Language Contrasts Fifteen Voices, Three Perspectives, One Vision: Episode 79
LeonNithiaMohammad (aka) eminemMahdiLeonAnnika KriegsheimMohammad (aka) eminemNithiaThe Dark KnightMamoAhmadMahdi
In today’s episode, I will take you on a learning journey. One which gives us privileged insight into the shared learning experience from three perspectives. Today’s episode 79 is mostly a celebration of the learning journey of real course participants – who were themselves generous, and brave enough to speak candidly on “The European Day of Languages 2022”….. This episode today shall also be punctuated with the learned insights of special guests:
– qualified and experienced educators in fields of Clinical Psychology, Pedagogy, Mechanical Engineering and in as we say in German – Schulleitung und Pädagogische Leitung .. These intermittent insights weaved randomly into the fabric of this episode – were gathered in parts under separate cover and might themselves feature in full length – in later episodes.
Code-switching, between my native language English and my second language German – will feature prominently – so brace yourself. An authentic self-sponsored approach also means – finding peace with imperfection in parts – not all the recording circumstance were ideal – for that you can take comfort in the thought that what you are about to hear was neither scripted, censored nor in anyone’s special interest – staged for effect.
The English Coach Podcast – Living the Language is still not really about grammar puzzles and free lessons – but, is intended to inform educate and entertain – around the topic, and the way less abstract and more authentic – from the lived experience of people…
Main Guests – Course Participants (in order of ‘appearance’)
Amina Abderrahmane (00:00:03 & 05:41), Kristijan Ahmeti (00:13:44), Nithia Nanda Schnittka Payano (00:29:06), Jin Ui Kim (00:41:42), Ali Diab (00:51:18), Deniz Aydin (01:08:33), Leon Schwamberger (01:12:25), Mahmoud Moued (01:18:38), Jenny Richter (01:25:28), Mohammad Mohammadi, Zarah Mohammady (01:35:21), Ahmad Saloum (01:40:52).
I am still committed to doing proper justice to my guests, and to you. Everyone speaks from the wisdom of their own experience – for themselves, and we are – in true human fashion allowed to change our minds. My preferred approach here is to freely converse with ideas in a non-scripted way – and to present you with more meaningful long form content – that you can download for free – listen to, pause for reflection, and revisit – in your own sweet time.
The episode is presented to you in association with iAntonio.media – and from the official showpage at www.EnglishCoachPodcast.com – you can subscribe with your preferred podcast player, like comment, and share the episode as you wish. On the shownotes page for the episode 79 you can also find fuller credentials of the show guests, all associated links, exclusive videos photos, feedback channels and the like.
PROMO
YouTube Listing (Full Audio Experience)Plastizia and I
Episode 75 (lead up to 79) – 26.9.2022
Mid September is relative, but I think that there is no better date to resume the show than this – the 26th of September 2022 – European Day of Languages.
The reason for this episode is twofold – it exists to reassure you my few but faithful listeners that as promised, the show running again, AND to announce that on account of the aforementioned developments – if you are a learner of English as a Second Language it will now be easier for you to realize significant improvements in your fluency and confidence with the language starting today.. As usual – no abstract Jack and Jill went up the hill stories and grammar puzzles – but real conversations with real people on real topics – and an opportunity to strategically, purposefully act – towards achieve the sovereignty – in this – perhaps a second language – that some of you are reaching for.
As usual the show is open to for everyone who likes it – many people are just nosey or just like the topics – you are interested in even more compelling topics – you are also free to check out the less conservative little sister of the English Coach Podcast – just check outwww.LifeisFeeling.com.
So then – After a well-deserved break – and new wind in my sails so to speak – you might be asking yourselves how do I do this. How do I start today. How do I also get of these fresh powerful gusts of wind in my own sails… All you have to do is continue listening to the show, and as a first step – go ahead and sign up to get a little more – than what I usually give away to the public media channels – and simply sign up by visiting www.EnglishCoachPodcast.com – and join what I like to call the “Private Listeners’ Group” or if this what you are hearing right now is enough for you – simply subscribe in your favourite podcast player – Apple podcasts, Spotify, Google podcasts, Amazon, YouTube, Stitcher, wherever (see recommended apps or above) – The show is not hidden behind the gates of anyone’s walled garden – but open to everyone..
Interesting fact – while I am not a linguist – the word voice and the word vote – are in the German language one and the same – “Stimme”. The word “Stimmung” – also appears to be close – and can be translated to mean mood, sentiment, atmosphere, vibe, morale, tune, temperament, disposition, que, feel – among other things…
Podcasting is voice (and choice), not only mine but also yours. The free media – is a pillar of any functional democracy – to my mind especially independent media like this. Surely this line of thinking is perhaps vulnerable to spirited correction – but it is significant – on this day and I always encourage anyone – who finds themself in a privileged position, where they can feel free to express and share their voice in a meaningful way – to do so.
This is me a human being talking to you another human being – not some abstraction or ads machine spewing sweet nothings to influence and hijack your time and autonomy – your vote, your money and your “Stimmung” – leaving you feeling drained, inadequate, and disenfranchised…
The tradition of independent podcasting that I have chosen to follow together with my cat called Kitty for the last three years is an uplifting choice – that I have the liberty to offer to you. A complement to the rich tapestry of other languages, cultures and expressions being celebrated here today on European day of Languages.
Informal authentic – and inclusive, deliberately personal discourse – on a diversity of topics as they relate to the Adult Learning Experience.
This season promises to be absolutely fantastic!
And as I always say – with a small win, is always a good way to begin. Looking forward to hearing from you and – bye for now.
European Day of Languages
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
For a long time I have opted to actively encourage “my people” to also listen to the episodes directly from the showpages here. Naturally as a creator, I also have interest in you visiting my official pages – not only for selfish reasons. There is really no need to download 3rd party apps.
On authenticity and integrity
“As an independent podcaster, it is important to me personally – to resist being co-opted – into anyone else’s adds driven paradigm, and all other stealthy violations of your privacy and mine. The English Coach Podcast has a duty of care to protect the integrity of its own content. Some Apps unfortunately do not share the same values. My episodes neither feature nor support unsolicited ad insertion by any third party and assumes no responsibility for ap generated automatic transcripts or the like. If you listen to this episode and suddenly find yourself – being bombarded by third party ads, maybe you should consider changing your app.
You are of course free to listen, follow or subscribe to the show from anywhere you like to listen to podcasts. It’s everywhere. From the official showpages however, you can see a list of recommended apps or – if you choose – enjoy all the content at the same place – ad free – the way it was meant to be.”
iAntonio
The status quo as it relates to the plundering of creators’ work for ads-based profiteering is not only a corruption of my content, but also a violation of “digital-self” – to an extent I suspect – way ahead of, and still unfathomed by modern laws. The cost for coolness and convenience at the cost of being at the mercy of big tech. I am also affected. Nobody should get that rich – to amass the wealth of nations – unless they are allowed to extract taxes – and in some ways they do – building advertising emporiums atop the blood, sweat, tears and burnout of creators – people – themselves puppeted by the promise of exposure – stars, likes, useless traffic, and crumbs. I digress…
On web-stalking
The following has always been clearly published in show description.
“..this podcast neither tracks, nor stalks its users (host’s assurance). No self-sanctioned ad-insertion or attribution, no user data sharing with 3rd parties anywhere..“
iAntonio
It is now rumoured that F-book aka META, is in fine Russian style threatening to pull out of Europe, because GPDR among other things does not allow them to follow their usual web stalking practices.
F-book is not alone. Google is phasing out the cookie – to the terror of many other “ads driven paradigms”. Podcasting apps usually do not offer opt in, and for this reason I recommend only a few – especially the Overcast App – which tells you at least, which podcast are collecting, and / or possibly trading in your user data.
Most people don’t think too much of these things, until asked:
“Who is interested in the sites you are visiting, the apps you use?”
“Who is interested in the fact that you are listening to podcasts about conceiving a child?”
“Who is interested in the fact that you visit sites on mental-health, drugs, div. adult content, working with the competition?”
“Why didn’t you get the last job you applied for even though you were obviously the best candidate?”
#FlyCalledFred
(= the #FlyCalledFred might be interested =)
On diversity and inclusion
The following has on numerous occasions been clearly published in my shownotes.
“..The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. “
iAntonio
Everybody is talking about diversity and inclusion these days – as though talk alone saves the day when confronted with questions as to what privileges are readily given up.
As a member of a real minority, my goal has never been to fight for ownership of “the biggest pain” or to sing songs of the same. I [do] diversity and inclusion not only [speak] about it, and I encourage anyone who feels excluded from any stage to make their own. I know what discrimination and exclusion are and I have without a doubt been affected by their (sometimes unconsciously) creeping, cowardly and insideous nature.
In spite of it all – I am lucky enough to be able to say that I have indeed met a great many good people… I surround myself with them, and make this show also for them. And I feel bad for them when encounter all qualities of contemptuous tokenism and outright disingenuousness in the media.
The media (of which we are all a part, and the sometimes-forgotten 4th pillar of a healthy democracy) hardly ever says – but tells in no uncertain terms – to anyone capable of the smallest reflective thought beyond the facade – that most people and organisations don’t really have time to care – and are mostly busy spewing meaningless buzz-words, chasing cheap meat and fashion.
In our collective pursuit of happiness, that – together with the knowledge that power takes care of itself first – will set us free.
