Why Language Learning is the Best Posted by Malachi Rempen on Oct 16, 2017 in Archived Posts
There are many things to love about learning new languages. But this is undoubtedly the best one. My absolute favorite thing about language learning happens to be the exact same thing I love about travel in general: it forces you to see the world from another perspective. You might take this for granted. You might…
Children Can Learn a Language at the Library with KidSpeak™ Posted by Transparent Language on Oct 11, 2017 in For Libraries
KidSpeak™ is now included in all Transparent Language Online library subscriptions. You’ve heard it before and it’s worth hearing again: the best time to start learning a new language is as early as possible. The cognitive benefits of bilingualism pay off into adulthood. For children whose parents do not speak another language and whose school…
False False Friends in German Posted by Malachi Rempen on Oct 9, 2017 in Archived Posts
Germans have a habit of stealing English slang and using it incorrectly. Is that a False Friend? Or something else entirely? Germans are funny. They are proud of their language and culture, but also proud of their ability to speak other languages – mostly English, and to a lesser but still significant degree, French. Quite…
5 Ways to Fight Off Forgetting When Learning Languages Posted by Transparent Language on Oct 4, 2017 in Archived Posts
The forgetting curve is steep, but we can get you over that hump. This article on Edutopia defined forgetting as the “nemesis of memory.” This rings especially true for serious language learners, who are never really “finished” learning. The article goes on to explain Hermann Ebbinghaus’s “forgetting curve”, a measurement of how much (or perhaps…
Why You Should Be Annoying on Social Media Posted by Malachi Rempen on Oct 2, 2017 in Archived Posts
Nobody likes a social media show-off. But are you learning languages so you can be LIKED, huh?! We’ve all got that friend or family member, don’t we? The one who’s learning more languages than you are, or who is further along in the language you’re learning, and boy are they excited to tell EVERYONE…
The State of Foreign Language Use in the United States Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 27, 2017 in Archived Posts
Each year, the U.S. Census Bureau releases data from the American Community Survey (ACS), an ongoing survey that gathers vital data about our country and the people who live in it. The ACS gathers data on employment, education, migration, poverty, and other demographics—including languages—to be used by “public officials, planners, and entrepreneurs use this information…
Why French Numbers Are the Worst, Part 456 Posted by Malachi Rempen on Sep 25, 2017 in Archived Posts
French numbers are hard to write, and weird to understand. And we’re all just going to have to live with that. I love to complain about French numbers. Well, I love to complain, period, but among all the things out there to complain about, French numbers is perhaps one of the lowest-hanging fruits. I…