Language & Travel Hacking

Shannon joins the co-founders of the Women in Language conference, Lindsay Williams and Kerstin Cable. Together with Elizabeth Bruckner they share the story behind the Women in Language online event and what’s in store for this year’s conference.

Register for the Women in Language conference at: https://fluentin3months.com/women-in-language

Featured Resources

• Women in Language

Mentioned in this Episode

• Women in Language
• Women in Language Instagram
• Women in Language Facebook

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• The story behind Women in Language
• Past events and stories from attendees
• Elizabeth’s Women in Language workshop about language exchanges
• Why it’s important to amplify and champion lesser heard voices
• How Women in Language’s speaker selection process brings new speakers to the conversation
• How you can attend the 2020 Women in Language event

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy have a conversation with Idahosa Ness, founder of the Mimic Method. In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Idahosa details his language learning strategies, employing music, rapping, mimicry and deliberate practice.

Featured Resources

• The Mimic Method

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

How Idahosa developed the Mimic Method by learning multiple languages

• Freestyle rapping as a language tool
• Mouth and tongue training to form sounds in a new language
• Learning to tune your ear to a new language
• How to sound like a native and integrate into other cultures
• How to overcome perfectionism by getting into the flow

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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This episode features Suzanne, who learned several languages to the conversational level 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, Shannon and Benny chat with Suzanne about how learning in community built confidence in her language skills and provided her with the support she needed to “lean in” on the parts of language learning that made her uncomfortable. She also talks about how the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge provided her with the support and nurturing environment to make doing those things possible.

Featured Resources

• The Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Mentioned in this Episode

• Meet Up
• Radio Ambulante
• El Washington Post Podcast
• El Pais
• News in Slow German
• Coffee Break
• Inner French
• Francais Authentique
• El Ministerio del Tiempo
• Gran Hotel
• Why Hungarian is Easy
• Suzanne’s Instagram

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• What it was like being in Madrid after years of Spanish study, unable to speak Spanish.
• Why it’s important to find the right tutor and not use English in your lessons.
• The difference between learning languages at university and learning in community with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.
• Learning languages as a shy person and why it’s important to lean into your discomfort.
• How to choose your first words in a new language.
• Overcoming obstacles in language learning and building confidence.
• Combining language learning with other activities, including self-care.
• Suzanne’s favorite language learning rituals and how she incorporates language learning into her day.
• Learning multiple languages and managing notes with different colored notebooks.

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy chat with Matt Kepnes, also known as Nomadic Matt. Matt shares his experiences learning languages as he travels the world on a budget as well as his best budget travel tips in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast.

Featured Resources

• How to Travel the World on $50 a Day

Mentioned in this Episode

• Nomadic Matt
• Coffee Break French
  Coffee Break Spanish
• Matt’s Patreon
• The Nomadic Network

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Traveling on a budget
• Matt’s experience learning French in Paris
• The importance of getting private tutors for your language
• Matt’s experience learning Thai
• Using hand signals to aid your communication in a new language
• Advice on traveling after the pandemic
• Top tips for budget travel and local travel

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Polish-American language learner and educator Nikki Prsa shares what it was like growing up as a native Polish speaker in the US and what inspired her to go on to study languages abroad. Benny and Shannon also chat with her about her linguistics studies at university, what it’s like teaching languages online, and her experience teaching her son new languages.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Speak at Home Tonight
• Master Chef
• Top Model
• Nikki’s Instagram
• Nikki’s Facebook
• Nikki’s Twitter

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Nikki’s experience speaking Polish at home while growing up in the US
• Nikki’s experience moving to Germany with a host family at 15 years old
• How travel has helped Nikki become better at immersing herself in a language even when not abroad
• How important it is to have a teacher you can trust
• What inspired Nikki to start Speak at Home Tonight
• Learning Croatian and traveling in the Balkans
• Why it’s important to even do just a little bit each day
• Teaching your child multiple languages
• Focusing on accent and pronunciation
• How to keep from mixing up languages when studying multiple languages at the same time
• Learning languages with prayer
• Finding the best approach in language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Peter Galante, the founder of Innovative Languages, shares how he went from creating a Japanese podcast to running a company that teaches more than 30 languages. He also discusses running a language learning business and his personal tips for learning a new language.

