#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: What Are Your Favourite Korean-Learning Resources? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:13
In this episode, Benny lists the most helpful resources that have helped him throughout his Korean mission. He goes into details about what makes those resources great to help all Korea learners out there!Resources:90 Da…
#140 Peggy on “Little Victories” [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 41:14
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…
#139 Will Scott on Learning French Daily [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:37
“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…
Ask Benny: How Did the Korean Mission Go? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:22
In this episode, Benny goes over his Korean mission and lists some of the best decisions he’s taken and the setbacks he’s encountered.He analyses the CEFR level he is at, outlines a plan to improve over the next weeks, a…
#138 Anika on How to Learn Telugu [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 33:05
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 res…
Ask Benny: Can I Learn a Language With My Partner? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:56
Benny gives his opinion on learning a language with the help of your partner and why it can cause difficulties both to the language learning and the relationship itself.Instead, he suggests alternatives that would still…
#137 Victoria Galmarini on Mundo Lingo and Language Exchange Events [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:59
What’s it like attending an in-person language exchange event?Victoria Galmarini, Lead Manager for MundoLingo, an in-person language exchange organization, shares how to run a language exchange event, ways exchanges diff…
Ask Benny: Why 3 Months? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:15
Benny answers the big questions that a lot of skeptics asking him: Why 3 months?Listen to this episode to hear the founder of world-famous Fluent in 3 Months language brand explain how setting himself a deadline of three…
#135 Azren on Going from Window Cleaner to Language Teacher [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 29:10
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 Manda…
Ask Benny: How Do You Start Speaking From Day 1? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:54
Join Benny as he explains how he has started his Korean mission from absolute scratch—and how you can do the same! The steps are simple:Avoiding English at all costs—so no English conversation, even with your tutor.Cheat…