25 Speed Dates in Dutch
Watch Benny complete 25 speed dates in Dutch after five weeks of study, using a social challenge to create focused speaking practice.
Category: Culture
Why Moving to a Country May Not Teach You the Language
Living abroad creates language opportunities, not automatic fluency. Use Benny’s 2011 travel lessons to build a practical speaking routine.
Language, culture and context are intertwined
Language learning is tied to people, culture and context. Benny explains why grammar and vocabulary alone cannot prepare you for real conversations.
First week settling into Amsterdam
Benny recounts his first week settling into Amsterdam, from finding a flat and organising daily life to beginning Dutch practice.
Communicating without words – my fun non-spoken train ride in India
A train ride in India shows how gestures, attention and a willingness to look silly can help people communicate without shared words.
Settling in, first impressions of American Sign Language & video tour of my house
Benny shares his first days learning American Sign Language in Austin, including an early house-tour video and lessons about non-manual markers.
Learn Tagalog: Filipino, Taglish, Pronunciation and Grammar
Learn Tagalog with a clear guide to Filipino, Taglish, pronunciation, aspect, voice and practical speaking, backed by current Philippine sources.
First weeks in the Philippines & video tour of my beach cottage
Follow Benny's first weeks in the Philippines, from Cebu and Puerto Galera to early Tagalog conversations and a tour of his beach cottage.
Where are all the language tourists?
Benny asks why more travellers do not make language learning part of their trips, and examines the common excuses that keep language tourism rare.
Social