Language & Travel Hacking

Will technological advances keep impacting language learning positively?

This is a question that Philippa Wentzel, Curriculum Team Lead of the popular online language resource Lingoda, attempts to answer in her discussion with Benny.

In this interview, Philippa explores topics such as how academic learning can be unsatisfying, how Lingoda relies on UX analysis to make sure they stay on track with learners’ needs, and the pros and cons of using technology in language learning.

Philippa also explains how Lingoda offers learners control over their language learning and curriculum by using a “choose your own path” approach.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Lingoda

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Is it possible to learn a language better from home than in a foreign country?

Fluent in 3 Months student and Czech learner, Greg, explained to Benny and Shannon how he spoke more Czech in 90 days of learning with Fluent in 3 Months than while living in the Czech Republic.

In this interview, he also talks about ditching the perfectionist mindset and using to-do lists to improve his learning, as well as finding a connection between project management and language learning.

This episode is for you if you want to learn how you can stay on track when things come up that could derail your learning and utilize the people around you to keep from burning out

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

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Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• italki

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

New year, new goals! In this special episode, Benny is joined by four other Fluent in 3 Months team members⁠—David, Alice, Elizabeth, and Ashley⁠—to reflect on their language learning in 2022 and discuss their 2023 learning goals.

Techniques that haven't worked, exciting new launches, tips and tricks to achieve new goals... Hear all about what the Fluent in 3 Months team has to say about these topics and get inspired to stick to your language learning resolutions in 2023.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• Benny's 2022 Webinars
• Fluent in 3 Months blog

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

What exactly do you need to learn a language?

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and French learner, Honorée, chats about taking part in the Challenge, her plan to learn 5 languages in 10 years, and the importance of consistency and accountability in language learning.

Honorée’s advice ranges from how to identify your weak points so you can focus on where your efforts will have the most impact to how building confidence is important and how to do it. She also discusses time management, language islands, and maximizing learning efficiency in learning a language as an adult.

(Pss… Listen to this episode to hear Honorée switch the papers and be the one to ask Benny and Shannon questions.)

Featured Resources

• Language Hacking French
• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Language Hacking French
• Pimsleur
• Drops
• The Pomodoro Technique
• Honorée’s Tedx Talk
• Honorée’s website

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Benny shares his plan of flying back to Ireland this year for the winter holidays. As a solo traveller, he appreciates this occasion to spend time with his family. Benny also shares his experience on how the weeks leading up to Christmas are different in the various countries he has visited or lived in during the period.

To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email [email protected]

Can anyone join the active polyglot community?

If you’re hesitant to join the active polyglot community, polyglot and language mentor Miguel, also founder of the blog The Multilingual Bronxite, shares about what he’s discovered from taking part in these communities.

In this interview with Benny, Miguel shares his perspective on the usefulness of the polyglot community. As a regular participant and speaker himself at international polyglot events such as Polyglotar, Miguel explains how the community is less intimidating than what would seem from the outside. As he puts forward, everyone is learning, so everyone is very open and like-minded!

Miguel also discusses how studying on your own can prove more valuable than learning languages the academic way as well as his opinion regarding immersion. Does it really help you learn a language, or does that depend on your skill level?

Mentioned in this Episode

• The Multilingual Bronxite
• The Assimil Method
• Fluent in 3 Months Blog
• Poliglotar Conference Website
• italki

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

How closely does improving your body impact improving your memory?

Michael Campbell, founder and CEO of Glossika, one of the most popular language resources on the Internet, shares how he has improved his physical and mental abilities by making important changes in his life.

In this unusual episode (which focuses more on self-improvement than languages), Micheal and
Benny discuss the benefits of changing diets and switching mindsets to achieve a healthier personal health.

Michael also compared using Glossika and learning languages to being consistent in going to the gym. The main comparison between being successful at both? Repetition.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Glossika

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Benny explains how language exchanges work by describing his own experience with the MundoLingo events. He covers how events are organised to make language recognition easy, shares how the set-up is ideal even for introverts, and mentions a few tips to make the most about the event.

To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email [email protected]

This episode includes a Black Friday promotion. Follow this link to get the Black Friday price.

Check out all our Black Friday deals on 50+ languages here.

How can language learning happen through reading stories?

Olly Richards, creator of the Uncovered Language Courses, is back on the Language Hacking Podcast to answer the question above.

Olly shares his story and explains how he combined his background in education, his polyglot skills, and his passion for writing in order to make language learning more accessible to the everyday language learner. He explains how there is more to language learning than just passive absorption

Benny and Elizabeth encourage Olly to talk about the structure of his courses, how they cover microskills needed by beginners to build solid bases in a new language, and the struggle to find the right native tutor to support the courses’ development.

The discussion also covers Olly’s recently released intermediate-level Uncovered courses and how they follow the same methodology as his beginner courses.

If you’re interested in testing out Olly’s Uncovered method, take advantage of the Uncovered Courses Black Friday promotion going on right now!

Follow this link to get the Black Friday price.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Uncovered Language Courses Black Friday Deals
• Olly’s first podcast episode: #005 | Olly Richards on Living Abroad and Story Learning
• French Uncovered review: French Uncovered
• Italian Uncovered review: Italian Uncovered
• German Uncovered review: German Uncovered
• Spanish Uncovered review: Spanish Uncovered
• Japanese Uncovered review: Japanese Uncovered

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Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to support what we do!

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

How much does living in different countries shape your personality and influence your personal development?

In an episode packed with cultural exploration anecdotes, writer, translator, and educator Kelsey Lechner shares her experience with learning six vastly different languages, keeping her career tightly related to languages in unexpected ways, and adapting to new cultures while living in countries like Tanzania, Japan, and Bangladesh.

Kelsey also shares her flexible language learning strategy pointers, which she developed while learning Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Swahili, and Bengali. She and Benny discuss how social acceptance works when trying to adjust to new cultures, how to take missteps in cross-cultural communication in stride, and how to deal with culture shocks.

(Psss… Wait until minute 28 for a funny anecdote about how mixing up Bangladesh and Spanish led Kelsey to hit up on someone without meaning to!)

Mentioned in this Episode

• Anki
• Kelsey’s posts on Fluent in 3 Months

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Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to support what we do!

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy