Benny Lewis's Blog, page 54

Learn Russian for Free: 47 Russian Lessons for Learners on a Budget

Learning Russian but too many resources to choose from? Or maybe you’re just not sure where to start.

If you’re looking to learn Russian online, you might find yourself wondering which resources are the best resources.

Ready for some good news? I’ve put this article together because I’ve done the work for you. I’ve tried out several Russian learning tools to find the best ones available. And there’s even better news... You can use any of them to learn Russian for free.

Here are some of my favorite online Russian lessons and classes so you too can learn Russian online.
Free Online Audio and Podcasts to Help You Learn Russian
Ready to level up your listening comprehension? If you want to improve your listening skills, then you’ll need to find resources to listen to. But where do you find good quality audio lessons in Russian?

I like podcasts because they’re so versatile. You can take them with you whenever, wherever. The local deli? They’re there while you wait for your number to be called. Your commute? Just load them up on your phone in advance. Anytime you have a spare moment, you can fit in some language learning with a podcast.

There are several Russian language podcasts out there, but only a few provide a complete Russian course. In my experience, podcasts that provide a step-by-step Russian class prove to be the winners. I also think it’s good to listen to Russian as it’s spoken in real conversations

Here’s where to start with Russian language audio:

RussianPod101 is free to sign up for and is a favorite of the Fluent in 3 Months team. It has an impressive amount of Russian content available at every level from complete beginner to advanced. You get a one-week free trial to test out lessons at all skill levels. After that, you do have to pay for the more advanced lessons and premium material, although it’s very much worth it.
TuneIn: Listen to radio in Russian on TuneIn. Choose from talk, sports or music, trying out different stations to see what you enjoy. You can also download the app to enjoy radio on your phone or tablet.
Forvo: If you come across a new word, especially with Russian which has its own writing system and several letters that are “false friends” to the Latin alphabet (Н vs H anyone?), Forvo is a great place to listen to words spoken by a native speaker. It has a large database and is a good reference for pronunciation.
Очень по-русски: Want to learn Russian as it’s actually spoken? This podcast helps you do just that.

YouTube: Free Russian Video Lessons
YouTube is a good place to look for free Russian classes and resources. The channels listed below give you hours of Russian lessons in an engaging format, all at no cost. Plus, video has the added perk of giving you insight to how facial expressions, body language and other non-verbal aspects are used to communicate in the Russian language.

RussianPod101: In addition to their free podcast lessons, RussianPod101 also has an excellent YouTube channel with hours of free content.
Easy Russian: I adore the Easy Languages channel. Why? Because it gives you a glimpse of the local culture and offers you context for Russian. In this series, the hosts go out into the streets and interview the people they meet. It’s casual and an enjoyable way to hear how the language is truly spoken, pick up useful conversational language, and improve your listening comprehension.
Russian with Anastasia: This Youtube channel teaches Russian through a series of interviews and video lessons.
Be Fluent in Russian has tons of videos that feature useful phrases in the Russian language. It’s a great place to start learning useful Russian vocabulary.
Ru-land Club shares tons of thematic, fun videos to help you learn the Russian language.
Real Russian Club offers Russian learners a wide array of videos. I particularly like their slow listening lessons!

Free Online Russian Courses and Systems
If you’re interested in organized lessons, there is an excellent selection of free online Russian courses and systems available to you. Here are just a few websites that help you learn Russian free:

Glossika: Glossika is an audio language course and the first 1,000 repetitions are free. It uses spaced-repetition to help you learn useful Russian phrases.
Coursera’s Russian as a Foreign Language Part 1 and Part 2: The online learning portal Coursera has two free Russian language courses from St. Petersburg State University called Russian as a Foreign Language. They have several free video lessons and are for learners looking to get to the B1 and B2 CEFR levels.
Goethe Verlag has 100 free lessons for Russian language learners. They cover everything from numbers to preparing for a trip to running errands.
Live Lingua: There are more than a dozen free courses for Russian on Live Lingua, a database of Peace Corps and FSI coursebooks and audio materials. There are materials available for both beginner and advanced learners.
Wikibooks offers Russian language learners a free online coursebook.
Loecsen has almost twenty beginner lessons available to Russian learners. They cover everything from basic greetings to phrases you can use if you find yourself in need of help.
BBC Languages: Looking for a fantastic introduction to the Russian language with video and tons of accompanying material? The BBC’s Russian course has it all.
Russian Lessons has tons of free Russian lessons available for learners for free.

Free Russian Language Apps
Apps are a handy way to learn a new language, especially for those who like to study on the go.

Memrise or Anki (for iOS, for Android, and for everyone else): These are flashcard systems that you can use to create your own Russian vocabulary decks or download those already created by other users. The desktop version of Anki is free, as is the basic version of Memrise.
Duolingo is a popular language learning app that introduces you to both Russian vocabulary and grammar. It’s a gamified platform, so it’s fun to use and addictive, so you’ll keep coming back to learn more.
Drops helps you build your Russian vocabulary in just five minutes of study time per day using gorgeous visuals and spaced-repetition.
Clozemaster is a language learning app that uses cloze (fill in the blank) to help you master new vocabulary in Russian.
NEMO on iOS and Android is free to download and it offers you the chance to record yourself speaking Russian and then compare it against native speakers.

Free Online Russian Language Resources for Advanced Russian Learners
Take a Free Online Course in Russian
MOOCs (Massive Open Online Courses) not only offer Russian language courses, but they also offer courses on other subjects in Russian. If you’d like to use Russian to learn more about something you’re passionate about, taking an online course in Russian can be a useful way to do two things at once.

Class Central is an online portal that indexes free online courses from a variety of sites (including Coursera and EdX). Currently, they have almost 300 courses taught in Russian listed on their site.
Ted Talks in Russian are a powerful way to learn new things in bite-sized chunks. Most talks are between 10-20 minutes and are presented so that they keep your attention from start to finish.

Watch Russian Vloggers on YouTube
If you’re looking for native material for your Russian learning because you’re at a more advanced level, YouTubers are a useful source. Russian vloggers cover everything from comedy to beauty to food, so you’re sure to find a YouTube personality who covers a topic that you’re interested in.

Here are a few of my favorites:

The Kate Clapp is a Russian lifestyle vlogger who is immensely popular. She does video commentary and documents her life in video.
Frost produces gameplay videos as well as commentary, so there’s a diverse selection of material to learn from on this channel.
Ruslan Usachev: If you’re into games, entertainment or even political commentary, you may enjoy this Russian Youtuber.
Sasha Spilberg originally shared lifestyle and commentary videos, but has more recently turned to singing.
Elena Krygina: Do you like fashion or beauty videos? If so, then you’ll definitely enjoy Elena’s channel.
BadComedian: Are you a movie buff? This Russian vlogger shares movie reviews and would be an interesting channel for the movie fan to follow.
Advocat Egorov is a lawyer, but also a survivalist and in his videos, he shares how to live outdoors.
This is Khorosho: This channel is in Russian, but the vlogger, Stas Davidov is actually from Latvia! Most of the videos are commentary on pop culture, but he isare immensely popular and hashave even been featured on Russian major television channels.
Top Geek is run by Karin and Nimrod Aldea and they vlog about entertainment, science, and technology. Their channel includes gameplay and other fun videos, too.
GameGems is a Russian vlogger who reviews games and shares gameplay videos with new content every few weeks.
OldSchoolil includes gameplay videos and may be of special interest to those who enjoy vintage games on some of the older game systems.
Ashley Waxman Bakshi: Searching for a Russian speaking beauty vlogger? Look no further. Ashley posts makeup tutorials, beauty tips, and commentary videos.

Free Russian Language Reading Materials
Finding reading material appropriate for your level in the language can be a challenge. Thankfully, there’s a decent selection of Russian reading resources available to you as a learner online for free.

Wikipedia: Use Wikipedia to read short articles in Russian. You can switch back to your native language to check your comprehension.
LingQ is a popular online learning system that helps you acquire new vocabulary through its reading interface. It’s free to sign up, though if you want to use it long-term you’ll need to opt for a paid plan.
Google News: Read the news in Russian with Google News.

