Fluent in 3 Months is a self help guide for anyone who aspires to speak more than one language.
Though it’s mainly filled with common sense ideas, I liked how the author, Benny Lewis, put it all together.
Lewis begins by sharing his own life experience with readers- that he felt he failed in his early attempts to learn another language through the traditional method of high school class. He also details how he spent six months in Spain with the idea that he’d absorb language like a sponge but then didn’t learn any Spanish.
The reasons why he feels like he was unsuccessful, because he was lacking the passion to learn and also didn’t speak the language to native speakers, are his main suggestions for language learning in this book.
“When it comes to language learning, there is no room for doubt: you decide your own success.” pg 24
Beyond those two main tips, Lewis shares shortcuts for learning tons of vocabulary quickly (visualization methods) and practicing immersion without going to the actual country. The latter, as he points out, has been made much easier since technology has brought distant countries into the comfort of your own home.
Through Skype calls or internet programs or even Netflix, language learners can interact with and immerse themselves in their target language.
“You must speak the language with other human beings.” pg 87
The task facing language learners has now become putting in the work to do so rather than traveling the distance for the opportunity.
I think Lewis is on to something with his insistence on speaking your target language from the start.
“As a result of speaking the language right away, students start to acquire the language rather than learn it as they would other academic subjects.” pg 6
I have a friend who’s niece majored in Spanish. But when they visited Spain together, she lacked the confidence to speak it when ordering dinner.
If, from the first stages, learners were able to clear that initial hurdle, day-to-day use, and the successive ones of perfectionism or uncertainty, I agree that the whole language learning process would flow more easily.
Because, as Lewis points out, language is meant for communication with others. We’re rather missing the point if we acquire skills on paper that can’t be put to real life use.
Highly recommended for language learners of any age.
And thanks for reading!
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