Benny Lewis, Traveling in China and Learning Chinese: Benny the Irish Polygot, July 25, 2014, poster, summary. Nicknamed the “Irish Polyglot,” Benny sees language learning as a means to an end: that of communicating with interesting people from all parts of the world and making travel an enriching experience. In 2013, he was crowned “Traveler of the Year” by National Geographic. Benny has traveled to all four corners of the world–from Thailand, China and Egypt to the hinterlands of Brazil–studied well over 12 languages, and blogged about his experiences on his award-winning website, Fluent in 3 Months. From learning Kung Fu with a local master in a Chinese farming village, to traveling thousands of kilometers across the Middle Kingdom by train, Benny shared his interesting experiences discovering China, its people, and its culture. On the way, he shared his inspiring passion and tips for language learning, and told the audience how too, they could learn any language with the right tools and frame of mind. See Ted Video
