fluent in 3 months

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 in language learning and when speaking foreign languages, tips on how to become a language content creator online, Dan’s process for content creation, and how his psychology research has affected his language learning journey.

Mentioned in this Episode

• [Dan’s TikTok](https://www.tiktok.com/@danniesbrain)
• [Dan’s Instagram](https://www.instagram.com/danniesbrain/) 
• [Mental Health for Romania](https://mentalhealthforromania.org/en/)

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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 routine, and how the Fluent in 3 Months program helped her through community and support even when she already had a language learning system that worked for her.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• italki

In this episode, we mention the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge which has been replaced by Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp. We guarantee that anyone who completes Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

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Podcast theme: “[A New Beginning](https://www.amazon.com/dp/B086W5YPN8/ref=dm_ws_tlw_trk5)” by Shannon Kennedy

“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 language learning routine, the power of documenting your progress in a new language, and how he set up French dinner parties with his friends to practice the language.

(Pss… Listen to this episode to hear Will ask Shannon and Benny questions about how to use flashcards and spaced-repetition to master their languages.)

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp

We guarantee that anyone who completes Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

• italki
• FrenchPod101
• Anki
• Memrise
• Deepl Translator
• Inner French
• Le Petit Prince

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

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. She also discusses what it’s like learning her partner’s native language, using the TPRS method to learn language, and how to take initiative with your language tutors.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• italki
• Fiverr
• 7-Step Re-Reading
• TPRS Method
• Fingtam Languages

In this episode, we mention the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge which has been replaced by Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp. We guarantee that anyone who completes Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

Join Our Patreon

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

How can you make grammar “less boring” to learn?

Mignon Fogarty, founder of the platform Quick and Dirty Tips and of the beloved Grammar Girl podcast, comes onto the Language Hacking podcast to help answer this question. She tells Benny how Grammar Girl was born from having to look up grammar rules often as part of her job, and how she grew her podcast into a successful business.

Mignon then explains how language evolution tends to emerge primarily from younger people, hence why using social media to stay on top of grammar evolution is completely valid! She and Benny discuss changes in the English language, including the emotional weight of punctuation online, and how social media can be the number one resource for fun language facts.

(PS: Listen to this episode if you wonder what kind of experience in life you need to become a polyglot. Benny explains how his background in engineering helps him face language learning in a more productive way.)

Mentioned in this Episode

• Grammar Girl Podcast
• Quick and Dirty Tips
• Mignon’s twitter
• Mignon’s TikTok
• Benny’s main TikTok

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

How can you find good resources to learn uncommon or less popular languages?

Azren grew up multilingual and made a career out of his passion for languages. He currently speaks English, French, Spanish, Gujarati, and Mandarin, but his online tutoring business covers 11 more… Some of which are not widely spoken worldwide.

In his interview with Benny, Azren explains how he went from working for a window-cleaning franchise during his university studies to developing his own language-tutoring team. He goes into details about how he carefully selected tutors over the course of several years, and how he maintains the same patient rhythm to constantly grow his business by organically recruiting team-members to cover new languages.

Then the conversation moves on to a pain point for minority language learners: finding resources, either digitally or physically, a struggle which Azren has learned.

From intensive learner to intensive learner, Azren and Benny discuss Azren’s methods to do full immersion, talk about how he stumbled upon the online polyglot community, how it helped him to grow as a language learner, and how it has impacted his teaching style.

(PS: If you’re struggling to get out of an intermediate plateau, Azren has some must-hear advice for you!)

Mentioned In This Episode

• Calgary Language Nerds
• Azren’s Instagram
• CEFR Companion Guide
• italki

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

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Can introverts and shy learners also benefit from joining learner communities?

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge (now Bootcamp) participant and Norwegian learner, Pierre, tells Benny and Shannon how the joining the Fluent in 3 Months community helped him overcome his fear of speaking another language, and how he was able to learn more quickly than with any other methods.

Pierre also chats about learning a lesser studied language like Norwegian, how speaking German helped him along the way, and lists some ways to get feedback on your language skills.

(If you also want tips on learning a language to prepare for a trip, this is the episode for you!)

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp 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 Bootcamp

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Can music help you learn languages?

Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp participant and Spanish learner, Zac, discusses:

How his learning approach changed in the Bootcamp (formerly the Challenge)
The power of music when learning a new language
How to pick up your studies when you’ve gone off track

Zac also explains how he picks a language to focus on. He gives his favorite tips for choosing a language tutor, and discusses how self-talk can support language learning.

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• italki
• Scott Young
• NET Concept

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

How can tutors help their students avoid anxiety and the feeling of “stage fright” when speaking a new language?

Emanuel Vasconcelos is one of the favorite Spanish teachers among the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp community, and Elizabeth’s primary Spanish tutor. In this interview, they discuss Emanuel’s journey to becoming a Spanish language teacher and the methods he uses to help his students improve their language learning effectively.

Emanuel explains how his focus is working with students using constructive techniques rather than the usual error-correction dynamic that many teachers follow.

A lot of the Language Hacking Podcast guests are students from the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp (formerly, the Challenge), so Emanuel’s perspective is an eye-opener!

PS: Plenty of personal anecdotes from Elizabeth’s and Benny’s learner experiences in this episode, so don’t miss out on them!

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• Hispandom (Emanuel’s website)
• Spanish Uncovered Review
• Stephen Krashen on the Comprehensible Input Method

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

What does it feel like to learn the language you have always wanted to learn?

Fluent in 3 Months student and Italian learner, Deanna, talks about the power of accountability, finding the right resources, and what it feels like to finally learn the language you always wanted to learn.

In this interview, Deanna, Benny, and Shannon discuss how to figure out whether a tool isn’t working for you or if you’re just not ready for the tool and to choose which language learning tools you’re going to use. The episode also covers topics such as avoiding FOMO when it comes to language resources and pushing through when your efforts aren’t giving you results.

If you’ve been wondering how to surround yourself with your target language, Deanna’s advice will help you get started the right way.

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• italki
• ItalianPod101
• Olly’s Storylearning
• Duolingo
• Tangerine App
• Forest App

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Is it easier to learn a language when it’s fun?

Fluent in 3 Months student and French learner, TY, discusses taking part in Fluent in 3 Months programs and finding the fun in language learning with hosts Benny and Shannon.

A language teacher herself, TY discusses her experience creating a program for kids to create their own languages and how recording videos of yourself speaking your language can be used as an effective learning tool.

Listen to this episode if you wonder how you can creatively learn a language alongside others, stay on track with your learning when major life events happen, and how to efficiently work with your spouse as you learn their native language.

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp 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

Join Our Patreon

Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to support what we do.

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Is it possible to learn a language better from home than in a foreign country?

Fluent in 3 Months student and Czech learner, Greg, explained to Benny and Shannon how he spoke more Czech in 90 days of learning with Fluent in 3 Months than while living in the Czech Republic.

In this interview, he also talks about ditching the perfectionist mindset and using to-do lists to improve his learning, as well as finding a connection between project management and language learning.

This episode is for you if you want to learn how you can stay on track when things come up that could derail your learning and utilize the people around you to keep from burning out

We guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp will have a 15-minute conversation in their new language after 90 days of learning. You can find out more here.

Patreon Support

Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to support what we do.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp
• italki

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

What exactly do you need to learn a language?

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and French learner, Honorée, chats about taking part in the Challenge, her plan to learn 5 languages in 10 years, and the importance of consistency and accountability in language learning.

Honorée’s advice ranges from how to identify your weak points so you can focus on where your efforts will have the most impact to how building confidence is important and how to do it. She also discusses time management, language islands, and maximizing learning efficiency in learning a language as an adult.

(Pss… Listen to this episode to hear Honorée switch the papers and be the one to ask Benny and Shannon questions.)

Featured Resources

• Language Hacking French
• 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.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Language Hacking French
• Pimsleur
• Drops
• The Pomodoro Technique
• Honorée’s Tedx Talk
• Honorée’s website

Join Our Patreon

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

How much does living in different countries shape your personality and influence your personal development?

In an episode packed with cultural exploration anecdotes, writer, translator, and educator Kelsey Lechner shares her experience with learning six vastly different languages, keeping her career tightly related to languages in unexpected ways, and adapting to new cultures while living in countries like Tanzania, Japan, and Bangladesh.

