WEBVTT 1 00:00:10.910 --> 00:00:11.347 Guess what? 2 00:00:11.847 --> 00:00:12.831 I'm moving country again. 3 00:00:14.152 --> 00:00:14.511 I don't know, 4 00:00:14.847 --> 00:00:15.472 maybe a year, 5 00:00:15.855 --> 00:00:16.433 maybe more. 6 00:00:17.417 --> 00:00:17.964 Where's home? 7 00:00:18.292 --> 00:00:19.136 Home's everywhere. 8 00:00:19.886 --> 00:00:20.480 I'm an expat. 9 00:00:23.074 --> 00:00:25.745 It's Pauline from Meet the Expats and today 10 00:00:26.199 --> 00:00:30.074 I meet with Megan Nichols who is a language coach. 11 00:00:30.516 --> 00:00:32.217 currently based in Mexico. 12 00:00:32.456 --> 00:00:33.396 She previously moved to 13 00:00:34.137 --> 00:00:39.098 Germany in the past and is now a digital nomad teaching 14 00:00:39.441 --> 00:00:40.121 English abroad. 15 00:00:40.777 --> 00:00:41.301 Hi Megan, 16 00:00:41.340 --> 00:00:41.738 how are you? 17 00:00:42.301 --> 00:00:42.598 Hi, 18 00:00:42.621 --> 00:00:43.176 I'm really good. 19 00:00:43.262 --> 00:00:44.340 Thank you so much for having me. 20 00:00:45.098 --> 00:00:46.262 Thank you for joining. 21 00:00:47.074 --> 00:00:47.465 So yeah, 22 00:00:47.496 --> 00:00:53.762 excited to learn more about your journey and of course some tips about learning languages. 23 00:00:53.887 --> 00:00:54.621 This is a big... 24 00:00:55.052 --> 00:00:55.593 Big thing, 25 00:00:55.713 --> 00:01:00.339 a big challenge for expats when they move abroad to a country where they don't speak the language. 26 00:01:01.359 --> 00:01:04.120 Language is a big deal to actually feel comfortable. 27 00:01:05.245 --> 00:01:06.019 And it can be hard, 28 00:01:06.042 --> 00:01:07.066 it can be nerve wracking. 29 00:01:07.120 --> 00:01:09.886 So we'll definitely dive into some of your tips. 30 00:01:10.449 --> 00:01:10.964 Before 31 00:01:11.394 --> 00:01:15.691 I'll give you the floor so you can introduce yourself and tell us a bit more about your background. 32 00:01:16.816 --> 00:01:16.941 Yeah, 33 00:01:17.019 --> 00:01:17.722 thank you so much. 34 00:01:18.472 --> 00:01:18.597 So 35 00:01:18.972 --> 00:01:19.660 I'm from the UK. 36 00:01:20.691 --> 00:01:24.628 And I think I started learning my first language when I was four years old. 37 00:01:25.212 --> 00:01:29.455 I got taken to French lessons and it was all just a bit of a game for me. 38 00:01:29.479 --> 00:01:34.018 I didn't realize it was like a skill or anything I would use later in life. 39 00:01:35.799 --> 00:01:36.166 And yeah, 40 00:01:36.400 --> 00:01:38.502 now I have created my own business, 41 00:01:38.604 --> 00:01:39.627 Mega Language Coach, 42 00:01:40.049 --> 00:01:42.408 and living the digital nomad life, 43 00:01:42.424 --> 00:01:42.955 as you said, 44 00:01:43.252 --> 00:01:45.299 and loving traveling the world. 45 00:01:46.111 --> 00:01:46.408 Wow. 46 00:01:46.908 --> 00:01:48.752 So let's go back to when you were four. 47 00:01:48.939 --> 00:01:50.861 How did you, 48 00:01:50.862 --> 00:01:53.439 and you say I was taken to a French class. 49 00:01:55.317 --> 00:02:13.951 how did this come up like it doesn't come naturally that kids that age are just sent french class there has to be a reason behind it uh i don't know i think i was taken to lots of different activities which i'm really grateful it was kind of like with the ballet and the swimming it was just like another activity okay um 50 00:02:14.029 --> 00:02:23.420 extracurricular yeah and i took to it um i really enjoyed it don't have much choice when you're four but it was a happy coincidence i think 51 00:02:24.356 --> 00:02:24.496 Yeah, 52 00:02:25.117 --> 00:02:27.519 I just wouldn't think it would be the first choice, 53 00:02:27.520 --> 00:02:27.699 you know, 54 00:02:27.719 --> 00:02:28.519 when you're four. 55 00:02:30.824 --> 00:02:32.043 I'm going to do the same for my kids, 56 00:02:32.086 --> 00:02:32.586 so I don't know. 57 00:02:34.008 --> 00:02:34.265 I mean, 58 00:02:34.304 --> 00:02:44.422 I get it once you've gotten into it and it becomes your job in a way and you really enjoy that logic and the game around it. 59 00:02:44.812 --> 00:02:45.234 Why not? 60 00:02:46.140 --> 00:02:46.250 Yeah, 61 00:02:46.251 --> 00:02:46.531 absolutely. 62 00:02:46.532 --> 00:02:48.687 And you do see the value as an adult, 63 00:02:48.703 --> 00:02:49.156 of course. 64 00:02:50.187 --> 00:02:50.578 All right. 65 00:02:52.120 --> 00:02:52.280 Well, 66 00:02:52.420 --> 00:02:54.502 how did you first move to 67 00:02:55.344 --> 00:02:58.207 Germany and start that whole journey abroad? 68 00:02:59.387 --> 00:02:59.508 Yeah, 69 00:02:59.547 --> 00:03:02.188 I was looking back the other day and it's been about 10 years now, 70 00:03:02.289 --> 00:03:04.750 which is terrifying, 71 00:03:04.773 --> 00:03:05.852 but it's also flown by, 72 00:03:05.992 --> 00:03:07.914 as I'm sure you can relate to with any traveler. 73 00:03:09.234 --> 00:03:09.359 So 74 00:03:09.938 --> 00:03:15.203 I took a gap year after my A-levels in the UK before going to university. 75 00:03:16.078 --> 00:03:16.562 And 76 00:03:16.922 --> 00:03:21.344 I wanted to go abroad and work and get some life skills and get some experience. 77 00:03:21.804 --> 00:03:25.947 So I was an au pair for a family in Germany for nine months. 78 00:03:26.470 --> 00:03:28.329 And that was how it all started. 79 00:03:28.591 --> 00:03:29.673 I went to night school. 80 00:03:30.232 --> 00:03:31.771 So I was speaking English with the kids. 81 00:03:31.872 --> 00:03:34.576 And then I went to night school to help my German. 