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
#45 Damon Dominique on Being a Travel & Language YouTuber [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 39:37
Benny and Shannon talk to Damon Dominique, a French educator who got his start online as part of Damon and Jo, about learning languages to build connection, teaching without lecturing, and how to find confidence teaching…
Ask Benny: Should I Learn Two Languages at Once? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 6:51
The answer to this week's question may surprise you. People often assume that polyglots learn multiple languages at the same time, but as Benny explains, this isn't as common as you might think. Listen to find out why le…
#43 Eliza Simpson on Accent Training with Hollywood Stars [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 46:16
Benny and Shannon chat with Hollywood Accent Training Coach to the stars, Eliza Simpson, on finding your voice in another language through accent and pronunciation.Featured ResourcesDialects NowAccent GymMentioned in thi…
Ask Benny: When Do I Learn Grammar? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 7:57
You asked, and Benny is here to answer! In this short episode he talks about why he thinks tackling grammar shouldn't be your top priority when learning a new language - phew, what a relief!To ask Benny a question, pleas…
#42 Jessie and Kike on Lockdown Language Success [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:16
This episode features Jessie, who learned conversational Catalan in just 90 days with the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge.We actually guarantee that anyone who completes the Fluent in 3 Months Challenge will have a 15-minut…
Ask Benny: How Do You Remember Vocabulary in Another Language? [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 8:36
You wanted advice for memorising vocabulary, and Benny is happy to deliver. Benny explains that it’s not about having a particularly great memory, but instead, using specific tactics to make things stick.To ask Benny a q…
#40 Kris Broholm on Anti-Goals in Language Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:43
Benny and Elizabeth talk to Kris Broholm from Actual Fluency about language learning with depression, the language community, and the power of finding support.This episode discusses depression. If you are currently exper…
#39 Julie Ferguson on Speaking 5 Languages as a Deafblind Polyglot [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 37:01
In this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast, we talk to Julie Ferguson who has learned five languages and is getting ready to learn her sixth – Scots Gaelic. She’s severely deaf and legally blind and has come up with…