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Language & Travel Hacking

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Mar 21, 2022 • 41min

#91 Manish on Juggling Multiple Languages

Long-time participant in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge, Manish, joins Shannon and Benny to talk about his experience learning a wide variety of languages through many different methods.This episode features Manish, who made significant progress in many languages in just 90 days with the 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.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengePimsleuritalkiAnkiMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeGoldlist MethodSpanish Speaking HacksEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Finding the confidence to talk to strangers in another languageWhat to do if someone close to you doesn’t support your language goalsMoving from in-person to online learningJuggling multiple languages from diverse language familiesThe value of community and supportManish’s many years of experience with the Fluent in 3 Months ChallengeStrategies for reviewing languages and notesPaying it forward and sharing your experience with new learnersThe importance of learning colloquial languagePodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Mar 16, 2022 • 10min

Ask Benny: St Patrick's Day / Seachtain na Gaeilge Special

This week’s Ask Benny is a celebration of the Irish language. Benny talks about some of his favourite websites for learning Irish, including dictionaries, media sites, and other useful resources. This special episode is essential listening for anyone learning, or wanting to learn, Gaeilge (the Irish language). Links to all of the resources Benny mentions in this episode can be found below.To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email ask@languagehacking.comFeatured ResourcesTeanglann dictionaryTG4Mol Scéal news siteGaeilge Amháin Facebook groupGaeilge SubredditMemesAsGaeilge SubredditTuairisc news siteNós news siteLearning with TextsGaelGram grammar checkerFoclach - Irish WordleBenny’s Irish TwitterBenny’s Irish InstagramBenny’s Irish TiktokJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Mar 14, 2022 • 47min

#90 St. Patrick’s Day Special: Sadelle’s Irish Journey

In this week’s special St. Patrick’s Day episode, Community Coach for the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge, Sadelle Wiltshire, talks with Elizabeth and Benny about learning Irish and joining the Challenge at an upper-beginner level.This episode features Sadelle, who made significant progress with her Irish speaking abilities in just 90 days with the 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.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeClozemasteritalkiBenny’s top Irish resourcesMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeBenny’s Irish InstagramBenny’s Irish TikTokBenny’s Irish TwitterTeanglann dictionaryFocloir dictionaryTearma dictionaryPotafocal dictionaryFuturelearn Irish from Dublin City UniversityGaeilge Gan Stró beginner textbookRanganna beginner courseFree Zoom classes from Philo-Celtic SocietyLet’s Learn IrishTuairisc news site with learner contentNós online magazineChildrens’ storiesCraic le Gaeilge Discord serverIrish WordleTG4 streaming TV shows in IrishRaidió na GaeltachtaSeachtain na GaeilgeAdditional Recommended ResourcesConradh na Gaeilge Los AngelesDaltaí na GaeilgeGaeltacht an Oileáin Úir / The North American GaeltachtIrish language book clubVideo news clips and transcripts from Maynooth University - intermediateChildren’s newsletter from Maynooth University - beginnerEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Joining the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge at an A2 levelHumor as a motivator when learningMusic and singing when learning IrishGetting your head around Irish pronunciationHow to deal with the different Irish dialectsGaelic vs IrishHow to build a community in your target languageFirst steps and resources for IrishThe secret to having fun in your target languageOvercoming shyness, perfectionism and fear of speakingPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Mar 7, 2022 • 36min

#89 Elena Guillén on Going from Dabbler to Consistent Learner

Language dabbler and native Spanish speaker, Elena Guillén, speaks with Benny and Shannon about learning Hindi during the pandemic, as a part of the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.This episode features Elena, who found the routine and structure of the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge helped her make significant progress with Hindi in just 90 days.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.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeitalkiMentioned in this EpisodeLingua Latina Per Se IllustrataFluent in 3 Months ChallengeEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:The pros of being an introverted language learnerLearning languages with ADD and finding focusUsing structures vs frameworksOvercoming perfectionism and distractionTips for studying lesser-learned and ancient languagesFinding commonalities between languagesAdvantages and disadvantages of knowing multiple languagesLearning through music, songs and filmsLearning vocabulary with the “goldlisting” methodThe power of community and accountabilityThe fun of learning different writing systemsPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Mar 2, 2022 • 5min

Ask Benny: How Do You Gather the Courage to Speak?