“The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. This show episode is neither a formal lesson nor a substitute for such but aims to supplement the adult learning experience in a true-to-life way. The show is independent and self-sponsored – brought to you by me – a practicing language Trainer / Coach – and draws on a whole gamut of tools and tips in support of providing information, entertainment and what I like to call sustainable language acquisition in an authentic, relatable, and vastly collaborative – human way.“
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Aus deiner psychotherapeutischen Sicht – warum reagieren so viele Deutsche skeptisch bis ablehnend auf die Corona-SchutzImpfung?
Das Problem ist vielleicht, dass Ergebnisse der Corona-Forschung in den Medien als etwas feststehendes, unumwerfliches – präsentiert und verstanden werden. Wie ordnest du diese Informationen für dich ein?
Alle Menschen sind von der Corona-Pandemie betroffen. Wie ist dein persönlischen Blick?
Könnte es sein, dass es besser wäre, anstelle von Ehre oder Moral das Eigeninteresse anzusprechen?
Wie können wir in der Zukunft „mit Corona leben“ ohne unnötige Ängste zu entwickeln?
Wie sieht DEIN persönlicher positiver Ausblick aus?
“The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. This show episode is neither a formal lesson nor a substitute for such but aims to supplement the adult learning experience in a true-to-life way. The show is independent and self-sponsored – brought to you by me – a practicing language Trainer / Coach – and draws on a whole gamut of tools and tips in support of providing information, entertainment and what I like to call sustainable language acquisition in an authentic, relatable, and vastly collaborative – human way.“
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. This show episode is neither a formal lesson nor a substitute for such but aims to supplement the adult learning experience in a true-to-life way. The show is independent and self-sponsored – brought to you by me – a practicing language Trainer / Coach – and draws on a whole gamut of tools and tips in support of providing information, entertainment and what I like to call sustainable language acquisition in an authentic, relatable, and vastly collaborative – human way.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Hello, everyone. Welcome to another episode of the English coach podcast. Now I’m going to get straight to the point with this. The episode that you’re about to hear was actually made as a video podcast – which I intended to publish in my normal podcast player as a video. However, things didn’t work out as planned, so you might notice that the way I talk it’s as if it’s a video – and that is because it is. So, if you’re interested in seeing what exactly I’m talking about, please feel free to head on over to EnglishCoachPodcast.com from your PC or from your mobile – and you can watch the video that this was made for.
I do apologize for any inconvenience, but it’s just the NORMAL show as I usually do. So do enjoy the show.
About
Hello. My name is Ian Antonio Patterson host and producer of the English Coach Podcast. Now it’s a very special day today. I am doing a video podcast. Now, the reason I’m doing this is threefold. Now, first of all, I am checking out to see how this video podcasting offer really works from my podcast host company – Libsyn.
The second reason why I’m here is to show you a little bit about how I work, where I work – and give you an idea of the work that is involved in producing the podcast show and also in working as an online trainer.
Third reason why I’m here is to actually give a proper introduction for a little production that I have done with a very good friend of mine. A young lady called Lydia. One I had a chance, had the privilege of seeing on stage, seeing in practice and one with whom I have worked a lot in studio for photo shooting and for video shooting. Lydia has also been on my podcast I think it was episode 15 and she has helped me a lot with lots of dances. I think two projects to be exact.
The first one was actually dancing a grammar rule. I have not published that yet, but that is coming. It was quite a while back, but I’m going to be publishing that at some point – did that together with another dancer called Pia (Schackenberg). And this, this production that I want to introduce to you in a proper way is one called Lydia “Being Sybille”.
Now Sybille is short for “Sybille von Spitzen” and Sybille von Spitzen is a little character that I like to have fun with sometimes on my show. No, this character is what you could call an overzealous grammarian with a “tick” or an English teacher – with a “tick”. Now, if you are interested in finding out what “tick” this little English teacher, well, not little, she’s actually quite competent in her skill yes – and very much persuaded and, you know, very confident with what she does – What exactly or what kind of “tick” this teacher has. Just watch the video. You can watch it here at the end of this introduction, or if you don’t have a podcast player that allows you to watch videos as well, you can just head on over to EnglishCoachPodcast.com and look for episode 58, it will be there – in the show notes.
So again, thank you to Lydia. You have been instrumental in getting this out and the character that I wanted Lydia to do, wasn’t actually the easiest because you know what I mean, only a professional dancer could actually do that I think because – this character, you know, has her – her way. And I had to explain to Lydia how this person is, what this person believes, how they dress, how they move and all of that. And I really did need a professional to interpret that and, embody this character. And I’m very happy to say that, uh, Lydia has managed to do that – and I am very happy to be able to share that with you today.
All right. So please check it out and feel free to tell me what you think. It’s not long. It’s probably about one minute and 20 seconds, I think. And then after that, there is another small interview with Lydia, uh, talking a little bit about her profession as a Professional Dancer. So why she does it and you know, the things that drive her, what she likes and so on and so forth.
All right. So please do stick around and check it out.
Now the other reason why we’re here is, um, I want to show you exactly how I work. I want you to have an idea of how I do things, right? So, first of all, I am looking into my second camera right now. This camera is over here and it is a 45 degrees to my main camera, which is right here looking straight at me. Now I’m pointing at it. And both of these cameras are getting their sound delivered to them from this microphone.
Now this microphone is a so-called condenser microphone. It is actually analog side-dress. That means I have to speak from the side. The city of black thing is preventing the gusts of wind from going into the microphone, because I want my direct voice to go straight in from the side and not from the top, but I don’t want the direct gusts of wind.
That doesn’t sound too nice so we need this little thing here. Underneath that, this fancy looking high-tech thingy, looking a little bit retro, I think – this is to absorb shock that might happen – that might travel through my table, into this arm and into the microphone. It is supposed to kind of, you know, dampen that sound a little bit and it holds the mic quite nicely.
It also looks quite fancy I think – I like the look of it. Now, this analogue sound that is going into my microphone goes naturally, along this cable down and into my fancy little audio interface, that’s sitting over there just out of view, that audio interface is from Steinberg and it promises me 32 bit float sound.
So that gives me a lot of headroom or a lot of space to. To work on the sound after I have captured it. It gives me a lot of room to, to make adjustments – and, um, it also protects me from (the ill effects of) being too loud. As a matter of fact, if I’m too loud on the microphone, I can adjust the sound. It can capture very loud sounds without distorting them. And also very quiet sounds as well. So it’s just a better quality sound for you right now.
So, that from my auto interface then goes into my PC, which is right here. It is capturing everything as we speak into my audacity. So now I’m gonna give you a little live view of what it looks like, the sound coming in. And as you can see the sound waves there, it’s running off to the right-hand side, and I can tell from the look of these sound waves or the “wave pattern”. If the quality sound going in is good or not so good. I’m also able to watch the levels, as you can see at the top, there, there is a little green bar.
Ideally, I should not be yeah, that’s actually a good range. Yes. It’s hitting 24 decibels right now. And uh, you know, I don’t want it to get to like six. So, what this says to me, is that the, with this sound, I can turn it up a little bit. And with this quality mic, the full richness of my voice (any voice) is coming over. So, it shouldn’t hurt to listen to my voice on the podcasts or on my training – training courses. Yes. So that is what is happening there.
Now, the other thing, and part of my tools is basically my glasses here. I do not wear glasses. I do not really need glasses for seeing at a distance, but right now I have some cue cards which are standing right behind this camera. And these are helping me to talk about all the things that I planned to talk to you about. And I need that for reading. So that’s why I’m wearing them. And to be honest, I do feel more beautiful in glasses, whoever doesn’t like it, can bite it.
All right. So now moving on, what else, do we have, yeah, just being a little bit cheeky there. All right. So, I’m gonna now show you – something else. All right. Now, as you can see on this screen, um, I also have a little program that is helping me to capture the screen as you’re looking at right now, as well as – these two microphones (CAMERAS). Now you can see the screen top left and you can see also the side camera, which is there I’m pointing at it now – pointing at it. And then the other camera, which is in front of me pointing to it right now. Right on the screen – the screen itself, which is being recorded and capturing also sound from my audio interface over there.
Now the reason why I’m showing you all of this. Now you’ve seen my microphone. You’ve seen or, you’ve heard of my, um, audio interface, my computer, which has to also be a pretty powerful computer. The sound treatment that is in this room, the background here, which is, um, as I said, I don’t know if I said it, but it’s a screen.
And behind it, there is sound treatment not sound proofing because sound proofing is a little overkill. I don’t need soundproofing here. I just need something that will catch all the – or – prevent, any other direct sound from going into this microphone. So funnily, the sound treatment for this kind of microphone is actually behind the speaker. So, what that does is any other sound that would probably bounce back and come into the microphone is stopped and the only thing going into this, mic is no reflection, no echoes, just my direct voice. And that is why the sound treatment is behind me. There’s also some to the right, to my right over here. The floors are also carpeted. There is some above me as well. The table is usually padded with a sound absorptive material. And when I’m podcasting, I even have a cushion on my lap and all of that helps to stop all this stray sound bouncing around and, you know, make it a little nicer for you to listen. You know, I do care about your listening experience.
Another thing that is here that I use still is my white board. As you can see, it is there. You can see from this camera – over there. And I still use it sometimes, especially when I’m explaining timelines. I use it to show, you know, with, drawings, what I mean when I’m explaining time forms to my students.
