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! 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 it to be an excellent language for me to […]
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 […]
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 […]
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