Language & Travel Hacking

I've been saying for years that I wish Irish was among my fluent languages, and I've finally stopped delaying. In this episode I announce my next big project: sitting the official TEG B2 Irish exam in December. There's just one small problem. I'm in Italy for the next three months and won't be back in Ireland until a week before the test, and I haven't sat a Common European Framework exam in sixteen years.So how do you prepare for an Irish exam in entirely the wrong country? My answer is to make every single Wednesday a 100% Irish day, from newspapers and podcasts to vocabulary drills and hours of live speaking practice online. I explain exactly how it works, why one fixed block in your week beats waiting for spare time, and what happens if I pass. If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here or by typing in the link languagehacking.com/bc. Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Follow my Irish InstagramInstagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode, I share my plans for spending the next three months in Italy and my mission to reactivate my Italian. After years away from the country, I’m rusty—but recent conversations in Dublin have reminded me that you can start bringing a language back wherever you are.I’ll be exploring new regions across eastern Italy, using Italian every day, meeting fellow language enthusiasts, and speaking at the Polyglot Conference in Bologna. My biggest reminder from this journey: it’s never too late to reconnect with a language you care about. Start using it, be patient, and see how much comes back.If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me at languagehacking.com/chat.And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!Check out my Italian Instagram at @irlandesiano! My personal Instagram: @irishpolyglotLanguage Hacking Instagram @languagehackingThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode, I share how I’ve built a completely free digital immersion setup for Irish without adding another paid subscription. My goal isn’t to find one perfect resource, but to make my target language easier to encounter throughout my everyday life, wherever I am. I walk through how I use IPTV and free TV websites and YouTube channels to access news and other content in different languages, with Irish TV as my current example.I also talk about getting free reading and listening material through library cards and apps like BorrowBox and Libby, which can give you access to newspapers, books, and audiobooks. Finally, I explain why I recommend creating a separate social media account for each language you’re learning, so the algorithm fills your feed with useful content in that language. With TV, libraries, and social media, there are plenty of ways to create meaningful digital immersion completely free.Normal price "$249, but chat one-on-one directly with me for just $99 if you book in August!Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

For four years, I worked toward becoming a conference interpreter. I learned languages, passed exams, took translation training, and even accepted a difficult, poorly paid job to strengthen my application. Then, just before I could apply for the master's degree I had been working toward, the university changed its admissions rules and made me ineligible. It felt like four years of effort had gone to waste.But I still had everything I had built along the way. My translation training led to freelance work, which became my first location-independent job and eventually helped me build a life as a digital nomad and create Fluent in 3 Months. In this episode, I share why a failed plan doesn't erase your progress, and how the skills you gain along the way can open doors you never expected.Normal price "$249, but chat one-on-one directly to Benny for just $99 if you book in August!Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:Instagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot

I’ve just returned from an Irish immersion course that I first attended 20 years ago, and it gave me a fresh perspective on where my Irish stands today. I was surprised to find myself in the highest-level class, not as the weakest student as I had expected, but comfortably in the middle. The experience reminded me that structured courses are invaluable for building vocabulary, confidence, and speaking skills, but they can only take you so far. While I had plenty of enjoyable conversations in Irish throughout the week, I realized what I’m missing now isn’t more classroom knowledge. It’s longer, deeper, and more natural conversations.In this episode, I reflect on why language learning eventually has to move beyond lessons and into real life. I share how cultural immersion, from learning sean-nós singing to exploring the Ulster dialect, boosted my confidence, and why I’m dedicating the next month to living Irish rather than just studying it. From social events and Irish-language media to meeting native speakers for coffee, I’m challenging myself to use the language every day. If you’ve reached a point where lessons no longer seem to move you forward, this episode will encourage you to trust how much you already know and focus on creating more opportunities to truly live your language.If you haven't already, sign up for our free email list here.If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with me 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:Follow my Irish InstagramInstagram: @irishpolyglotThread: @irishpolyglotTikTok: @irishpolyglot