Language & Travel Hacking

Northwestern University Professor and author, Dr. LiCheng Gu, has a conversation with Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy about co-authoring Language Hacking Mandarin, how language education has changed over the last 30 years, and why Chinese is easier than you think.Language Hacking Mandarin is available now. You can order it from your preferred retailer, online or in stores.Featured ResourcesLanguage Hacking MandarinMentioned in this EpisodeLanguage Hacking MandarinChinese for Heritage LearnersPicture CharactersChinese with Lulu and MaomaoIntegrated ChineseEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Teaching foreign languages at the university levelHow language education has changed over the last 30 yearsLearning Chinese charactersWhy Chinese is easier than you thinkCommon challenges Chinese learners face and how to overcome themCreating language courses and booksWorking on the Language Hacking Mandarin book, and how its approach to language teaching is vastly different from traditional language learningThe conversational approach to language learning and how it “sits” in academiaAdvice for getting started with ChineseUsing pinyin when learning ChineseHow languages are taught and learned in China versus the USPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Inner French podcast creator and host, Hugo Cotton, chats with Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy about using languages as tools to learn about other things, choosing compelling language content, and how to use what you’re hearing in another language in conversations.Hugo knows how to both choose and create compelling comprehensible input for language learners. He uses this strength to host the popular language podcast, Inner French.Featured ResourcesInner FrenchMentioned in this EpisodeInner FrenchReal Polish podcastInner French Apple PodcastsInner French SpotifyInner French YoutubeLanguage Hacking podcast episode with Anja WinterEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:The story behind the creation of Inner FrenchUsing languages as a tool to learn about other thingsWhat Hugo likes about certain language learning podcastsGood resources for learning a language in this way, without being too complicatedTricks for finding good resources in another languageChoosing compelling content as a language teacherUsing controversial conversation topics to spark interest and passionBiggest struggles French learners faceHow to use what you’re hearing and learning in another language, in conversationsPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

This week, Benny looks at the four pillars of language - reading, writing, speaking, and listening - and talks about his approach to each of them. He also shares his favourite online resources for working on each skill. For beginner learners who want to speak a new language, Benny's advice is to focus almost all your efforts on speaking and listening. If speaking is your goal, it should be your main focus.Using graded materials such as podcasts is a great way to practise listening, and later, short texts like Twitter posts or online articles will help you make reading progress without getting overwhelmed. Writing is a low priority for most learners until the advanced stages, unless you need it for your job.To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Liz from Talk the Streets chats with Benny Lewis about her passion for speaking Portuguese, living in Portugal, and helping others learn the language so that they can enrich their experiences in the country.Liz made it her mission to introduce more people to the Portuguese language and culture, after being shocked to find her university textbooks in the “Miscellaneous Languages” section of the library. She tells Benny about her experience moving to live permanently in Lisbon, and how she’s expanding opportunities to learn European Portuguese, rather than the more prevalent Brazilian dialect.Featured ResourcesDropsMentioned in this EpisodeLiz’s YouTubeTalk the Streets websiteLiz’s InstagramLiz’s FacebookMemriseDropsLyrics TrainingEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Learning Spanish at school and adding Portuguese at universityWhy Portugal is a good place for entrepreneurs to liveThe biggest differences between Brazilian and European PortugueseLearning about culture through language and musicWhy Liz chose to focus on learning European PortugueseResources specific to learning European PortugueseCulture shock when moving to PortugalLiz’s “eureka!” moment with her Portuguese levelTechniques and methods for getting started learning PortugueseHow intermediate speakers can improve their pronunciationPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Language coach and French teacher, Carine Lemaire, shares about her experience growing up trilingual, being a language learner with ADHD, watching 300 hours of TV, and the pitfalls of language apps.Carine’s approach to teaching is very student-led, and she has a great understanding of how important it is to learn in a way that suits you and your personality. She talks about how her ADHD impacts her study routine, and ways to manage “type A” students’ expectations.Featured ResourcesitalkiLingQMentioned in this EpisodeCarine’s websiteFrench Chatter podcastCarine’s italki profileEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Growing up trilingual (French, Italian and Swahili), and losing a language when you stop practising itDavid Bowie and other British music as a motivation to learn EnglishPros and cons of teaching groups and one-to-oneHow to solve language learning “emergencies”Watching 300 hours of TV to improve listening skillsThe importance of trust between teacher and studentHow to learn languages as a “type A” personBenny’s daily language learning routine (or lack thereof)Working with, and around, ADHDThe pitfalls of gamified learning appsBecoming a writer in a non-native language, and learning by making mistakesDifferences between French in France and BelgiumCarine’s French Chatter podcast, and learning from intermediate French speakersPersistence, variety, and being fearless in your language practisePodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

After several years living in the USA, Benny is finally returning to a life of full-time travel. This means he'll have a lot more opportunities to use his languages and build new language skills. In terms of language learning, the plan is to spend the first half of the year working hard to push his main languages to their best. As for the second half of the year... that's a story still to unfold.To access our New Year deals visit languagehacking.com/deals.To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Benny loves helping people start their language learning journey. Whether it's your first new language or your tenth, it's important to consider how you start, so you can build confidence quickly. In this episode Benny talks about how to get set up with spoken lessons and how to find course recommendations. And of course, having friends who support you is key - whether you join the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge, or build your own community, it's the most important way to ensure continued success.To access our New Year deals visit languagehacking.com/deals.To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Benny looks towards the New Year and shares ways you can make your New Year's Resolutions more effective. More often than not, vague goals fizzle out over time, but you'll have much more success if you're SMART in setting your resolutions. To access our New Year deals visit languagehacking.com/deals.To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

This episode features Yawhann, who learned conversational Cantonese and Mandarin 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 ChallengeRamit SethiEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How parents can encourage their kids to embrace their heritage languagesWhy “I don’t have enough time” is usually an excuse rather than a good reasonStrategies for keeping conversations with natives in your target languageUsing your technical skills in learning languagesThe ways language creates cultural connectionsHann’s experience in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge and the importance of accountabilityLearning similar languagesWhen it’s the right time to learn your second, second languageReframing your language learning progress as successes rather than small stepsPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Benny is getting stuck back into some language projects, which have recently included Irish, Spanish, Chinese, and Catalan. As he's doing this, he's taken the opportunity to reflect on how difficult life events and mental health challenges have impacted his language learning. It has been challenging, with some very hard times leading to Benny making his mental health recovery a priority. To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.comJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.