What Free Online Russian Resources Do You Use?
It’s staggering just how many relevant resources there are to learn Russian at no cost online. Though I’ve featured 47 places you can learn Russian for free, I am sure that there are many more. Is there anything you think I missed? Let me know!

Want More? Check out Benny's favorite Russian resources.

The post Learn Russian for Free: 47 Russian Lessons for Learners on a Budget appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

Teach Your Loved One a New Language: 9 Easy Strategies

“Learning French was a waste of time.” My wife was clearly frustrated to have spent her high school and college foreign language credits on learning French. She wished she’d learned Spanish so she could communicate with my family in Mexico.

And this really bothered me. I didn’t want her to feel excluded or like a failure when we visited my family for the first time.

As a native Spanish speaker, I know some of the challenges of becoming bilingual.

Many of the same feelings of shame, discomfort, and lack of self-esteem that we experience as kids and teenagers can deter some adults from learning a new language.

With her drive and determination, I began helping my wife learn basic Spanish. The fact that I have a teaching certification in the state of Texas was also helpful.

We have been happily married for close to 4 years. She can understand conversational Spanish and speak the language. She even thanks her French courses now for her improvement.

Here’s how I was able to teach my significant other Spanish. These strategies will also help you do the same for your partner.
Strategy 1: Speak to Your Significant Other in Their Target Language At Home
Whatever language you are trying to teach your significant other, do it at home.

This can become a fun game as well. At home, you are comfortable. And away from other people, who can oftentimes make a new learner feel shy.

It is also easy for your partner to quickly relate to actions and items they are already familiar with even if it’s in a new language.

You can refer to kitchen items when you are cooking together, or initiate your daily walks by speaking in Spanish. These are all things you already do with them, so learning the phrases in another language will make the language more and more familiar.
Strategy 2: Teach Them a Useful Phrase Once a Day
Every day, make it a point to teach your significant other a useful phrase.

Learning everyday tasks is fun, but make sure you also prepare them with phrases that will come in handy when visiting a new country.

Here are a few useful phrases I taught my wife:

Estoy esperando el taxi - “I am waiting for the taxi”
Necesito ir al baño - “I need to use the bathroom”
¿Cómo se dice…? - “How do you say…?”
¿Que hora es? - “What time is it?”
Me llamo _ - “My name is _”

Useful phrases are phrases that can potentially get your significant other help if they find themselves without your assistance, for any reason.

Picture them trying to get around the city without you being there to translate or help. This may not ever happen, but it’s good to prepare them to interact with the locals and feel more comfortable in case of emergencies.
Strategy 3: Practice Immersion Learning
We all recognize the benefits of learning by immersion. The more you are around a language and hear it, the quicker you’ll learn.

However, not everyone is comfortable being around large groups of people trying to learn a new language together.

My wife is an introvert, and she does not like the unfamiliar (she is a data-driven person and a planner, unlike me).

If you have similar qualities, too much immersion learning can deter you from enjoying and embracing your new language experience.

I began encouraging my wife to speak Spanish with a few members of my family. People that she knows, is familiar with, and feels comfortable around.

For her, three people speaking Spanish to each other was the limit of her comfort level. Anything more than three people (this number may vary for your significant other) can make your partner feel excluded and uncomfortable.

Extra tip: Do not start immersion learning with strangers.

This is especially true if your partner is an introvert. Starting your language learning journey with strangers is not for everyone. Get your partner comfortable with small groups of family first, then consider larger groups.
Strategy 4: Download Language Apps
Apps are a good way to make the most use of your downtime to learn a new language, and it can be fun to try out different apps with your partner.

Apps like Duolingo are a fun way to pass time while also learning a new language. The app makes language learning fun and organized.

If your partner is ready and comfortable enough, using a language exchange app can mirror immersion learning with people from all around the world, in a more personal way.

This is especially helpful if your significant other is also trying to learn how to read and write in another language by writing messages to a pen pal.
Strategy 5: Watch Foreign Language TV and Listen to Music Together
It’s easy to help your partner learn by watching TV, reading, or listening to music in another language. But it is best to pick one medium you most enjoy and use it to learn.

My wife, for example, didn’t really want to sit through a whole series of Spanish shows to try to learn the language. Watching a TV show can be hard to understand for beginners due to the lack of background knowledge and speed.

For my wife, learning Spanish through music was easier and more enjoyable.

It’s no surprise. Music has repetition and rhythm, which makes it easier for individuals to learn. We all remember the Schoolhouse Rock songs in history class right?

You can implement the same tactics when teaching your significant other a new language. In less time than you know, they will be singing along. This is also a great opportunity to explain the meaning of the songs and whistle your way into mastering a new language.
Strategy 6: Read to Your Significant Other in the New Language
I hope you’re catching up. Many of these strategies will not only teach your partner a new language but also accrue brownie points galore with them.

My wife bought a Spanish/English novel of love poems by Pablo Neruda. That’s right! She asked me to romance her in two languages.

Needless to say, we both benefited greatly (wink, wink). I was happy to comply… for many reasons (cough, cough), but mainly because it also helped me keep my Spanish sharp.
Now that I’m living in the States and working from home, the most Spanish I get is when I call my family in Mexico.

We keep the Pablo Neruda poems by the bedside. Before going to sleep I make sure to read one or two poems. We were doing this without even knowing that sleep helps sharpen your memory. The benefits just keep becoming more and more obvious!

Extra tip: Let your partner take ownership of their learning.

It is important to teach your significant other at their pace and to their comfort level. Much like the book of poems my wife got us, she took the initiative and ownership of her learning.
Strategy 7: Take Language Classes Or Courses
After learning the basics of a language, moving to the next level will become easier. If you are a busy professional like my wife, online courses can be a more affordable and fitting option than a traditional class.

Before I helped her get to grips with the basics, my wife felt anxious and shy about learning Spanish. But now that she has a basic understanding of the language, she is willing to take more risks and ownership of her learning.
Strategy 8: Give Lots Of Praise!
It can be discouraging to learn a new language without help.

Encourage your significant other every time they remember a phrase or a word. Though I have to admit that during the beginning of our learning journey, I would innocently laugh at some of the words or phrases my wife would say.

Even though I didn’t mean it maliciously, she took it as negative feedback. When teaching your significant other a new language, do not dismiss or correct them in a strong way.

Take time to explain why a phrase or a word has different meanings and how to best use them.
In the case of my wife, she thrives and enjoys accomplishing tasks to the best of her ability. Therefore, knowing your partner’s learning strengths can be extremely useful when teaching them a new language.
Strategy 9: Know Why You’re Learning -- And Focus On That
Do not force the learning process and ensure there is an end goal in mind. For my wife, this was the ability to communicate with my family in Spanish.

Therefore, you must also establish clear goals for the language the same way you would to grow and strengthen your relationship.
Conclusion: Learning Together Is Good for Your Relationship
Learning together as a couple is a wonderful experience. When you teach your significant other a new language, you will also improve your communication skills.

And I don’t mean that as in communicating in another language.

I mean as a way to have a healthier relationship. And in our case, a healthier marriage. Teaching your significant other a new language is just another way to achieve closeness. By doing so, you are granting them entrance into a deeper part of you and your culture.

For our marriage, we saw Spanish not only as a practical way to communicate with each other and family, but as a way to exercise and achieve our relationship goals.

I hope that teaching your partner a new language is as rewarding for you, too.

The post Teach Your Loved One a New Language: 9 Easy Strategies appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

How to Learn Turkish: An Introductory Guide for Beginners

The Grand Bazaar, the Ottoman empire, Byzantium, the site of the biblical Garden of Eden, skiing, sandy beaches... Endless history. Whatever culture or taste appeals to you, Turkey promises to keep you fascinated.

I have been involved with the Turkish language and visiting Turkey for over 10 years. I now live in Istanbul, the cultural capital of Turkey, and I feel like I am just scratching the surface of what the country has to offer. But what about the language?