82 00:03:35.318 --> 00:03:35.458 Yeah. 83 00:03:35.958 --> 00:03:39.583 How is learning German compared to learning French? 84 00:03:39.646 --> 00:03:41.099 I want to say not learning English, 85 00:03:41.349 --> 00:03:41.771 of course. 86 00:03:43.271 --> 00:03:43.427 Yeah, 87 00:03:43.521 --> 00:03:45.630 German is a whole different ballgame. 88 00:03:46.927 --> 00:03:48.786 I'm sure some of your listeners can relate. 89 00:03:49.505 --> 00:03:49.755 it's 90 00:03:50.124 --> 00:04:15.234 really different to a lot of the romance languages that um are typically seen as easier like spanish or french or italian german i love it and i'm a big advocate for it because i think it gets a bad reputation um but yeah you have you have to be dedicated to the grammar to to enjoy that challenge yeah and the mindset around that whole grammar logic it feels very different okay 91 00:04:15.297 --> 00:04:18.718 so nine months abroad as an au pair you're 92 00:04:19.200 --> 00:04:35.944 discovering life new culture and life abroad within the family so I guess you have a bit more of a deeper understanding of the culture I'd say the immersion is probably bigger than when you're a 93 00:04:35.975 --> 00:04:47.584 student moving abroad with all the internationals at the same time yeah I was so grateful that it was like a host family and they would take me to different events you know I had like carnival and things I would never 94 00:04:48.140 --> 00:04:49.462 have done probably on my own. 95 00:04:50.183 --> 00:04:52.787 So that was a good kind of scaffolding or support network. 96 00:04:52.947 --> 00:04:56.779 And how did you feel and sort of, 97 00:04:56.958 --> 00:04:57.701 I want to say, 98 00:04:58.857 --> 00:05:00.044 soak up all that? 99 00:05:00.780 --> 00:05:04.204 culture or the discovery? 100 00:05:04.205 --> 00:05:10.993 I'm not gonna lie it was hard because it was my first like proper time abroad so I did have a lot of homesickness 101 00:05:11.767 --> 00:05:18.111 I did kind of think what am I doing it was at that time in my life when everybody else I knew had gone straight to university so 102 00:05:18.533 --> 00:05:29.533 I was definitely the odd one out but as like as I experienced it more and more I realized the value of it and Germany was 103 00:05:30.652 --> 00:05:40.920 really important politically at the time for Europe and centrally located so I could see like how this would play out long term and I thought that the culture and the understanding would be valuable. 104 00:05:41.904 --> 00:05:47.990 Okay so what was your next step after that being an au pair? 105 00:05:49.396 --> 00:05:58.287 I had a quick stay in the south of France doing a language immersion program for the summer and then I went to university to study languages and business languages okay yeah 106 00:05:59.789 --> 00:06:02.992 and there's a compulsory third year abroad so I split that between 107 00:06:04.012 --> 00:06:05.094 Germany and France. 108 00:06:05.113 --> 00:06:08.781 And so you were studying those two languages in? 109 00:06:10.359 --> 00:06:24.219 Yeah absolutely and yeah I loved it and then I went back to Germany but this time I was teaching English so that was kind of a role reversal and I really enjoyed that getting my TEFL qualification and 110 00:06:24.220 --> 00:06:27.641 in France I was in a chocolate factory and Disneyland Paris so. 111 00:06:30.644 --> 00:06:32.304 I had the whole spectrum of experiences. 112 00:06:32.387 --> 00:06:32.547 Okay, 113 00:06:32.707 --> 00:06:35.504 let's start with the teaching English in 114 00:06:36.402 --> 00:06:37.144 Germany then. 115 00:06:37.910 --> 00:06:41.707 As someone who is learning languages, 116 00:06:41.847 --> 00:06:47.824 I can imagine teaching your native language is maybe a different approach. 117 00:06:48.308 --> 00:06:54.183 And how did you sort of switch from learning to being able to explain? 118 00:06:54.552 --> 00:06:55.953 the reasons and the grammar, 119 00:06:56.133 --> 00:06:56.555 et cetera, 120 00:06:59.196 --> 00:07:00.219 of your native language. 121 00:07:01.117 --> 00:07:01.239 Yeah, 122 00:07:01.297 --> 00:07:01.778 absolutely. 123 00:07:01.821 --> 00:07:05.043 I think there's the incorrect assumption that if you're a native speaker, 124 00:07:05.121 --> 00:07:06.403 then you can teach it instantly. 125 00:07:08.309 --> 00:07:09.887 Or that you can translate all the text, 126 00:07:09.965 --> 00:07:10.231 you know. 127 00:07:10.621 --> 00:07:12.606 I've had both of those thrown at me. 128 00:07:13.746 --> 00:07:15.090 I think the TEFL course that I did, 129 00:07:15.091 --> 00:07:16.106 120 hours, 130 00:07:16.559 --> 00:07:18.590 was really helpful to give that foundation. 131 00:07:18.809 --> 00:07:20.371 Because if you ask a native speaker, 132 00:07:20.512 --> 00:07:20.637 oh, 133 00:07:20.731 --> 00:07:22.262 why does this grammar rule exist? 134 00:07:22.559 --> 00:07:23.121 And they'll be like, 135 00:07:23.122 --> 00:07:23.825 what grammar rule? 136 00:07:24.008 --> 00:07:26.270 They don't even know what you're talking about. 137 00:07:26.290 --> 00:07:26.591 They're like, 138 00:07:26.632 --> 00:07:26.751 oh, 139 00:07:26.752 --> 00:07:27.331 it just is. 140 00:07:28.534 --> 00:07:28.651 So 141 00:07:29.073 --> 00:07:33.315 I didn't want to give that experience to the kids who I was teaching in their school. 