Language & Travel Hacking

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 ResourcesAmikumuInnovative LanguagesMentioned in this EpisodePolyglot GatheringAmikumuInnovative LanguagesChuck SmithChuck’s TwitterChuck’s InstagramEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:What Esperanto is and its historyWhy learn Esperanto?Does Esperanto really help you learn other languages?The lack of irregular verbs in EsperantoThe lack of taboos and exclusivity in EsperantoThe empowering nature of Esperanto conversationsThe unique aspects of Esperanto cultureGoing to Esperanto events in EuropeFounding AmikumuWhy grammar books may not be the best way to reach your language learning goalsPodcast 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 episode features Bryce, who learned conversational Portuguese 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 talk with two Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participants, Bryce and Michele, who are husband and wife learning their native languages with help from one another.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Connecting with your partner and their family through their native languageSpeaking Portuguese for an hour during the Fluent in 3 Months ChallengeLanguage learning milestones and building confidenceLearning English while living in Kansas and dealing with culture shockHaving patience with your partnerFalling in love as a motivationRaising multilingual children and connecting with them through languageHow to practice a language with your partnerApproaching language learning like an air infantrymanUsing Dream Teams in the Fluent in 3 Months ChallengeBringing Brazilian culture into the American homeAdvice for when you and your partner don’t speak the same 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.

This is the first episode of our new "Ask Benny" series where Benny answers listener questions. In this episode, Benny gives an update on where he is with his own language learning projects.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.

In this episode, Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy discuss everything from language interpreting to language coaching, the Goldlist Method to novelty in language learning with Lýdia Machová.In our chat with Lýdia, we also cover how to become more than a passive language learner, finding ways to enjoy your language learning, why you should focus on one specific language skill at a time, why Lýdia focuses on a language for two years, and how to be okay with giving up a language.Featured ResourcesGoldlist MethodAnkiMentioned in this EpisodePolyglot GatheringGoldlist MethodAnkiSRSLýdia MachováLýdia’s FacebookLýdia’s InstagramLýdia’s YouTubeLýdia’s Ted TalkEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:What’s involved in working as a language interpreterHow to become more than a passive language learnerFinding ways to enjoy your language learningMaking language learning fun, systematic, intensive, and effectiveThe importance of novelty in language learningUsing the Goldlist methodWhy you should focus on one specific language skill at a timeWhy Lýdia focuses on a language for two yearsHow to be okay with giving up a languageHow many languages polyglots actually speakPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

In this episode, we talk to renowned polyglot Richard Simcott about learning languages at university, raising a multilingual child, and finding motivation to learn languages through human connection.Featured ResourcesAssimilitalkiMentioned in this EpisodePolyglot ConferenceRichard’s Polyglot VideoKorean Script HackingAssimilTeach Yourself Complete KoreanMichel ThomasGo Billy KoreanTTMIKitalkiRichard SimcottRichard’s YoutubeRichard’s TwitterRichard’s InstagramRichard’s FacebookEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Studying language at universitySecrets to working on more than one language at a timeHow to maintain languages with anchor languagesReactivating, improving and learning languagesFinding motivation to learn languages through human connectionUploading videos and becoming a part of the polyglot communityThe origins of the Polyglot Conference and shifting to the online spaceWhat language learning resources and methods Richard Simcott usesHow Richard is learning Korean with his daughterCriteria for choosing a language tutorRaising multilingual childrenPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

In this episode, Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy have a conversation with Lindie Botes about learning multiple languages, growing up as a third culture kid, and what it’s like growing up bilingual.In our chat with Lindie, we discuss transitioning from language learner to language mentor, gaining the confidence you need to put yourself out there, and different systems and processes for keeping track of your language learning.Featured ResourcesitalkiAnkiMentioned in this EpisodeitalkiAnkiNotionLindie’s viral Korean videoWomen in LanguageLindie BotesLindie’s InstagramLindie’s YouTubeLindie’s TwitterEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Transitioning from language learner to language mentorGaining the confidence to put yourself out there as a language learnerHow to deal with criticism and ignore trolls as a polyglot YouTuberGetting inspiration from a parent language learnerBeing a “third culture kid”How a polyglot chooses the languages they learnLearning Japanese from Korean with language ladderingLearning multiple languages at onceHow to learn other writing systemsSystems and processes for keeping track of your language progressHow design influences Lindie’s language learningHow the online language community has influenced LindieGrowing up bilingual and whether or not it gives you an advantage learning other languagesDo you have a different personality in different languages?Journaling in another 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.

In this episode, we chat with Katie Harris, the founder of Joy of Languages, host of Easy Languages Italian and the creator of the #languagediarychallenge. Katie is also a previous student in 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 ResourcesitalkiFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeitalkiFluent in 3 Months ChallengeJoy of LanguagesFive Minute Italian PodcastEasy LanguagesKatie’s InstagramKatie’s YouTubeJessica’s FacebookEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Moving to Italy, living in Italy and avoiding the English bubbleFinding joy when learning languages and motivating yourself with cocktails!Doing something you love in another language vs doing something you love while learning another languageHow to feel calm before a video conversationKatie’s experience with the Fluent in 3 Months ChallengeWhat to do when the novelty wears off in language learningThe importance of language learning communitiesJournaling in a foreign language on InstagramKatie’s experience as a host of Easy Languages and overcoming the nerves around approaching strangers in another languageWatching hours of French reality TVLearning multiple languagesPodcast 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 episode features Evelyn, who learned conversational Korean 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 our chat with Evelyn shares how she made huge leaps forward in her Korean learning with the support of community in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months bookFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months bookFluent in 3 Months ChallengeLingQAnkiEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How to maintain motivation through communityFighting perfectionism when learning a very different languageWhy the resources you use don’t matter as much as the time you’re putting inHaving success during lockdown with the Fluent in 3 Months challengeKeys to her success with the Korean language and what makes Korean easyHow the community helped her overcome learning plateausUsing drills to learn KoreanThinking differently because of KoreanUnderstanding Gangnam StyleHow to deal with bad days in language learningPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

In this episode, we talk to US memory champion Nelson Dellis about learning a heritage language, teaching his kids new languages, and memory hacks used by the champions.Featured ResourcesPreplyDropsMemory SuperpowersMentioned in this EpisodePreplyDropsMemory SuperpowersNelson’s Dutch Words VideoNelson DellisNelson’s InstagramNelson’s YouTubeNelson’s FacebookNelson’s TwitterEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Going from memory champion to language learnerLearning Flemish to get closer to his familyMemory champion techniques to learning languagesUsing images to remember wordsBreaking down words for easier recallEnhancing your memory in a short space of timeThe power of speaking and language exposureMultigenerational learning: learning with his mom and teaching his sonFixing fossilized errorsUsing Drops to learn words when starting a languageBalancing revision vs learningPodcast 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 episode features Nissa, who learned conversational Bengali 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.Nissa shares about learning a less-commonly-taught language, and coming to understand herself through languages.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Understanding the world and herself better through languagesStudying French in high school as a good student but still not being able to speak the languageBreaking through the comprehension wallLearning Bengali with the Fluent in 3 Months ChallengeLearning a language with few or no resourcesMaking real progress in a short period of time by focusing on processesOvercoming perfectionism and fear of making mistakesHow to best undertake a 90 Day Challenge and Dream TeamsLearning with a nonnative speakerBest ways to utilize a language tutorLearning Yupik, an Eskimo languageGiving up on languagesPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.