The Turkish language, with its Roman script, is the perfect key to opening up the Middle East and even further flung eastern lands and languages. Yet, you do not meet many people, even independent travellers, who have committed to learning Turkish. Why?
Why Learn Turkish? Here Are 4 Good Reasons
Take it from an experienced speaker, Turkish is one of the most underrated languages to learn, here’s why I think so:
1. Because So Many People Speak Turkish
Turkish is spoken with surprising regularity by the 80,000,000 inhabitants of the country despite a diverse makeup of Turks, Armenians, and Kurds, just to name a few ethnic groups in the country. You can safely travel Turkey’s 8,000 kilometres of Black Sea coast and notice no differences other than a change in accent.

There are also plenty of speakers of Turkish outside of the country. In Bulgaria, it is said that almost 10% of the entire population is ethnically Turkish. Macedonia, Germany, Britain and many other countries have very significant Turkish speaking populations. If you live in a capital city anywhere in the world there is a good chance that the friendly person in your local kebab restaurant is Turkish.
2. Because It’s a Gateway to Many Other Languages
Turkish is, well obviously, a Turkic language. There are many other completely distinct languages that are heavily related and, in many cases, intelligible to Turkish speakers.

Here in Istanbul, meeting and speaking with people from Turkmenistan, Azerbaijan, Azeri speaking parts of Iran, Afghanistan and the Uighur speaking areas of China is a daily occurrence. Of course, there are various degrees of intelligibility, but you get the point. If you are planning an epic round-the-world trip anywhere from Macedonia to China – Turkish is your best friend.
3. Because Turkey Has Everything You Could Possibly Want
This is a huge understatement. Without wanting to sound like I am affiliated with the Turkish tourist board, you can keep yourself entertained here for decades. Consider:

Turkish History: There are elements here from every stage of history. From the Biblical account of the Garden of Eden (cited as being located near the modern city of Van), to the expansion of the Ottoman empire, to the influence of Islam in the Middle East. The smallest amount of research can lead to a very rewarding trip.
Nature: Do you like hot beaches, sunshine and resort facilities? Tick. Do you prefer mountain trekking and lush, humid greenery that drops down into the Black Sea? Tick. Do you like skiing? Tick. Do you like… Yes, Turkey is one of those countries that strangely has all these things in one place.
Cost of living: Okay, if you are earning Lira you may wish to cover your ears or eyes right now, however, the currency fluctuations during the summer of 2018 have meant that for those earning stronger currencies, a brief visit to Turkey for language immersion has suddenly become extremely cheap.

4. Because Turkish People Are Amazingly Friendly
Hospitality is as much part of the culture as cricket is to the British. People seem honour bound to go out of their way to help you even if you are in the very early stages of learning a language. Perhaps because Turkish is not historically a regularly learned language by tourists, Turks seem to take every word you learn as a personal compliment and beam with happiness even at the end of a beginner’s stuttered sentence. They will then make you dinner and introduce you to about a dozen relatives.
How to Learn Turkish: The Key Features of the Language
For Roman script-based language speakers, you will be pleasantly surprised to see that Turkish, whilst spoken in a land so close to countries with Arabic scripts, uses the Roman script. Albeit with a couple of extra letters. For many, there is no need to learn another script.

However, as you peel back the history of the language, you will see that this is only one of the appealing aspects of the language. As part of many of the reforms that took place here, the language was completely wrung out and tidied up in about 1928, removing foreign words and generally regulating the language. Since, particularly grammatically speaking, very few exceptions have crept back into the language. There are reportedly only 13 irregular verbs in the entire language.

You may already have seen Benny Lewis, founder of Fluent in 3 Months, showing off his impressive Turkish skills. Benny makes a good point regarding reading Turkish: it is very simple. Although there are some false friends with letters that are pronounced differently to English, Turkish is a perfectly phonetic language to read. In fact, one trap that a number of my friends have fallen into is that they impress themselves by reading accurately and enthusiastically, without actually studying the meaning of what they are reading. Beware of easy rides in languages!

Turkish is known as an agglutinative language. That means suffixes are added to the verb stem to provide grammatical meaning. This can lead to some very impressive long words, my personal favourite being Teşkilatlandırıldıklarından which means “Because of their having been organized”. Say what? Let’s break this down:

Teşkilat - “Organization”
Teşkilatlan - Verb equivalent of the noun
Teşkilatlandır - “to cause organization”
Teşkilatlandırıl - “to cause to be organized”
Teşkilatlandırıldıkları - “their being caused to be organized”
Teşkilatlandırıldıklarından - “Because of their being caused to be organized”

Simple! Well this is an extreme example, and in truth, words of this length are not regularly used in conversation. However, the principle is that once you have learned the finite number of suffixes, you can then conjugate any verb accurately.

Another example: the suffix for the first person singular – “um”

Yapmak - “to do” / Yapıyorum - “I do”
Yemek - “to eat” / Yiyorum - “I eat”
Koşmak - “to run” / Koşuyorum - “I run”

Whilst it is true that the rules of vowel harmony may create minor changes regarding spelling and pronunciation, the form and conjugation of Turkish is extremely consistent. You will not encounter verb forms that have departed significantly from the simple infinitive like in French and Spanish.
What You’ll Need to Get Your Head Around to Learn Turkish
Turkish was the first foreign language I learned. Once I got my head around the following three concepts, the rest fell into place:

Sentence structure: Subject – Object – Verb, i.e. “I the dog walked”
Agglutination: adding suffixes to the end of words
Vowel harmony: the vowels in suffixes are adjusted to the previous letters to provide a better flow to the language

Speakers of French will be delighted to know that for historic reasons, there are many French words in Turkish. These are used on an everyday basis, particularly in the west of Turkey. For religious reasons there are also many Arabic words in daily use such as dünya (“world”) and kitap (“book”).
My Favourite Resources for Learning Turkish
Here are some of the common language learning resources that can also be used for Turkish:

Unsurprisingly, Benny has already devoted a page to Turkish language resources. Benny points to Colloquial Turkish as a good basic grammar guide. I like it, though I personally preferred the older Hugo Learn Turkish in 3 Months (something familiar about that title!).
Pimsleur Turkish – if you have cash to splash this will teach the language to a good level without you reading a word. It will also introduce you to accents and a basic level of colloquial speech. My wife used this to start and now speaks better than me.
Duolingo and Memrise – both of these have the usual, cleverly graded games to teach you vocabulary and grammar effortlessly. Both have the option to adjust the speed of teaching in case you need to recover the basics or are bored and want to move on to the more advanced stuff.
Foreign Service Institute files – these are older but accurate and surprisingly colloquial materials, for free. You will need patience as it is an older style of teaching. The depth of information available, however, is quite impressive.
Omniglot.com – for a history of the language and the basics. It doesn’t teach you the language. It is a language encyclopedia.
italki has a number of native speaking Turkish tutors who can provide regular sessions for a reasonable fee. Try a few different tutors to choose the tutor that works best for you.
BBC Turkish has a free archive of lessons that will help you get into the basics of Turkish conversation.
Turkeytravelplanner.com is a veritable encyclopaedia of information about travelling Turkey as an independent or non-independent traveller. It also has significant language links and resources.

Learn Turkish: In Conclusion
Turkish is an excellent choice for language learners! Are you learning Turkish? I’d love to hear more about how you’re finding it in the comments.

The post How to Learn Turkish: An Introductory Guide for Beginners appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

How to Say “Family” in Chinese: An Ultimate Guide to Family in Chinese Culture

Family in Chinese is 家 (jiā). This can be translated as “family” or “home”.

But it’s also much more than that. “Family” is a big concept in Chinese. Let’s take a look at what it means in this ultimate guide to family in Chinese.

If you’re interested in learning Chinese, learning about family will give you significant insight to the culture.

In this article, you’ll learn:

How to communicate with people from different age groups in Chinese
How to properly address different family members in Chinese
How to prepare for a stay with a Chinese family
Chinese family TV dramas you can watch to improve your Chinese skills

Let’s get started!
Family In Chinese Culture: The Basics
In the English language and in Western culture, family mainly refers to the combination of several people living together who are tied through blood or relationships. But the word "family" means a lot more in China.