142 00:07:33.495 --> 00:07:35.518 I wanted to be able to give them the answers, 143 00:07:37.018 --> 00:07:42.573 especially to the logical Germans where everything has a rule and English is not like that at all. 144 00:07:44.136 --> 00:07:44.245 So, 145 00:07:44.589 --> 00:07:44.807 yeah, 146 00:07:44.808 --> 00:07:48.386 it was definitely challenging to kind of have that flip, 147 00:07:49.432 --> 00:07:50.432 but I really enjoyed it. 148 00:07:51.520 --> 00:07:51.800 Okay, 149 00:07:52.000 --> 00:07:53.061 and did you feel, 150 00:07:53.340 --> 00:07:53.600 I mean, 151 00:07:54.121 --> 00:07:57.082 you hadn't taught English before in another country then, 152 00:07:57.223 --> 00:07:58.340 or in England. 153 00:07:58.481 --> 00:07:58.703 Okay, 154 00:07:58.723 --> 00:08:01.160 so it was the first time really teaching Germans. 155 00:08:01.863 --> 00:08:04.246 Did you feel that cultural difference, 156 00:08:05.106 --> 00:08:07.223 apart from the language that obviously they were learning? 157 00:08:09.324 --> 00:08:10.981 Not so much the first time I did it, 158 00:08:11.012 --> 00:08:12.184 because it was children. 159 00:08:12.871 --> 00:08:15.590 And I think they're naturally very inquisitive and very curious, 160 00:08:15.653 --> 00:08:17.809 and they see like the excitement in learning. 161 00:08:18.512 --> 00:08:20.324 But when I went back during the pandemic, 162 00:08:20.508 --> 00:08:32.831 I was teaching business English mainly to bankers and then I did see a bit more of a cultural difference this kind of mindset that because they're adults that they have to have it all together and that frustration 163 00:08:33.854 --> 00:08:49.807 I don't think it's unique to Germans but that was probably the difference I think it's a lot more of a struggle learning a new language as an adult and seeing that suddenly you you can't speak and you can't express yourself which probably is one of the biggest challenges for expats. 164 00:08:50.036 --> 00:09:05.209 each time they don't have that language is they often say it it's as if I'm starting from scratch as a kid and I just don't know my my way around or the rules or or anything yeah 165 00:09:05.374 --> 00:09:17.811 exactly and that can be very frustrating and it can feel humiliating because a lot of my clients or students are experts in their own field and they're very very intelligent people but then they can't communicate what they did at the weekend. 166 00:09:18.000 --> 00:09:23.940 and I can totally understand why that would feel like some kind of power has been taken away. 167 00:09:24.783 --> 00:09:24.943 Yeah. 168 00:09:25.580 --> 00:09:35.983 And so how do you approach this with these clients in order to sort of help build that confidence? 169 00:09:37.639 --> 00:09:37.811 Yeah, 170 00:09:37.967 --> 00:09:38.451 absolutely. 171 00:09:38.529 --> 00:09:39.717 So a lot of the time they say, 172 00:09:39.904 --> 00:09:40.998 I want to be more confident. 173 00:09:41.701 --> 00:09:43.248 And when we dig down a little deeper, 174 00:09:43.249 --> 00:09:45.592 we realize it's actually nothing to do with the language. 175 00:09:45.733 --> 00:09:46.842 It's a mindset. 176 00:09:47.332 --> 00:09:51.060 And it's a skill and how we develop these confidence tools. 177 00:09:51.638 --> 00:09:53.064 So we look at body language, 178 00:09:53.083 --> 00:09:56.470 we look at limiting beliefs, 179 00:09:56.548 --> 00:09:58.149 we look at learned helplessness. 180 00:09:58.774 --> 00:10:01.939 Lots of different tools which then they can apply to different areas of their life. 181 00:10:02.748 --> 00:10:04.830 What's learned helplessness? 182 00:10:04.831 --> 00:10:09.455 So it's when your brain kind of sees a pattern that you couldn't do something for so many times, 183 00:10:09.533 --> 00:10:11.014 and then it believes that you can't do it. 184 00:10:11.615 --> 00:10:12.576 So you have this like, 185 00:10:12.881 --> 00:10:13.021 oh, 186 00:10:13.100 --> 00:10:13.256 well, 187 00:10:13.537 --> 00:10:15.076 I wasn't able to do it for three times, 188 00:10:15.077 --> 00:10:16.662 so now I'll never be able to do it again. 189 00:10:18.021 --> 00:10:18.998 And then we get stuck in that. 190 00:10:19.045 --> 00:10:20.389 So it's like unlearning it. 191 00:10:21.092 --> 00:10:22.326 Whereas kids traditionally, 192 00:10:22.654 --> 00:10:23.936 they fall down five times, 193 00:10:23.982 --> 00:10:24.717 they'll get up six. 194 00:10:25.514 --> 00:10:27.373 They don't have that kind of hesitancy. 195 00:10:27.779 --> 00:10:28.232 Exactly. 196 00:10:29.092 --> 00:10:32.154 So I try and encourage embracing your inner child in that. 197 00:10:32.292 --> 00:10:43.036 aspect interesting yeah so it goes way beyond just the language the technique the grammar um it's interesting that you you say this I think it's the first time 198 00:10:43.794 --> 00:10:56.770 I've I think I've always heard of it people going to traditional classes but never really blending that real coaching piece that goes indeed with the the confidence buildings yeah 199 00:10:57.551 --> 00:11:00.880 I think there is a big difference between language lessons and language coaching. 200 00:11:02.040 --> 00:11:07.047 and I'm trying to explain the difference because it's not just about the language. 201 00:11:07.105 --> 00:11:12.109 Like they are transferable skills that we can use in hopefully all other aspects of our life. 202 00:11:12.110 --> 00:11:12.328 You know, 203 00:11:12.329 --> 00:11:18.750 I've had clients say that they've succeeded in presentations in their native language because of the tools that we've learned. 