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Archive for July, 2014

Cultural Immersion in the Virtual Classroom: Teaching 5th Graders About Other Cultures Online Posted by on Jul 30, 2014 in For Educators

We’ve all heard of the 4 core language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. When it comes to learning a foreign language, a fifth skill must be considered—cultural competency. But how does an instructor go about teaching culture from a classroom, hundreds or thousands of miles away from the target country? Add on one more…

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Confessions of a Native Russian Speaker Posted by on Jul 28, 2014 in Archived Posts

Any adult who makes a decision to learn a foreign language knows the road will be perilous, long and often frustrating. We pore over books, listen to audio CDs, take classes and commit to memory dozens, if not hundreds, of vocabulary words to make the process quicker and easier. But we all known it isn’t…

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7 Tips for Hanging on to That Hard-Learned Second Language Posted by on Jul 23, 2014 in Archived Posts

Remember me?  I’m the “old guy” who’s been learning French and who shared on this blog some of my not-so-secrets of how old guys – and maybe not-so-old guys – can pick up a second language.  Well, now, sadly, I have transitioned to a new phase in language learning.  I am now an old guy…

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Pronunciation is King Posted by on Jul 21, 2014 in Archived Posts

The above comic is one of the very few I’ve done (along with the one from my previous entry) which is taken verbatim from personal experience. In 2008, I was on the island of Muuido, off the coast of South Korea, in a little restaurant on the beach. It was apparently off-season, as there was…

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Introducing Our New Indonesian Language and Culture Blog Posted by on Jul 16, 2014 in Company News

You know all of those lovely language and culture blogs we run? Well, there’s a new blog in town: the Indonesian language and culture blog! Whether you’re an expat living in Indonesia, a traveler planning a quick trip to the country, or just someone who is curious about the language and culture, our blog is…

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Japanese Wins the 2014 World Cup of Languages Posted by on Jul 14, 2014 in Archived Posts

The day we’ve all be waiting for has come, and I have to say I’m a little sad it’s here. It’s been a pleasure to play along with you all, and I hope you’ve had fun learning a new language during our 2014 World Cup of Languages! You all deserve a pat on the back…

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5 Reasons Why Safety Professionals Need Language and Cultural Skills Posted by on Jul 14, 2014 in Archived Posts

Guest Post by Ruben Olson Corrections officers and prison officials encounter a wide range of culture and language barriers on a daily basis. Incorporating training that addresses these challenges usually takes back seat to the more practical and tactical aspects of working in jails and prisons. However, having a better understanding of the benefits of…

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