Juggling and maintaining multiple languages

Juggling and maintaining multiple languages

Author: Fluent in 3 Months June 30, 2025 Duration: 8:59

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I dive into the age-old polyglot problem: how do you maintain multiple languages without losing your mind—or your fluency? I share how, over the last 22 years, I’ve followed a cycle of learning one language intensively for a short burst—usually around three months—and then spending the rest of the year maintaining my other languages. It’s not just about adding new ones indefinitely. Instead, I’ve found ways to rotate focus, whether that’s dedicating a day per language or devoting longer blocks of time to immersion—like my recent deep dive into Spanish and Portuguese during travels across South America.

But I also get real about the challenges, especially with my weaker long-term languages—the ones I’ve invested in but haven’t brought to fluency. Those languages have slipped over time, and I’m now shifting my strategy for 2025: no new languages, no focus on the fluent ones. I’m giving my full attention to getting at least one of my weaker languages to a solid B2 level. That means dedicating two-month stretches to each, combining both virtual study and real-world use during my upcoming travels. I’ll be sharing more details on the specific languages and destinations soon, so stay tuned—and as always, I hope these insights help you build your own multilingual life. Let me know if you'd like a quick

Click here to book a personalised one-on-one language coaching session with me

Or you can follow me 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
Update and my daily routine during my Chinese project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:48
In this episode, I give an update on my Mandarin progress after spending a month in Taiwan. I explain how I quickly regained enough confidence to handle everyday conversations, although my first social speaking attempt w…
Are you not ready yet, or is the situation what’s wrong? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:53
I shared how reactivating my Mandarin has put me in an unusual stage of language learning: I am far beyond beginner level, but still rusty enough that real social situations can feel overwhelming. At one language exchang…
Wrapping up Malaysia and Brunei [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:47
In this episode, I look back on the final weeks of my journey through Malaysia and Brunei before starting my new adventure in Taipei. Malaysia turned out to be an incredible experience. Thanks to my background in Indones…
Benny's next language project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:10
In this episode, I’m announcing a return to one of my core languages: Mandarin. Earlier this year I focused on a short-term project in a brand-new country, but now I’m shifting back to a long-term priority. Mandarin has…
My 50th country! But, what's the right number to visit? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:54
In this episode, I mark my arrival in my 50th country and reflect on what that number really means. After more than two decades of nomadic life, I’ve averaged about two countries per year. Some travellers race through do…
Life challenges that made me a better language learner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:59
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share how two childhood challenges, hearing issues and speech difficulties, ultimately gave me an advantage as a language learner. Growing up, I rarely unders…
How ADHD made me a better language learner [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:55
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how ADHD, something that once made me feel like I was terrible at languages, has actually become one of my greatest strengths as a learner. Although I w…
Kicking off my Malay/Malaysian adventure [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:23
In this episode, I’m checking in from Kuala Lumpur to kick off my first language and travel project of the year: using Malay to enrich my experience as I travel through Malaysia. I talk about how closely related Malay an…
End of year language boost [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:50
In this episode, I share an update on my end of year language boost after a very multilingual December. I talk about how I fully reactivated my Irish through local meetups in my hometown, without needing to travel to a m…