The character for family, 家 (jiā), combines the ideas of both a place and people. On the top of the character is 宀, indicating “cave” or “house”; at the bottom there is 豕 (shǐ), meaning “pig”. People live in a place where they can keep out of the wind and rain and have food inside. And that’s where family is.

In today's China, no matter how much traditional culture and mindsets have changed, "home" is still very much the place that where Chinese people’s hearts are.

The Chinese concept of "family" includes the new home created by couples after they get married and have children. It also includes the place where they grew up and their parents’ family. In fact, three-generation households are common in China.

“Come Back Home Often” is a popular Chinese song. The lyrics express how children who are away from home should often visit their parents. This idea of family comes from China's long history as an agrarian society, where people lived by working the land. The lack of economic resources pushed different generations of a Chinese family to have to live together to get by. The elder generations were largely dependent on their offspring for support after losing their ability to work. The Chinese generally retire years earlier than in western countries, so this family support system was essential.

Instead of thinking of rest after retiring, Chinese parents continue to devote themselves to the home by helping their children and taking care of their grandchildren. This eases some of the burdens on the younger family members, but it also creates tension around education and the differences in values between generations.

The Chinese notion of family is also tied to their country and philosophy. In Chinese culture, a country is called 国家 (guó jiā), which literally translates as “state family". Confucianism is 儒家 (rú jiā), which translates to “Confucian family ".

Family is often patriarchal in China. Under the current social system in rural China, the father is usually seen as the head of the family. Even nowadays, many people still hold this view in many remote villages in China, but the difference in social status between men and women in urban China is getting smaller and smaller.
Family In Chinese Culture: Why Family Matters More Than Anything Else
In China, family matters far more than anything else. When any family member struggles, relatives will contribute even if that means personal sacrifice.

The long agrarian society and the lack of legal system forced Chinese people to have a strong dependence on family.

In the Confucian classics, 孝 (xiào) “filial piety" ranks at the top of all moral values. This is respect for one’s parents, elders and ancestors. Whenever I talk to my Western students about this topic, they struggle to fully understand. In the character 孝 (xiào). The top symbol is 老 (lǎo) ”old" and below it is 子 (zǐ) ”son". Thus, children are seen as below their elders. Even if parents have faults or are wrong, children are not to contradict or abandon them.

By contrast, people in western countries have learned more about market rules and adapted to become socially competitive. Children strive to be independent after adulthood, paying less attention to the family when compared to the same generation in China.

Perhaps this is because in western countries social security and national welfare are relatively good, so the elderly are able to be self-sufficient after retirement. By contrast, supporting the elderly in China is an obligation written into the Chinese constitution that everyone must fulfill.

My American students recently told me that few adults who have jobs in the United States live under the same roof as their parents. Grandparents being the primary caregivers for their grandchildren is sometimes less common in the west.

Neither perspective is right or wrong. Even having grown up in Chinese society, I can understand the mentality of children who want to leave home when they grow up. Chinese people also want to get rid of restrictions and find freedom.
Family In Chinese Culture: How To Communicate Respectfully With Older People
The emphasis on ethics in Chinese families means Chinese families have more rules, and these include rules about how to communicate.

Respecting the old and cherishing the young is one of the virtues of our Chinese tradition.

Here are a few tips to help you succeed when communicating with different generations of Chinese:
Pay Attention To Speed And Intonation When Speaking With Your Elders.
Be softly spoken, and speak clearly and slowly. When communicating with the elderly, you should also address them as 您 (nín) instead of 你 (nǐ). It is disrespectful to call an elder directly by their Chinese name. To the surprise of many Chinese learners, Chinese people address all elders as though they are family members. For example, a girl in her early twenties should call a woman of similar age to her mother 阿姨 (ā yí) “auntie" and an older man "uncle". When my three-year-old daughter sees a slightly older boy or a girl, she will call them 哥哥 (gē ge) “brother” 姐姐 or (jǐe jie) “sister". This brings people closer and makes them feel kind.

When chatting with your elders in China, take the role of a listener rather than a speaker. Your aim should be to show that you respect their life experience. Even when you have different point of view, avoid disagreement. Make sure your tone and words are respectful.
Family In Chinese Culture: Chatting With Children
When communicating with young children, Chinese people like to duplicate some nouns after a verb, such as 吃饭饭 (chī fàn fàn) meaning “to eat”, 洗澡澡 (xǐ zǎo zǎo) meaning “to shower”.

This sounds cute and makes it easier for children to repeat and remember words.

Compared to western culture, Chinese people seldom use courteous words when we communicate with younger or familiar peers. For instance, if we ask our child to do a small thing for us, he will usually be praised for doing a good job instead of being told "thank you". In Chinese people's opinion, if we are too polite, people will feel that we are growing apart. We don't need to be very polite in words with our family, because we already know one another's value in our hearts.
How To Address Chinese Family Members
The way to address family members is different in different parts of China. Because of China's vast borders, distant provinces also have different ways of addressing relatives. Let's take a look at some commonly used terms.

妈妈 (mā ma) “mom”
母亲 (mǔ qīn) “mother”
爸爸 (bà ba) “dad”
父亲 (fù qin) “father”
女儿 (nǚ ér) “daughter”
儿子 (ér zi) “son”
爷爷 (yé ye) “grandpa” (on the father’s side)
奶奶（naǐ nai）”grandma” (on the father’s side)
外婆 (waì pó) “grandpa” (on the mother’s side)
外公 (waì gōng) “grandpa” (on the mother’s side)
阿姨 (ā yí) “aunt” (mother’s sisters)
姑姑 (gū gu) “aunt” (father’s sisters)
叔叔 (shū shu) “uncle”（father’s younger brothers）
伯伯(bó bo) “uncle” (father’s older brothers）
舅舅(jìu jiu) “uncle” (mother’s brothers）
舅妈 (jìu mā) “aunt” (mother’s sister-in law）
表妹 (biǎo mèi) “cousin” (younger female cousin on mother’s side)
表姐 (biǎo jiě) “cousin” (older female cousin on mother’s side)
堂哥 (táng gē) “cousin” (older male cousin on father’s side)
堂弟 (tāng dì) “cousin” (younger male cousin on father’s side）

What You Need To Know If You’re Staying With A Chinese Family
Chinese people are very hospitable. Whenever there is a friend visiting, the host must bring out the best food.

Chinese shyness and humility make us very polite when we visit other people's homes. Even if the host offers warm hospitality, we will reject it kindly and deliberately.

Here are some sentences help you understand this practice.

When the host asks about what you’d like to drink, you can say:
我喝点儿茶吧。(wǒ hē diǎn er chá bā.) “I’d like to drink a little tea.”

“点儿” (diǎn er) means “a little”, so the sentence means “I’d like to drink a little tea.” This word will help you sound less greedy.

When you give a present to your host, they might say:
你太客气了，真不好意思！(nǐ tài kèqìle, zhēn bù hǎoyìsi!) “You’re too polite, I’m very embarrassed.”

“不好意思” （bù hǎoyìsi）means “embarrassed” or “sorry”. This expression is used here to show that the receiver thinks the gift is so valuable and that he feels “guilty” taking it.

There are a few things Chinese people do at the dinner table that are considered rather strange for Westerners. Don’t be overwhelmed if you encounter these situations.

For one, we like try to persuade our guests to eat and drink more. We don’t want our guest to be still hungry through politeness.

We also like to help our guests dish food onto their plates. Although you might think it’s not very hygienic, this is considered to be something a host needs to do at the dinner table, especially for elders and children.
5 Famous Chinese Family Dramas To Improve Your Chinese Language Skills
Chinese people like to watch TV shows together as a family. The censorship of TV in China is very strict, so all TV shows must be suitable for family watching. Therefore, we do not have a TV rating system.

Here are some of the most acclaimed dramas to help you learn about Chinese family culture and to improve your Chinese language skills.

