Language & Travel Hacking

Famous polyglot Steve Kaufmann joins us in this inspiring episode of the language hacking podcast. In our chat with Steve, we discuss comprehensible input and compelling input, what LingQ is and why Steve created it, and the early disagreements between Benny and Steve.Featured ResourcesLingQMentioned in this EpisodeLingQComprehensible InputSteve’s YouTubeSteve’s InstagramSteve’s TwitterSteve’s websiteEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Steve’s background with his many languages and his “allergy” to his heritage languagesThe story behind creating LingQ, one of the most popular language learning appsSteve’s job experience with languages and why he believes languages can be tied into any jobConsuming massive amounts of input as a method to learn languagesBenny and Steve’s early disagreements on language learningThe importance of keeping a positive attitude when learningLearning languages after age 60 and why you learn better the older you getComprehensible input versus compelling inputWhat language hacking is to Steve KaufmannPodcast 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 Avi, 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 our chat with Avi, a Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and coach, she shares how rediscovered her love of languages and came to the realization that she is a polyglot while learning Chinese in the Challenge.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeLingQEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:“Forgetting” French as a childWhat it was like learning English as a foreign language in IsraelFiguring out how to learn a language through self-studyWhat it’s like being Shannon’s language exchange partnerUsing poetry, recipes, and martial arts to learn languagesAvi’s amazing progress with Mandarin in the Fluent in 3 Months ChallengeComing to the self-realization she is a polyglot and falling back in love with languagesLearning how to maintain 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.

Johan Tekfak, creator of Français Authentique, shares how he uses Kaizen and other productivity systems to build his language business and improve his language skills each and every day.Mentioned in this EpisodeFrançais AuthentiqueGetting Things Done by David AllenEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How Johan learned German for his job as an engineerCreating systems to learn languagesMaking use of “dead time” in language learningFocusing on interesting and compelling content in your target language - not just material that’s availableThe 7 rules of Français AuthentiqueWhat is “Kaizen” and how does it apply to language learning?How Johann built his own language company a little bit at a timeSimplifying and de-stressing the language learning processCommon roadblocks faced by language learnersHow to attach rewards to language learning to boost motivationPodcast 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 Turia, who learned Spanish to the conversational level in just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.Turia shares her experience going from an on-again-off-again Spanish learner to a confident Spanish speaker with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge. She also shares how she travels alone with her children in Spanish-speaking countries, developing a homeschooling curriculum for Spanish for her children, and how she responded to emergency situations in Spanish.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 ChallengeLingQFrench UncoveredMentioned in this EpisodeFluent in 3 Months ChallengeLingQFrench UncoveredWorkawayFabulinguaFable CottageThe Spanish ExperimentRadio AmbulanteScott Young’s Year Without EnglishEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge helped Turia become a confident learner after 20 years of learning on and off againHow Turia is teaching her three kids to speak fluent SpanishMoving to Spain for immersion and learning about the cultureIncorporating Spanish into a homeschooling curriculumNavigating tricky or nightmare situations in another languageWhat it’s like traveling alone with kidsTuria’s favorite rituals and resources for learning SpanishMaking friends and building relationships in SpanishLetting kids’ language studies be child-ledMore ResourcesAfter we recorded this episode, Turia was kind enough to share more specific resources with us.Spanish champs - a program that includes a script and is song/activity based. It also includes a dvd with clips incorporating the songs taught.Talkbox Mom - a subscription service that offers resources to help you switch your day to day interactions into your new language.Whistlefritz - a foreign language show for kids by kids available on Amazon prime.Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

