Poet, artist and polyglot Maria Ortega Garcia talks to Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy about mindfulness, language learning as an introvert, and the power of using art and poetry as language learning tools.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Maria Ortega Garcia
• Maria’s Instagram
• Maria’s Facebook
• Maria’s Youtube

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Learning languages as an introvert
• Mindfulness in language learning
• Using poetry as a tool for languages
• The biggest struggles students face trying to learn languages with poems
• How artistic expression and creativity fit into language learning
• Exploring identity through languages
• Using art as an inspiration for language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Language teacher and expat Janina Klimas shares how to create compelling language lessons for students, how acting is like language learning, and why recording yourself speaking your target language is so important.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Real Life Language

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Netflix
• Yabla
• Real Life Language
• Real Life Language Podcast

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Language acquisition vs language learning
• How acting can boost your language learning and teaching
• Building excitement around languages for your students as a teacher
• What being a “reading specialist” means
• Teaching and studying abroad
• Figuring out your proficiency and levels in a language
• Why recording yourself speaking is so important
• Independent vs academic language learning success
• Games you can play to learn languages
• Language, culture, racism, and bias

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny and Elizabeth speak with French YouTube superstar Géraldine Lepère about the importance of understanding culture when learning a language.

Featured Resources

• Comme une Française
• MY STORY: How Culture Shock Inspired Me To Create Comme une Française

Mentioned in this Episode

• Comme une Française
• MY STORY: How Culture Shock Inspired Me To Create Comme une Française
• Géraldine Lepère Facebook
• Géraldine Lepère Instagram
• Géraldine Lepère YouTube
• Géraldine Lepère Twitter

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• What to say to sound more French
• Differences between French and Mexican culture
• Adjusting to French culture
• How to connect with French people
• Reading French literature

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny and Shannon dive deep with Netflix star, YouTube influencer and polyglot Jo Franco about growing up bilingual, developing a love of travel and language learning, and building connection through language.

Featured Resources

• JoClub
• The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals

Mentioned in this Episode

• JoClub
• The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals
• The Circle
• Shut Up and Go Travel Show
• Jo Franco Twitter
• Jo Franco Instagram
• Jo Franco YouTube
• How Jo Franco Bought a House in Cash
• Jo Franco Reveals She Was Shot in Brazil

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Immigrating to the US and learning English in an ESL camp
• Living between cultures and finding your identity
• The language learning “spark”
• Overcoming the fear of making mistakes
• Jo’s travel show on Netflix
• Building connections through language
• Negative travel experiences and why they don’t stop Jo from traveling
• Finding joy in challenges
• Journaling as a language learning tool
• Why the Circle is the best show for language learners
• The importance of mindset in language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Native Italian speaker and teacher Elfin Waters shares with Benny and Shannon about falling in love with languages as an escape, using Instagram as a language learning resource, and building Italian language content for language learners.

Featured Resources

• Women in Language
• All About Italian

Mentioned in this Episode

• Women in Language
• All About Italian
• All About Italian Retreats
• All About Italian Instagram
• Con Parole Noste - Italian Conversations

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Growing up in a family that prioritizes language learning
• Shifting from language learner to language teacher
• Getting in touch with the country with the language
• Using Instagram as a learning tool
• The power of compounding lots of small tasks
• Slow learning and having fun with creativity
• Finding joy in language learning
• What language retreats are and finding the right one
• Learning specific Italian dialects
• Using food for language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny and Elizabeth chat with Jim and May of Spanish and Go about meeting to exchange Spanish and English, falling in love, and creating a language business together. Jim and May are the founders of Spanish and Go, language podcasters, content creators, and language teachers.

Featured Resources

• italki
• Spanish and Go

Mentioned in this Episode

• italki
• Spanish and Go
• Spanish and Go Podcast
• How to Order Food in Spanish (Ordering a Meal at a Restaurant)
• Day of Dead Children’s Book
• Day of Dead video
• Spanish and Go Youtube
• Spanish and Go Instagram
• Spanish and Go Facebook

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Combining love, travel, languages, and content creation
• Developing content for language learners based on their greatest needs
• Creating projects when you travel
• Switching from English to Spanish in a relationship
• Adjusting to Puerto Rican Spanish from Mexican Spanish
• Cultural immersion
• Day of the Dead
• Immersion retreats in Mexico

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny and Shannon have a discussion with Anja Winter about creating an online business and developing interesting, compelling lesson content to help students with language learning motivation.

Featured Resources

• italki
• LingQ
• Language Hacking books

Mentioned in this Episode

• italki
• LingQ
• Anja’s Academy
• Language Hacking books
• Anja’s Instagram
• Anja’s Youtube
• Learn German with Anja
• Learn German with Anja on Instagram

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Being a German language YouTuber and a digital nomad
• Incorporating body movement into language learning
• The importance of asking for help
• Finding inspiration for lesson material as a language teacher
• Advice for language teachers for creating an online business
• Limiting the amount of resources you use
• Making grammar fun with dialogues and phrases
• Helping students overcome their biggest challenges
• Studying abroad and immersion in languages
• Using dialogues to learn languages
• Maintaining motivation
• Using Netflix and movies to learn
• Student-teacher relationships and building connections

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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This week Benny gives a brief update about his current language projects, and how he's easing himself back into good routines. After a significant period away from language learning, it's important to take the time to figure out your methods and rebuild your study habits. The goal is to return to a place of consistent progress.

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

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Benny and Elizabeth chat with Mark Pentleton about how he started the Coffee Break language podcasts and how his role shifted from language teacher to language learner.

Featured Resources

• Coffee Break

Mentioned in this Episode

• Coffee Break

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Starting and developing Coffee Break language podcasts
• Moving from teacher to learner on the podcast
• Helping his children learn languages at home
• How students can overcome the intermediate plateau
• Having patience and avoiding comparison with others
• The opportunities that come from speaking languages
• How to view mistakes and be resilient
• How Mark found and built the Coffee Break team

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny and Shannon chat with Dustin Luke and Ruben Adery about how to develop an authentic Spanish accent by using rhythm, musicality, body language, and other local insider information.

Featured Resources

• English Speaking Hacks
• Spanish Speaking Hacks

Mentioned in this Episode

• Cosas Que Dicen Los Argentinos Hecho Por Un Yanqui
• English Speaking Hacks
• Spanish Speaking Hacks
• Spanish Speaking Hacks Instagram
• English Speaking Hacks Instagram

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• What happens when a language scientist and a casual learner team up
• Tips for rolling your r’s
• Having an authentic accent beyond pronunciation
• Rhythm and musicality of pronunciation
• Learning colloquial phrases and chunking phrases
• Mindset and “getting into character” in a language
• Body language and other local insider tips for learning languages
• Getting local, native speakers to open up and use the language with you
• Learning a specific dialect without moving to the country with the Five I’s
• The sounds with the most variance in Spanish
• Finding viral videos in your target language
• How learning another language is like living another life
• Teaching your nonnative language

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Join Our Patreon

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