First impressions of Thailand
Read Benny’s first impressions of Thailand, from massages and local hospitality to affordable travel, unfamiliar sights and an uncertain itinerary.
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How to Learn Na’vi: A Beginner’s Guide to the Avatar Language
Learn how Na'vi sounds and grammar work, then use a 30-minute practice loop to study the constructed language from Avatar with reliable sources.
How I Started Reading Thai Script After Five Hours of Practice
How mnemonics helped Benny recognise Thai letters in five hours, plus the tone, vowel, spacing and pronunciation rules that came next.
Learning enough of the language to get by on the flight over
Learn how Benny prioritises essential words and phrases when he has only a flight to prepare for getting by in a new language.
Mission: Read and speak Thai in 8 weeks
From the 2010 archive, Benny sets an eight-week Thai mission focused on beginner conversation, the five tones and learning to read a new script.
How to achieve a New year’s resolution to learn a language: turn it into a mission
Turn a vague New Year's resolution into a defined language mission with a deadline, measurable target, clear plan and regular accountability.
Blending in with Cariocas in Rio
Benny reflects on three months in Rio, the people he met, his Portuguese mission and what daily life taught him about feeling at home there.
Carioca Portuguese: Rio Accent, Slang and Listening
Learn Carioca Portuguese through six informal expressions, Rio accent patterns, grammar contrasts and a focused listening routine.
Mission complete! Partial success – What will Benny’s next mission be?
Benny reviews his partial success after three months in Brazil, then reveals the language and goal of his next learning mission.
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