The LingQ Podcasts, a series of podcasts in ten languages
I should bring people's attention to the LingQ series of language podcasts, which are available for free download. These podcasts consist mostly of casual conversations, and the transcripts are to be found in the LingQ library.
If you visit the EnglishLingQ website you will find links to the individual podcast series, for English, French, Spanish (mostly from Argentina), Mandarin, Japanese, German, Swedish, Italian, Russian, and Portuguese (mostly from Portugal).
We are constantly looking to improve these. All comments are welcome. There are natural conversations and not lessons, so to speak. When studied in combination with LingQ, it is possible for intermediate and better learners to use these podcasts to improve their language skills.
Would it be possible for you to expand the series to incorporate more languages? Or even just a podcast of people speaking any language they like about any topic. It would be great to get onto a podcast and hear somebody speaking Czech, as almost no podcast has such a thing. It may not reach out to many people or be extremely popular, but I would sure appreciate it. I'm sure you could find people who speak languages (especially ones that LingQ doesn't offer) to speak for 10 or so minutes and submit it to you.
Thanks.
Posted by: John | November 06, 2009 at 04:35 PM
We only have podcasts for languages that are offered at LingQ. We offer the podcasts are a means to attract people to LingQ.
Why would, we or anyone else, produce a podcast that, as you put it, does not reach out to many people?
But there are people interested in Czech podcasts. I am sure there are podcasts in Czech, for Czech people, and when we have Czech at LingQ we will try to use them in our library. We may also engage someone to produce a CzechLingQ podcast at that time.
Posted by: Steve Kaufmann | November 06, 2009 at 05:13 PM
I would really love to see more Portuguese LingQ episodes added as there are far fewer episodes in this language than in others such as Italian or Spanish. I have studied all 21 and enjoyed them, now just wishing there were more. Thanks!!!
Posted by: Janna | November 06, 2009 at 09:37 PM
Janna,
We have found new podcasters from Portugal and if you go to PortugueseLingQ you will find a new episode. I have also asked Mario and Luiz to look at doing some from Brazil. We are trying. They do not all continue.
Posted by: Steve Kaufmann | November 06, 2009 at 09:42 PM
I've always thought that these conversations are one of the best features of LingQ and the transcripts for the conversations are a fairly rare thing on the web. It's just a pity there is nothing similar on a simpler level for beginners upwards.
Posted by: Kevin Geoghegan | November 07, 2009 at 08:17 AM
We have beginner content at LingQ, often available in parallel in different languages. It is more difficult to have natural conversations for beginners. However, I think our beginner content in various languages is not bad.
Yes I agree we should try to make more beginner podcasts available.
Posted by: Steve Kaufmann | November 07, 2009 at 08:23 AM
I can't wait until lingq starts podcasts in other languages :)
Posted by: chris/blindside70 | November 07, 2009 at 05:24 PM
Personally, in finding LingQ I truly believe I have saved myself a great deal of time..and possibly even failure. It just works, and the podcasts and advice from Steve have made me aware of the fact, the FACT, that at no time during the course of the aquisition of a language does it have to be a chore. ALL the time, if one choses the right method for themselves, can be enjoyable and be classified a 'leisure' activity. That is now my personally philosopy in regards to languages.
I prefer the earlier (FrenchLingQ) podcasts with Henry and Steve, simply because I find them more interesting, and I prefer their voices and phrasing. Long live LingQ!
Posted by: Daniel Poole | November 08, 2009 at 12:38 PM
Steve,
To edit my post above, maybe you could open a podcast where people (members) could speak in their own languages about LingQ. Whether or not the language is offered by LingQ doesn't really matter, because they would be promoting LingQ to anybody who might listen. They could speak about what is offered by your program and what they have accomplished by using it. Sort of like how you were asking people to write reviews for LingQ in their blogs.
Czech was just something to think about for when you get a chance to expand LingQ to more languages. ;)
Thanks.
Posted by: John | November 08, 2009 at 01:54 PM
We would love to have people Podcast about LingQ. Everything takes time to set up and manage. WE are not going to get involved in this right now. But if you can podcast about us, and attract new members, you can earn points, which can even be converted into cash.
Posted by: Steve Kaufmann | November 08, 2009 at 02:24 PM
John, are you learning Czech or YOU ARE Czech?
audiobooks
ebooks
phrasebook with audio
Flashcards
...in case you're a learner and until Lingq expands to Czech. :o)
Posted by: Igor | November 08, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Thank you, Igor! I've been searching and searching for decent Czech resources. That helps a lot. Thanks.
Posted by: John | November 09, 2009 at 02:12 PM
I know you've been searching. Apart from the phrasebook and flashcards the rest of the resources were rather "hidden" than shared on the web. I found them over one Czech learning site for Russian learners after days of digging.
Check the "The Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy, 1981"
or Edgar Rice Burroughs' Mars, Pellucidar and Tazran series cool little books together with their English original.
Best of luck to you!
Posted by: Igor | November 09, 2009 at 04:07 PM
Yet again Igor, thank you.
Posted by: John | November 10, 2009 at 01:49 PM