“I've never learned how to say no properly in my life, to prepare myself properly for things. I just figured if I kept saying yes to things, eventually something good would happen.”

For Mark Ford, not saying no has allowed him to do some of the most important things in his life. Which is why it became easy—in his heterodox fashion—for him to learn first French, then Latin, and now Spanish.

The Spanish is the result of his building an award-winning resort in Nicaragua and the community foundation he created right across the road, which has become an education and trades hub for the non-English-speaking local people.

The French gave him entrée to the Peace Corps after college. But only because the officials didn’t give him the boot for not knowing a word of it when he landed in French-speaking Chad.

The Latin was to meet a PhD requirement. Although let’s just say that the former altar boy in him might have frowned on his modus operandi.

But he’s forgiven for that, because good things for many people have happened thanks to his determination to embrace other languages.

In this lively conversation with Steve, Mark also shares his secret for learning a language. And you won’t have to crack open an app to do it.

Thanks to members of the America the Bilingual Project team for this episode: Mim Harrison, the editorial and brand director of the America the Bilingual Project, who wrote and directed the episode; Fernando Hernández Becerra and his production house in Guadalajara, Mexico, Esto No Es Radio, which provides sound design and mixing; and Jen Cavagnaro at Daruma Tech, who manages our website.

Music credits (in order of appearance):

HoliznaCC0 - Whatever

https://bit.ly/4qDgZsk

Koi Discovery - Beer blues

https://bit.ly/3pIQxmi

Kevin Macleod - Quasi motion

https://bit.ly/KevinMacleod_QuasiMotion

HoliznaCC0 - ICE temple

https://bit.ly/4qHGb1c

HoliznaCC0 - Sunny afternoon

https://bit.ly/47vvyp9

HoliznaCC0 - Unwind

https://bit.ly/3X4hb6m

Koi-discovery - END

https://bit.ly/4qDhLFK

HoliznaCC0 - Laundry on the wire

https://bit.ly/3Jc8R1p

Wax lyricist - Green

https://bit.ly/4qA7c6s

Koi-discovery -Synthetic_synapse

https://bit.ly/4oOlxup