Did you hear about the Spanish-speaking magician? He said “for my next trick, I will disappear on the count of three. Uno, dos -” but then he vanished without a tres. Okay, that one isn’t going to win me any comedy prizes. To redeem myself, I’ll share some funny jokes in Spanish. As well as […]
MORESpanish Accents and Dialects Around the World
Do all Spanish accents sound the same? Of course not! Like most languages, Spanish is diverse and can vary significantly, even in the same country. Even within Spain there are many Spanish dialects and accents (along with four official languages!). Being able to understand a range of dialects is part of what takes you from […]
MOREForeign to Familiar: How to “Language Proof” Your Immediate Environment
Sometimes, when you’re surrounded by a new language it can overwhelm your capacity to pick up new things. It’s almost too much newness, and you just draw a line. Everything from the toothpaste to the billboards to the TV is filled by the unrecognizable. You end up looking at words and noting that you’ve seen […]
MORE16 Must-Know Words and Phrases For Any Language
What are the basic phrases you need to know when travelling? Often, native English speakers believe that everyone speaks English. So when they travel, they don’t bother learning the language of the place they’re visiting. After all, it’s fine to get by in English, right? Well, maybe. But there’s a much better way of doing […]
MOREInternational Greetings: How to Say “Hello” in 29 Languages
What’s the first word you learn in any language? “Hello”, of course! “Hello” is the way you’ll meet new people, make new friends, and start conversations. Even if you’re not aiming for fluency in a language, just learning this one little word will endear you to any native speakers you meet at home or abroad. […]
MOREHappy Paddy’s Day! (3 NEW Irish-Themed Videos for Language Learners)
Top o’ the morning to you! Just kidding, we Irish don’t actually ever say that – even on today, the day of our world-famous patron saint, St. Patrick! Despite being associated with all things Irish, St. Patrick wasn’t actually Irish by birth. Historians agree that he was born in Britain at some point in the […]
MOREMayan Languages: How I Learned to Speak Tz’utujil in Guatemala
Have you ever wondered what ancient Mayan languages sound like? I did. My curiosity, in fact, led me to the indigenous town of San Juan La Laguna in Sololá, Guatemala where I volunteered my time at a health clinic and studied the language of Tz’utujil in my spare time. Six months have passed and I […]
MOREHow to Say “My Love” in French (Plus 28 More Romantic French Words and Phrases)
Is Paris a romantic city? Is French a romantic language? If you had asked me a few years ago, I would’ve answered “Nope!” But that was then. Things have changed quite a bit for me since my first experience living in the City of Light, trying to learn la belle langue. I returned to Paris […]
MORENaughty or Nice? How “Santa” Looks in Other Cultures
Christmas is celebrated in many different ways around the world. So it’s no surprise that the most iconic figure of the season also has many guises. You may know him as Santa Claus, Saint Nicholas, Saint Nick, Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, Santy, or simply Santa. And depending on where you grew up, there’s a good […]
MOREHow to Live in Europe for More than 90 Days
How can you live in Europe longer than normal visa restrictions allow? While I’m writing this in May, we’re entering the best time of year in Europe. Summer is beautiful, the outdoor cafes are bustling, and it’s hard to imagine wanting to be anywhere else. As you may already know, Americans (and many other nationalities) don’t […]
MORE91 of the Best Movies and TV Shows from Around the World
Foreign language movies are a fantastic way to learn a language. They’re not just entertaining, but they expose you to authentic usage of your target language, help you with listening practice, and give you an inside view of another culture. With that in mind, I asked the members of the Fluent in 3 Months Facebook […]
MORE10 Good Reasons to Learn French
When I was thirteen years old, I finally graduated from the “kids’” table at my family outings. This was a huge deal to me. I was so excited for the privilege of sitting next to my cool, older cousins at dinner. Things were going great, until one night when it came time to order dessert. […]
MOREHow to Get a Dream Job Overseas Using Your Language Skills
“If you want the job it’s yours.” I couldn’t believe it. After teaching English for a few years in China I’d been offered a job as a cultural liaison. I’d be working at an international design and manufacturing company in China, using my Mandarin Chinese skills every day. I’d previously tried to find a job […]
MOREHow I Learned Spanish in 4 Months (Without Leaving India)
India doesn’t have a foreign-language culture. This is at odds with the fact that most Indians are trilingual, if not polyglots. The reason for this paradox is simple: India has over 50 languages of its own and most Indians rarely feel the need to gun for a foreign language other than English. Even those Indians […]
MOREWhy Most Indians Can Speak Multiple Languages Like a Dream
Picture India in your mind’s eye and you will most likely see the following: Lots of colour. Narrow lanes. Unimaginable traffic. Spicy food. Thousands of cuisines. Seven-star hotels. Slums next to them. Religious processions. Stunningly beautiful temples. Sweltering heat. Mind-blowing history. Over 500 languages. Yoga. Beneath all this colour and noise, India hides an unquestioned […]
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