Foreign language hacking with Benny Lewis

Vagablogging :: Rolf Potts Vagabonding Blog

A top goal if you're living abroad as an expat is to pick up a new foreign language.  Benny Lewis from Fluentin3Months.com came on an interview with the Expert Enough podcast show.  He explained his rapid-fire approach to learning new languages.

Lewis makes the point that you should avoid being too "academic" when studying.  He stresses the importance of getting out on the street, conversing with locals, and finding out how natives really use the language.  This makes a lot of sense, as foreign language textbooks can sometimes be outdated by the time they're published.

Do you think dating a local would boost your language skills?  I've heard a lot of people arguing for and against.  For example, I've met lots of newly-arrived expats in Taiwan who say things like, "I'll just learn Chinese off my girlfriend."  A year later, the girl's English is a lot better, while his Mandarin is still nonexistent.  More than any magic method, your attitude will be the most decisive factor.  If you really apply yourself, I think you can't go too far wrong.

What was interesting was that a lot of the barriers (excuses?) that people make for not studying new tongues can apply to other new year's resolutions that fall by the wayside.  Things like being too busy, not having enough money, etc.  Lewis demolishes these arguments and challenges viewers to really unleash their true potential.

I couldn't help but noticing that he hasn't picked up any Asian languages yet.  Would Mandarin Chinese or Japanese be similarly compatible with his methods?

What do you think?  Have you become fluent in a foreign language?  How long did it take?  What techniques did you use?  Please share your experiences in the comments.

Original article can be found here: Foreign language hacking with Benny Lewis