7 Ways to Memorize a Language and Still Understand It Posted by meaghan on Oct 8, 2014 in Archived Posts
We published a SlideShare earlier this month discussing “8 Mistakes that Haunt Language Learners”. One of these mistakes is worth a deeper look—the concept of memorizing what needs to be understood. It’s a big problem for anyone who wants to learn a language quickly, but more importantly sustain it over time and use it fluidly…
Screwing Up: Learn to Love It Posted by Malachi Rempen on Oct 6, 2014 in Archived Posts
Language learning in a foreign country is hard. Not only do you have to wrestle with merciless grammar, call up vocabulary from the dusty depths of your memory, parse figures of speech and slang like in-jokes you aren’t in on, and even possibly learn how to read and write legibly in an entirely new alphabet…
The Buddy System: 5 Reasons Why You Shouldn’t Learn a Language Alone Posted by meaghan on Oct 1, 2014 in Archived Posts
We all remember clutching someone’s hand so we wouldn’t get left behind on a class field trip: the good ole’ buddy system. It’s a simple action, holding someone’s hand, but it provides that extra layer of safety and accountability we all needed at a young age. What about now that we’re a bit older, though?…
8 Mistakes That Haunt Language Learners (and How You Can Avoid Them!) Posted by meaghan on Sep 29, 2014 in Archived Posts
Language learners of all abilities and backgrounds have something in common: they make mistakes—lots and lots of them. Language teachers and experts actually encourage making mistakes, as each false friend you employ and every verb conjugation you mangle is a learning opportunity. Learning by doing (even doing wrong) is powerful. So, keep on makin’ mistakes…
Not Ready to Completely Flip Your Language Classroom? Try the Sideways Classroom Model Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 24, 2014 in Archived Posts
You’ve heard of it by now: the flipped classroom model. To oversimplify a bit, this educational model requires students to listen to traditional lectures (delivered in video format) at home, thereby freeing up classroom time for more interactive learning activities. Here at Transparent Language, we’re big fans of helping teachers flip language classrooms, but this model…
Silly French Numbers: “Four Twenties and Ten” or “Ninety”? Posted by Malachi Rempen on Sep 22, 2014 in Archived Posts
Last summer I spent a little over a month in the DRC, or Democratic Republic of Congo, for work. As the DRC is a Francophone country, and my trilingual colleague did not feature French on his résumé of tongues, it was up to me to break out my rusty français. It did not go as…
Trouble With a Language? How Food Can Transcend Words Posted by Transparent Language on Sep 17, 2014 in Archived Posts
Guest Post By Bridget Piszczek, Founder Polska Foods We all know that uncomfortable moment when you are traveling abroad and trying desperately to buy that ticket, order that sandwich, or talk to a relative—but no one can understand you. You sink into your shoes and hope to disappear. Maybe you hope that your brain will…