When I first started studying languages on my own, I felt a lot of pushback from friends and family. They didn’t get why I was so into this language thing. Why I wanted to spend so much time doing it or why I wanted to learn so many different languages. I heard things like: No […]
MOREJapanese Onomatopoeia: 84 Ways to Express Yourself in Japanese with Sounds
Today, I’m feeling pretty わくわく (wakuwaku: “excited”)! Are you うずうず (uzuzu: “itching to get started”)? Because today we’re learning onomatopoeia! You may think, why do I need to learn onomatopoeia? Maybe you’re thinking of American onomatopoeia, that seems to be only in comics (“bang” and “kaboom”) and children’s books (“woof woof” and “meow meow”). But […]
MOREMy Add1 Story: Caitlin’s Intensive 90-Days of Japanese
I thought I had good study habits. I’ve studied Japanese for some time. I took it in college, then continued to study it after I graduated. I studied most days and even met with Japanese language exchange partners. But… I had stopped growing in my Japanese ability. I wasn’t sure why. I kept doing the […]
MORE77 of the Best (Bleeping) Dirty Words from Around the World [NSFW]
![77 of the Best (Bleeping) Dirty Words from Around the World [NSFW]](https://www.fluentin3months.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/dirty-words-150x150.jpg)
I don’t usually start off my blog posts with a warning, but this one needs it: This blog post is NSFW and definitely not family-friendly. You won’t learn these dirty words in textbooks! Let’s be honest. Whenever we learn a new language, we all get curious about how to swear. We all want to know […]
MORE“You’ve Got a Friend in Me” — Here’s Why Friends Are So Important in Language Learning
Having a friend by your side as you learn a language is the best (and most fun) way to succeed. Do you know the Hank Williams classic “I’m so lonesome I could cry”? Studying a language can be a bit like that — especially when you’re learning on your own. It’s weird when you think […]
MORE11 Reasons Why the Add1Challenge is Explosively Powerful for Language Learners
You can have a 15-minute conversation in a new language after just 90 days. Does that sound too good to be true? It’s the promise of the Add1Challenge, and after 30+ challenges we’ve seen hundreds of language learners hit that 15-minute conversation! In fact, we’re so confident in the power of the Add1Challenge that we […]
MOREThe IPA Alphabet: How and Why You Should Learn the International Phonetic Alphabet (With Charts)
Every aspiring polyglot should learn to read the International Phonetic Alphabet (IPA). It’s a powerful tool when learning any language. I taught myself to read the IPA alphabet, but it was tough at first. Wikipedia has tons of comprehensive information, but can be confusing to a beginner. So this article is my attempt to create […]
MOREHow to Say “Happy Birthday” in 25 Different Languages
Happy Birthday to you! The gifts, the cake, the celebration… Birthdays are a joyful occasion, to be sure! Traditions for celebrations around the world always vary, but birthdays are one of the things that all people have in common, even if they speak different languages. So take this as an opportunity for more speaking practice! […]
MORE85 Cute Nicknames from Around the World (with Translations)
Lauren and I recently became “parents” to a rescue puppy who we called Schatzi, which is a cute nickname in German meaning “little treasure”. Here’s me with our little bundle of love: So to celebrate, I thought I’d put together a post about other cute nicknames from around the world. Pumpkin, peanut, bubby, baby, babe, […]
MOREPen Pals 101: How to Find and Keep a Pen Pal to Practise Your Language Skills
Have you ever thought about being a pen pal? Finding a pen pal is a great way to connect with people from other parts of the world, to learn a foreign language, and to open yourself up to a new culture. Of course, these days we have Skype and email, which make connecting with others […]
MOREJapanese Video Games: 10 Awesome Games to Make Learning Japanese Easy
Think learning Japanese has to be boring? What if you could learn Japanese by playing Japanese video games? It’s totally possible to level up your Japanese from video games! Learning Japanese from games will engage your mind in a whole new way. In a moment I’ll show you some of the best Japanese video games […]
MORE25 Essential French Phrases for Travelers and Tourists
So you’re travelling to France, or another French-speaking country (or province). Is it true that English is all you need? Regular readers of this site will know my answer: of course not! Even if you’ll only be spending a short time in the country, learning a few basic French phrases can be very rewarding and […]
MORELanguage Learners! Why Your Comfort Zone = the Danger Zone
A few years ago, I started out learning languages through self study. It’s an adventure! I’ve enjoyed the process, but things haven’t always gone as well as I’d hoped. So, I’d like to share one of most important things I’ve learned. My hope is that you can avoid the mistakes I made. How I Hit […]
MOREWow! Another Fluent in 3 Months Wedding
Sometimes I receive really special emails from Fluent in 3 Months readers, and not long ago an incredible story landed in my inbox from long-term reader Mandie: Mandie had emailed to let me know that thanks to Fi3M, she’d found the love of her life! This is Mandie and Neil on their wedding day: Congratulations, […]
MORELearning Mandarin Chinese as Explained by a Peace Corps Volunteer
A few years ago, I was a Peace Corps Volunteer in China. I joined the Peace Corps with the desire to travel, help the world, and blog about it. Along the way, I learned a ton about Chinese culture, and I traveled a lot. Most of the adventures I’ve had in China wouldn’t have been […]
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