Announcing my big 2025 language and travel project!

Announcing my big 2025 language and travel project!

Author: Fluent in 3 Months December 10, 2024 Duration: 8:08

Benny Lewis shares his ambitious plans for 2025, which revolve around learning Indonesian and traveling across Indonesia. Following his 2024 adventure exploring every state in Brazil, Benny plans to spend the first two months of the new year in Bali. While Bali is a tourist hub, he intends to use it as a comfortable base for intensive language study, focusing on achieving a B1 conversational level within two months. His goal is not fluency but functional communication to explore Indonesia's lesser-traveled islands like Sumatra and Java, engaging with locals and deepening his cultural experiences. Benny emphasizes that Indonesian is relatively easy to learn due to its simple grammar, Latin script, and familiar vocabulary influenced by Dutch and English.


In addition to his language-learning project, Benny will dedicate part of his time in Bali to writing his next book, balancing four hours of daily language study with writing. While he acknowledges the challenges of working with limited time, he is confident that Indonesian's simplicity and his prior exposure to the language will help him succeed. Benny encourages listeners to follow his journey, join Bootcamp to learn alongside him. His ultimate goal is to replicate the immersive travel experiences he enjoyed in Brazil by diving deep into Indonesia's culture and connecting with its people beyond the tourist trail.


Book a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat

Also, follow Benny on our YouTube channel, and don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp.

Or you can follow Benny on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot


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
Podcast Episodes
Ask Benny: How to be the 1st ever [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:28
Benny Lewis expresses his enthusiasm for the unique opportunity of being the first foreigner many Brazilians will ever meet during his travels off the beaten path. He encourages language learners to explore less touristy…
Ask Benny: Mental health struggles and being a language learner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 12:24
Benny Lewis shares his experience with a recent intensive Korean language project after a 10-year gap. He reflects on personal challenges, emphasizing the importance of considering mental health during language learning.…
How to dive deep into dialects (Benny's 2024 language plan) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 15:11
In this podcast episode, Benny shares his language learning plans for the year, focusing on Portuguese and exploring the diverse dialects in Brazil. He offers practical advice, suggesting starting with the standard versi…
Ask Benny: Geoguessr, Geography, country studies (How Benny relaxes) [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:48
In this festive episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, Benny Lewis brings a unique twist, stepping away from traditional language learning to share an exhilarating passion – geography. As the world celebrates Christmas…
Ask Benny: Melting ice: Constant work to push through a plateau [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 4:58
Benny Lewis opens this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast with a brief but impactful message for language learners who might be feeling stuck in the intermediate stage. Drawing on an analogy from other fields, Benny…
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…