In this episode Benny gives a pep-talk to help you find motivation and courage to start a conversation in your target language. It can be so tempting to avoid speaking, whether it's because you're shy, embarrassed, or scared of making mistakes. But if you can bite the bullet and take the leap, you'll be surprised by just how much you can achieve. Listen to this episode if you need a bit of a confidence boost!To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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7 snips
Feb 28, 2022 • 49min

#88 Cara Leopold on Fast-Talking Native Speakers

Listening expert, Cara Leopold, talks with Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy about how she helps people improve their ability to understand fast-talking native speakers.For the majority of people, listening is the first language skill we develop - it actually starts before we’re born! Cara explains how visual context, transcripts, and relevant content are all crucial for effective listening development. She also talks about how English changes when it’s spoken quickly, and gives advice for using subtitles effectively to learn a language by watching movies.Mentioned in this EpisodeLeo ListeningANV Cop 21AlternatibaL’Affaire du SiècleEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:The stress of classroom listening activities at schoolWhy our listening ability may be behind our other language skillsOvercoming the fear that comes with not understanding when someone speaksVisual clues playing an important role in listeningHow to improve your listening comprehensionWays to use TV and movies as tools to improve listeningDifferent ways to use subtitles effectivelyBeing an eco-friendly language learnerPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Feb 21, 2022 • 56min

#87 John Fotheringham on “Anywhere Immersion”

Language Mastery creator and author, John Fotheringham, joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy to discuss “anywhere immersion”, learning difficult languages, and finding the fun in language learning.John has a wealth of experience learning Japanese and Mandarin, which he shares with us in this episode. If you’re interested in learning either of these, or any other “difficult” language, this is the episode for you.Featured ResourcesMaster JapaneseMaster ChineseMentioned in this EpisodeMaster JapaneseMaster ChineseGretchen Rubin’s Four TendenciesTotal Physical ResponseIs Japanese Hard to Learn?5 Steps to Learn Japanese Anywhere in the WorldGabriel WynerThe Power of WhenAtomic HabitsFour Tendencies BookBetter Than BeforeGoodreadsEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Learning “difficult” languages like Japanese and MandarinHow to immerse yourself in a language at homePractising your language with AlexaLearning languages through activities that you loveLiving abroad and creating memories in the local languagesHow to choose language learning tools and methods suited to you personallyFun ways to learn languagesExperiencing languages as a learner, teacher, and mentorRecommended books for language learnersPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Feb 16, 2022 • 12min

Ask Benny: How Can I Find Content in a Less Common Language?

In this week's "Ask Benny" episode, Benny addresses the problem of finding content in a less commonly spoken (or learned) language, and shares how he "trains" online algorithms to find the content he wants. He also reveals his method for finding good radio stations in your target language, and who he likes to ask for recommendations.Benny put together this episode based on his recent experience seeking out engaging content in Catalan, Irish, and American Sign Language (ASL). To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Feb 14, 2022 • 32min

#86 Andrew Hamerlinck on What Sports Coaches Can Teach Language Learners

Soccer coach and fitness trainer, Andrew Hamerlinck, speaks with Benny and Shannon about learning German and Spanish to chat with his fellow soccer players in their native languages.This episode features Andrew, who made significant progress with his German and Spanish speaking abilities in just 90 days with the 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.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeLanguage Hacking SpanishEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How language and sports intersectUsing mini milestones or missions to say motivatedThe importance of discipline, accountability, and communityHabit-stacking fitness and language learningBuilding scriptsLanguage islandsUsing “dials” to assess your workloadPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.
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Feb 7, 2022 • 48min

#85 Alicya on Wine Tasting to Learn French

Writer and long-term expat, Alicya, speaks with Benny and Elizabeth about learning French through the lens of another passion - wine tasting.This episode features Alicya, who made significant progress with her French speaking ability 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 ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeWine Tasting CourseEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Arriving in France with zero FrenchWhy the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge is so good, even for a shy or introverted personWhat it’s like living in France as an AmericanWhy Alicya had a harder time with French than Spanish and ItalianHow to make the most of a language exchange opportunityRaising a bilingual childLearning to read, and reading to learnWine as a gateway to learning about French culture and historyDeveloping a French “wine language island”Learning to do things using your target languageHow to tackle a polyglot ChallengePodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

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