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Teach Me! Aren’t You a Native Speaker? Posted by on Dec 21, 2015 in Archived Posts

As language learners, we’ve all had the following conversation with a native speaker of our chosen learned language: You: Harbladarba harbala darbalbarada. Native speaker: Mmmm…that’s not right, actually, sorry. The right way to say it is harbladarba harbala BARbalbarada. You: …why? I thought darbalbarada is conjugated in the 4th-perspective punctual form in this case. Native speaker: Huh? I…

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Expats: Learn the Local Language, Or Else Posted by on Dec 9, 2015 in Archived Posts

Itchy Feet: Literally

If you’re living in a foreign country, you should really learn the language. Touring is one thing. It’s okay to be a tourist and not speak a word of the local tongue. In my experience, speaking even a little bit will get you much farther, but it’s certainly not a requirement. You’re just passing through…

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The Wrong Kind of Encouragement Posted by on Dec 2, 2015 in Archived Posts

Itchy Feet: Healing Words

A little encouragement goes a long way. In language learning, hearing from a local person, particularly a local with some experience learning languages themselves, that you’re doing well is a big boost in confidence. Different places encourage in different ways, of course, and you have to be mindful of this – Italians will praise you…

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The Single Most Important Arabic Word Posted by on Nov 25, 2015 in Archived Posts

Itchy Feet: Inshallah

Listen, I like procrastinating as much as the next guy. I like to live in the moment, you know? And sometimes that means not doing things that would make that moment boring and unmemorable, and pushing that burden on some future version of yourself that will hate you. I’m not the worst procrastinator in the world…

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There is no Arabic Posted by on Nov 18, 2015 in Archived Posts

Itchy Feet: Vanilla Arabic

Indecision. It’s the worst. Just the word sounds nasty. Too close to “incision” for my taste, like something sharp and precise but brutal. Not being able to decide between options is crippling. It’s like being frozen by some kind of cruel ice witch, unable to move forward or side to side or even backward. It…

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Nothing in Moderation Posted by on Nov 11, 2015 in Archived Posts

You’ve got to hand it to the Moroccans – or Algerians, or Tunisians, or pretty much anyone from any of the other Maghrebi (Northwest African) countries – they know a good thing when they see it, and they decide to have as much of it as humanly possible. In this case, we’re talking about sugar. Yes…

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Constructed Languages Galore Posted by on Nov 4, 2015 in Archived Posts

Itchy Feet: Suspiciously Easy

The great thing about human beings is that we like to make stuff. We build, we construct, we create. That’s pretty much the major difference, aside from feeling sorry for ourselves, which separates us from the animal/plant/fungal kingdoms, and look how far it’s gotten us? I’m writing this, and you’re reading this, on a thing that a walking ape made with…

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