《蜗居》(wōjū) “Dwelling Narrowness”. Set against the backdrop of soaring housing prices, this is a series of twists and turns experienced by ordinary people in urban life. The content is very realistic and a true portrayal of contemporary Chinese families.
*《家有儿女》(jiā yǒu érnǚ) “Home with Children” is a popular Chinese sitcom. Fun family stories are portrayed in a relaxed way that revolves around children and their parents.
*《我爱我家》(wǒ ài wǒjiā) “I Love my Family” is a childhood favorite. It tells the story of a family of six their neighbors, relatives and friends in Beijing in the 1990s.
*《大家庭》(dà jiātíng) “The Big Family” tells a love story of a couple who don’t have a matching family background. There are three families involved in this love story.
*《情满四合院》(qíng mǎn sìhéyuàn) tells the story of the period between the 1960s and 1990s. They are stories of humanity and social changes in Beijing's courtyard houses.

Family In Chinese Culture: In Conclusion
When all is said and done, people are different yet similar. Chinese or American, Eastern or Western. We all love our family and welcome different cultures.

That’s why we learn a new language, isn’t it? I welcome comments about your experience below!

The post How to Say “Family” in Chinese: An Ultimate Guide to Family in Chinese Culture appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

Another Word for Beautiful: 70+ Ways to Say “Beautiful” in Different Languages

If you’re looking for “another word for beautiful”, you’ve come to the right place!

Now, a lot of words in English mean “beautiful”. You can tell someone they’re cute, pretty, elegant, handsome… So many synonyms for the same word, and new ones popping up and fading out all the time (like “looking fly” or “on fleek” as a couple of examples).

Yet, I don’t know about you, but I get a bit bored using the same words all the time. That’s part of the appeal of learning so many languages. You can learn how to express yourself in new ways, and many languages have unique words that aren’t translatable. I love that.

There’s definitely no shortage of words for “beautiful” in different languages from around the world. Here I’m sharing how to express beauty in 15 languages, so you can impress your love (or child, or mom, or pet…) with the perfect word to capture the moment!
Beautiful in Spanish - Hermosa / Hermoso
In Spanish, you say hermosa or hermoso when you want to call someone “beautiful” or “gorgeous.” But there are tons of ways to tell someone they’re beautiful in Spanish. Another word for beautiful is bello/bella (“lovely”), and similar words like guapo/guapa (“handsome”) or bonito/bonita (“pretty”) are often used. Words ending in “o” are masculine, and “a” are feminine. Make sure to use the correct ending based on who you’re talking to, or what gender the noun is that you’re describing. These are the most common ways to say “beautiful” in Spanish, with hermosa being on the formal side.

You could even have a bit of fun and describe someone as “tasty” or “dreamy” like cheese with estar como un queso.
Beautiful in French - Beau / Belle
As with Spanish, French has genders for words. So “beautiful” in French is either beau for a man or belle for a woman (or masculine/feminine noun). To simplify it, you could say magnifique (“magnificent”), which is used to describe something or someone as very beautiful or striking. Flatter your significant other with Tu es absolument magnifique (“You look absolutely stunning.”)

You could also tell someone they are joli (masculine) or jolie (feminine, “pretty”).
Beautiful in Italian - Bellissimo / Bellissima
Italian continues the theme of gender-based words here! (You'll see this in a lot of languages.) You can describe someone as “very beautiful” or “gorgeous” by using bellissimo for masculine objects or men. Use bellissima for feminine objects or women.

For “pretty” or “lovely”, it’s the same as in Spanish. Bello for men, and bella for women. In the Romance languages, it’s not unusual to describe men with the same words as women. Still, it’s more common to use bella for a woman, and less common to hear bello for a man.

You could also say someone is attraente, or “attractive”. This word is gender-neutral, so you don’t have to worry about what gender you pair it with.
Beautiful in German - Schön
You can use schön to tell someone they’re “lovely” or “beautiful”. But it’s also common to say it with more intensity: wunderschön, or “very beautiful”. Du bist wunderschön means “you’re very beautiful!”

You can also tell someone they’re “pretty” with hübsch, or “cute” or “sweet” with süßes. Plus, German is full of fun, … Like schatzi (“little treasure”), which is what my wife Lauren and I named our puppy. (Although she’s not such a little puppy anymore!)


Beautiful in Portuguese - Bonito / Bonita
Portuguese words for beautiful are similar to Italian and Spanish. Like in Spanish, bonito and bonita means “beautiful” or “pretty” for masculine and feminine nouns respectively. You can also say belíssimo for “stunning”... almost the same as Italian.

Other words you can use are belo for “lovely”, formoso for “handsome”, and gracioso for “gorgeous”. As with other Romance languages, you’ll need to follow gender rules here too, with “o” being the masculine ending for adjectives, and “a” being feminine.
Beautiful in Irish Gaelic - Go Hálainn
This is also spelt as álainn when used to describe something as beautiful. For instance, “beautiful woman” is bean álainn, but “The woman is beautiful” is Tá an bhean go hálainn. A small difference, but something worth noting.

Another word for beautiful is taibhseach, which is more like “gorgeous” or “stunning”. You could also say galánta to describe someone as an elegant beauty.
Beautiful in Dutch - Mooi
To tell someone they look beautiful in Dutch, you can say mooi, which means both “beautiful” and “handsome”. But typically for men, you would use knap for “handsome” instead.

Other ways you can express someone or something’s beauty: schoon (“clean” and “beautiful”), heerlijk (“lovely”), fraai (“fine” or “handsome”), or fijn (“nice” or “elegant”). If someone asks how they look, you can say Gewoon mooi!, “Simply beautiful!” Or change mooi to its superlative form - Mooiste! (“Most beautiful!”)
Beautiful in Esperanto - Bela
Esperanto is an incredibly easy language to learn since it’s a constructed language meant to bring people together from across the world. So you’ll notice a lot of words in Esperanto are similar to others on the list, or English words.

Bela is a catch-all Esperanto word for many similar words in English and does not change based on gender. It means “beautiful”, “pretty”, and “lovely”. You could also say eleganta for - you guessed it - “elegant”, or glamorosa for “glamorous”.

If you want to get more of a feel for this language, you can also check out my bela wife, Lauren, during her Esperanto language mission.
Beautiful in American Sign Language
For “beautiful” in ASL, you can check out this short video that gives a great demonstration:

httpvh://youtu.be/mHXyvRUS7I4

An easy way to remember it: the whole face is so beautiful, it pops… It sticks out from the crowd, it’s very striking. You start with your thumb pointing at your chin and roll your fingers around the front of your face.
Beautiful in Greek - πανεμορφη (Panemorfo)
You can say πανέμορφο (panemorfo) to say “beautiful” or “exquisite”, but when describing something or someone as beautiful, you use όμορφο (ómorfo). So to say “beautiful girl”, you would say όμορφη κορίτσι (omorfi korítsi).

You can also describe men as όμορφος (omorfos), or use ωραίος (oraíos, “good-looking” or “nice”). In Greek, the endings change based on gender, but it’s a bit different than the other languages we’ve looked at. So here, “os” is the masculine form, “i” is feminine, and “o” is neutral.
Beautiful in Russian - красивое (Krasivoye)
Like many of the other languages, “beautiful” in Russian changes based on what you’re describing. красивое (krasivoye) is gender neutral. To say, “beautiful” to a woman, you would use красивая (krasivaya), and to a man, красивый (krasivyy).

Милая (milaya) means “pretty” and it’s used affectionately, almost like “sweet girl”. You could describe someone as “charming” with очаровательная (ocharovatel'naya). Both of these are in the feminine form, so make sure to change them if you’re describing a neutral or masculine noun or a man. You would usually use these words for women, though.
Beautiful in Mandarin Chinese - 美丽 (Měilì)
In Chinese, the single character 美 means beautiful. But it's almost always combined with 丽 to form “beautiful”, 美丽 (Měilì), to describe things. 美 on its own is a more intense, lasting beauty, while 美丽 is more common to describe beauty in day-to-day life.