Right. So that’s, uh, another thing. Is there anything else? Well, usually I put something to drink here. Right here on this pedestal. And there are some books all around, but I wouldn’t show you all those books. I think as we speak, my cat is actually above the own treatments stuff over there. She likes to sit there and either watch me or listen to me. And I still think she’s my biggest fan. She’s been there since day one. You know, kitty, kitty yes. Kitty puss. That’s her name. Right. Moving on – now that was the second reason for me being here. I wanted to, you know, just, just show you what is what’s going on here.
I want you to have an idea of the work that goes into it. And also, to give you an idea of, you know, the quality that is involved. I mean, when I, go online to give whether it be, a live, private live streaming, as I’m now offering, I’ll tell you a little bit about that now. Um, whether I’m doing that or I’m teaching online, it’s not just me grabbing an iPhone or some other smartphone and chatting into it.
I do pay attention to quality, uh, pay attention to lighting. There’s a huge light fixture over there. And I have to think about all of that as well. Light reflecting into my glasses. My face has to be properly lit. You know, I’m a black man as well – so, you know, I need a little bit of extra light – if you want to see more than a shadow. And, um, things like that. And I want you to have an idea of the, work that is involved in producing something that is going to give you value and give you results.
All right. So, moving on. Now the other thing that I wanted to show you today was my website. Now I’m just going to give you a quick overview.
It’s not really so much. If you go to EnglishCoachPodcast.com, it takes you directly to the podcast page. And from this page, you can find everything about me. And I’m just gonna quickly walk you through. At the top left is the logo for my “Working site” (TrainingTree.de), this is my working site. I don’t really push this in any way. It is just a functional place where, you know, I’m not trying to sell in a kind of, solid user experience here or anything like that. It’s just a function of place where certain things live.
First of all, my podcast lives here and also my training rooms.
So, as you can see, the first link says training rooms, but below that on the page, EnglishCoachPodcast.com – it will take you to TrainingTree.de – and as you can see here, my podcast is listed from episode 57, soon to be episode 58, all the way down to the very first episode. Now, if you missed one or you want to go back or you want to see how good or how bad I was when I first started with podcasting, you can go all the way back to the very first episode. If you want, these are all of them listed. Now if I go all the way back up you can see on the right side, there’s an option to follow the show. You can click this link if you want to see the apps, within which you can watch the show.
There is my signature sound. Thanks to Andy that sound here was produced by him. Thanks, Andy. Big up.
And, uh, let’s see, uh, directly under that there is a special feature, which is actually the. The video interlude short – of why I’m doing this introduction, this proper introduction right now. So, it’s already there – if you, if you want to just jump to it, you can also just go to the website.
I mean, you will anyway. If you want, you can go straight here and just watch Lydia’s performance. Now right beside Lydia, you will see something that probably doesn’t exactly fit, but SIA is my favourite pop artist, and she has been on my site – actually it was there as a test video on my site since day one, and I refused to take it off because I still like her.
And speaking of pop, you should not underestimate the power of pop. There is strong poetry there sometimes, especially from SIA – and I’ve met at least three or four people who have learned English from listening to music. I didn’t believe them at first, but after talking to them, I recognized that they really did.
You should never – take music and other free time activities – gaming and so on for granted, because these are the things that are gonna help you to get to the level of fluency – that you want.
Now, coming back to the website. What can you see here? I also have, oh, yes – there’s a little box here – if you want to support the show, I would recommend, or I would ask you to do it directly. I have here a PayPal link. If you want to buy me a coffee or buy me a slice of cake, because you like the show so much, you can do that here – DIRECTLY via PayPal.
Now I don’t know – if you can, (maybe) you can call me a friend and then there won’t be any charge for it. I mean, all these middlemen tend to take something, but – the other usual middleman for giving donations or support, like Patrion or Buy-me-a-coffee or whatever – I don’t use them because I don’t like the idea of having someone between me and you. I don’t see why I should, for example, ask you to buy me a coffee and they have to get some. So, um, that is why I really do prefer – if you feel as if you wanna – do this for the show, you like the show and you wanna help me as well to keep the level of quality to keep this flavour of authenticity going for you. You can do that directly using this link on the page.
Another link on the page, you can also send in a voicemail. If you click this orange button, you will be taken to a page where you’ll see – another orange button, which says start recording. And here you can send in your feedback or any little comment you have on any show episode, I’d be happy to hear anything.
It doesn’t have to be all positive. You know, I really don’t take anything personally because at the end of the day – directly said – this is a free show. This is one of the advantages of being independent. You’re not really under the pressure to perform according to anyone else’s notion of perfection. So, I mean, you can be honest and true with your feedback – tell me what you think. You know, it won’t cost me a job or anything like that. If you want, you can even get featured on an upcoming episode. So, say your name, what you do and your links to your Instagram, your Facebook, your website, what have you, and, um, you can get featured on the show.
I’d be really happy to hear from you from anywhere you are anywhere, anywhere. But most importantly, there’s also contact. There is a login for anyone who is taking part in any of my online courses. They can login. You have to log in for the Private Live Streaming. Yes, for example, and I have two groups of people serving here. The live streaming doesn’t show on YouTube or on LinkedIn or Facebook or anywhere. You know, to be honest, I don’t do my show for everyone. I don’t do my live streaming for everyone. I’m not gonna put myself under Google’s whip and burnout like a lot of, sad, poor YouTubers, Creators, Trainers – that I know. I just want to serve my people. And that’s always been my plan. So yes, it is live streaming, but you have to login to see it. It’s for English for Work.
And if you go here to training rooms, you will see the page for that. Yes, here it is. There are two groups standard and premium, and you can access all live streaming that is happening.
I think to start out is going to be Tuesdays and Thursdays at about seven o’clock (19:00 Berlin (GMT+1)), we’re kind of settling on that time and. If you’re a member, if you’re a course participant of mine, then you can log in to see. And it seems to be going quite nicely already – I mean, I have been doing this for seven years, so, um, it’s pretty easy – actually. Yes. And it’s something that I like.
All right. So now that is my web page. I think that is it for the most part. Another thing I don’t know if you’re new to the show are new to who I am. If you’re interested in finding out who that is, you can always go to my kind of – this is my personal “presence-online”. This is my personal link tree, so to speak. Um, you can find it at www.ian-antonio-patterson.com/work or much easier www.iAntonio.com and at iAntonio.com you will find all the links to everything I do – my service offer as you can see here – the podcast, my Triner-profile with my CV and everybody who’s interested in finding out if I studied what I studied and where, and – number two, you see my media, this is my media listing. Of course, there are many different channels. I do not limit myself to any of them. Uh, I think on the last podcast I spoke a boat giving my – I can’t think of any good reason – to give my media content to any platform exclusively.
I can’t, I can’t think of any reason to do that. I’m not so much into the Instagram and Facebook thing, you know – the meta-verse (facebook’s new persona) as it is now known as because, you know, I honestly believe that we should take ownership our digital identities, which I’ve said before online, many times – I’ve have written about it.
You should take ownership of that. This is also what the “Democratization of the Learning Experience” means – it’s a part of it. It’s taking ownership of this space, this identity that lives online – your Metadata, everything, all your movements online. Everything you have to, you have to take ownership of that and write your own story, because guess what a story is being written anyway.
Right. This is my attempt to take ownership of my stuff and it’s all listed here. So this (link) is to my shows. You can see first there are – let’s see the following options. This is the listeners group. You can join the listens group, for example, if you want to be the first to see videos when they come out. Yes, ours. I write my lessons group maybe once a month. Yes. It’s not like every week. I’m not like spamming people with 10 emails a week. It’s a, sometimes I think the last one I did was in June and, um, no, the last one I did was about two weeks ago and the one before that was in June.
Right. So, it’s not like some kind of spam magic funnel I’m trying to build here anything. It’s contact with my people. Yes. But, um, it’s not some kind of spam machine – right. So, you can, sign up for that group if you want to be notified. Here again is a voicemail link. Here is my service on, um, not videos, but photography service. I don’t do that so much anymore. It’s kind of like now a hobby that I do in a professional way when I can find the time. Yeah. So I still do it. And, here I have featured artists. These are -this is a link to the artists who have – stayed close to me over the past few years.
There are people there listed, like Farida did a lot of work with Farida. We tried some things, some things didn’t work out as planned, but, the material is still there and you can see some of it here at this link. I’ve worked with people like Yuna, of course with Lydia, I’ve worked with Anna Elva for example, the soundtrack that, you’ll hear in Lydia’s video, I’ve used it also working with Anna Elva. She just did it freely, she wasn’t doing any kind of character or anything like that. She just danced through it. I like to see different interpretations of one musical piece.
I’ve done that also with another musical piece called Raqs El Gamal. And, uh, that I’ve done with, a young lady called Jessica Farina. You will also be able to find that here and another interpretation of the same piece from Raqs El Gamal.
From – by Farida – my good friend Farida – so if you go to this link, you’ll be able to see all the performances from these two young ladies. Right. And there are some other things there just in case. You know I mean I Work with dance because I’ve learned a lot from dance. It is – it is that only some kind of decadence that I follow. That’s not the only reason why I do it. I do it because. For me, I’ve said it before – dance represents it, depicts the way we have to move through life. The way we have to adjust to situations. When you see a dancer on stage moving to different things, then it shows you how – it’s a depiction, it articulates – how we have to live – and that is the core meaning of, dance to me.
