Language & Travel Hacking

Latest Episodes:

Ask Benny: Should I Learn Verb Conjugations Before Trying to Speak? Sep 08, 2021

Show notes

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 focussing on communication can really help you progress at the beginning of your language journey.

To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.com

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#66 Anja Spilker on Creating a Language School in Mexico Sep 06, 2021

Show notes

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

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Living in Mexico in a second language
Opening a language school
Using social gatherings to gain conversation skills in a new language
Combining fitness with language learning
Building a business in another country
Learning Nahuatl and discovering a passion for indigenous languages
Helping create resources to support others with lesser learned languages
Combating negative feedback as a language learner
Strategies for keeping your conversations in the target language
Learning languages for travel
Transitioning from brick-and-mortar to an online business

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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#65 Alice Cimino on Learning With Downton Abbey Aug 30, 2021

Show notes

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

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Growing up in Guadeloupe and integrating Italian into her life
Moving as a teenager to the Dominican Republic with no Spanish
Homeschooling and the associated strengths and pitfalls
Learning English by reading Harry Potter
Improving her British accent with Downton Abbey and Love Island
Writing articles and learning to be creative in her non-native language
Why learning language number five isn’t as easy as it sounds

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Ask Benny: How Can I Find the Right Teacher? Aug 25, 2021

Show notes

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 finding a successful working relationship.

To ask Benny a question, please email ask@languagehacking.com

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#64 Shahidah Foster on Starting Black Girls Learn Languages Aug 23, 2021

Show notes

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

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Starting your own language learning business and event
Challenges learning languages as a woman of color
Imposter syndrome in language learning
Living and learning languages abroad
Inspiring black voices in the language community
Pushing yourself to your limits
Using wordplay as an entrepreneur
Finding your connection and why in language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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#63 How to Become a Fearless Language Learner with Halima Salim Aug 16, 2021

Show notes

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

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Living in Saudi Arabia as an illegal immigrant and its impact on education
Moving to the UK and learning English
Becoming a fearless language learner
Shutting down negative self-talk
Facing your greatest fears
Learning to read and write at a later age
Creating opportunities for women through English
Changing ideologies in the ESL community
Supporting your children learning another language
Creating a supportive Instagram community
Gaining confidence “being yourself”

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Ask Benny: How Can I Speak from Day One When I Don't Know a Single Word? Aug 11, 2021

Show notes

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

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#62 Relearn a Language with Marissa Blaszko Aug 09, 2021

Show notes

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

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

Creating viral memes around language learning
Celebrating diversity and inclusion in the language learning community
Analysing data across the online language learning community
How to identify in the language learning community
Self care, therapy, and shame
Learning their heritage language and speaking with their grandparents

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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#61 Svenja on Language Islands, Daily Habits and Finding Breakthroughs Aug 02, 2021

Show notes

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 learning several languages as a part of the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.

Featured Resources

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

How the Challenge helped Svenja make a breakthrough with her Arabic studies
Differences between learning a language in school versus on your own
Building language islands
Language learning struggles with grammar, pronunciation, and time management
Maintaining multiple languages
What a polyglot’s daily learning routine looks like
How to gain confidence as a language learner
Why it’s difficult to learn a language alone

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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Ask Benny: How to Learn a Different Writing System Jul 28, 2021

Show notes

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

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