In this episode, Benny and Elizabeth get the inside scoop on how to become a French cultural insider with Lizzy Rimington who has lived in France for the past 30 years.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Benny’s Spanish Challenge

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Studying French at school and not actually learning the language
• How living as an au pair kicked off Lizzy’s French understanding
• How to integrate into French culture and build friendships
• Why French etiquette is so important
• Humor and how it can help you build relationships inner languages
• The ways customer service is different in France than in other countries
• What it’s like being vegetarian in France
• What to do when the French insist on speaking English
• When to use formal speech vs informal speech in French
• Tips for getting French practice when you aren’t ready for a native speaker
• Tricks you can use when you’re a beginner in a language

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny and Shannon chat with Hollywood Accent Training Coach to the stars, Eliza Simpson, on finding your voice in another language through accent and pronunciation.

Featured Resources

• Dialects Now
• Accent Gym

Mentioned in this Episode

• Knight-Thompson Speechworks
• Dialects Now
• Accent Gym
• Eliza’s Twitter
• Eliza’s YouTube
• Eliza’s Instagram

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Techniques and mechanics you learn to pick up accents
• Visual aspects of learning the sounds of a language
• What does vocal coaching look like?
• Difference between dialect and accent
• Dealing with difficult sounds in a language
• How learning the accent of the language you’re learning in your native language helps you speak and other techniques you can use to learn accent
• Tips for improving accent and pronunciation
• Using comedy as a tool for language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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You asked, and Benny is here to answer! In this short episode he talks about why he thinks tackling grammar shouldn't be your top priority when learning a new language - phew, what a relief!

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

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This episode features Jessie, who learned conversational Catalan 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.

In this episode, Benny and Shannon speak to Jessie who learned her partner Kike’s native language as a part of the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Anki

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Anki

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Tackling a language like Catalan with few resources
• What it’s like to have your partner learn your native language
• Helping your partner learn your language
• The benefits of doing more than one Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• How Jessie’s language learning progress inspired Kike to learn a language too
• Why it’s a myth that you need to live in a country to learn the language
• Learning a very specific dialect like Menorquin
• The power of community in language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Elizabeth interviews Benny about his experience climbing Mt. Kilimanjaro and how it parallels learning a language.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Climbing Mount Kilimanjaro and achieving a travel dream
• Giving up on language learning
• The compare and despair trap
• Being okay with mistakes
• Letting go of other people’s judgements
• Finding the silver lining
• How focusing on the end goal blinds you to the day to day progress
• The importance of asking questions and getting an outside perspective
• Why you make sure you have good people behind you

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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You wanted advice for memorising vocabulary, and Benny is happy to deliver. Benny explains that it’s not about having a particularly great memory, but instead, using specific tactics to make things stick.

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

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Benny and Elizabeth talk to Kris Broholm from Actual Fluency about language learning with depression, the language community, and the power of finding support.

This episode discusses depression. If you are currently experiencing depression, we recommend speaking with a professional. You can call Safe Help Line at (888) 379-6507 or any other support hotline

Featured Resources

• Lost Connections
• Actual Fluency Podcast

Mentioned in this Episode

• Lost Connections
• Polyglot Gathering
• Actual Fluency Podcast
• Actual Fluency
• Kris’s Email
• Cortisol relief in nature

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Challenges of living abroad and why it’s not the secret to language learning
• Learning languages with depression
• How language learning can counter the effects of depression
• The benefits of support and accountability from other people
• Creating wins in language learning
• Avoiding the comparison trap
• Anti-goals

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Join Our Patreon

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In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, we talk to Julie Ferguson who has learned five languages and is getting ready to learn her sixth – Scots Gaelic. She’s severely deaf and legally blind and has come up with loads of creative strategies for learning languages which she shares in this podcast as well as accessibility for both language resources and travel.

Featured Resources

• Julie’s articles on Fluent in 3 Months

Mentioned in this Episode

• Julie’s articles on Fluent in 3 Months
• Satori Reader
• Transcript for this episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Overcoming physical challenges to learn languages
• Being a visual learner while legally blind
• Getting help from a tutor and not solely relying on self-study
• Creative strategies for improving the accessibility of language learning resources
• How the accountability of the classroom helps Julie keep on top of her studies
• What it was like learning Swedish in Sweden
• Getting over the frustration of asking people for help
• How to keep conversations in the local language
• Traveling and accessibility
• Tips for avoiding language interference
• Building resilience in your language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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We continue our new "Ask Benny" series with one of your most common questions. This week Benny talks about why he thinks speaking from day one is the key, and how you can do this even when travel is not an option.

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

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Benny and Shannon talk to Chuck Smith, a notable figure in the language learning and Esperanto communities about Esperanto and its culture, and why Esperanto should be your next language.

Featured Resources

• Amikumu
• Innovative Languages

Mentioned in this Episode

• Polyglot Gathering
• Amikumu
• Innovative Languages
• Chuck Smith
• Chuck’s Twitter
• Chuck’s Instagram

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• What Esperanto is and its history
• Why learn Esperanto?
• Does Esperanto really help you learn other languages?
• The lack of irregular verbs in Esperanto
• The lack of taboos and exclusivity in Esperanto
• The empowering nature of Esperanto conversations
• The unique aspects of Esperanto culture
• Going to Esperanto events in Europe
• Founding Amikumu
• Why grammar books may not be the best way to reach your language learning goals

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.