It’s also interesting to see how music moves people. I also use dance as an opportunity to – let’s say I have used dance and dance photography as an opportunity to get to know my camera. Yeah. Um, if I didn’t take up a camera and started photographing flowers first, and then dance. Learning how to capture a moving subject through different scenarios at different speeds and knowing how sound gets into the camera and how to capture media and present to in a presentable way – the equipment that is involved and all of that, I would not be able to be doing this right now.
So just, just, just think about it. Yes. Preoccupation with a camera has led through a hobby that has taught me lots of things also about the human condition. I’ve learned a lot about people working with dance – people in media and so on. Right. Wasn’t it for that preoccupation, I would not be right here right now talking to you – doing a podcast, audio podcasts, video podcasts – and I would not have had the understanding that I did have going into online training and private live online streaming. So again, do not underestimate free time activities and hobbies. Yes. Is probably your best source of learning.
All right. So that was it again. Um, I won’t be waxing too much Lyrical now on dance – but since we’re on that topic, I want to take this opportunity also to thank many of the people with whom I’ve worked on this particular podcast. People from the dance world as one of the first – was Olga she’s an aeronautics engineer.
And, um, she was one of the first on the show.
One of the second was Said el Amir he’s also a train just sent me. So he’s of the same trainer persuasion – he is a dance practitioner at master of science level. So, you know, he has a few things to say, you should check out his episodes. We did three together in the beginning. I’ve worked with people like Dschinny. Yes, very good. Friend of mine also worked with her on photo shoots. She has also been an inspiration in many ways. I’ve worked with, another good friend of mine – mathematician called Rebecca, Dr. Rebecca Waldecker. She was on the show recently – she’s also podcaster like me – I’m also very thankful to her.
I’ve worked with people like Elena, Russian dancer. Who’s also into martial arts or Kampfsport (DE)comfort sport. And of course, I’ve worked with people like Pia and Anna Elva and last, but by no means no means least the lovely Lydia. All right.
So now that has taken us – back to Lydia I’m really anxious to see how this cell video podcast works out. Again. If you got, watch it in your podcast via your favourite podcast player, just visit the site www.EnglishCoachPodcast.com – And – Lydia, again, I really hope, you know, I’m really trying here to get people to go and see her performance – and I’m sure they will, it’s well worth it.
I want to take this opportunity again to say thank you to you directly. I could not have done this without you naturally – and Sybille von Spitzen this wonderful character that we both expressed together.
I think I’ve done pretty much everything that I wanted to do, shown you how I work. I think I’ve mentioned the fact that this is season five and I’m not switching over to video podcasting. I’ve introduced Lydia in a very nice way. So without further ado, I want to invite you to just head on over to the show or stick around, listen or watch, uh, Lydia’s performance.
And as I always say:
With a small win is always a good way to begin.
Interview (short)
Lydia: Hi, I’m Lydia. I’m a dancer and, that’s why I know Ian. We did some dance shoots together and, it was really nice. I’m a dancer. That’s basically everything I do the whole day. That’s who I am – I am what I do, that’s it.
Ian: That’s a nice way to say it. I am what I do. Well, you know, the good thing about that is that, you can just change what you do and change who you are. Is that fantastic?
Lydia: Yeah, it is. And I can live my dream now. That’s really fantastic.
Ian: Great. That’s great. That’s great. Well, you know what, Lydia, I have known new for quite a while and it’s always fun working with you. It’s great. Now, I know that – well – you dance professionally, what kind of dance do you do? Tell, tell everyone what kind of dance you do.
Lydia: I’m doing contemporary dance. that’s, that’s the main thing I do. I also like doing jazz or ballet. But contemporary is the thing I can do my best, and I love the most.
Ian: Today we’re doing something experimental and, um, well, you know, as I, as I mentioned to you earlier, it’s all about training. If somebody wants to find you, tell us again, where can we find you, maybe find out what shows you’re doing, or a website or Facebook or Instagram or whatever, how can we find?
Lydia: I’m on Facebook and on Instagram. And it would be very nice if you follow me. Um, my name is Lydia G R M in Facebook and Instagram (@lydia.grm). And then can you see what I’m doing? And, also the shows and photo shootings and stuff – all I do.
Ian: All right, good, fantastic! So I’ll make a note of that and I am sure – I’m looking forward to the improvisation after this, and I’m sure people will also be looking out for you. Okay. Thank you, Lydia. Now let’s go.
Film Release Will Appear Here in November 2021
The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. This show episode is neither a formal lesson nor a substitute for such but aims to supplement the adult learning experience in a true-to-life way. The show is independent and self-sponsored – brought to you by me – a practicing language Trainer / Coach – and draws on a whole gamut of tools and tips in support of providing information, entertainment and what I like to call sustainable language acquisition in an authentic, relatable, and vastly collaborative – human way.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
This extra special episode was made for my people – present and past course participants, and anyone else who just likes the show – more on that later – but today particularly – I am reaching out to my listeners in Berlin und Brandenburg – who are interested in enhancing their English Language Skills, and overall learning experience with a little more than abstract vocabulary lists and grammar puzzles.
This episode is an introduction to the main event which is – a Film of the same name – “Episode 57 – Beginner’s Best Choice” – scheduled for release in November 2021 >>>If you also want to be notified and be among the first to see it – feel free to sign-up to join the Private-Listeners’-Group or revisit this page – Film overview / themes.
Beginner’s Best Choice (film) featuring E.P. Heck
published 24.11.2021
Showguest: Eberhard Philipp Heck
Our guest for the Feature Film – is as real as real gets – and is himself a photography enthusiast – of the same Pentax persuasion as me. Berliner, Lawyer, Educator, Officer, Photographer and friend of mine Eberhard Philipp Heck… Philipp is a German national, a competent, and sometimes rather charismatic speaker of the English Language – even on the technical bits. We have been in contact for years, and the topic has on most levels always been the same – Pentax lenses.
This one celebrates – for want of a more authentic word – authenticity =) and exemplifies – an accessible, inclusive approach to learning – DIY, personal-experience and choice, and what I’ve always called ‘this fresh and exciting democratisation of the learning experience‘. Episode 57 – Beginner’s Best Choice – is in so being an embodiment of the very values and attitudes that inspired this podcast in the first place.
Topics discussed
The pentaxians forum
Interested persons
Braving the technical language – multilingually
Who I am doing this for
Purpose: Sustainable Language Acquisition
Eberhard: The Skilled Armature Craftsman approaching the arts, Officer, Lawyer
Choice of the brand
History and tradition
Quality of humility and purpose
Focus on quality and reasonable pricing over bells and whistles
Using photography (and other free time activities) to support training activities
Why Eberhard started with the 50mm
Production advantages and effect on cost and accessibility
First comparison of telephoto and zoom lenses with the 50mm
Superb explanation of what we call a fast lens
F-stops, light and depth of field
Separation of subject from the background
Application for sports and other fast action
Fast lens for stage photography
Low light capability and freezing action
Conversing on claims regarding natural human angle of view
Comparison with super-wide fish-eye lens
Comparison with medium format 645z system
Extension rings for extending versatility and value as a macro-lens
Personal favourite
Prime advantage – over a zoom lens
Disadvantage of the 50mm for wide angle applications (in-house photography)
645 Dreams” and goals – and the forgiving nature of the 50mm
Support group
Using the manual versions
The language focus – translations
SHOUTOUT
Special shoutout to my people, present and past course participants, guests – and everyone else who just likes the show. To Andreas – the man of music (cello music to be exact), Katrin who has just joined the ranks, Anna and Claudia the two French ladies, and Oliver for helping me with a bit of narrative for this episode.
The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. This show episode is neither a formal lesson nor a substitute for such but aims to supplement the adult learning experience in a true-to-life way. The show is independent and self-sponsored – brought to you by me – a practicing language Trainer / Coach – and draws on a whole gamut of tools and tips in support of providing information, entertainment and what I like to call sustainable language acquisition in an authentic, relatable, and vastly collaborative – human way.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Folk Springs Eternal – for Resilience, Experience, Productive Skills, and the Arts – in Learning English and adult learning generally.The English Coach Podcast – has always been about enriching the learning experience in a fun and interesting way. Episode 56 starts with a book preview of “Folk Springs Eternal” – written by Andy Beck.
My guest and I take a practical dive into one of the inspiring stories from the book, which speaks to resilience in the face of adversity. My work with the arts seeks to evoke the same intrinsically positive – unbridled spirit in our approach to fluency in a foreign language. Not a place for perfection, but one for progress – in as little or as large a way as you would have it. As language learners, ourselves we also talk a bit about what worked for us.
The English Coach Podcast – never intentionally takes a prescriptive, patronizing, or condescending stance to the adult learning experience, but is rather driven by inclusiveness – of people, approaches, personal experiences thoughts and ideas. This show episode is neither a formal lesson nor a substitute for such but aims to supplement the adult learning experience in a true-to-life way.
The show is independent and self-sponsored – brought to you by me – a practicing language Trainer / Coach – and draws on a whole gamut of tools and tips in support of providing information, entertainment and what I like to call sustainable language acquisition in an authentic, relatable, and vastly collaborative – human way.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Episode 55 – As a Trainer and Coach of English Language for Work – my goal is still to enrich the adult learning experience – in a fun and interesting way. Today we do it in German (primarily) because that is the native language of most of my course participants.