Kerstin Cable from the Fluent Language Blog shares her experience learning English to full fluency as a native German speaker, her method for acquiring new vocabulary and her long-term, slow approach to learning new languages.Featured ResourcesYour Solid Vocab MemoryGerman UncoveredMentioned in this EpisodeThe Fluent ShowThe Four Tendencies by Gretchen RubinGerman UncoveredDuolingoFluentlanguage.co.ukKerstin’s InstagramKerstin’s Youtube channelKerstin’s Twitter accountEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How the bigness of our world inspired Kerstin to learn languagesLearning English using 90s Brit-popKerstin’s curiosity and excitement for learning WelshKerstin’s biggest challenges learning MandarinUsing mnemonics and visual images to learn new vocabularyHow to find your language learning personality so you can find the right approaches and resources for youHow Kerstin takes language learning slow, studying only 2-3 hours a weekKerstin’s top tips for language learners from her experience as a one-to-one language coachHow to choose the best language learning resources for youUsing handwriting in vocab notebooks as a memory strategyHow teaching German helps Kerstin feel like she knows the language better than everKerstin’s German student immersion retreats“Your solid vocab memory” - Kerstin’s method of acquiring, memorizing, and reviewing vocabularyPodcast 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 Jane T, who learned several languages to the conversational level in just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.Jane quit her job after her husband retired to start traveling around Europe in a motorhome, learning languages along the way. Shannon and Benny talk with Jane about her motorhome journeys and how she learns languages while she travels. Jane also shares how community helps with overcoming limiting self beliefs in language learning.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 ChallengeitalkiLingQMentioned in this EpisodeJane’s blogEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How Jane quit her job after her husband retired to start traveling around Europe, learning languages along the wayHow traveling in a motorhome gives Jane and her husband the freedom to travel affordably while always having their home with themHow the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge helped Jane get through the false starter phase of language learningThe power of accountability and communityHow to learn languages with an unpredictable schedule and unreliable InternetThe Comprehensible Input approach to language learningTalking to yourself in a language to get both practice and build your confidenceHow to overcome self-limiting beliefsCommon language learning roadblocks and tips for getting through themHow to filter what you’re learning to what’s relevant to youPodcast 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 Lewis and Shannon Kennedy talk to Will John, a professional soccer player from the US who has played for teams in many different countries, including Denmark, Serbia, Azerbaijan, Morocco and Georgia. Will shares his top tips from his experience learning languages as he travels the world…Featured ResourcesMuzzy in GondolandMentioned in this EpisodeMuzzy in GondolandGoluremiGoluremi on YoutubeGoluremi on Youtube in SpanishThe Way of Will JohnWill John’s Instagram11th Commandment YouTubeForeign footballers speaking Finnish videoEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:Will’s first foreign language: learning Spanish as a kid by watching Spanish-language TV shows.The strategies Will used to learn Danish when he moved to DenmarkTips for learning a language with immersion and with immersion.The power of rehearsal in language learningHow to avoid the “English bubble” when living abroadJob opportunities that open up when you’ve got language skillsHow Will mixes his languages and football skills, and applies his football training methods to language learningFacing fears and creating online videos in other languagesWhy reading matters in language learningFeeling “ok” in the danger zone - and why that matters 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.

This episode features Deb Bensauls, an enthusiastic language learner who learned conversational French AND Italian 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.Debs shares about travelling on her own using her French skills, using the language at work to create a better experience for her clients. She also discusses the power of friendship in language learning, and how being in a learning community changed her approach to French and gave her the confidence to learn Italian.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeThe Courage to SpeakMentioned in this EpisodeDuolingoFluent in 3 Months, the bookFluent in 3 Months ChallengeThe Courage to SpeakDropsEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:The power of learning a language with friends and community.Why being the quiet one in the back makes the language classroom ineffective.How to build confidence in your languages and speaking.How the online language community helped Debs become the polyglot she was always meant to be.Why it’s important to share both the ups and downs of language learning.The dangers of comparison and how to overcome them.Strategies for overcoming overwhelm when it comes to learning resources.How learning your second language is different than your first.How Debs has been able to use her language skills at work in the medical field.What happens when a giant spider interrupts your language exchange.Debs favorite language learning rituals including mindmaps and sticky notes.Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

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-languageFeatured ResourcesWomen in LanguageMentioned in this EpisodeWomen in LanguageWomen in Language InstagramWomen in Language FacebookEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:The story behind Women in LanguagePast events and stories from attendeesElizabeth’s Women in Language workshop about language exchangesWhy it’s important to amplify and champion lesser heard voicesHow Women in Language’s speaker selection process brings new speakers to the conversationHow you can attend the 2020 Women in Language eventPodcast 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 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 ResourcesThe Mimic MethodEpisode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:How Idahosa developed the Mimic Method by learning multiple languagesFreestyle rapping as a language toolMouth and tongue training to form sounds in a new languageLearning to tune your ear to a new languageHow to sound like a native and integrate into other culturesHow to overcome perfectionism by getting into the flowPodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.