Besides 美丽, you can also use 漂亮 (piào liàng), which translates closer to “pretty”. It’s used to describe objects, people, scenery… anything, really. The two characters mean “elegant” and “bright”, but 优雅 (yōuyǎ) is the more accurate translation for describing someone as elegant.
Beautiful in Japanese - 美しい (Utsukushii)
Since Japanese takes some of its characters (kanji) from China, you’ll notice that the first character is the same as 美丽 from Chinese - although the reading is different. 美しい (utsukushii) means “beautiful,” but it’s a bit “intense” to say to other people in Japanese. So, there are many variations. Often, you’ll hear beautiful described as “clean” with 綺麗な (kirei na). You’ll hear 素敵な (suteki na, “lovely”) used more commonly in place of beautiful, especially when describing beautiful clothes or a beautiful woman.

And girls are usually called 可愛い (kawaii, “cute”) or 美少女 (bishoujo, “beautiful girl”). Especially glamorous boys (think the boy band type or the hero in girls manga) would be 美少年 (bishounen, “beautiful youth”). But most girls use かっこいい (kakkoii, “cool” or “good-looking”) to describe an attractive guy.
Beautiful in Korean - 아름답다 (Areumdapda)
In Korean, there are two main words for “beautiful” - 아름답다 (areumdapda, “beautiful”) and 예쁘다 (yeppeuda, “pretty”). While you can use both to describe most anything of beauty, 아름답다 is a bit like the Japanese 美しい. It’s usually too strong to use with people, especially to compliment young women. So 예쁘다 is more common when talking about people, while 아름답다 is best for things like scenery.

Of course, there are varying levels of formality in Korean. But if you want to tell someone you’re very close to (like your significant other) that they’re looking very nice today, you say 예뻐 (yeppeo) or 이뻐 (ippeo). They both mean pretty, but 이뻐 is more slangy. 아름다워 (areumdawo) is the more informal version of 아름답다, but it’s still not used often for people… even your girlfriend.
Beautiful in Arabic - جميلة (Jamila)
In Arabic, you can use جميلة (jamila) to tell a woman she’s beautiful, or جميل (jamil) for a man. You can also say وسيم (wasim) to describe a man as “handsome” or “good-looking”. ملفت للانتباه (mulifat lilaintibah) can be used for either a man or a woman to say “attractive”. If someone’s glamorous or alluring, you can use فاتن (fatan).

Besides keeping an eye out for the gender of the words, you’ll also notice these Arabic words change quite a bit based on the region it’s spoken in as well.
Abundance of Beauty
Now you can compliment someone on their beauty in 15 different languages! You can surprise your significant other by calling them beautiful, stunning, elegant, handsome, lovely, or attractive in all these languages… or you can practise with your pet. I mean, I think mine is pretty 可愛い (kawaii, “cute”).

Just make sure before you go saying any of these to strangers, you understand the cultural nuance (like I mentioned with Japanese and Korean!).

What are your favourite words to say “beautiful”? Do you prefer words like “pretty”, “gorgeous” or “handsome”? Do you know how to express it in any other languages? Share your thoughts in the comments.

The post Another Word for Beautiful: 70+ Ways to Say “Beautiful” in Different Languages appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

How to Find a Great Language Tutor (So You’ll Reach Fluency Faster)

It was when I tried learning Chinese (specifically, written and spoken mainland Mandarin) that I realized I needed a teacher. I tried learning myself. Oh, how I tried. I got nowhere. I thought I was maybe getting old (I was 30).

I’ll get back to that story in a moment.

[caption id="attachment_24858" align="aligncenter" width="1458"] The view from the best classroom I ever had: my apartment in an older part of Beijing.[/caption]

Now, after studying seven languages - with five successes (that I can say I speak) and two works-in-progress that I'll need to re-visit - I’ve come a long way in learning about studying languages. It has been, in part, a journey of learning about myself.

One of the most important things I learned was the power of a good language teacher, and it's something I wanted to share to help others avoid the same mistakes.
Why Get a Language Teacher at All?

"Learn a language for free online!"
"Subscribe to our podcast for free daily lessons by native speakers!"
"Learn on the go with our amazing AI-driven app!"

If you’re learning a language, you’ve probably come across claims like these countless times.

The same basic claims have been in place for decades. When I first started my journey, these were in the form of textbook and cassette language courses (yes, cassettes... but don't worry, I later upgraded to CDs!). These days, there are apps and online courses. They're all useful parts of your toolkit. But if you’ve ever had a great tutor, you’ll know how helpful they are to learning a language.

After teaching myself my first two languages (Latin-based ones), I thought I could teach myself anything. Many of us amateur learners might have the same feeling. Think about how many of these sound familiar to you:

“There are so many free resources out there… let me go through those first.”
“I’m not sure I’m ready to learn in a purely French environment yet.” (I get it. It's scary.)
“I’ll just finish Duolingo and see how far that’ll take me.” (Seems so tempting at the outset!)

There’s nothing wrong with any of this, but it’s typical of what people say before they’ve found a great teacher and before they realize how a teacher can multiply the speed at which they learn.
What a Great Language Teacher Can Do
Now, back to my failed attempts to learn Mandarin. No matter what I tried, apps, books, online courses, nothing seemed to work.

So, being in China where things were cheaper, I tried teachers. They were all nice, and I learned something with all of them, but it wasn’t until I met a few teachers at one academy (and one teacher in particular) where my learning started to skyrocket. Every day I felt pressured, yet encouraged. I learned more words and didn’t feel guilty about the ones I hadn’t learned (as long as I tried). My teacher seemed to understand the language, me, and the science of learning in a way no other teacher had before.

Some of the teachers knew English, but they never spoke a word of it to me. (I knew a few hundred words of Chinese - definitely not enough to communicate well.)

What was so good about these teachers? Let me dig a little deeper into what makes an effective language tutor.
The Three Kinds of Language Teacher You’ll Meet
There are three kinds of language tutor. This is a rough approximation, but it has rung true for every paid teacher I’ve met (not language partners).
The Friend
This is someone roughly your age, or younger, who seems a bit hip and fun. They like to teach you slang. They often speak pretty good English and have a decent understanding of false friends, and interesting ways of expressing things in the language you’re learning.

They’ll start lessons with “So, what shall we learn today?” only after a good deal of banter and general conversation. You might have some questions, then they come up with an idea of what to talk about.

They’re cheap. Among the cheapest. They’re nice, and I highly suggest holding on to them as friends via chat. And maybe even of going out with them and their friends, speaking a mix of English and their language or whatever.

Needless to say, a paid teacher-student agreement is a precarious point on which to start a relationship (but who knows, it might work out for you!)
The School Teacher
These are slightly more expensive than The Friend, and will teach you more, but not in a very efficient way.

They’ll usually start their first lesson by getting you to read something out of one of your textbooks or something they’ll bring along. They’ll ask you to buy the textbook. It’s fine, sometimes great.

Every lesson will consist, in large part, of you reading from the text, then doing the exercises with them out loud. You’ll be asked to do more exercises for next time, to pre-read, and to get ready to read that text out loud in class.

You’ll learn things, but at a slow pace. It won’t be that interesting.
The Professional
[caption id="attachment_24859" align="aligncenter" width="1367"] The best teacher I ever had: Feng Laoshi, in Beijing, China.[/caption]

The Professional is the best kind of teacher you can hope to find and the main subject of this post.

More than anything else, The Professional is a coach. They'll guide you along your language journey with inspiration and knowledge, letting you set the general direction, but never letting go of the wheel themselves.

They can be expensive (but aren't always), costing 1.5-3x what The Friend or The Schoolteacher cost. But despite the increase in cost, they'll save you money in the long run because you'll be pushed harder, learn more efficiently and stay engaged longer.

The Professional teacher knows the science of teaching. They know you, as they spend time getting to know your strengths and weaknesses. They can find content. They can optimize the time in class and outside of class. Every time you show up, you’ll feel like you’re making progress, and feel embarrassed if you haven’t prepared to make the most of this precious time. They won't give you work that just makes you feel good. In fact, the opposite. They'll drill you on things they know you struggle with.

I’m thinking specifically of a few teachers I had in the past: Teacher Feng (冯老师) and Teacher Qin（秦老师) in Beijing.

