In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny shares updates from his latest travel adventures. After completing a bus journey across South America, he's now traveling down the Amazon River and visiting all 26 Brazilian states, with only six left to go. Benny talks about his experience on the Amazon, from navigating the triple border of Peru, Colombia, and Brazil, to spending three days on a boat where he enjoyed stunning views and practiced Italian with fellow travelers. He also discus...
Aug 07, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 78
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, host Benny shares his travel plans and projects for the year, all centered around South America. He discusses three major travel projects: visiting all Brazilian states, traveling from the Atlantic Ocean to the Pacific Ocean entirely by bus, and navigating the entire Amazon River by boat. Benny explains his motivations for these journeys, emphasizing his desire to explore new places with minimal carbon footprint. Benny also mentions the linguistic...
Mar 11, 2024•10 min•Season 1Ep. 77
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny explores the game-changing integration of artificial intelligence (AI) into language learning. Breaking away from his previous skepticism, Benny unveils a cutting-edge tool where users can engage with an AI teacher for unlimited language practice at a fraction of the cost of traditional lessons. Highlighting benefits such as affordability and personalized learning, Benny invites listeners to join the exciting journey into the future of langu...
Mar 04, 2024•13 min•Season 1Ep. 76
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny discusses the growing role of artificial intelligence (AI) in language learning. He acknowledges the potential of AI to revolutionize language education, including the possibility of replacing human teachers with AI-powered systems. However, Benny expresses skepticism about the current effectiveness of such systems, citing limitations in conversation depth and the tendency for some to exaggerate their AI capabilities. Despite recognizing the...
Feb 26, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 75
Benny Lewis discusses strategies to avoid standing out as an obvious foreigner when speaking a new language, drawing from his experiences in Brazil. Academic choices of written words, like or simply saying things that are just illogical, can make you stand out more. Follow Benny on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ), X ( @fi3m ), Tiktok ( @irishpolyglot ), or you can em...
Feb 05, 2024•8 min•Season 1Ep. 74
Benny shares his insights on how to engage in conversations as a beginner or intermediate language learner. He emphasizes the importance of having interesting things to say, such as sharing personal skills, stories, or tricks, to keep the other person engaged and patient. Follow Benny on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ), X ( @fi3m ), Tiktok ( @irishpolyglot ), or you ...
Jan 29, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 73
Benny Lewis expresses his enthusiasm for the unique opportunity of being the first foreigner many Brazilians will ever meet during his travels off the beaten path. He encourages language learners to explore less touristy areas, underlining the special privilege of representing the world to those he encounters. Benny highlights the crucial role of language skills, specifically speaking the local language, in creating these one-of-a-kind connections. He reflects on the significance of leaving a la...
Jan 22, 2024•6 min•Season 1Ep. 72
Benny Lewis shares his experience with a recent intensive Korean language project after a 10-year gap. He reflects on personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of considering mental health during language learning. Benny encourages listeners to go easy on themselves, focus on progress, and find a balance between ambition and self-care. Watch the full uncut video of Benny speaking Korean after his language mission here: Benny's Korean: Final conversation to demonstrate basic conversational ...
Jan 15, 2024•12 min•Season 1Ep. 71
In this podcast episode, Benny shares his language learning plans for the year, focusing on Portuguese and exploring the diverse dialects in Brazil. He offers practical advice, suggesting starting with the standard version of the language before delving into specific dialects. Benny shares tips on finding resources, emphasizing the importance of searching in the language itself for better results. Drawing from his own experiences, Benny discusses reaching out to native speakers through platforms...
Jan 08, 2024•15 min•Season 1Ep. 70
In the first Language Hacking Podcast episode of 2024, Benny discusses effective language learning strategies for New Year's resolutions. Instead of vague goals, Benny advocates for SMART goals—Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, and Time-Bound. Drawing from his Fluent in 3 Months philosophy, Benny emphasizes public accountability, community involvement, and aligning methods with language goals. Follow Benny on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bo...
