Language & Travel Hacking

“Warrior of the mind” Anthony Metivier chats with Shannon Kennedy and Benny Lewis about his Brain Exercise Bootcamp and memory strategies for language learners. Featured Resources Brain Exercise Bootcamp Mentioned in this Episode Brain Exercise Bootcamp Language Death by David Crystal Anthony Metivier Episode Overview Some of the topics brought up during the interview are: Memory methods for langu...

Polyglot Mari Salvestrini shares how she uses Instagram for accountability in her language learning, how to develop language routines based on energy, and why breaks are important in this episode with hosts Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy. Featured Resources Memrise Mentioned in this Episode Memrise Mari’s website Mari on Twitter Mari on Youtube Mari on Instagram Mari on Facebook Mari’s Podcast Ep...

Grammar getting you down? Benny's here to help! This week he takes the pressure off by explaining how he approaches (or ignores!) grammar, particularly verb conjugations, when he starts a new language. Making mistakes is an important part of the learning process, especially in the early days, and the most important thing is to be understood. Leaving the grammar to one side for a while and focussin...

Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy talk to Anja Spilker about learning Nahuatl, combating negative feedback as a language learning, and running a language business. Featured Resources ZALOA Languages Mentioned in this Episode ZALOA Languages Anja on Instagram Anja on Facebook Anja on Twitter ZALOA Languages on Instagram ZALOA Languages on Facebook Episode Overview Some of the topics brought up during...

Alice Cimino, a 19 year old third culture kid, chats with Benny Lewis about growing up bilingual, being homeschooled, learning languages as a teenager, and much more. Featured Resources How I Learned Fluent Spanish and English the Hard Way (It’s Also the Best Way! Mentioned in this Episode Fluent in 3 Months Articles Alice Cimino’s Medium Articles Alice’s Instagram Episode Overview Some of the top...

Have you ever struggled to find a language teacher who feels like a good fit for your learning style? You're not alone! What works for one person might not work for you, and Benny has some great tips this week for finding someone you can work well with. Knowing what you want from a teacher is an important starting point, and trying out a few people and reflecting on the experiences is crucial to f...

Shahidah Foster, founder of Black Girls Learn Languages, chats with Shannon Kennedy and Benny Lewis about learning languages as a black woman and inspiring black voices in the language community. Featured Resources Sisters Only Language Summit Mentioned in this Episode Sisters Only Language Summit Black Girls Learn Languages Black Girls Learn Languages Merch Black Girls Learn Languages Facebook Bl...

Halima Salim, founder of Blackboard English and the Fearless English Podcast, discusses empowering women language learners, overcoming negative self-talk and changing ideologies in the ESL community with Shannon Kennedy and Benny Lewis. Featured Resources Blackboard English Mentioned in this Episode Blackboard English Fearless English Podcast Fearless English Course Blackboard English Facebook Bla...

Benny answers the question of how to start speaking a language before you know any words. He shares a couple of language hacks - like becoming familiar with cognates - that you can use ahead of your first conversation. His advice will help you feel prepared enough to dive in and speak from day one. To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.com Join Our Patreon Enjoy the podcast? Su...

This episode features Marissa Blaszko who joins Benny and Elizabeth to discuss their language learning journey as a polyglot and keen heritage language learner! Marissa is the creator of Relearn a Language, a website that aims to popularize understandings of heritage language while sharing fun language learning resources. Featured Resources Relearn A Language YouTube Channel Who are Language Learn...

This episode features Svenja, who learned conversational Russian and Arabic 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 . Benny and Shannon have a conversation with Svenja about her experience of...

Benny discusses languages with different writing systems, and when he starts learning to read and write. Depending on the language and writing system, it can be a few weeks or sometimes several months into the process before he tackles the writing system of a new language. To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.com Join Our Patreon Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to...

This episode features Katie Pascoe, editor of the Language Hacking podcast. Katie also co-founded VR Languages and helped create Dynamic Spanish. Dynamic Spanish gets you speaking Spanish confidently in VR with the Starter Pack for beginners. More advanced learners can explore Spain in 360 guided tours with Dynamic Spanish Trips. Katie also discusses her recent experience with the Fluent in 3 Mont...

