#111 Steve Kaufmann on the Evolution of LingQ

#111 Steve Kaufmann on the Evolution of LingQ

Author: Fluent in 3 Months August 8, 2022 Duration: 39:57

Steve Kaufmann, renowned polyglot and founder of LingQ rejoins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy to talk about the LingQ language learning app, how intensive your language learning really needs to be and more.

Featured Resources

Patreon Extended Episode

Enjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to extended episodes and loads more content. Here’s what you’ll hear in the long-form episode:

  • The origin story behind LingQ
  • Steve’s philosophies and practices in motivation and habits
  • Steve’s 3 survival language resources
  • Steve’s ideal day of language learning
  • Advice to those experiencing the intermediate plateau
  • The importance of being active physically and comparisons between sports and language
  • Feedback Benny and Shannon have received from language learners

Learn more and access this bonus content on Patreon.

Mentioned in this Episode

Episode Overview

Some of the topics brought up during the interview are:

  • LingQ and the journey to creating one of the most popular language learning tools
  • How Steve’s son Mark went from hockey player to key player at LingQ
  • How people read more than they may realize
  • Expanding LingQ from a reading and listening app to a tool integrated with Youtube, Netflix and other platforms
  • New features in LingQ
  • How Steve’s own learning in LingQ has changed as new features are added
  • Parallels between running a business and language learning
  • How Steve’s beliefs around the intensity of language learning have changed
  • Why language learners need to be okay with uncertainty
  • How LingQ has impacted the lives of people all over the world

Podcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon Kennedy


There’s a certain magic that happens when you step off a plane and try to order a meal in a language you’re still fumbling through, or when a simple conversation with a stranger on a train opens up an entirely new perspective. Language & Travel Hacking, from the team behind Fluent in 3 Months, lives in those messy, authentic, and profoundly rewarding moments. Host Benny Lewis, a nomadic polyglot and best-selling author, doesn’t just theorize from a studio; he records from the road, sharing raw, real-time experiences and the practical strategies that actually work when you’re navigating a foreign market or building confidence in a new tongue. Each episode feels like a candid chat with a well-traveled friend who’s made all the mistakes so you don’t have to. You’ll hear the sounds of street markets and train stations in the background as Benny breaks down the psychology of language learning, offers actionable tips for picking up phrases quickly, and discusses how travel itself can be the ultimate classroom. This podcast is built on the idea that fluency and cultural connection aren’t distant goals reserved for the gifted, but accessible skills you can hack through smart, intentional practice. It’s for anyone who believes that the deepest way to explore a place is through its language, and that every journey is an opportunity to reshape how you see the world-and yourself. Tune in for honest stories and tangible advice that will change how you approach your next adventure, whether it’s across the globe or right in your own neighborhood.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 271

Language & Travel Hacking
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