From IT to YouTube: A Journey to Language Teaching Success

Discover key lessons from Gideon’s path to language teaching success.

Author

Tomas Loucky
December 05, 2024

Hello Producers,

As a regular (perhaps too frequent!) consumer of YouTube, I follow plenty of channels, whether for entertainment, inspiration, or education. I can confidently say that our new guest manages to cover all of these. Gideon, the person behind LetThemTalkTV, runs a popular YouTube channel where he educates and entertains his audience on all things related to languages, especially English. From its history and trivia to grammar, vocabulary, and unique content, Gideon’s videos really make him stand out.

As someone who has enjoyed his content for a long time, I was thrilled to welcome him to the podcast! We had such a great time. Although we had never spoken or met before, it felt like we had known each other for years. I genuinely hope he reaches that incredible milestone of 1 million followers, and I encourage you to start following and supporting him, too.

Gideon Ben-Ami is an English teacher, YouTuber, and founder of LetThemTalk, a language school based in Paris. Originally from London, he moved to Paris, where he identified a gap in the language learning market and launched his school, offering courses in various languages and levels. Transitioning from a successful career as an IT consultant and systems developer, Gideon now focuses on teaching languages in more engaging and effective ways than traditional methods.

His YouTube channel, started 11 years ago, has amassed millions of views, providing valuable lessons on grammar, pronunciation, and the history of the English language. In this episode, hear Gideon’s inspiring journey from London to Paris, behind-the-scenes insights from his YouTube success, and expert tips for mastering language learning.

LetThemTalkTV:

Lessons:

  • Start Before You're Ready: The Power of Taking Action

  • Stand Out from the Crowd: Unleashing Your Unique Edge

  • Promise and Deliver: The Secret to Building Trust

  • Think Long Term: Cultivating Success Over Time

  • Embrace Lifelong Learning: Fueling Your Growth Journey

Lesson 1: Don’t Overthink It and Start

An interesting thing about Gideon that I didn’t know until I did some research is that he originally worked in IT. This is actually the reason he moved to Paris, France. However, due to certain circumstances, he began teaching English. It wasn’t a big deal at first; he was just making a few bucks to survive. Fast forward 15 years, and it has grown into his business, YouTube channel, and work. He didn’t think about it that way at first. Nevertheless, he identified a gap in the market, used what he knew best, and what he enjoyed, and simply started. So, don’t overthink it—just start! Who knows where you’ll end up in a few years.

Lesson 2: Differentiate Yourself from the Competition

Going back to when and how Gideon started teaching languages, which we discussed in more detail, things have evolved over time. Fifteen years ago, when Gideon started his school, the way of teaching was quite different. It often involved boring textbooks with little to no actual speaking, which, let’s be honest, might be the most important aspect. That’s how he stood out; he found his unique selling proposition (USP) and attracted new students. So, try to identify what makes you different, how you can stand out from the crowd, and what you can do to win over the competition. Then, go for it!

Lesson 3: Always Deliver What You Promise

This leads to our discussion about YouTube, specifically regarding writing video titles. It’s something I’m always curious about and often ask aspiring YouTube creators. Crafting the perfect title, along with the thumbnail, feels like a science and an art. Sometimes, creators change their titles multiple times to see what works best. Without deviating too much, I appreciate what Gideon mentioned: don’t write clickbait titles if you can’t deliver on what you promise. Otherwise, the algorithm will punish you. I believe this principle applies outside of YouTube as well—whether it’s a promise to a client, friend, family member, or anyone else. If you make a promise, always ensure you deliver. It will pay off in the long run.

Lesson 4: Think and Work Long Term

I’ve mentioned Gideon’s journey many times, dating back more than 15 years. Do you remember when he uploaded his first YouTube video? It was 11 years ago. Let me repeat: 11 years ago, with countless videos since then. He has been constantly learning, improving, and building things up. Now, he has over 500,000 subscribers, and you can see how much work is behind that success. It’s a reminder to stay consistent and enjoy the journey so you can stick with it long term, whether it’s a hobby, work, side project, or something else. Think in terms of months, years, or even decades, and I’m sure you’ll be proud of yourself when you look back.

Lesson 5: Never Stop Learning and Continue Exploring

You didn’t expect this from a language teacher, right? Just kidding! I think Gideon exemplifies this perfectly. He’s not a teenager anymore (and neither am I), yet he has no excuses when it comes to content creation, social media, and technology. Quite the opposite! He produces amazing content, comes up with innovative ways to teach languages, and is super engaging in his videos. Even when we discussed video editing software, I felt a bit less informed! So, continue learning, exploring, and enjoying new adventures. Whether it’s for your hobbies, meeting new people, secret projects, or embarking on adventures, I hope you’ll enjoy the journey, and it will be worth it!

As I mentioned, you can expect educational content delivered in an entertaining way, quirky facts and trivia you didn’t know, and inspiration to keep improving yourself in English or any other language. Here’s a fun bit of trivia: although Gideon is based in Paris, he’s originally from London. I’m from the Czech Republic but based in London too. We never knew or met each other before, yet we found out he’s from a part of London surprisingly close to where I live. Can’t be a coincidence, right? (No, we’re not related, haha!)

What about you? What languages are you learning or wish to learn? What methods work best for you when learning a new language? And where are you from? I'm curious to know!

Keep producing,
Tomment