Archive by Author
Get the Slang of It—A Sweet Sampling of Foreign Language Idioms Posted by meaghan on May 7, 2014 in Archived Posts
As important as it is to learn proper grammar in a new language, it’s equally important to keep up with how people actually speak. If you ask me, there’s no better form of colloquial speech than idioms. So, eager language-learning beavers, let’s jump in feet first, swing into action, and get waist deep in some…
Why Learning Languages Gets Easier Each Time Posted by meaghan on May 5, 2014 in Archived Posts
Ever heard that less is more? That may be so when it comes to applying makeup, but not when it comes to learning languages. The best way to become a great language learner is to learn more languages. For those of you learning your second language from scratch right now, this probably sounds extremely discouraging…
9 Ways to Raise Globally-Minded Children at Home Posted by meaghan on Apr 23, 2014 in Archived Posts
Our children will inherit a far more diverse and interconnected world than the one we live in today. Globalization is rapidly deepening international connections, not just in economics and business, but also in technology, politics, fashion, scientific research, security, disaster relief, entertainment, and beyond. Without the proper preparation, our children risk falling behind, failing to…
Small Talk is a Big Deal: Perceptions of Chit-chat Around the World Posted by meaghan on Apr 14, 2014 in Archived Posts
Whether you’re meeting with a business partner or just trying to fit in with the locals on vacation, how you approach small talk is an immediate indicator of your cultural knowledge. The first few sentences you exchange may set the tone for the rest of your conversation or meeting, so it’s important to start…
Train Your Brain: 10 Memory Boosters for Language Learners Posted by meaghan on Mar 26, 2014 in Archived Posts
The chorus of naysayers who claim their “memory is too bad” to learn a language is about to be silenced forevermore. Our memories naturally decline as we age, and some of us are just pretty darn forgetful to begin with. At 24 years old, the only phone number I have memorized is 867-5309. Shameful, I…
Are Some Languages Harder to Learn than Others? Posted by meaghan on Mar 10, 2014 in Archived Posts
What’s the easiest language to learn? Why is Chinese harder to learn than Spanish? How hard would it be to learn Icelandic? Considering that I spend most of my day lurking through the depths of the language-learning communities on various social media networks, I see a lot of questions about the relative difficulty of learning…
Can Learning a Language Change Your Life? Posted by meaghan on Mar 3, 2014 in Archived Posts
What’s the worst excuse not to learn a new language? “I just don’t need to.” Okay, fair enough. Maybe your everyday life doesn’t require any knowledge of a foreign language at the moment. But that doesn’t mean a new language holds no value for you. And if you’re guilty of thinking so, it’s probably because…