Language Hacking tips from Benny the Irish polyglot at TBEX Vancouver

I was invited to speak at TBEX (Travel Blog EXchange) in Vancouver, in front over over 500 people about my language learning techniques. It was my first time ever speaking publicly! Most of the audience are travel writers, and have been around the world but unfortunately most have never learned the local languages where they go. I focused this talk on encouraging them to get the basics. I only got through a third of my notes in the alloted 30 minutes! For more on this see my blog http://fluentin3months.com

Category:

Travel & Events

Tags:

• rapid
• language
• learning
• speak
• day one
• day 1
• travel
• tbex
• esperanto
• basics

[TheRiobezerko]

You did great speaking in front of a large audience for the first time, Benny.

[irishpolyglot]

@TheRiobezerko Thanks! I was nervous before it, but it turned out OK!

[CreateYourWorldBooks]

Great comment about making your own song to remember words. Language sticks much better with music. Ode to imperfection!

[irishpolyglot]

@CreateYourWorldBooks Well said!

[Alyxification]

OMG thankyou for telling me about the ANKI program i have looked all over for something like it. So thank you very much and excellent tips!!!!! You are a very nice speaker and i applaud you and your language learning quests your an inspiration :)

[irishpolyglot]

@Alyxification Aw thanks! Anki is handy! If you search for "spaced repetition" on my blog you'll see a post I wrote about it.

[kcor4]

Another informative video. Thanks.

But Benny, you're always talking about how anyone can accomplish what you do in three months. I think it would be awesome if, for your next language, you took a complete novice with you. You'd have no experience with the language and neither would they.

Document that on video and if it were to work I think it would do wonders for your exposure and your theories. People would really take notice.

Just a suggestion. Peace out, son.

[Rognalf]

This should be mandatory viewing in all language classes.

I learned french for 5 years in school. I'm still unable to express myself, or even understand very basic things.

Conversly, last autumn, I decided to spend this semester from february to july in Peru. I didn't know spanish before, but just a couple months of self-motivated learning, and following Benny's advice, and I've been talking to people, learning new skills, and making great friends, all in spanish!

[kanyeeast99]

guys! ive tried the singing method to learn spanish and italian words. and it works SO well. you learn a huge amount of new words in little amount of time. any other tips to speed up the learning? by the way, i red that if you listen to a huge amount of subject language, even if you dont understand a thing, it helps.

[therealnathanthorpe]

@lanuevagranada what are you basing that on?

[silent0watcher]

This was in Vancouver?

So I guess you went over to Mr Kaufman's house for tea and scones after giving the talk, right?

(Nah, I'm only only kiddin!)

[definingpossible]

Hey there! Can I ask how old you are? You said you only spoke english when you were 21 and you know 8 languages and learn them within a few months. I was just wondering how long it took you to learn these languages all together.

[katrudy7]

hey, wow! Congratulations, first* :) And thanks for sharing your conference with us---as always, great work!

[ConlangFan]

Wish I could learn languages faster, I just don't have good resources.

[irishpolyglot]

@TheSwissWatch Haha, why did you write "heart" three times??

I said COUCHSURFING. ;)

[lanuevagranada]

Also.... you inspire me man...

[lanuevagranada]

French people are pricks!