204 00:11:18.751 --> 00:11:19.656 So that's really rewarding. 205 00:11:19.657 --> 00:11:20.031 Nice. 206 00:11:20.032 --> 00:11:20.172 Yeah. 207 00:11:20.203 --> 00:11:23.969 All right. 208 00:11:23.970 --> 00:11:27.547 So you were teaching in Germany and... 209 00:11:27.844 --> 00:11:29.846 Now you are currently in Mexico. 210 00:11:30.107 --> 00:11:31.588 You've become a digital nomad. 211 00:11:31.748 --> 00:11:35.611 Talk us through that transition of lifestyle, 212 00:11:35.994 --> 00:11:37.455 teaching in a school, 213 00:11:38.533 --> 00:11:39.455 day-to-day kids, 214 00:11:39.494 --> 00:11:39.916 adults, 215 00:11:39.978 --> 00:11:42.017 and how you make that move. 216 00:11:42.221 --> 00:11:42.377 Yeah, 217 00:11:42.416 --> 00:11:44.197 it wasn't so easy as that. 218 00:11:44.760 --> 00:11:46.978 The pandemic stopped lots of travel. 219 00:11:47.900 --> 00:11:51.963 So that was kind of a forced choice rather than having much control over it. 220 00:11:52.728 --> 00:11:53.463 But in between, 221 00:11:53.510 --> 00:11:56.525 I worked on cruise ships and I was traveling a lot. 222 00:11:57.737 --> 00:12:00.860 And I got exposed to a lot more different cultures and languages, 223 00:12:00.899 --> 00:12:01.741 which was exciting. 224 00:12:02.581 --> 00:12:04.362 And to improve my Spanish, 225 00:12:04.382 --> 00:12:06.163 I then came to Mexico for a little bit. 226 00:12:07.108 --> 00:12:08.124 And yeah, 227 00:12:08.163 --> 00:12:09.429 the same week I moved here, 228 00:12:09.444 --> 00:12:09.889 I was like, 229 00:12:09.929 --> 00:12:10.046 OK, 230 00:12:10.452 --> 00:12:11.554 I'm going to start my own business. 231 00:12:11.929 --> 00:12:12.632 This is the time. 232 00:12:13.850 --> 00:12:13.975 So 233 00:12:14.850 --> 00:12:19.741 I'm not sure if I would recommend it to anybody else that's listening because there's a lot of change at once. 234 00:12:20.132 --> 00:12:23.257 But anybody knows me knows that I don't do anything by half. 235 00:12:23.397 --> 00:12:26.319 So I was I was going to give it all a chance. 236 00:12:27.228 --> 00:12:27.689 And yeah, 237 00:12:27.709 --> 00:12:28.369 I haven't looked back. 238 00:12:28.490 --> 00:12:30.771 So I guess something went right. 239 00:12:31.591 --> 00:12:31.771 Yeah, 240 00:12:31.994 --> 00:12:32.474 probably. 241 00:12:33.353 --> 00:12:34.357 So why Mexico? 242 00:12:35.420 --> 00:12:35.756 Obviously, 243 00:12:35.818 --> 00:12:36.435 to Spanish, 244 00:12:36.436 --> 00:12:37.920 you were trying to improve. 245 00:12:37.959 --> 00:12:42.326 But had you looked at other destinations? 246 00:12:42.420 --> 00:12:46.131 And did you sort of know you were going to, 247 00:12:47.412 --> 00:12:52.709 I imagine you had a little bit in the back of your mind that you were going to build a business at some point? 248 00:12:53.396 --> 00:12:53.536 Yeah, 249 00:12:53.636 --> 00:12:55.337 it's been on the back burner for a while. 250 00:12:55.338 --> 00:12:58.057 It wasn't just a spontaneous decision one Tuesday morning. 251 00:12:58.659 --> 00:12:59.358 That was your time. 252 00:13:00.557 --> 00:13:00.678 Yeah, 253 00:13:00.717 --> 00:13:01.635 I love the sunshine. 254 00:13:01.995 --> 00:13:04.057 I don't do well with the UK weather. 255 00:13:05.581 --> 00:13:06.659 When I was on the cruise ship, 256 00:13:06.878 --> 00:13:07.917 I met my partner there, 257 00:13:08.362 --> 00:13:09.042 who's Mexican. 258 00:13:09.120 --> 00:13:13.839 So it felt like a natural transition at that time. 259 00:13:14.979 --> 00:13:15.385 All right. 260 00:13:16.214 --> 00:13:18.776 And you've been there for how long now? 261 00:13:19.745 --> 00:13:20.245 Just over a year. 262 00:13:20.948 --> 00:13:21.307 A year. 263 00:13:21.928 --> 00:13:22.248 Alright, 264 00:13:22.349 --> 00:13:24.229 how's the settling in? 265 00:13:25.171 --> 00:13:26.093 How has that been? 266 00:13:28.413 --> 00:13:33.397 It's never felt like settling in for me because I knew that we were just going to be here for a while. 267 00:13:33.538 --> 00:13:35.304 So actually at the end of this month, 268 00:13:35.499 --> 00:13:38.210 I'm leaving and we're applying for Spanish visas. 269 00:13:38.788 --> 00:13:43.413 So I think it's been challenging in the fact that I knew it was temporary from the outset. 270 00:13:43.882 --> 00:13:47.116 And I think a lot of expats when they go abroad, 271 00:13:47.554 --> 00:13:51.335 they're trying to make that their forever home or at least for a long time. 272 00:13:51.824 --> 00:13:52.504 work contract. 273 00:13:55.005 --> 00:13:55.384 I don't know, 274 00:13:55.385 --> 00:13:58.804 I have that maybe the idea that it's a bit more permanent, 275 00:13:59.265 --> 00:14:00.410 whereas I knew this wasn't. 276 00:14:00.527 --> 00:14:00.644 So 277 00:14:01.886 --> 00:14:06.808 I knew I would be making friends to leave them and I would be getting into a routine to stop it. 278 00:14:07.988 --> 00:14:09.269 But I've honestly loved it. 279 00:14:09.332 --> 00:14:13.128 It's been a really good experience linguistically and culturally. 280 00:14:13.347 --> 00:14:13.503 Yeah. 281 00:14:13.972 --> 00:14:20.675 And so do you feel that having that deadline of one year that put limits in terms of what you were 282 00:14:22.188 --> 00:14:25.809 I want to say how you were going to enjoy your relationships. 