I started Leonardo English to help people like you improve their English in a more interesting way.
If you have two minutes, I'd love to tell you why I'm building Leonardo English and about our journey so far.
For hundreds of millions of people around the world, learning English is a frustrating and boring experience.
Learning English at school normally means vocabulary and grammar exercises, and uninspiring textbooks.
It doesn't need to be this way.
I started Leonardo English with a simple idea:
"What if there were a way for people to improve their English while learning interesting things about the world?"
I started Leonardo English at the end of 2019 with a podcast, English Learning for Curious Minds.
Twice a week we release a new episode about a weird and wonderful subject, from The Guinness Book of Records to How Google Works.
Since starting, the podcast has been listened to millions of times by curious minds from 189 countries.
Listening to each episodes means you learn something interesting while improving your English skills.
Every episode comes with subtitles and an interactive transcript, so you can learn new words and phrases, and not miss a word.
If you're reading this because you are a listener to the podcast and you are ready to take the next step on your language learning journey, let me tell you a little bit more about how I think about learning English.
what we believe
Leonardo English isn't a traditional English language company.
Here are our six core beliefs.
If you learned English at school, it was probably a painful experience.
Phrasal verbs, vocabulary lists, and boring textbooks.
It doesn't need to be this way.
With materials that are actually interesting, but accessible to a learner, you will start to actually enjoy the learning process, and make faster progress.
Most of us are taught that language learning needs to happen in a classroom, with teachers and textbooks.
This isn't right for most people.
We believe that fantastic results can be achieved through independent learning, allowing you to progress at the speed that suits you, in a way that interests you, and towards the goals that matter to you.
Everything starts with learning to listen.
Listening is normally overlooked by language learning programmes, which put a focus on 'teaching you to speak'.
Academic research and the experience of every successful language learner tells us that everything starts with listening.
Independent learning is fantastic, but language is about communication.
You can't learn completely in a bubble.
That's why we have group sessions for members of Leonardo English, allowing learners to practice English in a safe, welcoming environment.
We don't use streaks or stars or annoying notifications to persuade you to come and complete one more level.
You're an adult, you don't need to be incentivised like a child.
Plus we hope you'll find learning with Leonardo English so rewarding you won't need to be tricked into doing it.
Leonardo English is an independent, bootstrapped company.
We don't sell data or adverts, or have investors.
We are 100% funded by our members, and every cent goes back into building a better, more interesting way for you to improve your English.
gracias, merci, obrigado, danke, and ありがとうございました
If you've got this far, thanks for reading.
We're just getting started on the mission of empowering people to improve their English in a more interesting way.
If you believe in a more interesting way to improve your English, I'd love to welcome you as a member.
Alastair Budge - Founder