Published as the second in June 2021 to commemorate Pride Month – and in celebration of inclusion, the episode dives into conversation on ideas and facts shared in a recently published book “Berufen statt zertifiziert – neues Lernen neue Chancen” by a dear friend and colleague of mine Dr Anja C Wagner – who dare I say shares at least some of the that values I do.
Sie beschäftigt sich mit globaler Transformation im digitalen Wandel – gilt als kreative Trendsetterin und bezeichnet sich selbst als Bildungsquerulantin. Inhaltlich fokussiert die Autorin auf User Experience, Bildungspolitik, Arbeitsorganisation und unsere Zukunft in einer vernetzen Gesellschaft – und führt diese Themen synergetisch zusammen. Mit ihrem Unternehmen „FrolleinFlow – Institute für kreative Flaneure“ bietet sie Studien, Vorträge, Consulting und verschiedene Onlineprojekte an. (Teilzitat)
Episode 55 – supporters
Andy Beck – Thank you for sharing a bit of your soul with the musical support and faithful involvement, especially for the special rendition for this episode: Instagram | Website | YouTube | Song-cover release “I see Fire”
This one goes out to – fellow independent podcasters, trainers, coaches and creatives – the inclusiveness of the show speaks for itself – and helps to make it easy for me – to take my usual relaxed accessible human approach, to your learning experience.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Episode 54 – of the English Coach Podcast takes yet another playful authentic approach. Today’s episode is published in celebration of diversity and inclusion in the month of June. The only thing I have to say to that here – is that if for any reason you feel excluded from anyone’s stage – make your own. As a Trainer and Coach of English Language for Work – the goal that I have given to myself here is to enrich the adult learning experience with real conversations, real themes and experiences of real people – in a fun and interesting way. There is somewhere else for grammar puzzles.
As an English Teacher, Trainer, Coach, my aim is to encourage you – to use all the tools at hand – ranging from independent media like this, human interaction, formal and informal training, coaching, paper notebooks, language-apps, art, gaming, personal hobbies, reading, relationships – that all help to enrich your overall language learning experience. SEE Article – DIY – Englisch – DE
Episode 53 – of the English Coach Podcast takes a playful authentic approach. As a Trainer and Coach of English Language for Work – the goal that I have given to myself here is to enrich the adult learning experience with real conversations, real themes and experiences of real people – in a fun and interesting way. There is somewhere else for grammar puzzles.
This one goes out to – all my dancer friends, particularly those who have been guests on the show – and my father who’s recently become a fan =) This small token of gratitude goes out today – because I do this for people – and some souls help to make – and keep it easy for me, to take my usual relaxed accessible human approach, to your learning experience.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language – iAntonio
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Episode 52 – of the English Coach Podcast presents a quick dive into Jamaican Culture. As a Trainer and Coach of English Language the goal that I have given to myself here is to enrich the adult learning experience with real conversations, real topics and experiences of real people – in a fun and interesting way.
A seasoned practitioner in dance, artistic director and producer of theatrical works, performance coach, award winning actor and the current director of Arts and Culture at Jamaica’s own University of Technology – shares with us. We enter into what I would call seminal discourse from our lens – on the approach towards establishing equitable recognizable standards for Jamaican Dance Genre.
Ein erfahrener Praktiker im Tanz, künstlerischer Leiter und Produzent von Theaterstücken, Performance-Coach, preisgekrönter Schauspieler und derzeitiger Direktor für Kunst und Kultur an der University of Technology Jamaica – teilt mit uns. Wir treten in einen, wie ich es nennen würde, zukunftsträchtigen Diskurs ein – über den Ansatz, klar erkennbare Standards für das jamaikanische Tanzgenre zu etablieren.
This one goes out to – Marko, Benedikt, Michael and Yusef all course participants here in Germany, and to Lorraine an avid listener from all the way over there in Kingston city Jamaica. This small token of gratitude goes out today – because I do this for people – and some souls help to make – and keep it easy for me, to take my usual relaxed accessible human approach, to your learning experience.
English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Episode 51 – The Democratization of the Learning Experience means many things to many people and is a concept that has featured prominently on my show since the very beginning, like a pillar of purpose. It’s a fresh and exciting place to be, and the question is still – what will you do with it – with the knowledge of the world – in the form of a smartphone – in your pockets?
You get to use the tools and the access you have – to play an active part in choosing what or who accompanies you on your learning journey. And I get to follow through with what I like to call my usual relaxed accessible human approach – to your learning experience.
For this the launch of SEASON 4, I will be Interviewed on my own show by none other than the illustrious – Estefania Fernandez – an educational entrepreneur with a strong sense of social responsibility – woman of action whose claim to fame speaks for itself. I also want to take this opportunity to extend a special shout-out to all the show-guests who have accompanied me on my learning experience – which has in and of itself come to be known as the “English Coach Podcast”. This is a heartfelt token of gratitude – to all the show-guests AND LISTENERS who have in fact helped me here – to meaningfully and purposefully – take ownership of my own voice – by giving it away. If you are new to the show and are interested in knowing who these people are – see below
This still fresh and exciting – democratization of the learning experience also means that all the sometimes – struggling independent Trainers and Coaches out there get to make their own stage. Please support them. This show has always been about one human being talking to another – deliberately personal, inclusive and unapologetic of all the perfect imperfections that make all of us the wonderful works in progress that we are. The show is still for the most part self-sponsored and independent – open to everyone but not for everyone. I am a Trainer sometimes a coach – and in keeping with the tradition of podcasting that I’ve elected to honour, I still want you to feel, that this show is by people for people – and that with a small win, is always a good way to begin – do enjoy the episode
Episode 50 – It is with great pride and a well placed sense of achievement – dare I say, that I am able to publish this the last episode of Season 3 of the English Coach Podcast. As a Trainer and Coach of English Language for work I would be hard pressed to find a more fitting theme for today’s talk – the full of richness of which must be presented to you in two parts. The next will feature in Season 4 – Follow the show.
A seasoned practitioner in dance, artistic director and producer of theatrical works, performance coach, award winning actor and the current director of Arts and Culture at Jamaica’s own University of Technology – shares with us in the upcoming episode. We talk about roles as they relate to the job interview and enter into what I would call seminal discourse from our lens – on the approach towards establishing equitable recognizable standards for Jamaican Dance Genre.
Ein erfahrener Praktiker im Tanz, künstlerischer Leiter und Produzent von Theaterstücken, Performance-Coach, preisgekrönter Schauspieler und derzeitiger Direktor für Kunst und Kultur an der University of Technology Jamaica – teilt mit uns in zwei kommenden Episoden. Wir sprechen über Rollen, wie sie sich auf das Vorstellungsgespräch beziehen und treten in einen, wie ich es nennen würde, zukunftsträchtigen Diskurs ein – über den Ansatz, klar erkennbare Standards für das jamaikanische Tanzgenre zu etablieren.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Episode 46 – Getting – meaningful, non-pretentious usable feedback that can actually help to improve my English courses, this show and the overall learning experience of all my course participants – and other fans of the English Coach Podcast – can be really challenging.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Showguest: Guido Erich Fritz Lammers
I’d eventually rationalized it down to perhaps being a cultural thing, and still I asked myself – “Why is it so, and could there be other implications on other things that have nothing to do with me, my practice or my show?”
That is not a question I would ever attempt to answer fully on my own – so in today’s episode we approach the question from different perspectives – informed chiefly by the wisdom of our experiences.
Every trainer, teacher coach wants to be inspirational – transformative even – at least sometimes. Well – with all due respect and the highest regard for today’s guest, I would like to dedicate this episode to a few past course participants and guests who have themselves been particularly inspirational – and transformative even to me and / or the show recently. You know yourselves and the names for today are Marko, Benedikt, Ann, Anika, Simone, Louis, Rebecca, Camila, and Gary. Independent and self-sponsored means that I get to extend a world of gratitude to my people – the ones who really matter and mean it.
Today’s show is a rare random mix of German and English – if you cannot handle it, then maybe this is not one for you.
With a small win, is always a good way to begin – so without further ado our guest for today – my past course participant and friend Guido.
Feel free to share the show – with a friend. Give meaning to the things you think about the show, by using the feedback form to tell me personally what you think. This will all help it to help you – as it’s intended to do. You can even try-out the new voice-mail function on the show page or anywhere you see feedback.
Follow the show – only if you feel like – from anywhere you listen to podcasts – so you know when there’s a new episode available.
Or better yet – sign-up to join the “Private Listeners’ Group” – for the more personalized listening experience.
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you and bye for now.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Showguest: Akshay Bhattacharji
Digital Marketer, Engineer and Past consultant for Google. Work Life and Language as a qualified, experienced and gainfully employed foreigner in Germany, as well as insight into notions of digital identity.
Episode 42 – “The Human Element” This episode – this show – the second tribute in a row, in these challenging times – to the learners and their trainers – coaches, artists, and creators everywhere.
Two Songs for the Poetry Series. Guest for today – with whom I’ve had the one in a lifetime pleasure of collaborating – Ms Camila Castillo.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Our topics – grounded in the given authenticity of personal experience – and fitting well to the promise that I always make – to take my usual relaxed accessible human approach – to your learning experience.
Showguest: Camila Castillo – Illustrator, Mixed Media Artist, Singer Songwriter from Guatemala.