283 00:14:25.829 --> 00:14:26.190 As you say, 284 00:14:26.210 --> 00:14:27.928 it was harder to make friends, 285 00:14:28.088 --> 00:14:32.749 but was it in a way yourself holding back or also others, 286 00:14:32.788 --> 00:14:34.530 which I understand I've heard this before and 287 00:14:35.233 --> 00:14:35.671 I get it. 288 00:14:35.733 --> 00:14:37.389 I've sort of asked that question, 289 00:14:37.467 --> 00:14:39.311 how long are you here for? 290 00:14:39.389 --> 00:14:43.374 And that sort of decides how much that person's going to invest in you. 291 00:14:43.999 --> 00:14:44.139 Yeah, 292 00:14:44.186 --> 00:14:44.686 absolutely. 293 00:14:44.733 --> 00:14:45.671 It goes both ways. 294 00:14:45.858 --> 00:14:51.655 I'm living in a place where it's very transient and people come and go and there are lots of digital nomads and people. 295 00:14:52.197 --> 00:15:01.073 that are just here maybe for the winter months so I think the community is kind of very used to this yeah temporary state but 296 00:15:01.549 --> 00:15:03.495 I tried to see the positive side of it that it's 297 00:15:04.146 --> 00:15:15.507 got the time limit on it so it's made me go okay what's everything I want to do in a year you know I wrote yeah I'm a big list maker yeah I wrote a big list of everything I want to see in Mexico and all the things that I want to do 298 00:15:16.390 --> 00:15:17.726 I'm like taking them off and like okay 299 00:15:18.226 --> 00:15:29.671 I've really made the most of this experience so yeah but that's great because I think it's something that when an expat goes in for long term sometimes there is a bit of that oh no I can 300 00:15:30.077 --> 00:15:31.859 I'll push that back because I'm here. 301 00:15:32.254 --> 00:15:49.864 until I don't know when and then suddenly when they do have that deadline they start squishing the whole bucket list within six months when they've been there for 10 you know yeah because you feel like it's forever so maybe you don't make the most of it as much yeah all right and so why was it that 302 00:15:49.911 --> 00:15:59.208 decision to only stay one year why so so limited in time um I think that I know I want to be in Europe more long term. 303 00:16:00.567 --> 00:16:00.958 It's been... 304 00:16:01.338 --> 00:16:17.751 a lot more difficult after brexit um with visas and residency but i think long term that's where i would like to be based so it was just kind of figuring that out giving like breathing time you know yeah all right interesting okay 305 00:16:18.236 --> 00:16:30.642 um maybe let's go back to the language piece so we talked a little bit about you helping people work on that the confidence piece the limits um the 306 00:16:31.782 --> 00:16:48.600 yeah helpless and all the beliefs and that we can have do you have any like practical tips on that confidence piece and then maybe we'll talk about more practical tips in terms of learning a language yeah 307 00:16:48.771 --> 00:17:00.709 I definitely encourage a growth mindset especially when I work with a lot of adults they think it's too late and they think that they can't do it and I think if you find a goal that will guide you. 308 00:17:01.846 --> 00:17:07.150 you let that be the thread that leads you instead of the fear of making the mistakes. 309 00:17:08.673 --> 00:17:14.115 So the goal of maybe not becoming fluent because that's unachievable and unrealistic. 310 00:17:14.880 --> 00:17:15.857 Sorry to burst the bubble, 311 00:17:16.318 --> 00:17:21.505 but maybe that you can order a coffee and do it all in the language. 312 00:17:21.630 --> 00:17:25.365 And then instead of the fear that you can't conjugate a verb in the conditional, 313 00:17:25.912 --> 00:17:30.896 you're not going to be worrying about that because you're going to worry about whether it's oat milk or almond milk, 314 00:17:30.897 --> 00:17:31.115 you know. 315 00:17:31.590 --> 00:17:38.515 And that goal is going to be fundamental into leading where you're taking your language and which journey it's going to take you. 316 00:17:39.441 --> 00:17:39.660 Okay, 317 00:17:39.715 --> 00:17:40.019 so yeah, 318 00:17:40.082 --> 00:17:41.277 more setting small, 319 00:17:41.558 --> 00:17:47.027 achievable goals where you can actually see the process and build that confidence from there. 320 00:17:47.582 --> 00:17:47.879 Yeah, 321 00:17:47.926 --> 00:17:49.207 language is made to be used, 322 00:17:49.582 --> 00:17:50.551 not just to be studied. 323 00:17:50.582 --> 00:17:51.973 It's not a theoretical thing. 324 00:17:52.223 --> 00:17:52.848 In my opinion, 325 00:17:52.957 --> 00:17:54.035 it's really practical. 326 00:17:54.660 --> 00:17:59.254 So if you're finding the joy in the practice rather than the dread in the study, 327 00:17:59.816 --> 00:18:01.082 I think you're going to enjoy it a lot. 328 00:18:01.166 --> 00:18:19.465 more and learn a lot more yeah and in terms of learning so there is that goal setting and being able to practice um but just in terms of perhaps getting i don't know specific logic or assimilating either maybe 329 00:18:19.543 --> 00:18:29.559 vocabulary or grammar what do you see work depending on personalities or traits yeah i think immersion is really key 330 00:18:30.078 --> 00:18:31.799 We talked about this when I was an au pair. 331 00:18:32.280 --> 00:18:33.782 And obviously it's not always possible. 332 00:18:34.661 --> 00:18:39.684 But there are so many things nowadays that you can do to really surround yourself in the language. 