The language talent myth

Language & Travel Hacking

Self-Improvement Benny Lewis Fluent in 3 Months Spanish French German Japanese Chinese Motivation Linguistics Podcasting Education Language Learning Language

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18d ago 9:05

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In this episode, I dive into the myth of “language talent” and why believing in it can seriously hold you back. I’ve struggled with comparing myself to others—especially those polished videos on YouTube or TikTok where someone speaks flawlessly and makes it all look effortless. But the truth is, you're only seeing a tiny, edited snapshot of their journey.

I don’t consider myself naturally talented at languages. I come from an engineering background, and every language I’ve learnt has taken hours of daily practice, trial and error, and plenty of setbacks. I still have an accent in all my languages—and that’s perfectly fine. Languages are tools for connection, not trophies for perfection.

The only comparison that matters is you versus yesterday’s you. Improvement is about showing up consistently, not being flawless. So stop worrying about whether someone else is more “gifted”—what counts is the effort you put in today.

If you’d like more encouragement and honesty from fellow learners, check out my coaching programme here, where we share both the wins and the struggles.

Or you can follow Benny on all Social Media channels:
Instagram: @irishpolyglot
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