StoryLearning Podcast 507: I don't maintain my languages...and you shouldn't either
Nov 12, 2025
Explore the unconventional approach to language learning as the host reveals why he deliberately doesn't maintain all his languages. He shares personal anecdotes, including his experience with Arabic and how life purpose influences language choice. Discover research on language retention and the surprising ease of reactivating skills after a break. Instead of memorizing, he suggests using older languages casually through films and conversations. With a focus on depth over breadth, learn how to strike a balance for effective language learning.
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Prioritize The New Language Fully
- Give full focus to the new language and avoid splitting study time across old languages.
- Use older languages casually (watch, chat, read) instead of formal study to keep them alive.
Don’t Let Sunk Costs Drive Language Maintenance
- Maintaining a language solely because you've invested time is a sunk-cost fallacy.
- Olly prioritizes present value and life goals over preserving skills for their own sake.
Arabic Learned In Egypt, Then Let Go
- Olly learned Arabic while living in Egypt and reached conversational level within a year.
- After returning to the UK he had no contact and simply stopped using it without remorse.