Why you should learn a sign language

Why you should learn a sign language

Author: Fluent in 3 Months July 7, 2025 Duration: 9:06

In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking podcast, I share why I believe everyone should consider learning their country’s sign language. When I first picked up American Sign Language (ASL), I didn’t expect how deeply it would connect me to the deaf community in the US. It gave me access to a rich, often overlooked culture, and offered a completely new way to communicate and make friends. ASL quickly became one of my favourite languages, and I decided to add it to my permanent list of languages to maintain.

Now, I’m diving back into ASL as my next language project while travelling across the US. I’ve already started reviewing vocabulary and am aiming to push my level closer to fluency. Sign languages aren’t universal—each country has its own—so I recommend learning the one used where you live. It opens doors to new communities and perspectives you might never have encountered otherwise. Give it a go—it’s truly worth it.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

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

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
#10 Nikki Prša on Little Moments of Language Practice [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 50:23
Polish-American language learner and educator Nikki Prsa shares what it was like growing up as a native Polish speaker in the US and what inspired her to go on to study languages abroad. Benny and Shannon also chat with…
#09 Peter Galante on Creating Podcasts in 34 Languages [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 54:03
Peter Galante, the founder of Innovative Languages, shares how he went from creating a Japanese podcast to running a company that teaches more than 30 languages. He also discusses running a language learning business and…
#08 Louisa on the Goldlist Method & Learning Chinese in 90 Days [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 35:34
This episode features Louisa, who learned conversational Chinese 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…
#06 Benny & Shannon Answer Your Language Learning Questions [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:32
Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy answer listener questions about language learning as a part of a special live episode of the Language Hacking Podcast.Featured ResourcesFluent in 3 Months ChallengeSpeak in a WeekDropsAnki…
#05 Olly Richards on Living Abroad and Story Learning [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 45:57
Language educator and author Olly Richards joins Benny Lewis and Shannon Kennedy in this episode of the Language Hacking Podcast. He shares about his “Story Learning” method and how his experience learning languages led…
#03 Paulette on Inventing Your Own Language Path [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 51:48
Mentioned in this EpisodeitalkiFluent in 3 Months BlogFluent in 3 Months ChallengeLingQFathers and SonsEpisode OverviewLearning languages at universityHow to overcome language learning failures and keep learningHow to bu…
#02 Benny Lewis on Ignoring Destiny and Embracing "Failure" [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 49:21
Meet Benny Lewis, the creator of Fluent in 3 Months and the Language Hacking Method. In this episode, Benny shares how he got started in languages, why “fluent” in 3 months, and he offers some universal language hacks.Me…
#01 Scott Young on Learning Four Languages in One Year [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 48:41
Scott Young shares his experience going a year without English and why immersion is the path to least resistance in language learning in this episode of The Language Hacking Podcast. Benny and Shannon also ask Scott abou…