AEE 150: Let Go of Your Grammar Obsession and Speak English like a Native with Idahosa Ness from Mimic Method

This podcast episode explores the role of mimicking and music in language learning. The conversation highlights the challenge of communicating in English and how writing doesn't always match how we sound. The guest, Idahosa Ness, shares his technique for teaching pronunciation through music, solving the problem of words not fitting into the musicality of the language. The discussion emphasizes the importance of mimicking native speakers and using bands and music to learn a language. It also discusses the benefits of balancing input and output in language learning and the misconception that students should wait until they are fluent before speaking. The importance of speaking a new language out loud from the beginning is emphasized, as well as the benefits of the mimicry approach in language learning. The conversation challenges the notion that correctness is the ultimate goal and emphasizes the importance of connection in language learning. It also emphasizes the significance of becoming fluent in conversational street English before learning the standardized academic version. Lastly, the speakers provide suggestions for improving language skills through podcasts and music, including using slower playback speeds and utilizing resources like the MimicMethod.com website and YouTube channel.