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Benny Lewis

@benny-lewis · 7 positions · 0 changes of mind

Irish writer who spent his twenties travelling and speaking; he now speaks about a dozen languages and none of them from a classroom. Founded Fluent in 3 Months, whose one instruction is to start speaking on the first day rather than waiting until you are ready.

Benny Lewis did not write this page.

We collected these quotes from things they published elsewhere, and every quote links to where it was said. They have no account here and have not endorsed this site. Quotes are word for word; the short line under each one is our own restatement, not their wording. Their own site. Is this you? Claim it or ask us to remove it. Or tell us what is wrong here.

  1. by

    Our reading

    What stops people speaking a new language is not missing vocabulary; it is being unwilling to be heard sounding stupid.

    Their wordsPerfectionist and elitist learners will never accept being perceived as less than geniuses the entire time, so they will never expose themselves to sounding “stupid”, as they may perceive it.

    ↗Speaking a language badly: how to get over the ego problemfluentin3months.com 1st of 5 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting

  3. by

    Our reading

    Speaking badly is not a failure on the way to speaking well; it is a stage that has to be passed through on purpose.

    Their wordsI learned a long time ago that speaking like “Tarzan” is an absolutely necessary stage to go through, so you get used to using the language in SOME way. You learn to get used to the embarrassment and get on with learning quicker.

    ↗Speaking a language badly: how to get over the ego problemfluentin3months.com 2nd of 5 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting

  5. by

    Our reading

    A teacher who does not insist on the target language is a bad teacher.

    Their wordsIn my view, they are simply a BAD TEACHER if they don't encourage exclusive use of the target language.

    ↗Speaking a language badly: how to get over the ego problemfluentin3months.com 3rd of 5 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting

  7. by

    Our reading

    The hard part of speaking from the start is not the gaps in what you know but making peace with not knowing the simplest words.

    Their wordsBut it's HARD to start this. NOT because of all the academic reasons of lack of vocabulary and grammar, but because you need to be cool with the fact that you are not going to know the simplest of words.

    ↗Speaking a language badly: how to get over the ego problemfluentin3months.com 4th of 5 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting

  9. by

    Our reading

    There is no threshold of vocabulary to cross before speaking begins; the change is a decision, not a level reached.

    Their wordsIt's not like I passed some threshold of having enough words to get started speaking

    ↗Speaking a language badly: how to get over the ego problemfluentin3months.com 5th of 5 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting
  10. 12 months earlier

  11. by

    Our reading

    Speaking is learned only by speaking a lot; no amount of study substitutes for it.

    Their wordsThe only way you will speak a language and make progress in speaking it faster and better is if you practise speaking it a lot.

    ↗The ONLY way to speak a languagefluentin3months.com 1st of 2 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting

  13. by

    Our reading

    Everything other than talking to a native speaker is auxiliary, and none of it will get you speaking on its own.

    Their wordsAll auxiliary tasks can help move you in the right direction, but will not ultimately help you speak unless you find a native, put yourself in front of them and force yourself to start to communicate.

    ↗The ONLY way to speak a languagefluentin3months.com 2nd of 2 in this piece

    language learning

    Interesting