Episode 41 – This Episode and the next is dedicated specifically to Trainers and their Learners who have risen above the challenge to adapt – in this a difficult time. Episode 43 is a direct follow-up and a promise kept.
As a trainer of adults, specializing in work related language – even with a good 15 years of experience under the belt – there have hardly been more poignant lessons than those learned over the past past few months. Extra special thanks to Rebecca for giving of herself.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Showguest: Rebecca Waldecker – Mathematics Professor, Performing Artist and Giving Soul.
Feedback on training style, learning and retention techniques, human limits and the future of online training. The English Coach Podcast has matured over the past year – and is still about offering you immersion into the language – into real things and real personalities – from wherever you are. The show: inclusive, non-pretentious. For people who want to improve and keep their language skills. Real conversations, real things in a fun and interesting way.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Showguest: Gary Lim – App Developer and past Course Participant
What’s in it for you?!
This Episode is about Direct Feedback.
It looks at: >> How can you benefit from the quality of commitment that your trainer has. >> How it affects you as a person and the level of success that you achieve. >> What drives the trainer, and coming to terms with the human limits associated with online media.
Sustainable Language Acquisition = Nachhaltiger Spracherwerb.
Episode 37 – The English Coach Podcast takes my usual relaxed accessible human approach to your learning experience – and offers you immersion into the language – into real things and real personalities – from wherever you are.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
For those of you who don’t know me yet, my name is Ian Antonio Patterson, host and producer of the show, and I have been a Language Trainer of Adults in Berlin – to date for well over a decade. I do a few other things too – but within this context my specialization is English for Work – the real stuff.
“Living the Language” means that my first mission here is to help my people – present and past course participants – and anyone else who just likes the show. The goal is to help you to keep the language skills you’ve learned – to keep you engaged with a little information and entertainment. I invite everyone to subscribe to the show – because “Living the Language” also means – that the topics are about real everyday human interaction – things that affect all of us.
The Show is self-sponsored and independent. It’s not as staged as you might expect. I – am myself for example a real living breathing person talking to you right now – not a façade, or someone else’s mouthpiece. In so being – today – authenticity is a given – and this rather organic approach helps the show to preserve its own freedom to evolve. Still – to each his own – and who knows what the future holds – Should however this show become “that” way – then I will be the first to tell you.
If this more human approach – which also speaks to a kind of democratization of the learning experience – as I like to call it – also mean something to you. If you are more motivated by more meaningful – human interactions – more interested in progress – rather than someone else’s sometimes – somewhat pretentious notions of perfection – then you are more than welcome subscribe.
The English Coach Podcast welcomes a diversity of guests from all walks of life, and in so doing – celebrates a quality of equality that I value. The inclusiveness of the English Coach Podcast speaks for itself, and fosters what I like to call an International Standard of English – keyword clarity.
I also respect the privacy or better said the sovereignty and choice – of all my listeners. This podcast neither tracks or stalks its listeners online – nor trades in their user data. I like to be clear on that – especially these days – This shows commitment not to spying on you holds true – regardless of the country from which you are listening.
Now speaking of choice – there are many ways to take active interest in your own learning journey. You can simply subscribe via your favourite podcast App, or sign up to receive the ShowNotes and more directly by email? Why join my Listeners’ Group? All these possibilities are listed for you at www.TrainingTree.de/mobile also in the ShowNotes – of all of the most recently published episodes.
As a Trainer – naturally there’s also the occasional mini-lesson – but for the most part there is somewhere else for that. If you are interested in formal lessons – visit my website www.TrainingTree.de and ask about training by using the contact form. You would be surprised at the different – somewhat unexpected approaches to immersive and action based Adult Learning – Now this is me, you know who I am. Interested in training – simply ask.
If however you are only interested in a learning journey that takes a step out of the classroom – and into real life. Out of drudgery and sometimes monotonous drill of abstract grammar puzzles and vocabulary lists – just subscribe to the show for starters – at www.TrainingTree.de/mobile OR www.EnglishCoachPodcast.com.
I am looking forward to hearing from you – and bye for now.
Sustainable Language Acquisition = Nachhaltiger Spracherwerb.
Episode 34 – Trailer Episode. These Conversations with Farida, started in December of 2017 and have matured, to truly reflect a pure spirit of artistic collaboration. The conversation continues, part of which is hereby published in connection with the launch of Exclusive Learning Spaces. October 1, 2020.
“While studying with some of the greatest masters of Egyptian dance, I learned to love my body and to work with my body, – not against it.” – Farida Bissinger
So what’s in it for you?!
The episode offers insight into what motivates a trainer, and goes on to drive your learning process. The conversation emanates authenticity, and dares to stage human vulnerabilities and truth – that move the [people] who follow a calling that serves you.
The inclusiveness of the whole show is in and of itself activist, in that it exemplifies calmly an “imagined reality” where our higher selves are called to the fore – affirmative – unpretentious – independent – empowering.
Sustainable Language Acquisition = Nachhaltiger Spracherwerb.
Episode 33 – Today is actually a one in a lifetime event =) It’s the third season of the English Coach Podcast, and this show is just getting over celebrating its second sweet sixteen.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Showguest: Intercultural Consultant, Coach and Moderator: Anna Royon Weigelt – Works: Respea | LinkedIn
“Als interkulturelle Beraterin, Coach und Moderatorin arbeite ich auf der Beziehungsebene: eine Dimension, die im Alltagsgeschäft oft implizit und unsichtbar bleibt, bis “der Schuh drückt”.”
We have just discovered that here might be life on Venus and that the Sun is exploding in new and interesting ways.
We’ll all be called to adapt to keep pace these days, and “Business as usual” is becoming more and more an oxymoron – and for the purpose of this Episode 33 – we look at what [I] like to call cultural fluidity. We converse with the rather daring idea – of accepting the different personalities (so to speak) that constitute the whole person in all of us and about recognizing all of them – individually – perhaps as its own unique asset.
The publishing of today’s episode is a week late with good reason I do apologies for that. It does however promise a particularly rich conversation – that captures the essence of insight shared – between friends dear I say – all in keeping with the free authentic spirit of independent Podcasting. This Episode of the English Coach Podcast – like all the rest takes my usual relaxed accessible human approach – to your learning experience.
So what’s in it for you?!
Today we look at myths – around using a shared language and examples of where in real life – things can in fact go wrong as a result of larger cultural differences.
We explore specific instances – of using something that is usually seen as an uncomfortable challenge, instead as an opportunity to improve, an opportunity not only to inform but to also to communicate – and get what YOU want.
We agree that awareness of all these factors could go on to reduce the stresses of remote work.
Notions of perfection sometimes haunt the adult learner of a foreign language – and who knows it better than who lives it? Today we get down to the meat of it and you might even be able to infer for yourself – the extent to which – certain preferred measure of perfection may be nothing more than purely pretentious – or at best in real life – non-existent.
Today it’s all about personal opinions to be clear. None of us is speaking for any interests or organisations unknown – ever mindful we are of our own natural rights [understood] – to shape our own contexts and hypotheses subjectively with questions rather than answers – in a non-judgemental and non-moralizing way. AND the right to simply change our minds.
This has always been my personal preferred approach because everyone – I suspect has – for whatever values they choose to uphold – their own good reason.
Today we also talk about natural biases, power distance, Persian rugs and flying chairs.
Anyone who knows anything about the show will also know – that the English Coach Podcast is – and has in its own way always been a place where learning doesn’t have to feel like work. It’s a place for people, many of whom are my friends who are looking for a way to hold on to the things they have learnt with context and conversation. I consider myself one of these people – one of the many creators, trainers, teachers, coaches, artists, developers, and human architects of authentic experiences – who actually do the work – and who actually do care…
The Poetry series continues, looking at among other things the melody of the spoken word. I’ve invited a few artists to play along with this initiative and I’m happy to say that a few have indeed come through.
This episode 32, of the English Coach Podcast – the fourth in the poetry series – is again self-sponsored and takes my usual relaxed accessible human approach – to your learning experience. Our guest for today – published and practiced author, musician singer and songwriter Andy Beck.
Well if someone had come to the Irish dance With fortune, fame and their luck to chance They’d have seen this life from a different stance They might well just have changed their plans But they sold their souls for land
Well, I knew a guy who worked in a bank His eyeballs set on the highest rank He worked so hard that he got the cramp every time he had a…..drink! He worked all day and all night They found him dead at thirty-five He was someone rich, but was he satisfied? Less than you would think
But if someone had come to the Irish dance With fortune, fame and his luck to chance He’d have seen this life from a different stance He might well just have changed his plans But he sold his soul for a pension plan
Well I knew a man who worked for the law The legal text made his eyeballs sore His dating skills, they were so poor that he never managed to…..chat! The courtroom was his game Until a case he worked on failed He was someone who chucked himself in the lake and that was the end of that
But if someone had come to the Irish dance With fortune, fame and his luck to chance He’d have seen this life from a different stance He might well just have changed his plans But he sold his soul for a witness stand
Well I know a girl who worked in a shop The sight of her made your eyeballs drop She could’ve been great at takin’ stock but she wanted to become “top dog” So she asked the boss if he would swap He turned round and said “get lost” So she strangled him with the kitchen cloth and now she’s eating porridge
But if someone had come to the Irish dance Fortune, fame and her luck to chance She’d have seen this life from a different stance She might well just have changed her plans But now she’s sewing mailing bags
Well I knew a chap who worked in an office He was the boss, so he made the novice bring him lots of cups of coffee Maltesers and toffee His computer crashed and so did the aircon The business never got airborne There he sits, chained to a keyboard….. “Where the hell has my life gone?”