Poet, artist and polyglot Maria Ortega Garcia talks to Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy about mindfulness, language learning as an introvert, and the power of using art and poetry as language learning tools. Mentioned in this Episode Maria Ortega Garcia Maria’s Instagram Maria’s Facebook Maria’s Youtube Episode Overview Some of the topics brought up during the interview are: Learning languages as a...

Language teacher and expat Janina Klimas shares how to create compelling language lessons for students, how acting is like language learning, and why recording yourself speaking your target language is so important. Featured Resources Fluent in 3 Months Challenge Real Life Language Mentioned in this Episode Fluent in 3 Months Challenge Netflix Yabla Real Life Language Real Life Language Podcast Ep...

Benny and Elizabeth speak with French YouTube superstar Géraldine Lepère about the importance of understanding culture when learning a language. Featured Resources Comme une Française MY STORY: How Culture Shock Inspired Me To Create Comme une Française Mentioned in this Episode Comme une Française MY STORY: How Culture Shock Inspired Me To Create Comme une Française Géraldine Lepère Facebook Géra...

Benny and Shannon dive deep with Netflix star, YouTube influencer and polyglot Jo Franco about growing up bilingual, developing a love of travel and language learning, and building connection through language. Featured Resources JoClub The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals Mentioned in this Episode JoClub The World’s Most Amazing Vacation Rentals The Circle Shut Up and Go Travel Show Jo Franco...

Native Italian speaker and teacher Elfin Waters shares with Benny and Shannon about falling in love with languages as an escape, using Instagram as a language learning resource, and building Italian language content for language learners. Featured Resources Women in Language All About Italian Mentioned in this Episode Women in Language All About Italian All About Italian Retreats All About Italian...

Benny and Elizabeth chat with Jim and May of Spanish and Go about meeting to exchange Spanish and English, falling in love, and creating a language business together. Jim and May are the founders of Spanish and Go, language podcasters, content creators, and language teachers. Featured Resources italki Spanish and Go Mentioned in this Episode italki Spanish and Go Spanish and Go Podcast How to Orde...

Benny and Shannon have a discussion with Anja Winter about creating an online business and developing interesting, compelling lesson content to help students with language learning motivation. Featured Resources italki LingQ Language Hacking books Mentioned in this Episode italki LingQ Anja’s Academy Language Hacking books Anja’s Instagram Anja’s Youtube Learn German with Anja Learn German with An...

This week Benny gives a brief update about his current language projects, and how he's easing himself back into good routines. After a significant period away from language learning, it's important to take the time to figure out your methods and rebuild your study habits. The goal is to return to a place of consistent progress. To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.com Join Our...

Benny and Elizabeth chat with Mark Pentleton about how he started the Coffee Break language podcasts and how his role shifted from language teacher to language learner. Featured Resources Coffee Break Mentioned in this Episode Coffee Break Episode Overview Some of the topics brought up during the interview are: Starting and developing Coffee Break language podcasts Moving from teacher to learner o...

Benny and Shannon chat with Dustin Luke and Ruben Adery about how to develop an authentic Spanish accent by using rhythm, musicality, body language, and other local insider information. Featured Resources English Speaking Hacks Spanish Speaking Hacks Mentioned in this Episode Cosas Que Dicen Los Argentinos Hecho Por Un Yanqui English Speaking Hacks Spanish Speaking Hacks Spanish Speaking Hacks Ins...

Have you ever been trying to learn one language, but found yourself tempted by a new one and distracted from your original goal? Benny is here to help! He shares ideas for staying engaged and interested in the language you're learning, which will help stop your eye from wandering. To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.com Join Our Patreon Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Pat...

Benny and Shannon chat with Dayna Brockbank about learning languages on a budget with Duolingo, italki and Anki by building systems for motivation. Featured Resources italki Atomic Habits Anki Mentioned in this Episode italki Atomic Habits Anki Fluent in 3 Months blog Duolingo Happily Ever Travels VIP Kid Universe of Memory Episode Overview Some of the topics brought up during the interview are: L...