Lesson Transcript

Chigusa: Welcome to a special Inner Circle Audio Lesson! I'm Chigusa and I'll be your host. My co-host today is the founder of InnovativeLanguage.com... Peter Galante!
Peter: Hi everyone! Peter here.
Chigusa: In this Inner Circle, we’re talking about tipping points.
Peter: In other words, how they'll bring you closer to your language goals and to fluency.
Chigusa: You’ll learn...
Peter: One: Exactly why tipping points are crucial for confidence and language learning.
Chigusa: Two: How you can tell when you’re reaching one...
Peter: ...And Three: How I reached my tipping points this month with Korean.
Chigusa: All so that you can master your target language and reach your goals.
Chigusa: Listeners, welcome back to the Inner Circle.
Peter: Last time, you learned about the power of making mistakes...
Chigusa: ...and how making language mistakes in public is a powerful way to learn fast.
Peter: And that’s one of those topics that’s... a little hard to talk about.
Chigusa: Why?
Peter: Well, I can tell you all about my mistakes and how they helped me learn. But when it comes to giving advice.... it’s hard to tell people to go make mistakes. I mean, you can tell them...?
Chigusa: Yeah, but they’ll never do it. It’s a big deal.
Peter: Exactly. It has to be a personal decision. You have to decide that “yes, I’m tired of not improving. And now, I don’t care if I make mistakes. I need to go talk to native speakers.”
Chigusa: I agree, Peter. It’s one of those things that you have to take action on.
Peter: But, when you reach that point where you decide to make mistakes and talk to natives, Chigusa, that’s a tipping point.
Chigusa: A tipping point? You’ll have to explain that.
Peter: I will, and that’s the topic of today’s Inner Circle.
Chigusa: How Tipping Points Will Bring You Closer To Your Language Goals.
Peter: Let’s jump into part 1.
Chigusa: Part 1 - Why tipping points are crucial for confidence and language learning.
Chigusa: Alright. So what’s a tipping point?
Peter: So, a tipping point is a point that you reach or a small victory. And it gives you confidence that you’re going to make it. It’s a signal that you’re on the right track.
Chigusa: For example?
Peter: So, here’s a non-language example. Imagine... a gym on Friday night.
Chigusa: Alright...
Peter: And not at 5PM. I mean at 10PM. Chigusa, what does it look like to you?
Chigusa: It looks empty to me! Like a library on a Friday night.
Peter: Someone studied hard, Chigusa. Well, Chigusa, if you’ve ever been to a gym on a Friday night, there’s a very interesting group of people. What kind of people do you think would be there?
Chigusa: Hmm, people with canceled plans and nowhere to go?
Peter: Okay, understandable, but believe it or not, the most fit people you’ll EVER see, are there on Friday night.
Chigusa: I would never have guessed that. But, I suppose it makes sense.
Peter: It does. They’re the most committed. And the first time I went to the gym on a Friday, I knew “I’m going to make it.”
Chigusa: Ah, yeah, of all the things you could be doing on a Friday night, if you naturally decide to work on your fitness...
Peter: ...then that’s a good sign, I think. If fitness is your goal, that is a small victory.
Chigusa: It is! So, what about language learning?
Peter: It works the same way with languages.
Chigusa: So... if you end up studying on a Friday night?
Peter: Right, or if you’re taking language lessons with our Innovative Language 101 App...
Chigusa: ...instead of playing a game on your smartphone...
Peter: ...If you’re watching our Video Lessons on the site or on YouTube...
Chigusa: ...instead of watching TV in your free time.
Peter Or, Chigusa, like we talked about last month. If you decide to make mistakes and talk to native speakers...
Chigusa: ...instead of shying away...
Peter: ...These are all tipping points. It’s when you, your actions and your free time shift AWAY from usual routines like watching TV...
Chigusa: ...towards the goals you really want, like mastering a language.
Peter: That’s a tipping point.
Chigusa: Listeners, it’s crucial for your confidence and overall language learning.
Peter: It’s evidence that you’re on the right track and you’re going to make it.
Chigusa: Can you explain that? How is it evidence that you’re going to make it?
Peter: Great question, Chigusa. The answer is simple. Language learning is... it’s like life. It comes down to where you put in your time.
Chigusa: So, where you put most of your time is where you succeed?
Peter: Exactly. It’s like Malcolm Gladwell’s 10,000-hour rule. You need time. Languages don’t need 10,000 hours per se, but the principle’s the same. If someone spends an hour every day on language, and has done that for the past 2 years...
Chigusa: ...That’s a lot of time.
Peter: Right. So you can guarantee that this person is speaking the language with no problems.
Chigusa: Simply because of time they put in.
Peter: You got it!
Chigusa: That makes a lot of sense. So how can our listeners know they’re on the right track and reach these tipping points?
Peter: Let’s get into the second part.
Chigusa: Part 2: How you can tell when you’re reaching a tipping point...
