Teaching Yourself a Language? Then Act Like a Teacher! Posted by meaghan on May 21, 2014 in Archived Posts
When you’re learning a language on your own, you have to play both roles: student and teacher. The problem is, while we’re all fairly familiar with being a student (for better or worse!) most of us aren’t too familiar with the other side of the equation. This imbalance can lead you into an ineffective language…
Language and Culture Barriers in Public Safety Professions Posted by rolson on May 19, 2014 in Archived Posts
Today’s law enforcement, corrections, and emergency services personnel are under immense pressure to perform daily duties in increasingly diverse environments. Linguistic and cultural barriers can arise, rendering routine operations difficult and potentially dangerous. Training personnel in languages and cross-cultural sensitivity arms them with the ability to better understand and interact professionally in an increasingly global…
Summer is Coming: 15 Fun and Effective Ways to Learn a New Language over Summer Vacation Posted by meaghan on May 14, 2014 in Archived Posts
That’s right, summer is coming, which means it’s time to soak up some sun, sleep in late, head to the beach, and laze around. But it’s also the perfect time to start learning a new language. It becomes less about pressure and more about curiosity, letting your mind stay engaged while your body enjoys the…
The Thrill is Gone: Arabic, Italian, and Blissful Ignorance Posted by Malachi Rempen on May 12, 2014 in Archived Posts
Certain languages have a charm or magic about them which only exists so long as you have no idea what they’re talking about. I personally find Arabic to be the most aesthetically pleasing written script. There are a number of beautiful Asian alphabets, including ornate Hindi, swirling Burmese, and precise Chinese. But to me, written Arabic exudes an…
Get the Slang of It—A Sweet Sampling of Foreign Language Idioms Posted by meaghan on May 7, 2014 in Archived Posts
As important as it is to learn proper grammar in a new language, it’s equally important to keep up with how people actually speak. If you ask me, there’s no better form of colloquial speech than idioms. So, eager language-learning beavers, let’s jump in feet first, swing into action, and get waist deep in some…
Why Learning Languages Gets Easier Each Time Posted by meaghan on May 5, 2014 in Archived Posts
Ever heard that less is more? That may be so when it comes to applying makeup, but not when it comes to learning languages. The best way to become a great language learner is to learn more languages. For those of you learning your second language from scratch right now, this probably sounds extremely discouraging…
Ground-Apples, Glow-Pears, and Go-Wheels: Enjoying Etymology in Your New Language Posted by Malachi Rempen on Apr 30, 2014 in Archived Posts
I find words fascinating. That might be part of why I enjoy learning new languages so much: so many new words! And so many new ways of looking at the same words; that is to say, different words with the same meaning. As I detailed in another one of my comics, I felt like some sort…