Language Learning is Cultural Learning Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Jan 9, 2017 in Archived Posts
Language learning is cultural learning, from the cradle to the foreign language classroom. It’s an often-repeated cliché in language learning that learning about foreign cultures is just as important as learning their languages. But what does that really mean for language learners? Already as infants each and every one of us finds ourselves navigating the…
Reducing Your Language Learning Baggage Posted by Malachi Rempen on Jan 4, 2017 in Archived Posts
It’s not easy being a beginner. You need a lot more to do a lot less – that’s as true in language learning as anywhere else. But like a seasoned traveler that packs less and less, you too will eventually need only your smarts. There’s a parable about beginners I’ve heard, and it involves cats…
10 Most-Read Language News Posts of 2016 Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 28, 2016 in Archived Posts
Happy New Year, language learners! 2016 has gotten a bad rap, but we love to look back on another year of posts. Whether you’re a long-time reader or just stumbled upon the blog in 2016, we hope our posts have been informative, inspiring, and entertaining. By now we all know the importance of reviewing, so let’s…
“Yes,” “No,” and Everything In-Between Posted by Malachi Rempen on Dec 26, 2016 in Archived Posts
“Yes” and “no” are not as simple as they might at first appear. Here are a few of the ways in which they can vary greatly across languages. You’d think that there would be no simpler words in any language than “yes” and “no.” I mean, those are basically the first words we learn as…
Transparent Language 2016 Year-in-Review Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 21, 2016 in Company News, For Businesses, For Educators, For Learners, For Libraries
Goodbye 2016! It seems like most people are ready to say good riddance to 2016, but we’ve actually had a memorable year here at Transparent Language! Our engineers have been cranking out new features, our linguists continue to fill our products with new languages and courses, and our sales folks have partnered with more organizations…
Little Moments of Joy in Language Learning Posted by Malachi Rempen on Dec 19, 2016 in Archived Posts
Language learning is not easy, we all know that. So it helps to step back and remember the little moments that make it all worthwhile. Well, this year it’s actually unseasonably warm in Berlin. Not a snowflake in sight. I can’t decide if that’s better or worse than a white winter – on the one…
Why and Where to Volunteer Your Translating Skills Posted by Jakob Gibbons on Dec 14, 2016 in Archived Posts
Translating a text is one of the best ways to give your language skills an all-around workout, and you’ll never run out of opportunities to do so: all across the world and the Web, people are waiting to put your language learning efforts to good use. Facing the linguistic pressures of globalization and the digital language divide that separates the linguistic…