Ready to learn how to speak Korean? It all gets started with “hello.” Learning how to say hello in Korean is pretty simple, and you may even have heard it before… via GIPHY Long before I had an interest in learning the language, I learned how to say “hello” in Korean while watching Arrested Development. […]
MORE50+ Must Know Caribbean Spanish Expressions (You’ll Only Hear These in the Caribbean)
When you think about the Spanish language and culture, you probably think about the running of the toros (bulls) in Spain or elegant women dancing the tango on the streets of Buenos Aires. Or maybe images of black and white skeleton-painted faces for Mexico’s Día de los muertos (Day of the Dead) pop into your […]
MOREHow to Say “Family” in Chinese: An Ultimate Guide to Family in Chinese Culture
Family in Chinese is 家 (jiā). This can be translated as “family” or “home”. But it’s also much more than that. “Family” is a big concept in Chinese. Let’s take a look at what it means in this ultimate guide to family in Chinese. If you’re interested in learning Chinese, learning about family will give […]
MOREMerry Christmas in Spanish: All the Spanish Holiday Vocab You Need for a “Feliz Navidad”
How do you say “Christmas” in Spanish? What is “Navidad” in English? How do they celebrate Christmas in Spanish-speaking cultures? Well, here’s all the answers you ever wanted to know about holidays in Spanish! Besides Christmas Day itself, there are other holidays celebrated in Spanish-speaking countries over the winter. Some of these are even bigger […]
MORE37 Cool Japanese Words and Phrases To Start Using Now
Ready to level-up your Japanese and sound めっちゃおしゃべ (meccha o-shabe, “super fashionable”)? Then start adding some cool Japanese words to your vocabulary! Japanese may seem like a serious language with layers of formal speech patterns. But Japan boasts tons of fun, slangy words and beautiful concepts only captured in their language and culture! After all, […]
MOREHow to Say “Happy Birthday” in 25 Different Languages
Happy Birthday to you! The gifts, the cake, the celebration… Birthdays are a joyful occasion, to be sure! Traditions for celebrations around the world always vary, but birthdays are one of the things that all people have in common, even if they speak different languages. So take this as an opportunity for more speaking practice! […]
MOREFood in German: Everything You Need to Know about Eating in Germany
German food is one of the best ways to get to know German culture. German dishes reveal a lot about the country’s history, the different regions, and what’s important to the German people. What’s more, German food is super tasty. Who can complain about getting to know a culture and its people whilst eating Spätzle […]
MORE85 Cute Nicknames from Around the World (with Translations)
Lauren and I recently became “parents” to a rescue puppy who we called Schatzi, which is a cute nickname in German meaning “little treasure”. Here’s me with our little bundle of love: So to celebrate, I thought I’d put together a post about other cute nicknames from around the world. Pumpkin, peanut, bubby, baby, babe, […]
MOREHow to Learn Swahili: An In-Depth Guide
Are you familiar with some Swahili words or phrases like Jambo and Hakuna Matata? Now, learn how Kenyans ACTUALLY speak! I’d like to show you how to learn Swahili. While living in Kenya for the past year and a half, I’ve been studying the Swahili language (known as “Kiswahili” to its speakers) and have found […]
MOREJapanese Video Games: 10 Awesome Games to Make Learning Japanese Easy
Think learning Japanese has to be boring? What if you could learn Japanese by playing Japanese video games? It’s totally possible to level up your Japanese from video games! Learning Japanese from games will engage your mind in a whole new way. In a moment I’ll show you some of the best Japanese video games […]
MORE25 Essential French Phrases for Travelers and Tourists
So you’re travelling to France, or another French-speaking country (or province). Is it true that English is all you need? Regular readers of this site will know my answer: of course not! Even if you’ll only be spending a short time in the country, learning a few basic French phrases can be very rewarding and […]
MOREMerde Happens: Why Are French People so Rude? (And What to Do about It)
I’m French, and every single time I’m in a restaurant in the United States, I need to order a glass of water three times in a row. Why? Because the first time, the waitress doesn’t understand my accent, the second, I over-articulate, looking like a slow-motion puppet with the same effect and the third, I […]
MOREOld English Writing: A History of the Old English Alphabet
Can you read Old English writing? Here’s a sample: Nu scylun hergan hefaenricaes uard metudæs maecti end his modgidanc uerc uuldurfadur sue he uundra gihuaes eci dryctin or astelidæ Those are the first few lines of Cædmon’s Hymn, a 7th-Century poem generally considered to be the oldest surviving work of English literature. Any idea what […]
MOREChristmas Food Traditions Around the World
When it comes to the winter holidays, food traditions are an important part the celebrations in countries around the world, even if the foods are different from country to country. (Likewise, Santa is different too, depending on where you live). You might indulge in mince pies, or perhaps ham is more your style. For others, […]
MOREMinority Languages: The Bliss of Learning Languages Less Spoken
“If you live with people and you share a life with them and you speak their language, they trust you.” – Peter Rohloff, MD, Wuqu’ Kawoq (Maya Health Alliance) I have always found languages to be beautiful. Having learned to speak seven languages – some of them fluently, and others at a more basic level […]
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