I felt lost. I’d finished school, where I’d fallen in love with languages. And I wanted to keep learning. But I had no teacher to tell me how to learn. I tried a few different things, but nothing seemed to be working. So I turned to my trusty friend, Google. “How to learn a language”, […]
MOREThe French Alphabet: Why it’s Easier than You Think
In 1066, William (or Guillaume in French), the Duke of Normandy, invaded England and took possession of the crown of England. As a result of the Norman invasion, the French language began its own invasion of the English language (called Anglo-Saxon or Old English). That’s one of the reasons why English and French have so […]
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 […]
MOREMake the World Your Home: 7 Ways Language Learning Gives You a Global Mindset
What would we do without language? Such a scenario is almost too absurd to even imagine. Language is intertwined with almost every aspect of our daily lives. No matter where we live, language is the means by which we formulate and express our sentiments, wishes, thoughts, ideas and questions to the world and those around […]
MORELanguage Learners! Why Your Comfort Zone = the Danger Zone
A few years ago, I started out learning languages through self study. It’s an adventure! I’ve enjoyed the process, but things haven’t always gone as well as I’d hoped. So, I’d like to share one of most important things I’ve learned. My hope is that you can avoid the mistakes I made. How I Hit […]
MOREYou CAN Learn a New Language After Age 10! Response to Steven Pinker’s Fascinating “Critical Period” Research (and Bogus News Reports)
Up until what age can you become very fluent in a language? It’s a good question, and it’s one I’m going to answer, looking at some new research from linguist and psychologist Steven Pinker. First, I’d like to bust a few myths about the “critical window” for language learning that have popped up in the […]
MORE10 Ways to say ”Hello” in Arabic
Are you planning to go to the Middle East or North Africa and would like to know the different variations of “Hello” in Arabic? Or would you just like to show off in front of your friends that you know how to speak Arabic? Either way, you have landed on the right page! How do […]
MOREHow to Learn Cantonese: The Easy Way to Learn Cantonese in 10 Simple Steps
Cantonese has a very rich history and culture as a language, and is one of the most expressive and fun languages I have ever heard. On top of this, Hong Kong cinema is legendary with huge names such as Bruce Lee, Jackie Chan and Stephen Chow. As well as movies there are also countless TV […]
MOREWhy Language Learners Quit – The 7 Key “Motivation Killers” (Plus, How to Beat Them)
Have you ever met someone who speaks another language, and been amazed at what you hear when their mouth opens… You have no clue what they’re saying, but they’re having a real conversation – using sounds that make absolutely no sense to you. It’s like a small miracle, right in front of your eyes. It’s […]
MORESpanish Immersion: 16 Ways to Make it Possible for Home, Work or Play
Is it your dream to speak Spanish with ease? You can speak confidently in Spanish – all it takes is lots of practice actually speaking in Spanish and immersing yourself in the language. You may think the only way to do that is travel the world, and immerse yourself in the culture of Spanish-speaking countries. […]
MOREPassion Power! How I Learned English (and Spanish) by Sharing My Art With the World
During my first year at my Italian university, I dropped my language degree course in English and Spanish after just three months. Back then, in addition to studying English and Spanish at university, I was also studying at an art academy in Rome to become a professional cartoonist (cool, right?). As you may imagine, doing […]
MOREHow I Met Japanese Language Partners in a Small Town (and So Can You!)
When I was 4 years old, I discovered Sailor Moon. To say I had an obsession was an understatement. Ever since, I’ve loved Japanese culture. The delicious food, the rich and crazy unique culture, the wacky shows, the cherry blossoms. But more than anything, I fell head over heels in love with this beautiful language. […]
MORE86 French Slang Words and Phrases so You’ll Fit Right in With the Locals
Let’s take a look at French slang. First, a quick caveat: Slang is hard to teach in any language. It varies a lot by region and age group. Consider the following English slang words. Depending where you live and how old you are, you may have never heard many of these before: hella (“extremely”) gobshite […]
MOREAzerbaijani: The Language You Never Thought of Learning (and Why You Should)
So you’d like to speak Azerbaijani? Good call! Never thought about studying Azerbaijani? Keep reading, because there are plenty of reasons why it’s a wonderful language to learn. In a moment, I’ll show you how to get started learning Azerbaijani. But first… Grab Your Suitcase — Azerbaijani Is Your Ticket into Another World Azerbaijan is […]
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