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 […]
MOREHow to Improve Your Spanish Accent: A Spanish Pronunciation Guide for Native English Speakers
Would you like to lose your Spanish accent and be mistaken for a native Spanish speaker? That’s the “holy grail” of language learning, after all. Yet people can spend decades living in a foreign country and speaking the local language without ever completely losing the twang of their native tongue. Clearly, a convincing accent isn’t […]
MORE10 Incredible German Sayings: The Inspiring, the Funny and the Just Plain Confusing
One really effective way to make your German sound more like a native’s is to learn Redensarten. These are the everyday German sayings that German speakers use to express emotions, actions and thoughts. You probably know them better as turns of phrase or idioms in English and you use them every day. You know, expressions […]
MORESpanish Jokes: 9 Lame but Hilarious Jokes in Spanish
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
You can achieve incredible results by learning just a few basic phrases when travelling to another country. 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 […]
MOREHow to Say “Hello” in 29 Different 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 […]
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