Kelsey also shares her flexible language learning strategy pointers, which she developed while learning Japanese, Spanish, Mandarin Chinese, Swahili, and Bengali. She and Benny discuss how social acceptance works when trying to adjust to new cultures, how to take missteps in cross-cultural communication in stride, and how to deal with culture shocks.

(Psss… Wait until minute 28 for a funny anecdote about how mixing up Bangladesh and Spanish led Kelsey to hit up on someone without meaning to!)

Mentioned in this Episode

• Anki
• Kelsey’s posts on Fluent in 3 Months

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Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Are dead languages worth learning?

Latin learner, polyglot, and professional translator Brian Powell answers this question by explaining his experience with learning Latin and the way it changed his perspective on learning languages.

Among other topics discussed in this conversation with Benny, Brian explains the “Living Latin” movement, using Latin in a spoken way, and whether or not Latin is a useful stepping stone to learn modern romance languages.

Brian also shares about his love for grammar, insights on the other languages he has learned, including Arabic, Farsi, and French, as well as stories and tips from his career as a translator.

PS: Definitely listen to this episode if you want to hear Benny’s special pronunciation of Latin words :)

Mentioned in this Episode

• Brian’s blog post on Fluent in 3 Months: How to Speak Latin: A Beginner’s Guide to Living Latin
• Lingua Latina Per Se Illustrata
• ScorpioMartianus YouTube channel
• MagisterCraft
• Latinitium
• Assimil
• italki
• IndustryArabic

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and Greek learner, Nina, shares her experience taking part in the Challenge and connecting with her husband, in-laws, and daughter through Greek with hosts Benny and Shannon.

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 Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Join Our Patreon

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

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• italki
• LingQ
• Glossika

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Figuring out how much you want your language teachers to correct you
• How to get through the intermediate plateau
• Learning multiple languages simultaneously
• Reading to learn languages
• Coming back to languages after a break
• Becoming more direct with your language tutors in order to get the most out of your lessons
• Balancing your energy and being more aware of your energy levels
• Learning languages with the unpredictable schedule of having a new baby
• Learning your partner’s native language
• How Nina supports her daughter’s language learning and multilingualism

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and French learner, Melanie, discusses taking part in the Challenge and connecting with her kids through French with hosts Benny and Shannon

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 Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Join Our Patreon

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

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Learning French in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• How language helped Melanie find new ways to connect with her kids
• Learning a language alongside her kids and how supporting one another goes both ways
• Creating a language learning environment with 7 kids
• Learning a heritage language
• Ways to support your kids’ language learning
• How being a part of her kids’ language learning journeys has helped Melanie improve her own learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and French learner, Joaquin, explains how deciding to study in France helped him become serious about his goal to learn French, and how he kept his progress up by working hard to keep himself accountable.

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 Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Join Our Patreon

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

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• italki
• Language Hacking French

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• How to stay accountable when learning a new language
• Why being bilingual doesn’t mean it’s always easy learning new languages
• Joaquin, Elizabeth, and Benny’s ways to includes some fun language days to their learning schedule
• Mini-missions and how they make learning languages seem more approachable
• Joaquin’s experience with Language Hacking French

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and Spanish learner, Hez, chats with Benny and Shannon about fighting perfectionism and practicing patience 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 Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Join Our Patreon

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

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Pimsleur
• Duolingo
• Benny’s Fluent in 3 Months book

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• What to do when you’re impatient and you want to learn everything all at once
• Fighting perfectionism and being kind to yourself in the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• The Buddhist idea of a Beginner’s Mind
• Keeping up your language learning during stressful periods in your life
• Ways to have fun with your language learning

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy

Fluent in 3 Months Challenge participant and Bosnian learner, Damian, chats with Benny and Shannon about finding connection with friends and family through languages.

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 Resources

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge

Patreon Extended Episode

Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus questions and loads more exclusive content.

Learn more and access this bonus content on Patreon.

Mentioned in this Episode

• Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• uTalk
• italki
• Duolingo
• Memrise

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

• Why Damian learned Bosnian
• How Damian’s language learning changed when he joined the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge
• Learning languages and music to set an example for his kids
• How to stay invested and motivated in your languages
• Connections between music and language
• Using scripts to prepare for conversations in another language
• Learning with more than one tutor and balancing the right number of lessons

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy