Want to learn the ideas in Fluent in 3 Months better than ever? Read the world’s #1 book summary of Fluent in 3 Months by Benny Lewis here.

Read a brief 1-Page Summary or watch video summaries curated by our expert team. Note: this book guide is not affiliated with or endorsed by the publisher or author, and we always encourage you to purchase and read the full book.

Video Summaries of Fluent in 3 Months

We’ve scoured the Internet for the very best videos on Fluent in 3 Months, from high-quality videos summaries to interviews or commentary by Benny Lewis.

1-Page Summary of Fluent in 3 Months

Overview

Language is important to us everyday, both at home and abroad. Imagine how much longer it would take if we had no words to communicate with each other instead of just gestures. However, a lot of the world speaks only one language or very little languages which can be difficult when traveling around. It slows down ordering items because you have trouble communicating with people.

Learning a new language is not as hard as you think. It doesn’t take years to learn it and you can do so in three months with the right approach.

The author suggests that you don’t have to go to China in order to learn Chinese, because there are many other methods. He also warns against dressing like a tourist and acting like a chicken can improve your communication skills.

Big Idea #1: Language learning success means overcoming prevailing myths, ditching vague plans and setting realistic goals.

Learning new skills is difficult, even if it’s something as simple as roller skating. But learning a new language seems to be the most difficult of all. Why?

For starters, there are plenty of myths about language learning that prevent people from even trying. One myth is that it’s impossible to learn multiple languages; children of monolingual parents can’t become polyglots. People often use this excuse when they’re having trouble with a new language.

But while the myths may sound convincing, they’re not true. The fact is that people in many countries speak multiple languages, and it’s because of their environment. People who live in places where speaking multiple languages is normal don’t have a special gene that others lack. So if you believe these myths or let them stop you from learning a language, then you’ll fail to achieve your goals. To get around this problem, set specific tasks for yourself so that you can accomplish realistic goals instead of just saying “I’m going to learn Spanish.”

To reach fluency, you need to decide on your level of proficiency. If you want to speak like a native speaker or at least be able to order food in restaurants, aim for B1 or A2 within three months. However, if you just want to be able to say a few phrases and ask about the weather without struggling too much, A1 will suffice. Once you set your long-term goal, break it down into smaller steps. For example, make a commitment that you’ll spend at least two hours per day learning the language consistently over time.

After you’ve overcome the myths and set realistic goals, you’ll be ready to learn lots of new words. You’ll also find out how to do it fast.

Big Idea #2: Learn new words quickly with a couple of easy strategies.

All languages contain about half a million words. That’s why it can feel like an insurmountable task to learn them all. However, you can take your time and learn one word at a time.

However, learning words quickly is still desirable. One way to do that is by using the keyword method. The strategy involves making a visual image of a word you’re trying to learn and then connecting it with the word itself. For example, if you want to learn the French word for “station,” which is gare, create an image of something associated with stations in general and connect it with gare.

A gare is a train station. However, it’s also the word for “garage,” which can be confusing. Therefore, to remember that gare means train station, you should create an image of something funny or weird in your mind. For example, imagine a cartoon cat running around a train station trying to make it to work on time. That will help you remember the meaning of the word and won’t confuse you later when someone asks if you want to go park your car at the garage (gare). Another strategy for learning words is spaced repetition. It involves studying difficult words first before moving onto simpler ones so that they’ll stick with you longer over time as opposed to studying them all at once and forgetting most of them quickly afterwards because they were too easy compared with what came after them on your list.