In this episode of the Language and Travel Hacking Podcast, I share my quick hacks for unit conversions while traveling. For temperatures, I use my “rule of five” system to convert between Celsius and Fahrenheit. It’s based on five key Celsius points—0, 10, 20, 30, and 40—and their easy-to-remember Fahrenheit equivalents, all tied to the number five. This shortcut isn’t perfect, but it’s simple enough to check the weather at a glance without pulling out a calculator or app.

I also explain my trick for converting kilograms to pounds without multiplying by 2.2. Instead, I just double the number and add 10 percent, which makes the math fast and practical in real-life situations. These two systems help me adapt smoothly between measurement systems, and I hope they’ll be just as useful for you on your travels.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode of the Travel and Language Hacking podcast, I talk about the unique advantage that beginners have when learning a new language. Unlike exponential growth, where progress starts slowly and then speeds up over time, language learning often follows a logarithmic curve. This means that at the very beginning, improvements happen quickly and dramatically, but they gradually level off as you advance. I share how this applies not only to languages but also to other skills, like my current half-marathon training, where early improvements are huge compared to the tiny gains professionals work years to achieve.

I also reflect on my own experiences as both a beginner and an advanced learner. While it takes tremendous effort for me to make even small progress in a language like Spanish at my current level, starting a new language allows me to see explosive growth. That’s why I encourage learners to appreciate and enjoy being beginners. The difference between what you know now and what you could achieve in just a few months can be massive. So, embrace the beginner stage, take advantage of that rapid growth, and remember that your logarithmic curve is your superpower in language learning.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot

In this episode, I want to share a tip you might not have considered for language learning: your operating system. On phones, I’ve gone from iOS to Android, and Android wins hands down because it supports far more languages, including underrepresented ones like Irish and Esperanto. Simply changing your phone’s interface gives you daily exposure in a very natural way, and that small but constant immersion adds up.

For computers, I’ve completely switched to Linux, and I can’t recommend it enough. It used to feel intimidating, but with AI help I got everything set up in a weekend. Now I have a smooth, beautiful system that supports any language you can imagine, and I can even set different apps in different languages. On top of that, Linux pairs perfectly with free, open source alternatives to expensive software, which keeps me flexible and travel-ready. If you’ve never thought of your OS as part of your language learning toolkit, it’s worth giving it a try.

If you need one-on-one language guidance, schedule a consultation session with Benny at languagehacking.com/chat.

And don’t forget to check out the Fluent in 3 Months Bootcamp here!

Or you can follow me on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
Thread: @irishpolyglot
TikTok: @irishpolyglot