19-year-old student, Ben Phillips, talks to Benny Lewis and Elizabeth Bruckner about his experience of doing a highschool German exchange programme, and how he stayed focussed and motivated enough to reach C1 level after just a year.Ben explains how, after unsuccessfully dabbling in Japanese, Greek and Mandarin, he was able to excel at German in such a short period of time, how and why reading is so integral to his learning, and the ways he has been able to travel and live abroad more or less for free.Featured ResourcesAnkiitalkiLingQMentioned in this EpisodeBen’s article on the Fluent in 3 Months blogAnkiitalkiLingQMemriseCongress-Bundestag Youth Exchange (CBYX)WorkawayWorldwide Opportunities on Organic Farms (WWOOF)Episode OverviewSome of the topics brought up during the interview are:High school language exchanges and language camp with the Congress-Bundestag Youth ExchangeAttending a German school and the joy of finally being able to participate in a class discussionTaking and passing the C1 test in German after only a year of learningHow to make the most of opportunities to learn a language while living abroadThe importance of keeping your goal in mindHow speaking with people and learning about a culture in your target language is its own rewardOvercoming the temptation to slip back into English while living abroadHow to set monthly goals and why they’re usefulHow to find time to study and still do the things you enjoy in your free timeTracking your accomplishments, like finishing a book in your target languageReading as a key part of your language practice - novels, Twitter, and using LingQFinding motivation to study when you don’t have the pressure of being in the countryScholarships and work exchanges as ways to travel and have enriching experiences abroad for freePodcast theme: “A New Beginning” by Shannon KennedyJoin Our PatreonEnjoy the podcast? Subscribe to our Patreon to get access to bonus content and monthly exclusives.

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