Do you find yourself using the same language app/s every week? I like the programs which work for me, but it is worth taking time to explore what other apps can offer. Here’s a few… Drops Drops has a large choice of courses and has a concept is like Memrise, in that they feed you letters and words of a language slowly, with a focus … Continue reading Which Language App Should You Try Next? April App Test
Here’s two modern classics and two contemporary books from people who found temporary homes in Europe. Each book gives a flavour of the local language, illuminates the culture and history, and lets you imagine how it would be if you started over in a new land… George Orwell, Down and Out in Paris and London This was one of my favourite books as a teenager … Continue reading Thinking of Living Abroad? 4 Books to Read
“Spider versus Bear”, “I am the cheese”, “the police are after me”: Duolingo is iconic for its gameified style, its colourful badges and its weird mess of vocabulary. The randomness is no more. The massive new changes for the Spanish and French courses introduce a more traditional topic structure, which brings them in line with scores of other programmes, including Babbel, Memrise, Mondly and Busuu. … Continue reading How Far Can Duolingo Take You?
“Estoy embarazada” means “I am pregnant” in Spanish, and is example numero uno of embarrassing language mistakes. But language learning awkwardness is not just limited to these slip-ups. Simply exposing yourself to conversations with native speakers is a (small) social risk. The best time to learn is obviously when you’re a kid, not just because it’s easier, but because your mistakes cause you no embarrassment … Continue reading Those Embarrassing Language Learning Moments
I am pro-Europe, and although I understand some concerns about immigration – regarding types of jobs, integration, the impact on areas with a struggling economy – my (idealistic) impulse is that we should stay together. I know that Britain is not putting up an iron curtain, a Berlin wall or Trump’s barrier (material tbd), and I know countries like Switzerland can step outside the EU … Continue reading Europe vs. Europa
