Month 1 update on my 2025 intensive language learning project

Month 1 update on my 2025 intensive language learning project

Author: Fluent in 3 Months February 17, 2025 Duration: 13:04

I’m sharing my one-month update on my intensive Indonesian learning project. My goal has been to reach at least a B1 level before starting four months of full immersion in Indonesia, and I’m happy to say that I’m well on track. Right now, I’m at a strong A2 (upper beginner) level, making very fast progress. Over the past month, I’ve been following a dedicated study routine, which includes 1–2 hours of Anki flashcards, coursebook study (Teach Yourself Indonesian and others), and language lessons 4–5 times per week, entirely in Indonesian. The biggest challenge has been memorising large amounts of vocabulary, since Indonesian isn’t related to any of my strongest languages. To tackle this, I’ve been using AI-generated mnemonics and building custom Anki decks, which has been incredibly helpful. I’ve also found that Indonesian’s logical structure and root-word system make it easier to expand my vocabulary quickly.

Looking ahead to the second month, I’m shifting my focus to listening comprehension, as I still struggle to understand fast, natural speech. To improve, I’ll be watching more Indonesian content on TikTok, YouTube, and Instagram Reels, while also creating my own Indonesian-language videos. I’ll continue my intensive Anki routine (2 hours/day), now focusing on a new deck with over 1,000 words, as well as some light grammar review. Since I’ll be entering my immersion phase in just a month, I need to be fully prepared to interact with native speakers in natural conversations, especially in areas where people may never have spoken to a foreigner before.

Check out Language Hacking Instagram at @languagehacking

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

Don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

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
Benny's next travel/language project is... [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:52
I’m kicking off this episode by checking in from Ireland, where I’ve been doubling down on my Irish through meet-ups, tech immersion, and plenty of telly. This is the first stage of a longer journey that will involve sev…
How I’m immersing myself in Irish… in Texas! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 10:33
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share how I’m immersing myself in the Irish language even while living in Texas. Since I’ll be heading back to Ireland for a month and a half, I want to rebui…
My story with the Irish language [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:44
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my story with the Irish language, from struggling through boring school lessons to finally reconnecting with it as an adult. In the 90s, Irish was taugh…
Life in the US and visiting all 48 contiguous states [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 19:00
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share a deeply personal and reflective look at my life in the United States and my journey to visiting all 48 contiguous states. I talk about how my fascinati…
Language updates: ASL and... Irish! [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:04
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share an update on my current language projects. After wrapping up a major travel project in the U.S., I’ve been refreshing my American Sign Language (ASL). I…
Converting between units quickly [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 9:22
In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my quick hacks for unit conversions while traveling. For temperatures, I use my “rule of five” system to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit. It’s ba…
The logarithmic advantage of beginners [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:24
In this episode of the Travel and Language Hacking podcast, I talk about the unique advantage that beginners have when learning a new language. Unlike exponential growth, where progress starts slowly and then speeds up o…
Which Operating System is best for language learners? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:57
In this episode, I want to share a tip you might not have considered for language learning: your operating system. On phones, I’ve gone from iOS to Android, and Android wins hands down because it supports far more langua…
Travel update: 4 new US states [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 5:57
Over the past month, I reached my 44th state, Colorado, which I’d been looking forward to visiting for a long time. I gave myself a whole month there to truly experience it—running races, hiking in the mountains, explori…
Comparison is your enemy in a big project [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 11:30
In this episode, I talk about something that keeps coming up in my own projects: the trap of comparing yourself to others. When I first started learning Spanish, I’d constantly compare myself to other learners and beat m…