You’re Not Bad at Languages—You Were Just Taught Wrong

You probably spent years in school memorizing vocabulary, conjugating verbs, and passing grammar tests. So why can't you actually speak the language?

In this episode, I break down why traditional language education fails so many of us—and what to do instead. From memory science to language acquisition theories, I’ll walk you through what actually works (and what doesn’t), with actionable advice for every kind of learner.

⏱️ Timestamps & Topics Covered

00:00:00 - Intro & Language Learning Frustrations

00:02:18 - Why we forget everything after tests: The Forgetting Curve

00:03:03 - How human memory works vs. how language is learned

00:04:01 - Why school fails at teaching languages

00:05:23 - What actually works

00:07:22 - Noam Chomsky and Universal Grammar (UG)

00:11:57 - The four big theories of language learning (Input, Output, Interaction, Noticing)

00:21:04 - Why there’s no one-size-fits-all method

00:23:12 - Listener Q&A: “Can I learn just by watching Netflix?”

00:25:57 - Manga recs that make language learning fun and practical

📚 Featured Manga Picks (on Learn Natively):

1. Ruri Dragon (ルリドラゴン) → 🐉 Wholesome slice-of-life about a girl who suddenly sprouts dragon horns. Perfect for beginners to intermediates (N4-N3) wanting to study casual teen speech.
2. Dinosaur Sanctuary (ディノサン) → 🦖 A world where dinosaurs are real and kept in struggling zoos. Great for intermediate learners (N3), especially those interested in animal care and workplace lingo.
3. A Galaxy Next Door (おとなりに銀河) → 👑 A manga artist accidentally gets engaged to a polite alien princess. Sweet, cozy rom-com with accessible dialogue and some keigo practice. (N3-N2)

💬 Your Turn!
What part of language learning did school totally mess up for you?
Send me a message or comment on the show notes—I’d love to hear your story.

Until next time… おつかれさま！

Chapters

• 0:00 Intro & Language Learning Frustrations
• 2:18 Why we forget everything after tests: The Forgetting Curve
• 3:03 How human memory works vs. how language is learned
• 4:01 Why school fails at teaching languages
• 5:23 What actually works
• 7:22 Noam Chomsky and Universal Grammar (UG)
• 11:57 The four big theories of language learning (Input, Output, Interaction, Noticing)
• 21:04 Why there’s no one-size-fits-all method
• 23:12 Listener Q&A: “Can I learn just by watching Netflix?”
• 25:57 Manga recs that make language learning fun and practical