Beyond vocabulary, syntax, and grammar, language is a way to reopen the world.
In this episode, business coach, language expert, polyglot, author, and host of the Fluent Show, Kerstin Cable, makes a practical case for learning at any age, and on any budget. We get honest about app culture (why Duolingo streaks don’t equal fluency), the myth of “immersion or bust,” and how a simple habit system can carry you further than motivation ever will.
Kerstin shares how to design “daily contact” with your target language, why intrinsic motivation matters more than time on the clock, and how to turn AI into a patient training partner rather than a distraction. We dig into mnemonics that actually stick, the brain-health upside of learning, and a bigger truth: identity rides in our voices—and power often decides which accents get called “educated.”
If you’ve fallen off Spanish (same), or you’ve wondered how to start again without burning out, this one gives you a plan you can use today. Less parroting, more pattern recognition. Less pressure, more play. And a reminder that learning another language isn’t just a skill—it’s a way to live more widely.
Guest Bio
Kerstin Cable is a language learning coach, writer, and podcaster based in England. A native German speaker who has studied 10+ languages (and fell in love with Welsh), she created The Fluent Show (240+ episodes), co-founded Women in Language, and runs AI Language Club, where learners use practical, low-friction AI workflows to personalize practice. Kerstin’s approach blends habit design, realistic planning, and self-compassion—helping adults build daily contact, leverage mnemonics and roots, and develop true fluency without chasing streaks. She’s been featured by BBC World Service, Süddeutsche Zeitung, Bloomberg Businessweek, and The Cut.
Guest Links
* www.fluent.show/hosts/kerstin
* www.youtube.com/fluentlanguage
What You’ll Hear
* Why streaks ≠ fluency—and what to track instead
* “Daily contact” over daily grind: habit design that sticks
* Intrinsic motivation > willpower (how to find your “why”)
* The language habit system: goals, four core skills, accountability
* Mnemonics and linguistic roots that turbocharge memory
* The myth of immersion—and a better path to fluency
* Using AI without overwhelm (and why AI doesn’t judge)
* Safe spaces, “silent periods,” and pushing your edge wisely
* Accent bias, class, and why “one correct accent” is a trap
* Welsh joy, world peace: language as connection (not performance)
Show Notes
* Kerstin’s practical definition of fluency (patterns + grace) — 15:32–16:34
* App critique (habits vs real-life mapping; “useless sentences”) — 11:46–13:31
* “Daily contact” menu (texts, shows, micro-reading, drills) — 06:15–08:07
* Intrinsic motivation (fun, specific goals; 30-day challenge) — 08:07–09:39
* Language Habit System (listening, reading, speaking, writing; weekly) — 42:50–44:22
* Mnemonics that work (imagery + roots; simple CSV workflow) — 25:51–27:56
* Brain benefits (neuroplasticity; cognitive cross-training) — 17:21–17:50
* AI as patient sparring partner (prompts, tutorials, judgment-free) — 12:50–13:05; 20:22–23:33; 49:00–49:12
* Safe-space strategy (practice where failure is cheap; silent period) — 46:50–49:12
* Accent & power (permissive stance; bias shapes “correctness”) — 57:50–58:07; 1:01:41–1:01:56; 1:02:33–1:02:39
* “Immersion” without moving (structure first; stop parroting) — 16:58–17:06
* Community & accountability (tutors, exchanges, avoid overcorrection) — 42:50–44:22; 45:49–46:22; 52:30–53:10
Recording Details
Recorded: November 3, 2025Locations (Remote Recording) with Simo in Belize and Kerstin in England
If you enjoy this podcast, you might also like the A Foreign Perspective, Foreigner501, Foreign Tales, the Lili Art Blog, or my award-winning book Home in Good Hands.
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