This week Benny talks about how to approach speaking sessions with a teacher differently, depending on your level. The "Speak from Day One" approach is an excellent starting point for beginners, but it's important to make sure you're improving and being challenged as you move into intermediate and beyond. Benny describes how and when he likes a teacher to correct mistakes, and how you can use homework assignments to really drive improvement.

To ask Benny a question, please email [email protected]

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Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy chat with musician and translator Jeremy Bardo about his experience going viral with a Spanish language music video. We also discuss the myth of the language gene and finding joy in embarrassing moments.

Featured Resources

• Speak from Day 1
• Language Hacking Spanish

Mentioned in this Episode

• Speak from Day 1
• Language Hacking Spanish
• Memrise
• Stop Making Excuses
• Jeremy Bardo’s Youtube
• Las Flores Se Abrirán
• Jeremy’s Website

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• The myth of the “language gene”
• Overcoming perfectionism by finding joy in embarrassing moments
• Finding balance in your language studies
• The power of technology in language learning
• Cognates and how they can help you
• Using a Spanish phrase book as a conversation starter
• How learning languages helps you become a more compassionate language teacher
• Important qualities language teachers should have
• Identifying when an error is important and deserves feedback with your students
• Using your interests to learn languages
• Recording music and going viral in your non-native language
• Finding a foothold in a new language with just a few words

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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This episode features Brittany, who learned conversational Japanese in just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.

We actually 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.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• italki
• JapanesePod101

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• italki
• JapanesePod101
• Memrise
• Pimsleur
• Wanikani

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• How the Challenge helped Brittany become an effective, independent language learner
• How and why the Speak from Day 1 approach works
• Ways to stay engaged in your language learning
• The power of scripting as a language learning tool
• The impact of community in language learning
• Building confidence through consistency
• How the Challenge helped Brittany become a better English tutor
• Strategies for overcoming perfectionism
• Japanese resources for independent study
• Why it’s important to understand the culture of your language

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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As a beginner, the idea of having a lesson where you only speak your target language can seem impossible. Benny shares some great ideas and resources that you can use to avoid your native language and start as you mean to go on. Speaking from day one is a daunting prospect, but with a bit of preparation and planning, it's absolutely achievable.

To ask Benny a question, please email [email protected]

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In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy talk to Manuel of “Herr Professor” about growing up multilingual, teaching German, and how engineers approach language learning.

Featured Resources

• Herr Professor

Mentioned in this Episode

• Tiny Habits
• Stephen Krashen’s Comprehensible Input
• Herr Professor
• Herr Professor Courses
• Herr Professor Podcast
• James Asher’s Total Physical Response

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• How Manuel used his technical background to learn new languages
• How to turn language input into output
• Why speaking is one of the biggest challenges for language learners
• What makes input useful and how to avoid passive listening
• What to do when you have trouble focusing on your language learning tools
• How to find compelling, comprehensible input at your language level
• Why building habits is so important in language learning
• The importance of being able to drop things that don’t work and focus on the things that do

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Sara Maria Hasbun, founder of Meridian Linguistics, shares about psycholinguistics, working in the language industry, and “extreme” language learning.

Featured Resources

• Meridian Languages
• Glossika

Mentioned in this Episode

• Meridian Languages
• Glossika
• Tempo App on iOS
• Tempo App on Android
• Sara’s Website
• Sara on Instagram
• Sara on Twitter

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Choosing which language to learn
• Learning languages in diverse language families
• Studying psycholinguistics
• Dialect and accent in sign languages
• Living in different countries and learning the languages
• Differences between a polyglot and a linguist
• Learning a language with few resources
• Why fluency doesn’t need to be the end goal for learning a language
• Deciding when to learn a new language and when to focus on past languages
• Technology and language
• Balancing entrepreneurship in languages with language learning
• Using accountability systems for motivation
• Rote learning and its benefits
• Combatting the boring aspects of language learning with tricks and bribes
• Lessons from living abroad
• “Extreme” language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Reading in your new language can be a daunting task, but Benny has some great advice this week for taking it one step at a time. By starting small and building up gradually, you'll make steady progress. There are so many brilliant resources out there that you can use, and reading isn't just a solo activity, so make sure it's something you practise with your teacher or exchange partner.

To ask Benny a question, please email [email protected]

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“Warrior of the mind” Anthony Metivier chats with Shannon Kennedy and Benny Lewis about his Brain Exercise Bootcamp and memory strategies for language learners.

Featured Resources

• Brain Exercise Bootcamp

Mentioned in this Episode

• Brain Exercise Bootcamp
• Language Death by David Crystal
• Anthony Metivier

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Memory methods for language learners
• Why personalization is necessary for language learning
• Learning German and Mandarin with memory techniques
• Why language learning is more than just memorizing
• How it’s easy to cheat your learning with SRS
• How to get better at building mnemonics
• Ways to speed up your memorizing
• How memory exercises can benefit your mental health
• Tips for learning “dead” languages

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Polyglot Mari Salvestrini shares how she uses Instagram for accountability in her language learning, how to develop language routines based on energy, and why breaks are important in this episode with hosts Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy.

Featured Resources

• Memrise

Mentioned in this Episode

• Memrise
• Mari’s website
• Mari on Twitter
• Mari on Youtube
• Mari on Instagram
• Mari on Facebook
• Mari’s Podcast

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Using Instagram for accountability
• Getting momentum in language learning when in low spirits
• The online community and finding support
• Developing a language learning routine based on energy levels
• Tricks for focusing better
• Mari on helping her mom relearn her native language
• Mari on gaining the confidence to share her story on Youtube
• Tips for becoming a more confident language learner
• Slow learning and why it might be the right language learning strategy for you
• Overcoming challenges in language learning
• Why breaks are important
• Fighting perfectionism in language learning
• How to learn multiple languages at the same time

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Grammar getting you down? Benny's here to help! This week he takes the pressure off by explaining how he approaches (or ignores!) grammar, particularly verb conjugations, when he starts a new language. Making mistakes is an important part of the learning process, especially in the early days, and the most important thing is to be understood. Leaving the grammar to one side for a while and focussing on communication can really help you progress at the beginning of your language journey.

To ask Benny a question, please email [email protected]

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Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.