There’s a prevailing idea that Languages — unlike Chemistry, Economics or Anthropology — can be self-taught without having to sign up for classes or immersion programs.
To what extent is it true? While self-teach apps like Duolingo made a lingua-revolution in the language learning sphere, taking a class specifically dedicated to acquiring a new language has its hidden perks that not many know of.
Continue reading “What’s in the Language?”Have you seen these posters around campus? I see them all the time, so I decided to do some research on the program so you don’t have to!
YouTube is a great resource for language-learning—you can learn new vocabulary, ways to use grammar structures, and hear different accents. If you’re just starting out your expedition into French YouTube, I’ve made a list of channels that can help you get started! These are more suitable for intermediate and advanced learners, as these videos only have auto-generated captions, and creators tend to speak quickly and use slang. (Sidenote – I found out the word in French is “youtubeur.euse” and I love it.)
Continue reading “YouTube en français”I went to Iceland for spring break and I was fascinated with the language. It’s sad that so few people speak it – only 314K, which is less than the total population of Iceland! – so I want more people to learn it. Here are some awesome facts about the language that might get you to learn it!
Continue reading “Íslensku!”
Spring has sprung in the Language Lab, and we’re hosting a study session to get you through the final stretch of your language classes! Stop by the Language Lab for study snacks, cozy vibes, and the opportunity to work with our language tutors! Bring your friends, classmates, and study group!
When: Monday, April 7 from 5-8 pm
Where: Language Lab
I have a terrible habit of hoarding blank notebooks, fancy pens, and cute stickers. So instead of letting them continue to sit in my desk drawers forever, I decided to start a language journal! The concept is simple yet effective: try to use only your target language to fill up a journal! I’ve been writing entirely in Chinese, but this method works for any target language. Honestly, I find journaling to be challenging, but here are some tips (and prompts!) for you to begin and stay motivated to write your very own language journal!
Continue reading “Leilani’s tips for keeping a language journal!”Listening to music in the language you’re learning helps you improve your pronunciation, listening skills, and even grasp some grammar patterns. It’s fun, you can do it anywhere, and it’ll expand your Spotify playlist. Here’s some of my favorite artists broken down by genre.
Continue reading “Patricio’s recommendation of the week: Listen to more Spanish music!”
This week’s recommendation is to learn Icelandic. It is believed to be the hardest Germanic language to learn for English speakers. It has some intense grammar and complex pronunciation. But you should learn it anyway! Icelandic is the closest living relative to Old Norse, which was spoken by Vikings. I’ve been trying to learn it and Drops is so far the best app to do it. One of the best features it has is lessons to teach you how to pronounce the extensive alphabet, which is tricky as there’s a mix of rolling r’s similar to Spanish, the eu sounds similar to French, and the gargling r’s from German. Some fun words I’ve learned are Hjàlp! (Hee-owl-fff-p, i.e. help!), tuttugu (impossibe to describe how it’s pronounced, i.e. twenty), and sveppur (sveh-prrr, i.e. mushroom). Some not so fun words I’ve learned are matvöruverslun (…, i.e. grocery store) and sjúkrahús (shoe-crah-whose, i.e. hospital).
We’re going around the world in just 2 hours at the Language Lab x IPO (International Programs Office) Trivia Night! We’re serving up tricky questions, information about studying abroad, and also pizza!
When: Wednesday, March 12 from 6-8 pm
Where: Vollum Lounge