333 00:18:40.372 --> 00:18:44.536 I always encourage my clients to change their phone to the language that they're learning. 334 00:18:45.653 --> 00:18:46.919 Because we have this muscle memory. 335 00:18:46.950 --> 00:18:48.356 Like we know where the buttons are. 336 00:18:48.559 --> 00:18:51.262 We know like even a keyboard, 337 00:18:51.263 --> 00:18:51.497 you know. 338 00:18:52.044 --> 00:18:52.966 But we're just going to see it. 339 00:18:52.967 --> 00:18:54.341 The apps now are just visual. 340 00:18:55.200 --> 00:18:55.637 Right. 341 00:18:55.856 --> 00:18:57.762 But you're going to see those words and then you're going to be like. 342 00:18:57.870 --> 00:19:16.232 oh okay I know this is the word for download and you're going to learn it in a way that you're not even thinking about learning it so that's another like immersion technique you can watch any tv show or movie it might not be fully at first you can put the subtitles or 343 00:19:16.247 --> 00:19:21.669 you can listen to it in one language or the other but you would be doing those activities anyway 344 00:19:22.810 --> 00:19:26.357 I go to exercise classes and I that in the local language. 345 00:19:27.506 --> 00:19:28.946 And normally you have a visual cue. 346 00:19:28.986 --> 00:19:30.287 You're watching somebody else do it. 347 00:19:30.306 --> 00:19:31.445 They're giving the instructions. 348 00:19:31.488 --> 00:19:32.648 Everybody's doing the same thing. 349 00:19:33.066 --> 00:19:34.968 So you're not going to feel completely lost, 350 00:19:35.269 --> 00:19:40.468 but it's just training your brain to hear the sounds of a language that might be completely foreign to you. 351 00:19:41.531 --> 00:19:41.687 Okay. 352 00:19:42.531 --> 00:19:46.125 And what about conversation classes or groups? 353 00:19:46.187 --> 00:19:47.453 I feel they're very helpful, 354 00:19:47.531 --> 00:19:49.750 but they can be dreading, 355 00:19:49.984 --> 00:19:50.390 I guess, 356 00:19:50.453 --> 00:19:56.000 when you haven't built that confidence in terms of freely expressing yourself. 357 00:19:57.050 --> 00:19:57.210 Yeah, 358 00:19:57.370 --> 00:19:59.252 I think there's no right or wrong way, 359 00:19:59.713 --> 00:20:00.893 whatever works for you personally. 360 00:20:01.014 --> 00:20:02.397 Some people are more outgoing. 361 00:20:02.514 --> 00:20:05.877 They love meeting new people and they love putting themselves in those situations. 362 00:20:06.479 --> 00:20:08.018 Some people wait until they feel ready. 363 00:20:09.401 --> 00:20:11.221 If you're looking for something more informal, 364 00:20:11.588 --> 00:20:16.744 I really recommend language meetups or exchanges or tandem programs, 365 00:20:16.885 --> 00:20:18.338 which are normally voluntary. 366 00:20:19.072 --> 00:20:23.604 And so the other person is there to learn your language and they're interested in your culture, 367 00:20:23.635 --> 00:20:24.197 where you're from. 368 00:20:24.354 --> 00:20:26.557 you have something to offer rather than 369 00:20:26.926 --> 00:20:45.099 you're just absorbing and trying to learn everything that you're useful to each other and it's kind of a mutual yeah yeah that for sure it it puts everyone a little bit as an equal also um and yeah you're not the only one struggling there's also you being helpful which yeah 370 00:20:46.161 --> 00:20:50.630 makes a big uh big difference all right you get to meet the local people as well i think 371 00:20:51.390 --> 00:21:07.005 there's sometimes the risk of staying in this expat bubble of like you're learning with other people that are learning which is great but you're not actually integrating into the community as much absolutely so i would advise doing that as soon as possible yeah 372 00:21:07.107 --> 00:21:20.044 definitely for sure that community piece of understanding a bit more of the local uses and habits and also just getting great advice from them on how to navigate 373 00:21:20.626 --> 00:21:39.521 simple things like admin or or other is definitely going to be a life changer on your day to day yeah exactly it's such a wealth of resources that I think is completely untapped in lots of situations when you stay like in the touristy areas or you stay with maybe 374 00:21:39.583 --> 00:21:48.958 people that you traveled with that the local knowledge can be invaluable yeah and do you see a little bit of difference between 375 00:21:50.122 --> 00:22:09.156 the business professionals and the adults that are trying to learn a language but not necessarily for professional use maybe they're they're the training partner and they're not trying to work in that language but they're trying to live in that language is the approach different 376 00:22:09.218 --> 00:22:17.484 not different or it's just a question of vocabulary yeah the context and the vocabulary is different obviously you're not going to need 377 00:22:17.910 --> 00:22:36.511 to describe data sets or talk about the economy in the supermarket but i think contrary to popular belief is that the the informal and the conversational can be more challenging than the professional language because i think the social language is a lot faster traditionally right 378 00:22:36.512 --> 00:22:46.261 it's a lot more humor um people are using slang it's more like casual and colloquial whereas in a business setting you're probably not the only person that's not 379 00:22:46.546 --> 00:23:06.530 the native um there