But if someone had come to the Irish dance With fortune, fame and his luck to chance He’d have seen this life from a different stance He might well just have changed his plans But he sold his soul for a wireless LAN
And if they’d all come to the Irish dance Fortune, fame and their luck to chance They’d have seen this life from a different stance They might well justa changed their plans But they sold their souls to the man
Episode 31 – If you are learning a language to talk to People – talk to people. Today’s show is in German (my first freestyle =) ). I always encourage all my listeners, learners, participants, and subscribers – or anyone learning a foreign language – to give themselves the space to sometimes to improvise and to recognise – that many things in life come down to the art of it.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
It really is all about Finding your Flow – and this Episode 31, the third in the poetry series hopes to help you – to be a little more receptive to that – in a meaningful way. This episode of the English Coach Podcast – is self-sponsored – and takes my usual relaxed, accessible, human approach – to your learning experience.
Our guest for today is also an old friend and past associate – who has helped me to serve Adult Learners of German in various Firms in Berlin. She also took part in a previous Episode “#23 SURVIVING It”.
As a graduate of Literature and Cultural Sciences – Humboldt University Berlin – graduate of acting of Reduta-Berlin Acting school for Theatre and Film – she currently pursues a PhD in the Faculty of Cultural Sciences at the esteemed University of Viadrina FFO.
Short second interlude for the episode today – a poem by Heinz Erhardt. BONUS at end – first reflections on a poem by Hermann Hesse – “Sprache”.
Episode 30 – If you are learning a language to talk to People – talk to people. If you are learning a language to do something with it – do something with it.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
In the words of previous guests on the stage of life – use the stage to get over the stage. This episode of the English Coach Podcast – the second in the Poetry Series – is self-sponsored – and takes my usual relaxed, accessible, human approach – to your learning experience.
In all my years as a trainer of English to adults there are three people in particular who stand out, for the reason that they became competent users of the language by listening to and occupying themselves with pop music, hip-hop music and reggae music – respectively. My rather relaxed friend Flavio, #FlavioPragmatico also said so – I tend to believe, so listen out for his learned pragmatic lingo on many an upcoming show.
Again my aim is to encourage you – to use all the tools at hand – ranging from independent media like this, human interaction, formal and informal training, coaching, paper notebooks, language-apps, art, gaming, personal hobbies, reading, relationships, – that all help to enrich your overall language learning experience. SEE Article – DIY – Englisch – DE
Episode 29 – The planned purpose of this interview was to explore the topic of diversity, and the importance of the English language in international businesses and organizations.
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
For this Episode of the English Coach Podcast – I proposed to our guest the following,
“My goal is to enrich the entire learning experience of my course participants, and to offer them a way, to stay in contact with the language. The podcast is not an English Lesson – it is a conversation with relevance in English – and a little German.”
By now however the topic of diversity in all senses of the word – and the importance of English in international spheres are already quite laboured topics and well understood by most of us. So since this is my show and this is her stage, we both gave ourselves permission – and with good reason, to throw the plan to the wind and to let the conversation unfold – naturally along other the parallels of our own practice.
In the first part of the interview we approach the questions:
How to build bridges of understanding and agreement between all the parties involved in a training or coaching program? Who carries what responsibility? What is the importance and scope of reflection, what role does it play? What is the essential difference between training and coaching, and how is progress measured? Who gives you permission to be successful at your own target skill, and who gets to tell you who you are?
In this the second half of Episode 29 we broach the questions:
How is return on investment for training or coaching initiatives perceived? What is the value of these returns and how are they measured? What are some of the things that that help to form a practicing Leadership Coach? What is the current trend, as it relates to rethinking leadership and its role in facilitating motivation and fulfillment for employees? How do veritable contrasts coincide?
For me it’s a milestone, because like many things these days it also got off to a rough start. It is as I’ve acknowledged before, not always the easiest thing to put your voice out there – to the scrutiny and device of mass public media and I wanna quickly take this opportunity to thank all the wonderful people who’ve helped with season 1. When I started planning to do this Podcast, and got my first mic in May of 2019, I had no idea how far this would go – I said it. A media offering positioned, to add the icing on the cake so to speak – to my Overall Training Practice.
The launch of this episode speaks to the first three motivations that drive this initiative still – there are some more. The first one is in keeping my promise to offer sustainable language acquisition to my present and past course participants – and anyone else who’s interested – in a real way – the topics are real, the contexts are real and so are the people who participate. The second and third motivations – have to do with what I like to call this fresh and exciting “democratisation of the learning experience” and the idea of DIY. Do it yourself – a perfect opportunity, accessible to anyone who wants it – now more than ever before.
We are all human beings, no more and no less – We ought to all be a little more gentle to ourselves – especially in this space – the idea of perfect imperfection is one that I continue to celebrate also in my photography practice – which is itself – also a self-taught skill – just like my podcasting. So all in way or saying – what exactly? – If I can do it, you can too.
Today we start in English then finish off in German – so please bear with my “accent”. The only likeness of perfection that I would ever promise would be in my own language.
The episode approaches answering the question “Who is it for?”. The format – inspired by my old friend Johanna, and features again our beloved “protagonist” – this time embodied by the lovely and talented Steffi.
With a small win, is always a good way to begin.
Feel free to check out the shownotes for this episode at www.trainingtree.de/podcast or www.englishcoachpodcast.com. Like it if you like it and if you don’t, lie to me – just kidding – but still – feel free to share it with a friend, post a rating, or better yet – give meaning to the things you think about the show, by using the feedback form to tell me personally what you think – this will all help it to help you – as it is intended to do. Subscribe only if you feel like – so you know when there’s a new episode available.
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you, and – bye for now
We’ve all been affected, and the release of Season 2 has unfortunately been delayed. I do apologise for that. I have still however been diligently doing my part, and the entire series on SURVIVING it – consisting five Episodes to be exact – was dedicated to this – strange time in between seasons – that we’ve all been experiencing.
We all need a little community right now – and I’m happy to be making 3 interesting announcements for you today – I’ll make it quick.
This extra somewhat spontaneous Trailer Episode 24 – self-sponsored and brought to you by none other than yours truly – is also in keeping with this community spirit. As you might know by now – This is not only where I give myself permission, to take a little more relaxed, accessible, human approach – but also where I take the chance to experiment. It’s a short one, I promise, and I have an interesting surprise for you at the end of this Episode. One thing is clear, the aim of this Episode like all the rest – is to enrich your whole learning experience. This is not a traditional lesson today – but why not make the best of it? Since we know that English is not a phonetic language – for those of us also looking to improve our vocabulary and pronunciation – there’s a full transcript of this Episode available in the ShowNotes – you can read along while you listen.
This podcast initiative is also therapeutic for me, because it exemplifies now more than ever – what I’ve always called this “fresh and exciting democratisation of the learning experience” a song sung since Episode 1 in December of 2019. Now you can call it a mission, motivation a purpose for a little promise for my people, present and past course participants and of course for all the others of you who subscribe – for whatever value you derive.
You get to choose even more now, from a larger number of sources, – including this one of course – all in service of your own learning experience. You still get a chance to experience immersion into the language in an interesting true to life way – and to keep the things you’ve learned.
I always tell myself that I am doing this for my people because it’s true – you know who you are. And I want to send another special shout-out to all my listeners again on Spotify. I know that there are some of you also on Apple and Google but truth be told, the Spotify listeners have to date been the most loyal and engaged.
If you’re on Apple Podcasts or on Google Podcasts – feel free to subscribe from there, no problem – share the show with a friend – or better yet share it with all of them =)
It feels so much easier to be authentic when what you are doing is independent and free and the only advertising that you’ll get here – is advertising from me. Anyway – I want to use this Episode 24 as I said to make a few announcements.
Firstly – There is now a new category on my website for the top seven shows. These are the Shows that have to date, enjoyed the most downloads. Interestingly, the Episodes featuring what I call the free mini-lessons are getting more and more popular. That tells me that the format works. The ratings are updated with the publishing of every new Episode. You can always check out the latest show ratings at www.EnglishCoachPodcast.com.
The Third and last Announcement for the day is about the experiments – It is with great pleasure that I do declare – that the cherished insights of our very own – learned, long-time friend and associate the indomitable Sybille von Spitzen – will be featuring more prominently in the show. We have a new outfit for Season 2. As usual I speak for her and her performance speaks for itself. Her contributions were instrumental – in ensuring the obvious success of all the top three Episodes so far.
This is actually me working with your feedback…..
And I am also happy to announce that our beloved – Protagonist who featured in Episodes 3, 18 and again – in the upcoming Episode 25 – will also be joining us more often – that means that there will in Season 2, be a stronger focus on both mini-lesson AND the storytelling element. The colourful contributions of these “personalities” to the show have all been experimental – and all for you – and I am very happy – that they’ve all so to speak – committed to joining us on this long enough awaited learning journey – English Coach Podcast – Season 2
With a small win, is always a good Way to begin.
Feel free to check out the shownotes for this episode at www.trainingtree.de/podcast or www.englishcoachpodcast.com. Like it if you like it and if you don’t, lie to me – just kidding – but still – feel free to share it with a friend, post a rating, or better yet – give meaning to the things you think about the show, by using the feedback form to tell me personally what you think – this will all help it to help you – as it is intended to do. Subscribe only if you feel like – so you know when there’s a new episode available.
