The Grand Bazaar, the Ottoman empire, Byzantium, the site of the biblical Garden of Eden, skiing, sandy beaches… Endless history. Whatever culture or taste appeals to you, Turkey promises to keep you fascinated. I have been involved with the Turkish language and visiting Turkey for over 10 years. I now live in Istanbul, the cultural […]
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 […]
MOREHow to Find a Great Language Tutor (So You’ll Reach Fluency Faster)
It was when I tried learning Chinese (specifically, written and spoken mainland Mandarin) that I realized I needed a teacher. I tried learning myself. Oh, how I tried. I got nowhere. I thought I was maybe getting old (I was 30). I’ll get back to that story in a moment. Now, after studying seven languages […]
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 […]
MOREHere are the 97 common Spanish phrases to know if you want to start speaking Spanish right now.
Here are 90+ common Spanish phrases — the Spanish phrases to know if you want to start speaking Spanish right now. I’ve found that the best way to learn Spanish is to speak it from day one. And the best way to start speaking is to learn Spanish phrases that you’ll use in real conversations. […]
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 […]
MOREPolish Language Classes: 48 Resources and Lessons to Learn Polish Free Online
Looking for Polish language resources, but not sure where to start? There are plenty of Polish courses out there, so if you’re learning to speak Polish, it can feel like you’d have to spend hours trying everything out to decide what’s good quality. Ready for some good news? I’ve put this article together because I’ve […]
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 […]
MORELearn Arabic Online for Free: 33 Resources and Online Arabic Classes
There are some amazing resources out there so you can learn Arabic online, free! In fact, there are so many Arabic courses online, it can be difficult to know where to start. How do you know which of the Arabic resources are right for you? That’s where this article comes in. I’ve explored countless free […]
MORESpanish Food Vocabulary: A Guide to Spanish Cuisine and Spanish Eating Culture — with Lots of Spanish Vocab
Can you eat your way to fluency in Spanish? Maybe not, but you can learn all about Spanish food culture, and how to talk about food in Spanish! If you’re a foodie, then you know that food is the way to the heart of both a person and a culture! Even in your hometown, there […]
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 […]
MOREHow to Learn a Language by Self-Study
You’ve decided you want to learn a language. Good call! When you start a new language, you can find yourself with a lot of questions about where to start. Should you buy a textbook? Enrol in classes? Sign up for Skype classes via italki? Should you get help – for example with the Add1Challenge – […]
MORELearn Japanese with these 40+ Free Japanese Lessons Online
Looking for free Japanese lessons online? Look no further! Here are the resources you need to learn Japanese on a budget. I recently studied Japanese as a part of the Add1Challenge — where I had a 15-minute conversation in Japanese after just 90 days. While studying Japanese I found a HUGE selection of Japanese online […]
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 […]
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