Jan 01, 2024•11 min•Season 1Ep. 69
In this festive episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis brings a unique twist, stepping away from traditional language learning to share an exhilarating passion – geography. As the world celebrates Christmas, Benny takes you on an exciting journey into his downtime adventures, fueled by a fascination with countries, capitals, and flags. Forget stamp collecting or video games – Benny introduces you to the thrill of Geoguesser, a game that transports you to random locations worldwide ...
Dec 25, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 68
In this episode of the Language Hacking podcast, Benny Lewis tackles a question that language enthusiasts often ponder: When is the right time to move on to the next language in your polyglot journey? Benny dismisses the common notion that polyglots must juggle multiple languages simultaneously and introduces a compelling alternative—focusing on one language until achieving a solid B2 proficiency level. Benny delves into the pitfalls of trying to learn several languages at once, including interf...
Dec 18, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 67
In this podcast episode, Benny Lewis offers a practical glimpse into the workings of his nomadic lifestyle. Navigating the realms of an Irish passport, British citizenship, and a U.S. green card, Benny shares insights into the pragmatic use of multiple passports for streamlined travel experiences. He breaks down the intricacies of sustaining U.S. residency through a specialized travel permit, all while efficiently operating his company from the heart of Texas. With plans to sustain this nomadic ...
Dec 11, 2023•12 min•Season 1Ep. 66
Benny Lewis opens this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast with a brief but impactful message for language learners who might be feeling stuck in the intermediate stage. Drawing on an analogy from other fields, Benny likens the language learning journey to melting ice. He highlights the challenge of not seeing immediate results despite putting in months or years of effort. Follow Benny’s progress on his Korean mission on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Mon...
Dec 04, 2023•5 min•Season 1Ep. 65
Join Benny in this laid-back podcast episode as he discusses the pragmatic transition from physical to digital language resources. Discover the convenience of downsizing possessions for a more stress-free travel experience and an embrace of a minimalist lifestyle. Follow Benny’s progress on his Korean mission on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ), X ( @fi3m ), Tiktok ( ...
Nov 27, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 64
Join Benny in this episode as he explores a fascinating topic that he often gets asked: “Should I care about dialects?” He reveals why dialect differences are not a significant issue for beginners, and why the main hurdles of learning a language are the same for all dialects. He also reveals some perks of learning from a tutor who speaks a different dialect of the same language. To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ) or Twitter ( @fi3m ), or you can email as...
Nov 13, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 62
How would you like to learn new things and boost your target language in one go? In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny shows you how to do just that. He introduces you to a variety of learning activities in your target language that you can find online or locally, such as K-Pop dancing. He also offers his advice on how to cope with the challenges and obstacles that may arise during your language learning journey. Follow Benny's Korean Instagram at @kpoplyglot . Also, follow Benn...
Nov 06, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 61
In this episode, Benny Lewis celebrates a milestone in his language learning journey: the 20th anniversary of his first successful language project. He takes you back to Valencia, Spain, where he faced many challenges and frustrations with learning Spanish for the first six months. He tells you how he tried different methods that did not work for him, such as attending group lessons, reading Lord of the Rings, and studying the dictionary. He shares how he felt hopeless and discouraged with his p...
Oct 30, 2023•16 min•Season 1Ep. 60
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis reveals how he turns his daily routine into a virtual immersion experience in his target language. He challenges you to think of ways you can do the things you enjoy in the language you are learning, such as scrolling through TikTok, watching Netflix, listening to Spotify, and more. Follow Benny’s progress on his Korean mission on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a quest...
Oct 23, 2023•7 min•Season 1Ep. 59
Join Benny Lewis in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast as he talks about his amazing experience of learning Korean in Korea for five months and how he reached his objectives. He also tells you about his upcoming trips to Europe and how he plans to use his Spanish and Catalan skills in different places such as Barcelona, Ibiza, and other areas where it is spoken. Instagram links mentioned in this episode: Spanish @irlandesastre Catalan @catirlandes Portuguese @brasirlandes French @irlan...
