Why More Language Study Isn’t Always the Next Step
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What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
Welcome to the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast from Fluent in 3 Months.
Hello and welcome to another episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast.
How did Benny’s recent Irish immersion course compare to the one he took 20 years ago?
I am your host, Benny Lewis, and I have just spent some time at an Irish immersion course that I first attended about 20 years ago. The course has been really fantastic for me over these last two decades since I was coming from a very weak background of pretty much wasted education with absolutely no Irish for all intents and purposes. So attending the course over the years, you know, once every few years for at least one week, sometimes a few consecutive weeks, it did wonders to get me to a conversational level. And this time it helped me see something else about what my Irish really needs most to be able to change moving forward.
Why does Benny say structured courses can only take you so far in language learning?
And that's because a language learning course can only take you so far. It does give you structure and vocabulary and explanations and a place where speaking the language can feel normal, especially with a patient teacher. But once you reach a certain level in the classroom, you really do need more sustained and deeper use of the language. And I should say, by the way, this episode is kind of a sequel to the earlier one I made about being the worst person in the room. I made that as I was on my way to this course and I often put myself among people who are more skilled than me because it forces me to stretch.
How did Benny end up in the top-level class and what did that reveal about his Irish ability?
It's happened to me many times and I did expect it to happen at this Irish course, but I turned out to be wrong. I assumed I was the weakest person in the most advanced class, but out of the eight classes of the course, class eight is the top one, which is more than the seven I said in the last episode. And when I attended 20 years ago, I was one of the lowest classes. But this time I was indeed in that top class eight. And I was surprised to find that I was not clearly the weakest person there. I was pretty average for the class. And there were many moments when I stood out because I was confident enough to answer something or remember something very specific that the others couldn't. Being in the top class doesn't necessarily mean I'm fluent in Irish though, because following advanced classroom work and sustaining a deep conversation require really different things.
I had several short conversations in Irish during the course, and I was really happy to have them, as you'd expect when you're at a conversational level or a lower intermediate level. But none of those short conversations became deep, and that's what I want more of now that I'm ready for it. As well as the pure language course part of it, though, there was a cultural immersion aspect that I dove into to learn about Sian No Singing, which is a very traditional and very old style of singing in Irish.
What cultural immersion activities (sean-nós singing, Ulster dialect) boosted Benny’s confidence?
And I felt very confident doing that and much more so than some of my classmates who are quite timid about singing. And I could put extra effort into learning the unique pronunciation style of the Ulster Irish dialect, which helped me follow the local singer way better. And that confidence helped me step forward and take part in a more active way than the others without necessarily having to be the best singer. But the language aspect of the course has helped me recognize that I am definitely ready enough to participate in Irish quite a lot more than I gave myself credit for. And now I need more opportunities for brief interactions so I can develop that into longer and deeper conversations. And I find my Irish to be unique among the languages that I've learned when you compare it to the vast majority of what I've done in the last few decades.
What practical plan will Benny use to move from classroom knowledge to deeper, natural conversations?
because I've spent most of my Irish speaking at this and similar language immersion courses rather than in more natural settings, which is why I'm dedicating August to improving my Irish and stepping up my game to force myself into more natural usage situations. This doesn't mean I'm abandoning study, like books and vocabulary will still be a part of the month, but they will be alongside Irish language social media, which I'll both be consuming and hopefully uploading to, Irish TV shows and, of course, real social opportunities.
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Chapters
7 chapters
1
What is the main topic discussed in this episode?
0:11–0:24
2
How did Benny’s recent Irish immersion course compare to the one he took 20 years ago?
0:24–1:05
3
Why does Benny say structured courses can only take you so far in language learning?
1:05–1:40
4
How did Benny end up in the top-level class and what did that reveal about his Irish ability?
1:40–3:01
5
What cultural immersion activities (sean-nós singing, Ulster dialect) boosted Benny’s confidence?
3:01–3:53
6
What practical plan will Benny use to move from classroom knowledge to deeper, natural conversations?
3:53–4:56
7
What advice does Benny give for learners who feel stuck after lessons?
4:56–7:30