Caption: My own well-used copy of the NHK Japanese Language Pronunciation and Accent Dictionary. After 10 years of studying Japanese, the aspect of the language that continues to captivate me the most is pitch accent. Although it may seem intimidating at first, pitch accent is a rich and fascinating component of the Japanese language, and […]
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Recently, I shared five simple ways that you can get more language learning immersion without ever leaving the country—or even your house! Today, I’ve got five more tools to help you, all of which require only a computer or smartphone, along with a high-speed internet connection. Let’s dive right in!6. Buy and Download EbooksReading target language books […]
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Gnocchi. Bruschetta. Ghepardo. Cena. Gerundio. Figlio. Psicologo. Bruschetta. These eight words reveal an uncomfortable truth about the Italian language: though Italian is often pronounced exactly as it is written, that isn’t always the case. There are a few exceptions that, if you’re not careful, can trip you up and make your speech sound unnatural—or worse, unintelligible! Fortunately, the mistakes caused by these rogue sounds and […]
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I visited Russia for the first time in 2013. In short, it was breathtaking. Though I was a seasoned traveler even then, I was not quite prepared for all of the wonderful, unforgettable moments that Russia had in store for me. In my travels to both Moscow and St. Petersburg, I experienced many things that simply […]
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So you’ve decided to start learning a new language, but you’re not sure where to start. You need resources—books, courses, apps, or other learning materials to help guide your way. What do you do? The first place you turn to is the Internet. It only takes a few clicks of your mouse to find lists of dozens of […]
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Everyone has something they’re most afraid of. Some people have a fear of animals, like spiders or snakes. Others hate flying, heights, or being stuck in tight spaces. All of these are common fears, but there are two more fears that are the most common of all: Death, and public speaking. Death is something permanent that will happen to […]
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“Travel”, they say. “Go to the country and learn the language for a few months.” “You’ll be fluent in no time”. That’s what I always used to hear when I was first learning Italian, long before I took the leap and actually studied abroad there. Quality language learning, it seemed, was inexorably tied to one’s ability to buy […]
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No matter how much you love language learning, there are times when life just gets in the way. Maybe you’re overloaded at work. Maybe you’re on vacation, far away from your language books. Maybe you’re between jobs, and you need every extra moment to get yourself back on your feet again. Whatever the reason, you need to […]
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I have a question for you: How good are you at your target language? Do you know? Beyond vague assessments like “I’m conversational” or “I can understand most of what I hear”, do you have a real sense of your foreign language skills? Most people don’t, and that’s okay. Often, knowing that you can use the language “well […]
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In my life, there have been few decisions more impactful than when I decided to learn French. Indeed, my French journey has taken me through nearly every significant language learning event you could think of. I’ve been: A student in a French classroom An independent learner, developing my skills from my home country (outside of France) […]
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