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In This Episode

In this episode of Fluent•ish the Podcast Rebecca and Lisa explore writing in terms of handwriting, and writing in terms of developing your composition skills. We discuss the powerful impact handwriting can have on your memory and learning process - even if you think your handwriting is terrible. From scientific studies to personal stories, we unpack how writing by hand helps you linger with your learning in ways typing doesn’t always offer and explore the cultural depth hidden in writing systems like Chinese characters, Egyptian hieroglyphs, and Sanskrit - where the very structure of the written language encodes centuries of history, philosophy, and worldview. We also get into why composition skills are important to develop as a language learner.

Key insights in this episode

• Whether handwriting is really required to reach fluency
• Brain-based benefits of handwriting vs. typing
• How our own printable tools allow you to choose your pace and handwriting comfort level
• How to balance speed (typing) with deeper retention (handwriting)
• Why your learning still counts, even if you choose to type more often

Your Joy Builder: the takeaway

Here is your key take away from this episode in order to continue to build diligence and conscientiousness as a language learner: Writing by hand fosters deeper learning and memory by integrating motor and sensory systems, prompting active cognitive engagement, and enhancing emotional connection. It’s especially beneficial for conceptual understanding in adults and literacy development in children.

So, to diligently and conscientiously cover all your bases, for optimal learning:

Use handwritten notes for lectures, idea mapping, language learning, and pre- and post-reading comprehension tasks.

Use typing when you need speed, organization, or revision—possibly as a later step after handwritten review.

Links

• Episode 10 is brought to you by Flodesk
• Episode 10 is brought to you by Shopify
• Theme music is provided by Milk Fangs
• Our Oh La La was mainly shared by Lisa but, really, was a discussion between the ladies reflecting on some lovely feedback received over the course of the podcast and positing what might happen in Season 2
• In this episode we mentioned articles from Karin H James & Laura Engelhardt "The effects of handwriting experience on functional brain development in pre-literate children" and a Scientific American article by Charlotte Hu "Why Writing by Hand Is Better for Memory and Learning"
• Share your thoughts and language-learning journey with us on social media: continue the conversation by connecting on LinkedIn, BlueSky, Instagram, or Pinterest
• Watch the vlog on YouTube
• Sign up for materials and resources we've created just for you!

Reminders and acknowledgements

If you're found value in this episode and you haven't already subscribed make sure you tap that button to keep on breaking new ground in your language learning. Please take a moment to review the show on your podcast app, or to send this episode to someone you think could use it: It all helps us continue to build a safe-space for the fluent and Fluent•ish that is free of snobbery and filled with joy!

Fluent•ish the Podcast is brought to you by Little Crab Educational Press. Thank you to the language learning communities on BlueSky, Reddit, and Instagram for sharing openly about the struggles that people have to overcome to persevere in the pursuit of becoming fluent (or fluentish) in an additional language. Remember to Subscribe, Rate, Review, and Share from wherever you get this podcast.

Fluent•ish the Podcast is recorded remotely (most of the time) between Victoria and Vancouver which sit in the unceded traditional territories of several Coast Salish nations, across which we are grateful to live and work.