Oct 16, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 58
Benny has been pondering a deep question lately, and he shares his thoughts on it in this episode. This is a somewhat deep question that he often gets asked: “Does your age affect your ability to learn languages?” Follow Benny’s progress on his Korean mission on our YouTube channel , and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp . To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ) or Twitter ( @fi3m ), or you can email ask@languagehacking.com . Check out...
Oct 09, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 57
Join Benny in this episode as he explores the world of language exchange events. He explains the differences between two common styles of these events, and how to decide which one works for you. He also shows you how to find great language partners and have lively conversations in your target language. Whether you like a relaxed or a formal style, you will find out how to make the most of language exchange events. Follow Benny’s progress on his Korean mission on our YouTube channel , and don’t f...
Oct 02, 2023•8 min•Season 1Ep. 56
Have you ever had a conversation with someone who is head over heels about languages? In this interview, psychology researcher Dan Mirea discusses the links between psychology and linguistics (including whether individuals switch personalities when they switch languages) and talks about his journey as a psychology student who was able to gather a huge following on social media by sharing his passion and interest for languages. Other topics covered include how (and when) people develop confidence...
Jul 17, 2023•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 141
In this episode, Benny explains how he got overwhelmed with his use of Anki in the second month of his Korean mission, and what solutions he found to balance his learning back. PS: Listen to this episode if you want to learn how to fix your learning mistakes even when you’re weeks into your mission. To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ) or Twitter ( @fi3m ), or you can email ask@languagehacking.com . Check out Benny’s progress during his mission on [his You...
Jun 26, 2023•9 min•Season 1Ep. 55
In this episode, Benny lists the most helpful resources that have helped him throughout his Korean mission. He goes into details about what makes those resources great to help all Korea learners out there! Resources: 90 Day Korean Talk To Me In Korean Preply Anki Memrise Kpop Korean 2 KoreanClass101 PS: We have an on-going promotion with Benny’s favourite resource, 90 Day Korean, which you can check out here . The promotion only runs until June 12th, so make the most out of it now! To ask Benny ...
Jun 09, 2023•11 min•Season 1Ep. 54
Do old-school language learning methods still work in our technology-focused and app-driven world? Fluent in 3 Months student Peggy tackled this question while learning Spanish with us. She also discovered how to balance motivation and discipline through “little victories”. Peggy shares her experience with realizing failures are more important than successes, building language islands and figuring out what topics are the right ones to choose, how to design a personalized language learning routin...
Jun 05, 2023•41 min•Season 1Ep. 140
“Before the Challenge I would have laughed if you told me I was going to study [French] every day for a week.” This is what Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and French learner, Will Scott, shared. Discover how he found success with the language and completely revamped his learning through fun and the support of a community. Will Scott shares how traveling to Salamanca didn’t do much for his Spanish learning, how building language islands around his juggling hobby added fun into his langu...
May 22, 2023•38 min•Season 1Ep. 139
In this episode, Benny goes over his Korean mission and lists some of the best decisions he’s taken and the setbacks he’s encountered. He analyses the CEFR level he is at, outlines a plan to improve over the next weeks, and shares where he will travel to for the following months. PS: Listen to this episode if you want to hear about Benny’s idea for a new hobbie… it involves K-pop! To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email ask@...
May 15, 2023•10 min•Season 1Ep. 53
How do you learn to speak another language when there are little to no resources available for learners? Fluent in 3 Months student Anika took head-on as she learned Telugu with us. She shares how she taps into native resources with the help of native speakers and what to do when the spoken language you’re learning is different from its written language. Anika shares her experience with finding content in another language and hiring native speakers to help her create her own learning resources. ...
May 01, 2023•33 min•Season 1Ep. 138
Benny gives his opinion on learning a language with the help of your partner and why it can cause difficulties both to the language learning and the relationship itself. Instead, he suggests alternatives that would still allow your partner to help you practise the language indirectly! To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram ( @languagehacking ) or Twitter ( @fi3m ), or you can email ask@languagehacking.com ....
Apr 24, 2023•6 min•Season 1Ep. 52