Let’s look at how to find this kind of teacher.
How To Find the Professional Language Teacher
First, how do you know if someone is The Professional?

Here are the characteristics of a professional language teacher:
They’ll rarely (if ever) speak to you in English (or your native tongue)
This is really hard but it pays off. In the first month, you may feel like you didn’t understand much, but you’ll learn a lot faster. It’s amazing how much hand gestures can help. You’ll learn through context, too. For example, I never realized how often I need to say “I’m sorry I was late, the traffic was really bad” until I had to try to say it a few times and my teacher taught me, quite early in the learning process!

Importantly, The Professional knows how to speak their language in a way they can help you learn. They’ll speak clearly and articulately, using correct grammar, often simplifying sentences and words (using the equivalent of words of “one syllable”). This means they’re sharp and are able to think in concepts, not words. This isn’t easy to do. Try it yourself. Speak to someone without using any idioms. For example, how would you say “I’m just trying to manage expectations” in one syllable words?

The Professional will occasionally use English to express a difficult concept, like “document” or “enthusiasm”. Some of my teachers didn't speak English but had learned these words over time just because there was no other way to express them for lower level students. But this is a last resort.

Finally, The Professional might introduce other people into your lesson so you can listen in on conversations, knowing it’s beneficial to hear the language as it’s naturally spoken. I personally love this and felt like I was getting extra value from a real conversation with another person.
They ask you what you want to learn, what your interests and goals are, but don’t let you get away with anything...
When I started learning Chinese, I emphasized that I just wanted to learn to speak in professional business situations. Thus, I didn’t want to focus so much on writing. My tutors tailored my lessons to that, and we did a lot of reading and speaking practise.

I appreciated, however, that they didn’t let me get away with not learning how to read and write. They explained to me that it’d be fine for the very basic level, but for any person wanting to progress to intermediate would have to learn to read and write. I’d just have to climb that mountain. It wasn’t until I was doing it that I realized how important it was, that it help me retain words and learn them contextually so I could speak better.

A good teacher will also find materials that support your interests. Want to learn comedy? You’ll study video clips of great comedians. Want to sing karaoke? You can study song lyrics. Want to study business? They’ll find articles on modern business ideas, tailored to your level.

They’ll adapt to how you learn, understanding what you learn quickly and what you struggle with. Like a good coach, they’ll encourage you to overcome obstacles you have, whether it’s in pronunciation, grammar or retaining vocabulary.

The Professional will even go so far as to modify an article or de-emphasize words they think you don’t have to learn at this point. They’ll add context that you’d never have been able to add yourself.
They optimize your time in class and out of class
A professional teacher doesn’t make you read or do exercises in class, other than perhaps a few verbal drills to get you started. Nor will they review your homework in class.

The best teachers make you do homework, pre-reading and writing and then send them materials in the evening for them to review and discuss with you. They will spend their entire time in class speaking with you, focusing on what they perceive to be your weaknesses.

After an hour of class with a professional teacher, you’ll feel EXHAUSTED from the exertion, like you’ve just run a marathon.
They understand the science of teaching and learning
A great teacher knows how the brain learns.

A few nuggets I learned about learning from great teachers:

You may study 50 new words a day in an intense course, but you’ll only ever retain 60% of them. That’s fine. The teacher won’t make you feel bad. They know it’s normal.
You learn through associations, such as context, mnemonics, jokes and patterns. For example, I’ll never forget the word for “squid” because of the phrase “it’s because he’s a squid” - the words “because” (由于) and “squid” (鱿鱼) are homonyms. I learned that one from a teacher.
You need to sleep to learn. A great teacher will be concerned if you’re exhausted and will dial down the amount of homework so it’s manageable. (This was revolutionary for me - no more guilt!)

Typically a great teacher learns the science of pedagogy in a formal environment, like with a masters degree in education. As I said above… these teachers aren’t cheap!
They have a love for their language and culture and are sensitive to yours
Finally, great teachers truly love their own language. They’ll show this by talking about authors, poets, comedians and know a vast repertoire of sayings and idioms. They have an enthusiasm that’s infectious - they can’t wait to share it all with you.

This infectious enthusiasm means they're more likely to be prepared, have resources at hand and will always guide you in your learning, knowing what you're likely to be interested in in the future. This is important because it means you'll be engaged for longer, never getting to a point where you're bored. As hyper-polyglot Alex Rawlings said in this interview of the best teachers: “The most inspirational ones just focused on giving you the confidence to speak.”
Where Do You Find “The Professional”?
Wow, they sound great, right? Well, here’s the hard part. A great teacher is hard to come by, but there are three main sources.
1. Private Language Academies


One benefit of private academies is the great bonds you form with a small group of dedicated students.

Yes, you can go to an expensive language academy and learn from the best. These academies will be small, private institutions, where classes are given 1:1 or at most 1:2 (with someone at your level, but not at the junior levels). They’ll have fairly strict rules like a minimum amount of time you have to commit every week, a language while at the school, and a homework commitment.

For many people, these are the easiest places to start. They offer a good learning environment, a chance to choose from a few great teachers, the opportunity to mingle with other serious learners (some of my best friends I made in the foreigner community) and structure. They’re also pretty easy to find - just ask around, or look on forums.

The main downside of private language academies is that they’re expensive, even in foreign currency terms. This is reflected in their clientele, which I've found to be either US-based university students using part of their large student loan, professionals whose company is paying for a language-learning programme, or professionals who are advanced in their workforce and taking time off to invest in themselves.

Note that these private academies are NOT universities or large schools, which are far cheaper and place you with a dozen or more other learners in a class.
2. Ex-Language Academy Tutors
In local classifieds (quite often on local expat websites) you can find tutors advertising that they were trained at a well-known language academy but now are private tutors. This can mean better rates, as well as greater flexibility, such as them being able to come to your home or office.

I personally prefer these, but they’re quite hard to find. Word of mouth is a good source too. Start by asking the local expat community.
3. italki
I’ve had great success with italki in learning languages on the side, and plan to continue to use it for future languages (on deck are Arabic, Swahili and Bahasa Indonesian).

When you start with italki (online 1:1 tutoring via Skype), you can screen in two steps. Firstly, as Fluent in 3 Months founder Benny suggests, mention in your profile and in your first message (either when booking, or when sending them a message) what you're looking for. Specifically, mention the critical four things:

Your level (e.g. that you're a beginner)
That you want all instruction to be in the target language
That you want to focus on spoken practise during the lesson
The subject area(s) you're most interested in

Secondly, with italki, you get the opportunity to try out as many tutors as you want. Do this! See their style. Assess them on the above criteria. You need to see:

Can they actually teach your level speaking only the target language? It's a skill, as I mentioned above.
Are they comfortable teaching the subject areas you're interested in?

That’s It!
Now you have my process for finding “The Professional” who will get you to fluency faster in your target language. Wishing you all the best as you search for an amazing language tutor!

The post How to Find a Great Language Tutor (So You’ll Reach Fluency Faster) appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

The Rule of 80%: How to Curb Your Expectations and Reach Sustainable Success

My language learning philosophy is “always give 80%”.

Wait. What? Let me explain.

Yoga class helps keep me sane. Mostly, I think it’s because of my yoga teacher, Marie.

[caption id="attachment_24851" align="aligncenter" width="1024"] Photo by Betty Chan[/caption]

She’s a very hip thirtysomething small business owner, mom, yoga teacher and part-time voice of the universe all rolled into one. I’d like to share one bit of her wisdom with you today: Always give 80%.

If you are like me, that will sound absolutely insane.

I was raised in the era of “go strong or go home.” I can’t even tell you how many times I attempted to give 110% only to fail because, let’s face it, that is not mathematically possible.
Here’s What 110% Looked Like for Me
A deadline is looming. So, I’ll skip a meal, sleep less, cross off all self-care from my to-do list and push through until the project is finished.

Fast forward to one week past the deadline and you would see an exquisite vision of me: sick in bed with a runny nose, used tissues filling my wastebasket and a grumpy facial expression because I’m missing out on all the fun. My vision of a 110% success ends with a 100% chance of me saddled with illness.

