How to Screw Up in Paris: What Nobody Bothered to Tell Me About Living Abroad Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 15, 2014 in Archived Posts
If you’ve read my other blogs you know that I am an old guy who is trying to learn – really, really learn – a language other than my mother tongue. It’s been an embarrassingly large number of years (yes, years) since I stuck that first tentative toe in the water of “French 101” at…
10 Ways to Practice Pronunciation (Serious Commitment Required!) Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 13, 2014 in Archived Posts
The other day someone asked me: “How much time do you actually devote to learning Italian?” At first the question stopped me in my tracks. Then I realized why: I don’t just concentrate on Italian skills for fifteen minutes or even thirty minutes a day. For me learning Italian isn’t just about memorizing grammar and…
5 Reasons Every Company Should Invest in the Language Skills of its Employees Posted by meaghan on Jan 8, 2014 in Archived Posts
CNN Money recently championed fluency in a foreign language as the hottest job skill for job-seekers, and for good reason. But it’s not just the folks at the CIA and huge multinational corporations who can benefit from bilingual (or multilingual!) employees. And it’s not just native-born bilinguals who are advantageous to a company. With the proper…
High Intensity Interval Training for Language Learning Posted by Transparent Language on Jan 6, 2014 in Archived Posts
Ever tried High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT)? This highly-touted method of physical training mixes short periods of rigorous activity with periods of rest. Take running, for example: a runner following HIIT would jog at a comfortable pace for a minute, and then sprint as fast as possible for 20 seconds, followed by another minute of…
5 Ways Learning a Language Makes You a Smarter Traveler Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 30, 2013 in Archived Posts
Preparing for a trip? Toss aside your guidebook. Astute travelers know that successful travel depends less on how much you prepare, and more on how well you prepare. While many of us spend countless hours mulling over hotel reviews or crafting perfect day plans, smart travelers spend their time doing something else entirely: learning a…
Christmas Traditions Around the World Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 23, 2013 in Archived Posts
‘Tis the season… but not just in America! People around the world are in the holiday spirit, so let’s take a look at how they celebrate Christmas. You might not think to associate Christmas with the Arab world, but the holiday is widely accepted by many Arabs, and rightfully so considering that the birthplace of…
22 Hilarious, Useful, and Bizarre Foreign Words That Monolinguals Are Missing Out On Posted by Transparent Language on Dec 18, 2013 in Archived Posts
English speakers get a small dose of foreign languages every day, whether you’re watching your favorite football team blitz the quarterback, stringing up a piñata for your child’s birthday party, or searching for something chic to wear. Loan words give us just a small taste of other languages, but there’s so much more out there…