# 76. How to learn languages

An episode of [Leigh Turner diplomacy and writing](https://invisiblenetwork.ai/podcast/1554984364), 29 Aug 2026, 13 min.

Audio: https://anchor.fm/s/4ab489a4/podcast/play/124866909/https%3A%2F%2Fd3ctxlq1ktw2nl.cloudfront.net%2Fstaging%2F2026-7-28%2F95209a77-8768-2647-923c-a6f8700c7d29.mp3

One of my most popular TikTok videos is called "How to learn languages". Maybe people like it because I reveal how difficult I myself find learning them! My book "Lessons in Diplomacy" contains several stories showing how hopeless I've always been at learning grammar for e.g. German or Turkish. But I've clawed my way to a reasonable command of lots of languages despite that handicap. Key lesson: try a few different techniques; and never believe you can't learn a new language. For more about real-life diplomacy and the nuts and bolts of what diplomats and ambassadors really do, check out my book "Lessons in Diplomacy: Politics, Power and Parties". https://geni.us/LessonsinDiplomacy. And do browse my other "Lessons in Diplomacy" and other podcasts on this site. #languages #learning #diplomacy #lessonsindiplomacy #booktok

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