so people tend to speak slower i've noticed and they tend to be more understanding use kind of um vocabulary that's not basic but it's available to more people whereas if you go to a pub or a bar people are not making that effort that it's just like not articulating either exactly 380 00:23:06.984 --> 00:23:15.609 so it can be a little bit more challenging um to pick up those conversational pieces yeah i think that's where the community like meeting the locals is going to 381 00:23:16.398 --> 00:23:32.152 interesting and important because I'm pretty sure there's a lot of slang that you will never get from a course specifically that it's gonna you can speak the same language but depending on each country it's gonna be very very 382 00:23:32.269 --> 00:23:41.801 different and sometimes even in different cities they're gonna have different expressions I have nothing that's so exciting like it's exciting but the regional things you know 383 00:23:42.378 --> 00:23:43.698 But the regional thing is a big thing. 384 00:23:43.719 --> 00:23:46.658 And I see it just with my grandmother who lives in the south of France. 385 00:23:47.221 --> 00:23:47.338 And 386 00:23:47.857 --> 00:23:55.264 I had this realization where I'm used to her speaking in that way with specific expressions from her time on top of that. 387 00:23:56.498 --> 00:23:57.818 But when one of my 388 00:23:58.607 --> 00:24:01.248 American friends was over and she speaks French, 389 00:24:01.295 --> 00:24:02.326 she gets most of it. 390 00:24:02.857 --> 00:24:08.201 But sometimes it was just impossible for me to explain why my grandmother was saying this because it's like... 391 00:24:11.486 --> 00:24:28.520 her idea of it or a specific thing yeah absolutely um and it can make it difficult i think if you lean into the excitement of you go to a new city and you learn a new word um or a new accent it can make it feel like more of an adventure yeah 392 00:24:30.707 --> 00:24:33.801 takes you to a whole new country so don't you literally 393 00:24:35.820 --> 00:24:36.300 All right. 394 00:24:36.960 --> 00:24:41.626 Anything else you wanted to add on that piece? 395 00:24:41.646 --> 00:24:44.626 I always kind of coach that we're looking for functional, 396 00:24:44.689 --> 00:24:45.892 not fragile language. 397 00:24:46.072 --> 00:24:55.666 And what I mean by that is we want language that can be used and we want it to be in a situation where if you make one small mistake, 398 00:24:55.806 --> 00:24:58.369 it doesn't cancel out everything that you've said correctly. 399 00:24:58.462 --> 00:24:58.728 You know, 400 00:24:59.119 --> 00:25:01.962 it's not so fragile that the whole thing is going to come crumbling down. 401 00:25:02.402 --> 00:25:07.007 Because it's likely that the person is going to be understanding and they're going to know what you're talking about, 402 00:25:07.128 --> 00:25:09.030 even if you didn't get the conjugation correct, 403 00:25:09.070 --> 00:25:09.609 for example. 404 00:25:10.109 --> 00:25:15.835 So focus on getting the function and the communication aspect rather than everything perfect, 405 00:25:16.257 --> 00:25:17.718 which I know is easier said than done. 406 00:25:17.859 --> 00:25:19.382 Like as a perfectionist myself, 407 00:25:19.804 --> 00:25:20.320 I know that. 408 00:25:20.445 --> 00:25:23.929 But if you can overcome that fear, 409 00:25:24.023 --> 00:25:25.366 I think that's going to be really valuable. 410 00:25:26.148 --> 00:25:26.304 Yeah, 411 00:25:26.445 --> 00:25:30.570 just getting yourself understood is the main point. 412 00:25:31.462 --> 00:25:31.842 All right. 413 00:25:31.963 --> 00:25:32.123 Well, 414 00:25:32.223 --> 00:25:35.627 let's move on to your recommendations in 415 00:25:35.987 --> 00:25:38.447 Mexico before you leave then. 416 00:25:41.334 --> 00:25:41.975 First of all, 417 00:25:42.436 --> 00:25:44.115 which city are you in? 418 00:25:44.116 --> 00:25:45.194 We didn't even talk about that. 419 00:25:45.920 --> 00:25:46.139 Yeah, 420 00:25:46.140 --> 00:25:47.514 I'm about an hour from Cancun, 421 00:25:47.983 --> 00:25:48.701 Playa del Carmen. 422 00:25:50.264 --> 00:25:50.983 So yeah, 423 00:25:51.186 --> 00:25:53.686 beach and really nice Caribbean sea. 424 00:25:53.687 --> 00:25:54.983 All right. 425 00:25:55.311 --> 00:25:56.920 And a lot of digital nomads, 426 00:25:56.921 --> 00:25:57.483 you were saying. 427 00:25:58.318 --> 00:25:59.660 Especially since the pandemic, 428 00:25:59.699 --> 00:26:00.861 I think a lot of 429 00:26:01.441 --> 00:26:07.088 US citizens came here to escape Corona and also the cold weather. 430 00:26:07.244 --> 00:26:09.650 So I think that's been a popular destination. 431 00:26:10.814 --> 00:26:11.174 All right. 432 00:26:11.767 --> 00:26:11.994 Well, 433 00:26:12.111 --> 00:26:19.002 what are your recommendations there in terms of bar or cafe and restaurant? 434 00:26:20.205 --> 00:26:21.377 It's really hard to pick just one, 435 00:26:21.378 --> 00:26:22.346 so I'm going to give it to you. 436 00:26:24.689 --> 00:26:25.924 If you want some Mexican food, 437 00:26:26.064 --> 00:26:27.580 tropical tacos is really good. 438 00:26:28.490 --> 00:26:29.511 They have cochinita, 439 00:26:29.651 --> 00:26:33.555 which is kind of like pulled pork on tacos, 440 00:26:33.594 --> 00:26:34.414 which is traditional. 441 00:26:34.856 --> 00:26:36.500 And mezcalitas, 442 00:26:36.680 --> 00:26:38.219 which is like mezcal, 443 00:26:38.500 --> 00:26:39.344 kind of like tequila. 