The only language coach that translates online language learning.
—- Pun intended.
It’s hard not to believe there’s one perfect language app that’ll get you fluent in [insert amount of time], especially when that’s all everybody and their mother advertises.
10 years ago, I was stuck;
I had taken a couple of beginner Spanish courses in school and had a taste of what was possible in language learning, but nothing really did it for me.
Formal classes were boring (and my grades sucked). Rosetta Stone was expensive. I tried free resources like Duolingo and Livemocha (RIP), but I was just learning those same beginner basics before quitting. Again.
Sure, there were tons of paid resources, but they all said the same thing:
learn a language! get fluent in a language! speak a language in 30 days!
Suffice to say, I was lost. I didn’t know where to look.
…but there were all these people on the internet who were fluent in so many languages! Clearly it was possible!
I tried their methods and they still didn’t work for me. It was only logical to assume that there was something wrong with me.
Meanwhile, I began pursuing my dream of being a travel blogger (that’s a whole other story). I had always dreamt of living and traveling abroad, so that’s exactly what I did: I moved to Madrid, Spain to teach English for a year.
While blogging about my travels throughout Western Europe, I also threw myself into learning Spanish any way I could: formal classes at a language school, language exchanges with the locals, private tutors…you name it, I did it. I was already immersed in Spain, so I took any opportunity I could find.
Eventually, though, it was time to come back home and back to reality. And my non-European reality hadn’t magically changed.
I still couldn’t stick to it.
I still didn’t know what I was doing.
I still couldn’t learn a language.
Seriously? I spent a YEAR in Spain learning Spanish and I still didn’t know how to learn a language??
I still didn’t feel fluent????
The only thing I had left to cling to was being a blogger. But I hated travel blogging, so I switched gears and instead started blogging about what I really wanted to talk about: language learning.
I found that tons and tons of people were researching language app reviews, but they were all there to convince you to buy that app so they could earn a commission, not necessarily because they would work. Huh, I guess that’s why trying to learn a language online at home was so overwhelming and confusing!
So I decided to try something different
I started posting my own language app reviews based on who they would be helpful for, not based on what I liked. I figured there are so many options, they must be for different kinds of language learners, right?
I was right!
Eventually, I started getting emails from stuck language learners who wanted my opinion on which language app they should be using, with huge lists of resources they had collected over the years.
Based on those emails alone, I instantly realized they didn’t need my opinion on those particular apps; in fact, they didn’t know what they needed!
Those emails became my first coaching clients.
The biggest surprise wasn’t what they were struggling with – sticking to language learning long-term, picking a resource among the 94303 options, fears of failure or wasting their time – it was the level of joy I felt seeing everything *click*.
Their body language. The way they talked about their language learning. The way they talked about themselves. I became addicted to watching them pull out of the hazy overwhelm and into clear, confident language learners.
Values
“If you stand for nothing, Burr, what’ll you fall for?” – Hamilton
1
Diversity
Many folks from marginalized communities (colors, genders, abilities, sexual orientations, religious backgrounds, etc.) have been taught they can’t accomplish what more privileged peers can. I want to prove that myth wrong.
2
Accessibility
I make education as accessible as possible: content available to all levels of income (from free +) and consumption styles (audio, video, transcripts, worksheets & slides). You should be able to learn no matter how your brain works.
3
Communication
One thing I’ve learned from learning how to learn languages is that words matter. I communicate clearly and intentionally, and I work to create space for others to do the same in a dialogue, not a monologue.