Archive for 'Archived Posts'
The Curse of the Lingua Franca Posted by Malachi Rempen on Jun 5, 2017 in Archived Posts
Life is hard for native lingua francans learning new languages. But why do they do it at all? I mean, the reason for this should come as no surprise. English is the current lingua franca of the world, and so any American, Brit or other native English speaker that wants to learn a foreign language is essentially doing…
Drinking in the sun and tickling camels? In some languages, there’s a word for that. Posted by Transparent Language on May 31, 2017 in Archived Posts
Whether you’re a subscriber to the Sapir-Whorf hypothesis or not, it’s undeniable that certain words provide a window into their respective culture. Language gaps and “untranslatable” words exist for a reason: when you have different values, follow a different schedule, or even live in a different climate, your vocabulary reflects those differences. Want unique insight…
Thé Jøy öf Dîáçrïtícs Posted by Malachi Rempen on May 29, 2017 in Archived Posts
Getting to write with new accent dashes, dots and squiggles is part of the fun of language learning. But is it even better when writing whole new alphabets? Well, they’re all real, but a lot of them are just math symbols and not used in any actual language. Still, the heart of the comic is true…
Temptation Bundling: For When Motivation Falls Short in Language Learning Posted by meaghan on May 24, 2017 in Archived Posts
Sometimes willpower and motivation alone are not enough. More and more, we find ourselves working with people for whom learning a language is not optional. They need it to do their job well. But even for those motivated individuals, learning a language is an arduous journey. So how does the average learner—whose job isn’t on…
Into the Linguistic Wild Posted by Malachi Rempen on May 22, 2017 in Archived Posts
Reaching further than your grasp can give you a handful of stardust, or it can leave you flat on your face. The risk is worth it. Sometimes my eyes are bigger than my stomach. When traveling, it’s easy to get yourself lost in the middle of backwater nowhere, on the hunt for an “authentic” travel experience. I…
Why We Prioritize Educational Methodology, Not Just Educational Technology Posted by Transparent Language on May 17, 2017 in Archived Posts
Using the right tools the wrong way will not produce the best results. In a guest post for EdWeek, Spanish teacher Kaitlin E. Thomas explains precisely why educational technology has yet to revolutionize every language classroom: “Effective integration of instructional technology in learning environments is the unicorn of successful curriculum design and implementation. Yet, one…
Can foreign languages make America safer? Diplomatically speaking, yes. Posted by Transparent Language on May 10, 2017 in Archived Posts
There’s been a lot of talk in today’s political climate about “keeping America safe.” Last month, we examined how international scientific and medical collaboration—enabled by foreign language capabilities—makes us safer. International security extends far beyond public health, of course. Perhaps the best-known agency working to keep us safe and prevent conflict is the U.S. State…