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you, and – bye for now
Shownotes: English Coach Podcast – Living the Language
Listeners Speak
The following is a transcript of the above episode 17. Listeners were invited to send in mp3 files of their authentic unscripted feedback for inclusion in the show. This option is open to anyone who wishes to share and give meaning to their sentiments on the show. Voice is of course only published with the expressed permission of all contributors.
Christian speaks
Das war ein bisschen Rückmeldung von drüben in Dresden. Christian, ich habe die Absicht, weiterzumachen – und genau diese Art von Feedback macht es für mich – und hoffentlich auch für andere erfüllend. Es hilft mir, eine bessere Vorstellung davon zu bekommen, was genau für meine Zuhörer funktioniert. Nochmals vielen Dank.
Heute in dieser Trailer-Episode 17 teile ich sozusagen die Bühne mit einigen meiner Zuhörer. Ich werde ein paar Audio-Feedbacks, die sie mit mir über die erste Staffel geteilt haben, mit Euch teilen.
Ok that was my German for you. Now, that was actually a bit of feedback from all the way over there in Dresden. Christian, I have to do this in English so I just wanna say, I do intend to continue – and this is exactly this kind of feedback that makes it all fulfilling for me, and hopefully for others too. It helps me to get an even better idea of what works for my listeners. Thanks again. In today’s Trailer Episode 17, I share the stage so to speak, with some of my listeners – sharing some of their feedback that I received on season one from them – with you.
Announcer
So then, without further ado, welcome to another Episode of the English Coach Podcast, where I attempt to add a splash of colour and life to your learning experience – by inviting you to live the language. Now, as you might know by now – this is where I also give myself permission, to take a little more relaxed, accessible, human approach. I want you to take the same approach – give meaning to the things you think – by sharing it.
I know
that there are some opinions out there – positive and negative – come on now
don’t be shy. Let’s be clear about one
thing going forward, even though I have managed to complete season one, I am
still not any kind of professional podcaster here. This is why I need your
feedback. I’m only now, just learning the ropes. The Podcast is still
independent, unpretentious, free work – so I’m really not that sensitive. So
just bring it on – all comments on the show are welcome – as long as they are
basically constructive.
Christoph speaks
Now on
this episode 17, which is still a trailer episode in preparation for Season
two, my job here today is to just share a little feedback with you, you know
some of the things that other listeners have to say. And probably also discuss
a little bit on how I plan to work with that feedback.
I appreciate what Christian said, I think it was it was well balanced feedback that tells me that I am doing something right. I met Christian quite a long time ago, I think it was probably – about 16 years ago to be exact – when I was studying at Viadrina in lovely Frankfurt Oder. It’s only now that we recently hooked up again on Facebook. And I kind of attacked him with my podcast offering – “you know you just have to listen to this this is the latest thing that I’m doing these days and I need your feedback.” I also asked him to give me his feedback via mp3 and he just did it – and it was fantastic, thanks again man. From the feedback that I got – he also confirmed some things that I hold true – such as the fact that learning never ends, and that although we sometimes love to hate facebook the most – it’s actually not such a bad tool for reaching out sharing something good and you know just staying connected.
Christoph’s
feedback was funnily flattering in unexpected ways. He is a past course
participant – and no – he didn’t fall asleep in class. On the contrary – he was
one of the more engaged learners who did very well. His feedback also confirms
that I am doing something right. I shall not change my microphone, or my
recording or editing techniques. Instead I will try to be a little more aware
of the effect that my voice has – on some of listeners. That can be seen in a
negative way or in a positive way – if my voice induces a kind of relaxed state
– that also causes learning to happen – that’s exactly what I want… The ideal
learning state it’s described and as we’ve all heard of – is not only the child
state, but also a relaxed state. So if it works for you Christoph, all power to
you, and hopefully it works the same way for other people as well. Thank you
for the honesty Christoph – over there in Kassel – as I said, I will try to be a
little more aware of that effect and try to modulate accordingly.
Myra speaks
Season two of the English Coach Podcast is now in production – and is scheduled for release in May of 2020. As a listener, this really is all about you – no joke about it. If all of this means anything to you – and you do find the time – feel free to help to shape the format and content for season 2. Take all of March and April to gather your thoughts – note them down for me and check out my feedback options available to you at – feedback.EnglishCoachPodcast.com/ – looking forward to hearing from you too.
Myra shared her feedback with us from all the way in Manila – Capital of
the Philippines.
Myra appears to have honoured my claim – of offering a certain – humanness in this personal approach to Podcasting and to the Adult Learning Experience, and in so doing called an even larger calling to action – one that speaks to “humanity”. This “fresh and exciting democratisation of the learning experience” – of which I do speak from the very first Episode 1, in Episode 10, in Episode 11 – and in numerous articles that I’ve written – is definitely an approach that touches on the higher values humanity, it touches on notions of equality through equal access to knowledge and the sharing of knowledge.
Thank you Myra for recognising and also in a way validating a larger
purpose.
Myra is an esteemed graduate of European and African Studies – with an
international career under her belt and her feet firmly placed on the ground. This
feedback from her definitely means a lot. I only hope that more people can also
recognise the practical benefits of this approach to learning with independent media,
that also keeps them independent to do other things at the same time – like gardening
or cooking at home – while commuting or while having lunch alone at work.
Today’s a trailer Episode 17 mostly featuring the audio feedback that was sent in leading up to the launch of season 2. There was however also some written feedback too that I got from one – Karina in Berlin that ties in directly with what Myra said about freedom to multitask while using the content. So I’ll make quick mention. Karina said that she listens and I quote “after dinner or after the baby has gone to bed, OR – while playing a game which doesn’t need any brainpower.”
That’s convenience and adaptability for you.
In addition to saying that – I suppose after listening to the very popular Episode 14, she said that she didn’t recognise that: That it could in fact – actually be against company policy to use online translators due to privacy issues. So I’d invite you to give a listen to episode 14 as well. Karina she says that: School English alone is not suitable for real life, and that she is not the only one who feels that way….
So again, while the English Coach Podcast never pretends to be any kind
of perfect substitute to your preferred or prescribed learning experience – it
plays very well – as a viable supplement to your whole learning Experience.
One that you can easily integrate into your everyday life – and listen
whenever you want.
Doreen speaks
Doreen is a young mother of a lovely son, and she’s employed in industry.
She’s also a past course participant of mine. I love to talk about the fact
that who I am really doing this for is my people – reason being that I’ve
already tried to be everything for everybody and failed by my own standards. Doreen’s feedback clearly tells me that I
should keep on doing what it is that I am doing, exactly the way that I’m doing
it – well maybe with a few improvements.
Thank you Doreen.
As I’ve said on previous occasions I can’t say for sure how long this
initiative will continue, a lot of it depends on the feedback that I get from
you. At any rate, this whole initiative – all of season one, together with
everything planned the upcoming season 2 – has never been about someone else’s
notion of perfection – but about progress, practicality – for normal people,
with names and normal faces – tools and tips that work – and it is comforting
to know that Doreen for one has identified this Podcast offering – as something
that can help her improve going forward.
Like it if you like it and if you don’t, lie to me =) but still – feel free to share it with a friend, post a rating, or better yet – give meaning to the things you think about the show, by using the feedback form to tell me personally what you think – this will all help it to help you – as it is intended to do. Subscribe only if you feel like – so you know when there’s a new episode available.
Thanks for listening, looking forward to hearing from you – and
Shownotes – English Coach Podcast – The Lived Experience
I couldn’t help but notice that you have already started to react most to the story telling element of this Podcast based of course, on the episodes listened to, downloaded and shared most to date. Thank you for that. Now, truth be told, I am not a professional story teller. Your feedback, according to my expectations at least – shouldn’t really be based on interest in my standard bla-bla about myself, I was expecting more questions about your learning experience…. Life is however full of paradoxes, contradictions, juxtapositions, contrasts and duplicities – however you might choose to put it – things might change. And since this whole initiative is still intended to focus on learning experience, for what it’s, worth I’ll run with that – albeit unexpected interest based on the feedback I’ve received from you.
After getting to episode 10, I am at any rate compelled to reflect, on what I am doing and why.
The frame is the same.
As you all know by now, I teach English for work – under separate cover. This
here is what I like to call spoken word media, made with you in mind, meaning
that I am doing this to serve my community of learners, a more relaxed space –
where we both give ourselves permission to relax a little and dance with the
language…
The English Coach Podcast is still freely available to everyone yes, but it is not an attempt to be everything for everybody. I have tried that before and failed by my own standards. I like to call this a fresh and exciting democratization of the learning experience, because you are encouraged all the time to choose your own sources of learning. You get to make suggestions of what you would like to hear if you want – and I get to keep my own creative freedom to essentially do whatever I want. That way both of us get to affect how the show develops through dialog – which involves your feedback and my working with your feedback as it comes.
There are many things about this podcast initiative that are counter-intuitive – such as the free part. That aspect has already been met with skepticism and its fair amount of cynicism – it’s human. Still as I reflect on these things today, the three main causes that drive this initiative are still very clear to me. One of which is something that I mention quite often – “the democratization of the learning experience”. This ties in directly to the notion of self-education. Maybe I build on this this story telling aspect some more – with an introduction to another one of my own self-education experiences.
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