speak German fluently in a month.
Artem: Okay. Yeah. So it could be true that one month on I talkie, if you take like, you know, each day, the lesson, it could be equal to two semester in. some language schools it's actually true, but it doesn't mean that you will become fluent.
Outro Daniel:
A big shout out, goes to Matt and Alani from the USA, Gabriel Juan, and Irene from Spain. Patrick from Germany, Zdenek from the Czech Republic and our Artem from Russia. Thank you very much without you. It would not be possible to make this episode.
And by the way, you will hear more about Alani and Artem. in future episodes where they are going to explain to us how it is to take one-on-one classes online. For example, they are going to talk about the advantages, disadvantages.
How they could improve and the like. And well, that's almost it for today. And if you want to give you 2 cents about today's topic. You can just send me a voice message. For instance you could just record it with your mobile phone and send it to myfluentpodcast@gmail.com and that way I can add it to this particular episode and make it even longer. That would be fantastic. So basically, if you want to share your opinion, just do so. I'm Daniel and you're listening to my fluent podcast. Thanks for tuning in and don't forget to subscribe . So that, you don't miss any episode. Bye.
Music:
Upbeat Party by Scott Holmes is licensed under a Attribution-NonCommercial License.
https://freemusicarchive.org/music/Scott_Holmes/Inspiring__Upbeat_Music/Scott_Holmes_-_Upbeat_Party
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