#136 “Grammar Girl” Mignon Fogarty on How to Make Grammar Less Boring

#136 “Grammar Girl” Mignon Fogarty on How to Make Grammar Less Boring

Author: Fluent in 3 Months April 3, 2023 Duration: 49:02

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

Join Our Patreon

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

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: en-us Episodes: 100

Language & Travel Hacking
Podcast Episodes
Ask Benny: Travel update: downsizing [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:53
Join Benny in this laid-back podcast episode as he discusses the pragmatic transition from physical to digital language resources. Discover the convenience of downsizing possessions for a more stress-free travel experien…
Ask Benny: Dialects: when should you learn them? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:32
Join Benny in this episode as he explores a fascinating topic that he often gets asked: “Should I care about dialects?” He reveals why dialect differences are not a significant issue for beginners, and why the main hurdl…
Ask Benny: Benny's late-2023 language learning update [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:42
Join Benny Lewis in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast as he talks about his amazing experience of learning Korean in Korea for five months and how he reached his objectives. He also tells you about his upcomin…
#141 Dan Mirea on TikTok, Psychology & Linguistics [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:37
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 individua…
Ask Benny: What Was Your Biggest Mistake During Your Korean Mission? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:22
In this episode, Benny explains how he got overwhelmed with his use of Anki in the second month of his Korean mission, and what solutions he found to balance his learning back.PS: Listen to this episode if you want to le…