Featured Resources

• Innovative Languages

Mentioned in this Episode

• JapanesePod101
• Innovative Languages
• Fluent in 3 Months
• Bringing back a dead language - Benny’s Hungarian project
• Eurolinguiste

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• The story behind how Peter Galante started Innovative Languages
• How to find the best people for your team
• How to start a language learning business
• Tips for creating a language learning system
• How to find a job where you can use your language skills
• Developing a language learning business
• How Peter got started with Japanese
• 3 ways to think about learning languages - language profile, routine, anchor points
• The future of Innovative Languages
• How to be self-motivated and goal-oriented
• How a teacher or advisor can help you stay on or get back on track

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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This episode features Louisa, who learned conversational Chinese 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, Shannon and Benny talk to Louisa about how creating a system for self-learning Chinese helped her find success in her language learning after failing to make significant progress in a night class. She also shares the role community and the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge have played in her methods for learning Chinese.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• italki

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Goldlisting
• italki
• Lydia Machova’s Goldlisting explanation
• Google Translate

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Why language learning in night classes isn’t right for everyone
• The best thing about the Fluent in 3 Month Challenge
• Strategies for incorporating language studies into your family life
• Building a system to learn Chinese
• The Goldlist Method
• Overcoming challenges with language learning
• Louisa’s progress made during the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Louisa’s favorite resources for learning languages
• Lessons learned from participating in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Louisa’s biggest surprise from learning a new language
• Is learning Chinese difficult?

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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This episode features Fluent in 3 Months team member Caitlin Sacasas sharing her story of when she took part in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge. The Fi3M Challenge is a 90-day language learning challenge where participants aim to have a 15-minute conversation in their new language as a part of a supportive community. It can help you start conversing a new language while providing you with accountability and guidelines to make huge strides in your language in just three months. Learn more and get notified when the next Challenge opens for enrollment by signing up here.

Caitlin shares how she’s made drinking coffee part of her routine for learning Japanese and how meditation helps her be more productive in her studies. She also shares tips for learning Japanese and the importance of making learning fun.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Mentioned in this Episode

• JLPT
• Caitlin’s Makeup Tutorial in Japanese
• Terrace House
• How Caitlin found her language exchange partner
• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Studying in the Bathroom
• Casa de Flores
• Bilingirl Chica
• Abroad in Japan
• Rebel Heart Beauty
• Caitlin’s Instagram
• Caitlin’s Articles on Fi3M

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Sharing a language with your children
• The importance of finding a long-term language exchange partner
• How watching TV helps you pick up more natural language patterns
• How important it is to study during your peak times during the day
• Tips for pairing your language learning with another activity like drinking coffee
• How meditating to clear your mind before your learning benefits your memory
• Why you should start small when starting a new habit
• Why you should learn Japanese kana early on
• Fitting in your language studies by breaking up your learning throughout the day
• Why you should enjoy your language and not get bogged down with the technical aspects
• Prioritizing your time with languages

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy answer listener questions about language learning as a part of a special live episode of the Language Hacking Podcast.

Featured Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Speak in a Week
• Drops
• Anki

Mentioned in this Episode

• Livestream on Youtube
• Memrise
• Spaced repetition
• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Speaking without Conversing
• HelloTalk
• Speechling
• All Benny’s Language Missions
• Defense Institute of Languages Categories
• Language learning in hours and not years
• Shannon’s post on picking up a language after a break
• Fi3M’s post on picking up a language after a break
• Shannon’s Italian refresh project
• Dark - German TV Series
• Pomodoro Technique

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• How often should I review what I’ve already learned in my target language? - Danni
• Am I alone in thinking: I can’t learn Past , Present and Future? - Brian
• What’s the best routine to learn a new target language? - Tony
• What’s the best way to get full immersion in a new language? - Dennis
• How can you pick up a language even if you can’t practice speaking it very often? - KT
• Is it possible to learn a new language fluently in three months? - Maya
• I took a three-year break from learning Spanish. Do you have any tips for getting back into studying a language after a long break? - Jean
• What do you recommend to maintain languages you have previously worked on? - Ledys
• Can someone learn a second language for the first time in their mid-40s and be fluent? - Caroline
• Do you have any suggestions about study methods for a stay at home parent with three young children, as well as ADHD? - Andy

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Language educator and author Olly Richards joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast. He shares about his “Story Learning” method and how his experience learning languages led him to develop this approach.

Featured Resources

• Spanish Uncovered
• German Uncovered
• French Uncovered
• Italian Uncovered
• Japanese Uncovered
• Language Hacking Books
• Olly’s Uncovered Courses

Mentioned in this Episode

• I Will Teach You a Language
• I Will Teach You a Language Podcast
• Language Hacking Books
• Olly’s Italian Mission
• Olly’s Thai Mission

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• How motivation is the most important ingredient in language learning
• Music and language learning
• Advice for new language learners
• Comprehensible Input - Listening and Reading above your current level
• How Olly chose “Story Learning” as his method of teaching
• How to use comprehensible input and reading materials when learning a language
• How Olly studies languages, from beginner to advanced - Directness
• How Olly stays motivated when learning languages
• Olly's language challenges and how he overcame them
• Olly's latest language teaching projects

Quote: “Do what makes you happy.” - Olly Richards

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.