444 00:26:39.524 --> 00:26:41.024 I'd never heard of it before I lived here. 445 00:26:42.602 --> 00:26:43.282 So they're really good. 446 00:26:43.985 --> 00:26:44.805 There's also a big 447 00:26:45.399 --> 00:26:46.930 Argentinian influence here. 448 00:26:47.914 --> 00:26:48.711 Lots of people. 449 00:26:49.789 --> 00:26:52.055 And so I also discovered media lunas, 450 00:26:52.618 --> 00:26:54.743 which are kind of like sweet croissants. 451 00:26:55.789 --> 00:26:57.883 And you can get them in lots of different flavors. 452 00:26:58.024 --> 00:26:58.133 So. 453 00:26:58.422 --> 00:27:11.174 you'll find them everywhere here and they're delicious and because it's so international um there's lots of people and lots of cuisines so there's a place called Francesca's which is really good Italian 454 00:27:11.978 --> 00:27:20.619 Celine's which is really good French food um so it depends where you're all went for for the local names 455 00:27:21.666 --> 00:27:26.447 I know but I like I can't just give one because they're quite different you know yeah 456 00:27:28.142 --> 00:27:29.603 Okay. 457 00:27:29.604 --> 00:27:33.505 And what about your carte blanche? 458 00:27:33.506 --> 00:27:33.947 It's hard. 459 00:27:34.369 --> 00:27:35.611 There's lots of cenotes here, 460 00:27:35.669 --> 00:27:36.388 which I didn't know, 461 00:27:36.630 --> 00:27:36.888 again, 462 00:27:36.990 --> 00:27:38.115 what they were before I got here. 463 00:27:38.255 --> 00:27:40.998 But they're kind of like small natural lagoons. 464 00:27:41.794 --> 00:27:42.138 Oh, 465 00:27:42.139 --> 00:27:42.255 yeah. 466 00:27:42.755 --> 00:27:43.935 And when it's really hot, 467 00:27:44.716 --> 00:27:46.138 the water is really nice and refreshing. 468 00:27:46.857 --> 00:27:49.044 And there's hundreds and hundreds of them here. 469 00:27:49.701 --> 00:27:51.466 So I think this is a nice way to spend an afternoon. 470 00:27:51.467 --> 00:27:52.279 Yeah. 471 00:27:52.310 --> 00:27:53.513 Okay, 472 00:27:53.591 --> 00:27:53.810 great. 473 00:27:54.529 --> 00:27:55.107 And last, 474 00:27:55.185 --> 00:27:56.623 what is your expat song? 475 00:27:57.790 --> 00:27:58.550 I love this question, 476 00:27:58.590 --> 00:27:58.990 Pauline. 477 00:27:58.991 --> 00:28:01.933 I've never been asked and I think this is a really nice question. 478 00:28:01.991 --> 00:28:02.651 It's a hard one, 479 00:28:02.671 --> 00:28:05.976 but it taps back to the emotion I feel every time, 480 00:28:06.015 --> 00:28:06.929 which is really interesting. 481 00:28:06.976 --> 00:28:08.812 There's always a good story behind a song. 482 00:28:10.812 --> 00:28:10.937 So 483 00:28:11.296 --> 00:28:13.819 I was thinking which language to pick. 484 00:28:13.960 --> 00:28:17.179 Like I listen to songs in all the languages where I'm going, 485 00:28:17.273 --> 00:28:17.413 but 486 00:28:18.210 --> 00:28:20.491 I had two for different reasons. 487 00:28:21.398 --> 00:28:24.163 Leaving on a Jet Plane by John Denver is an old one. 488 00:28:24.929 --> 00:28:27.241 but it makes me think of my dad and this kind of 489 00:28:28.503 --> 00:28:32.748 Bittersweet feeling of departures and knowing that change is ahead. 490 00:28:33.326 --> 00:28:35.068 And it's sometimes really hard to say goodbye. 491 00:28:36.229 --> 00:28:37.908 But I consistently keep doing it. 492 00:28:37.971 --> 00:28:39.377 So sorry to my family for that. 493 00:28:42.736 --> 00:28:44.221 I'm a Disney girl at heart. 494 00:28:44.361 --> 00:28:45.674 So I think my second one would be 495 00:28:46.283 --> 00:28:49.127 How Far I'll Go in the Moana soundtrack. 496 00:28:51.080 --> 00:28:55.189 She really embodies what it's like to go beyond what's familiar. 497 00:28:55.549 --> 00:28:55.893 and 498 00:28:56.862 --> 00:28:58.263 breaking that comfort zone, 499 00:28:58.483 --> 00:28:59.544 listening to your own voice, 500 00:28:59.764 --> 00:29:04.630 even if there are other expectations thrust upon you just to find your own path, 501 00:29:04.751 --> 00:29:05.009 which 502 00:29:05.649 --> 00:29:07.329 I think as expats is what we're all doing. 503 00:29:07.915 --> 00:29:08.032 Okay, 504 00:29:08.033 --> 00:29:08.493 completely. 505 00:29:08.930 --> 00:29:09.071 Yeah, 506 00:29:09.696 --> 00:29:10.352 that's a very, 507 00:29:11.173 --> 00:29:12.134 very relevant song. 508 00:29:12.196 --> 00:29:12.438 I mean, 509 00:29:12.501 --> 00:29:13.391 both are actually. 510 00:29:14.204 --> 00:29:14.360 Yeah. 511 00:29:14.485 --> 00:29:14.782 Great. 512 00:29:15.454 --> 00:29:15.595 Well, 513 00:29:15.704 --> 00:29:21.266 thank you so much for sharing your story and all those tips also to learn languages. 514 00:29:22.502 --> 00:29:24.386 Everything will be linked in the comments, 515 00:29:24.425 --> 00:29:25.046 your profile, 516 00:29:25.047 --> 00:29:26.349 your website also. 517 00:29:26.609 --> 00:29:28.073 So if you need to get in touch, 518 00:29:28.612 --> 00:29:29.534 you'll have the link. 519 00:29:29.855 --> 00:29:31.398 And as usual, 520 00:29:32.296 --> 00:29:34.882 all the updates will be put on Instagram. 521 00:29:35.085 --> 00:29:36.687 And if you enjoyed the episode, 522 00:29:36.688 --> 00:29:37.491 do put a rating. 523 00:29:37.671 --> 00:29:39.351 It does help the podcast. 524 00:29:40.007 --> 00:29:40.460 Thank you. 525 00:29:41.210 --> 00:29:41.413 Thanks, 526 00:29:41.460 --> 00:29:41.757 Pauline. 527 00:29:41.835 --> 00:29:42.101 Bye.