Peter: Picture it like this. You’re learning a language in your free time. You have a small goal set.
Chigusa: Right.
Peter: Now, within your daily routines... you start making certain choices. By the way, do you remember? We talked about... “labeling time” in a previous Inner Circle.
Chigusa: Yes. How flight time is labeled as movie-watching time, for example.
Peter: And commutes are labeled as time “to do nothing and stare at your iPhone.”
Chigusa: Right, that’s a mistake most beginners make.
Peter: So, people with goals and interests label their time differently. They choose their tasks differently. Between watching TV and mastering a language...
Chigusa: ...they start putting more time into language.
Peter: Exactly. Because you’re interested, you choose language over something else. Imagine... last week, you started with 10 minutes of learning and 50 minutes of TV. Then, it grows. You spend 20 minutes on language, 40 on TV.
Chigusa: And then, 30 minutes, 40 minutes and soon it overtakes your typical routines.
Peter: Chigusa, that’s exactly how tipping points happen.
Chigusa: So listeners, take a look at how much time you spend on a language....
Peter: ...And take a look at your recent choices of activities.
Chigusa: If you’re choosing a language workbook over a typical book....
Peter: ...if you’re studying on a Friday night as a personal choice...
Chigusa: ...that’s how you know you’ve reached a tipping point.
Peter: And listeners, this is something you won’t notice immediately. Everyone starts small...
Chigusa: ...But when you find yourself choosing language over something else...
Peter: ...That’s a sign that you’re going to make it.
Chigusa: Peter, can our listeners actually try and reach these tipping points?
Peter: Definitely. It’s just a matter of putting in more time. Again, if you started with 10 minutes a day last week, bring yourself up to 20 minutes a day this week.
Chigusa: And keep going.
Peter: Listeners, simply adjust your routine and add more time.
Chigusa: We ask you to set small, measurable goals with a deadline, every month.
Peter: Aim a little higher with your next goal. Add an extra hour or day to your routines.
Chigusa: How about you, Peter? Did you have any tipping points this past month?
Peter: Let’s get into the 3rd point, Chigusa.
Chigusa: Part 3 - How Peter reached his tipping points with Korean.
Peter: You know, Chigusa, I had a few small victories. Here’s what happened.
Chigusa: Alright.
Peter: First, I’ve been going through my Korean grammar book in my free time.
Chigusa: Any reason for that?
Peter: Mostly because nowadays I’m thinking of my next Korean goal.
Chigusa: And I bet because there are 3 months left in the year.
Peter: 3 months. That too. Urgency helps. But now... between a regular book and improving my grammar...
Chigusa: You grab the Korean book.
Peter: I do. I grab the Korean book without thinking.
Chigusa: Oh, wow. What else?
Peter: Second, I used to check emails a lot on my commute. Now, I mostly use the Innovative Language 101 App. I check out the newest lessons.
Chigusa: Listeners, by the way, there’s a feature on the App....
Peter: It’s called “Newest Lessons” and gives you the newest lessons for free every week.
Chigusa: Listeners, be sure to check out our new free lessons.
Peter: Third, I swipe through my spaced repetition flashcards. I do this when I don’t want to do audio or video lessons.
Chigusa: So overall, you’re spending more time on Korean, right?
Peter: That’s right. And Chigusa, this is on TOP of my current study routines. So the fact that I’m leaning towards EXTRA study time for Korean...
Chigusa: ...you’re like one of those guys at the gym on a Friday night.
Peter: Yes, metaphorically. If you see a picture of me... yes. Not physically, metaphorically, I’m like one of those guys at the gym. And that’s a good sign. It gives me confidence that I’m on the right track.
Chigusa: Now, let's talk about your goals. I want to see if you’re really on the right track.
Peter: Wow, so strict. So, I promised 15 minutes of Korean conversation. And... I hit that.
Chigusa: Oh wow, okay. So, what about for next month? What’s your next goal?
Peter: For next month, let’s go for 17.
Chigusa: What’s the deadline?
Peter: October 31st.
Chigusa: Sounds good!
Peter: I actually wanted to reach 30 minutes by the end of December, but that may not be realistic now. So.. let’s see what we can do.
Chigusa: So, what are you thinking of?
Peter: Well, a little less than 30 minutes. Let’s see what we can do by December.
Chigusa: Okay. It’s good to adjust your expectations in these situations. Listeners, be sure to set your monthly goals as well.
Peter: And listeners, tell us.
Chigusa: Have you had a language learning tipping point?
Peter: Or are you close to one? Do you see your free time shift towards language learning?
Chigusa: Shoot us an email at inner dot circle at innovative language dot com.
Peter: And we’ll see you next month!
Chigusa: Well, that’s going to do it for this special Inner Circle lesson!
Peter: Bye. Everyone!
Chigusa: Thanks for listening, and we’ll see you next time.

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