Culture & Cuisine / Language Resources
Los Angeles is often deemed the cultural hub of the Pacific Rim. Its inhabitants speak more than 224 recorded languages, so it’s no surprise that restaurants in and around the area reflect this diversity. Growing up, I unknowingly ate quite a few Croatian dishes. These were recipes that were passed down and that were just things my dad made when he was in charge of dinner –...
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Language Resources
I’m always the first two write things down, make lists, plan projects out and wait to start until I feel I’m organized enough to get going. I often write down my goals because there’s something about the process that makes them more tangible and I use a variety of apps and systems to track what I’m doing when I’m doing it and how. Writing down...
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Travel
Paraguay is a wonderful country so often skipped or passed through quickly on multi-country trips to the region. But that’s a shame as the place has a lot to offer. Take the capital for example, Asunción. It’s not quite as huge and daunting as other capitals in the region, and can easily be enjoyed in a couple of days like a local if you follow...
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Language Resources
When I first started studying languages on my own, I was constantly distracted by the next, new, shiny thing. I’d purchase a coursebook, start to work through it and then stumble across a web-based language learning tool. Immediately, my attention would shift and I’d dive into the new resource, abandoning the first. Eventually, I’d reach the stage where the material grew challenging. I, of course,...
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Eurolinguiste
This month, I’m entering the end of my Add1Challenge with Korean. It’s my second effort at learning the language and while, to be honest, it’s still one of the languages I’ve struggled with most, it’s all starting to click. I’m glad I decided to come back to it. On to #clearthelist If you’re new around these parts, #clearthelist is a linkup where we share our...
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Language Resources
When I decided to learn Japanese, I kept hearing and reading one complaint from other Japanese learners: “Ugh, Kanji are so hard to learn.” “Just wait until you get to Kanji.” After learning Chinese, I wondered why Kanji was such an obstacle for so many Japanese learners. Was it because it was yet another writing system on top of Hiragana and Katakana? Was it because Kanji...
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Culture & Cuisine / Travel
With only a few hours before our flight back to California, M and I were whisked away to Lulu’s Bakery to share a three-pound cinnamon roll by my aunt and uncle. We arrived only to discover that the wait was more than an hour; it wouldn’t work. We quickly whipped out our phones, scrolling through alternative options nearby when I stumbled upon Ocho. It was...
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Language Resources
Do you want to learn Russian? Perhaps you find yourself struggling to find resources that help you start speaking. When I started out, I certainly did. Many of the tools that I found when I started learning Russian were grammar-heavy textbook style resources and they didn’t offer me a lot in terms of day-to-day conversation. Rather than learning how to say “what did you do...
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Culture & Cuisine / Travel
After navigating my way to Wangfujing in Beijing, China, I was greeted with the bustle of hungry bodies, navigating their way through the food stalls that made up this night market. As I made my way down the street, my senses were bombarded with smells, sights, and sounds that were all new. I was hooked. I enjoyed the evening sampling tasty foods and drinks, always curious about the...
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Language Resources
I recently announced that I am revising a language that I studied in the past – Korean. My first time around with Korean was a struggle. At the time, I was between Japanese and Korean as my next language project, but when my good friend Lindsay of Lindsay Does Language expressed interest in learning Korean alongside me, I chose Korean over Japanese. During those six...
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