Language & Travel Hacking

Latest Episodes:

Ask Benny: New "Language Hacking Mandarin" Book Release Feb 02, 2022

Show notes

This week Benny talks about his experience with Mandarin, and why it doesn't deserve its reputation of being a difficult language for native English speakers to learn. He explains that if you focus on speaking, and leave the Chinese characters to one side, there are actually a lot of things that make Mandarin less complicated than many other languages.

Benny discusses learning and teaching Mandarin with Northwestern University professor, Dr. LiCheng Gu in more detail in episode 85. Benny, Shannon Kennedy, and Dr Gu worked together to write the new "Language Hacking Mandarin" book, which is a fantastic resource for anyone wanting to make quick and effective progress speaking Chinese.

You can get a copy of "Language Hacking Mandarin" here.

To ask Benny a question, leave a comment on Instagram (@languagehacking) or Twitter (@fi3m), or you can email ask@languagehacking.com

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#84 Dr. Gu on Co-Writing ‘Language Hacking Mandarin’ Feb 01, 2022

Show notes

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 Resources

Language Hacking Mandarin

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Teaching foreign languages at the university level
How language education has changed over the last 30 years
Learning Chinese characters
Why Chinese is easier than you think
Common challenges Chinese learners face and how to overcome them
Creating language courses and books
Working on the Language Hacking Mandarin book, and how its approach to language teaching is vastly different from traditional language learning
The conversational approach to language learning and how it “sits” in academia
Advice for getting started with Chinese
Using pinyin when learning Chinese
How languages are taught and learned in China versus the US

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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#83 Hugo Cotton on Learning Through Topics that Matter Jan 24, 2022

Show notes

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 Resources

Inner French

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

The story behind the creation of Inner French
Using languages as a tool to learn about other things
What Hugo likes about certain language learning podcasts
Good resources for learning a language in this way, without being too complicated
Tricks for finding good resources in another language
Choosing compelling content as a language teacher
Using controversial conversation topics to spark interest and passion
Biggest struggles French learners face
How to use what you’re hearing and learning in another language, in conversations

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Ask Benny: How Can I Incorporate the 4 Pillars of Language Learning into My Routine? Jan 19, 2022

Show notes

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.com

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#82 Liz of “Talk the Streets” on How to Get Started with Portuguese Jan 17, 2022

Show notes

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 Resources

Drops

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Learning Spanish at school and adding Portuguese at university
Why Portugal is a good place for entrepreneurs to live
The biggest differences between Brazilian and European Portuguese
Learning about culture through language and music
Why Liz chose to focus on learning European Portuguese
Resources specific to learning European Portuguese
Culture shock when moving to Portugal
Liz’s “eureka!” moment with her Portuguese level
Techniques and methods for getting started learning Portuguese
How intermediate speakers can improve their pronunciation

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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#81 Carine Lemaire on Fearless Language Practice Jan 10, 2022

Show notes

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 Resources

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Growing up trilingual (French, Italian and Swahili), and losing a language when you stop practising it
David Bowie and other British music as a motivation to learn English
Pros and cons of teaching groups and one-to-one
How to solve language learning “emergencies”
Watching 300 hours of TV to improve listening skills
The importance of trust between teacher and student
How to learn languages as a “type A” person
Benny’s daily language learning routine (or lack thereof)
Working with, and around, ADHD
The pitfalls of gamified learning apps
Becoming a writer in a non-native language, and learning by making mistakes
Differences between French in France and Belgium
Carine’s French Chatter podcast, and learning from intermediate French speakers
Persistence, variety, and being fearless in your language practise

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Ask Benny: Benny's 2022 Language Learning Plans Jan 03, 2022

Show notes

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.com

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Ask Benny: How to Get Started with a New Language in 2022 Jan 01, 2022

Show notes

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.com

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Ask Benny: How to Make New Year's Resolutions that Actually Stick Dec 31, 2021

Show notes

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.com

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#80 Yawhann’s 90 Day Language Challenge Dec 27, 2021

Show notes

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 Resources

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

How parents can encourage their kids to embrace their heritage languages
Why “I don’t have enough time” is usually an excuse rather than a good reason
Strategies for keeping conversations with natives in your target language
Using your technical skills in learning languages
The ways language creates cultural connections
Hann’s experience in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge and the importance of accountability
Learning similar languages
When it’s the right time to learn your second, second language
Reframing your language learning progress as successes rather than small steps

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.