“Learning French was a waste of time.” My wife was clearly frustrated to have spent her high school and college foreign language credits on learning French. She wished she’d learned Spanish so she could communicate with my family in Mexico. And this really bothered me. I didn’t want her to feel excluded or like a […]
MOREAnother Word for Beautiful: 70+ Ways to Say “Beautiful” in Different Languages
If you’re looking for “another word for beautiful”, you’ve come to the right place! Now, a lot of words in English mean “beautiful”. You can tell someone they’re cute, pretty, elegant, handsome… So many synonyms for the same word, and new ones popping up and fading out all the time (like “looking fly” or “on […]
MORELanguage Exchange Partners: The Ultimate Guide
“How can I find someone to speak my new language with?” At Fi3M, we hear this question all the time. This makes sense as we encourage language learners to speak from day one. There is an easy, free way to speak your target language: online language exchanges. With a language exchange, you find someone who […]
MOREThe Rule of 80%: How to Curb Your Expectations and Reach Sustainable Success
My language learning philosophy is “always give 80%”. Wait. What? Let me explain. Yoga class helps keep me sane. Mostly, I think it’s because of my yoga teacher, Marie. She’s a very hip thirtysomething small business owner, mom, yoga teacher and part-time voice of the universe all rolled into one. I’d like to share one […]
MOREHow Pretending I Understood Italian Got Me Into a Whole Lot of Trouble in Italy
Finally, it was here. Our long-awaited holiday, a whole two weeks touring our favourite country – Italy! I was excited not just because of the amazing landscapes, food and culture, but because it was also home to my target language! On top of this, touring Italy had been a high priority on my partner’s bucket […]
MORESpread the Holiday Cheer! 33 Holiday Foods, Decorations and Greetings from Around the World
Everyone has different holiday traditions — that depends on your family, where you live, and if you even celebrate a winter holiday (or summer if you’re below the equator!). Wherever you’re from, there’s a good chance that food, getting together with family, and spreading the holiday cheer are things that give you joy. For some […]
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 […]
MORE11 Steps to Learn a New Language with Meetups… Even if You Feel Terrified!
I’ll never forget the look of surprise my italki teacher had when I told her that I attended a meetup for French speakers. She asked me in French how it went and I told her honestly, Ma tête ferme après cinq mots dans chaque phrase. That translates to “My head closes after five words in […]
MORE10 Must-Watch German TV Shows for German Learners
Are you looking for some German TV shows to help you learn the language? Then look no further! In this article I’m going to show you 10 of the best German TV shows to help you improve your language skills, spice up your learning and have better conversations. Why Learn Through German TV? Variety is […]
MORE12 German Bands To Help You Learn German Through Music
Are you on the hunt for German bands? Then look no further! Germany has some great bands on offer; from hip-hop to punk rock, and heavy metal to country, there is so much to choose from. And better still? Listening to German music is a great way to improve your German language skills. How Can […]
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, […]
MORE47 Funny, Inspiring and Motivational German Quotes To Help You Learn German
Are you looking for German quotes? Well, you’ve come to the right place. Whether you’re looking to use quotes to help you learn German or you want some beautiful words to brighten up your day, you’ll find them right here. Below is a list of 47 funny, life-affirming and motivational quotes from some of our […]
MORE101+ German Animal Names (with English Translations)
If your childhood was anything like mine animals played a huge role in your language development. You’d read brightly coloured books with vivid pictures of farmyard animals. You’d watch shows like Sesame Street that took you on constant “trips” to the zoo. And you’d even sing songs about animals people owned. (Old Macdonald had a […]
MOREK-Dramas: The Best Korean Dramas to Learn Korean
K-Dramas — they’re so addictive! Especially if you’re learning Korean. The stories are riveting, the characters are dynamic, and you really get an inside look at the Korean language and its culture. There’s just so much to take away from every episode. But is it possible to use Korean Dramas to learn Korean? Can they […]
MOREJapanese Numbers: Counting in Japanese from 1-100+
Ichi, ni, san… Ready to learn how to count from 1-100+ with Japanese numbers? The Japanese number system can be quite complex, especially when you first start learning. While basic counting in Japanese is easy, there are several ways to count… even just to 10. And counting objects can become confusing because of a dreaded […]
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