For many language learners, 110% equals complete burnout. Learning 50 words a day for 30 days is often followed by never touching that target language again. Are you an overachiever turned dropout? Some of the tips in this article can help.
How My Life is Different With the 80% Rule
The 80% output rule helps me live a more fulfilling, manageable life. It even changed my language learning habit. My seemingly slow but steady progress has astonished many people including me. More on that in a bit.
What is the 80% Rule?
My yoga teacher Marie explains the 80% rule when going into a new pose for the first time during a session. She’ll usually have us try the pose firstly at 50% of our range. Then she’ll guide us a second time at 60-70%. Lastly, she tells us that if we’re feeling especially limber to go to 80% but never more than that.

As one friend tells me, I’m pretty bendy. The idea of not keeping up with the young whippersnappers in the room is not something that comes easily to me. My internal dialogue left unfettered goes something like this, “I want to touch my forehead to my knee. I will touch my forehead to my knee!” And then I hear Marie’s feathery voice float through the room, “This is not about a physical goal, yogis. We are here to honor our bodies exactly as they are in this moment.”

Ah, yes. Honor my body. Dignity with grace. Practicing self-care by getting to 80% of my expectations.

My brain recalibrates. I go to 80% of my range. Sometimes, that happens to include the forehead to knee experience. Other times, it doesn’t and I get to be middle of the road physically while excelling spiritually by accepting where I’m at.
How I Use the 80% Rule in Daily Life
I glide out of the yoga studio yoga taking with me the lesson of 80%. The next day, I’m smack dab in the middle of feeling overwhelmed. Sleep wasn’t the best. I booked my day with more than I can handle peacefully. My old pattern would be to cut out all things beautiful and lovely in my life. Language learning would have been at the time of the list.

With the 80% rule, things are different now. On the walk to my first appointment, I call a trusted friend and leave a quick message of affirmation for myself, “Hi. It’s Elizabeth. I’m exhausted and feeling overwhelmed today. I commit to doing just 80% of what I think I need to bring to the table. I give myself permission to do the bare minimum throughout the day and I promise to practice self-care by keeping my acupuncture appointment today. One more thing, I’m going to doing just five minutes of my grammar exercises instead of my planned 15. That’s enough for today. Thanks for letting me share.”

Reframing my expectations of energetic output helps me do more good in the world while also staying healthy and less stressed. 80% is the new black for me. When I let go of the need to always do my absolute best, I find that the potential for creative flow moves through me with ease.
80% in Language Learning
I had a strong foundation in my 80% rule before starting language learning. Otherwise, learning French would have been yet another avenue of self-induced stress leading to complete burnout. And if you want to become fluent in a new language, burnout is not an option.

My modus operandus is list-making. If someone gives me a list of what they’ve done to accomplish my current goal, all the better. However, that doesn’t work in language learning.

Here’s why:
No Two Language Learners Are the Same
My language learning friend in San Francisco likes to translate poems. She thrives on this.

Now, if I try to sit down and translate poetry, my brain goes on strike. My mind is filled with a crowd of picket signs, “Hey, Hey. Ho, Ho! Translating Poems Has Got To GO!”

My language exchange partner in France thinks five-minute podcasts in her target language are the best. I prefer podcasts longer than 15 minutes because I’m usually on a walk and I don’t like fiddling with my phone.

My polyglot language exchange partner in Belgium speaks five languages but hates grammar books. Does that mean I have to throw out my beloved Language Hacking French book? Absolutely not.
Take What Works and Leave the Rest
When I began learning French last year, I read nearly every article on Fluent in 3 Months. After failing 10 times at learning a language, I was not interested in yet another disappointment. Benny Lewis and Kerstin Cable became my two favorite people while chopping veggies in my kitchen. I’d listen to Benny’s amazing Q&As on YouTube and Kerstin’s entertaining podcast The Fluent Show .

I happen to be the world’s slowest cook and not in the fashionable slow-cook-movement way but rather in the mortal-fear-of-cutting-a-finger way. So, I have lots of free time for filling my brain with interesting talks. Nowadays, I listen to Kerstin and Benny as a treat because nearly all my podcast listening and TV watching is in French. Thank you, Netflix and Français Authentique!
Standing on the Shoulders Of Giants
During this very early stage of my language learning, I was taking notes. With the Fluent in 3 Months archive and my Fluent in 3 Months Premium membership, I learned that acquiring a second language was completely doable even if I had a job. Even if I was a grown-up with a busy life. Even if I failed 10 times before this attempt. Benny gave me hope. It was here that I first heard about Duolingo and italki teachers.

Being a good student, I scheduled italki trial lessons with three teachers before I did anything else. Armed with Duolingo and my teacher, I started speaking from day one. Okay, I wrote that because that’s the name of the method. In reality, I started speaking from day five because I had to schedule my lessons on my days off. “Speak from day five” just doesn’t have the same twinkling ring to it.

I found Kerstin from an interview she did with Benny. From her, I learned about finding your own study style, touching the four cornerstones of language (reading, writing, speaking, listening) and slowing down the pace to what works for you. She’s a slow cook learner whereas as Benny is more high velocity.

And that’s where I had to take what works and leave the rest. I am too much of a turtle to take on the level of study Benny was doing, but his organized approach composed sonnets for my list-making soul.

Kerstin’s a bit of rebel when it comes to scheduling what to study when, and that totally freaks me and my day planner out. She’s more of a weekly/monthly planner. So, I take her sage wisdom about self-compassion with me while firmly grasping on to my daily checklist.

But how do I incorporate the 80% rule to my language learning?

Okay, calm down. I’m getting to it.
Take One Expectation and Chop That Mamma Jamma Down
If you’re like me, you often put too much on your plate. I’ve lost a lot of joy trying to do it the right way, the best way, the smartest way. For me, the smartest way is if I’m invigorated by my work.

Having expectations thats cause me undue stress zaps the zest out of any activity. So, I chop those mamma jammas down! Here are some practical ways I’ve resized my expectations into reasonable chunks.
How Assimil Broke Me -- Then I Broke It!
I bought the Assimil French With Ease book because I finished my favorite beginner book, Language Hacking French, and wanted to continue with a bit of grammar study. The instructions in the book told me to do one exercise a day for the length of the book. I think it was something like 113 lessons. Opening my new book, I was amazed by how thorough the lessons were.

By week two, I was beginning to grumble to myself every time I sat down to open the book. By week four, I was complaining to my study buddy about how the authors of Assimil are pure evil. By week five, it dawned on me. Assimil is not a malicious book of brain torture. I’m just bored with my daily routine. It didn’t interest me.

So, I chopped the expectation down. I started doing only one Assimil lesson per week. Suddenly, I looked forward to finishing the book. It was as if someone gave me permission to truly relish the lessons. And wonder of wonders, the Assimil police didn’t come knocking on my door. With that being stated, if you don’t hear from me in a week, they might just be reading this blog. (Insert spooky suspenseful music here.)
I Want to Speak French, Spanish and Chinese -- All to Intermediate Level -- Right Now!
Ahh, B2! The upper intermediate level! My very own holy grail.

Why? Because a video with Benny Lewis and Olly Richards told me so. I want to learn Spanish, and eventually, Chinese.

During my carrot-cutting listening time, I kept an ear out for what the real deal polyglots had to say about learning a third language. Many (including Olly and Benny) suggest learning your current target language up to level B2 before embarking upon a new language. That made sense to me because I wasn’t quite ready to give up half of my French time to Spanish. I really enjoy French. However, I was impatient. After all, I wasted 30+ years unsuccessfully trying to learn languages. I want it all and I want it now.

And it was with that completely irrational mental state that I made my first fluency goal: I will reach a B2 level in French in six months. Then I started looking for DELF exams in my area. Within three months, I was beginning to panic. There was no way I could pass a B2 exam in three months time, I was going too slow. Shoulders up around my ears, frown on my face, I had to change something. Light shining down from the heavens, I became momentarily enlightened.

“Wait just a gosh-darn minute! I don’t need to reach B2 by January. I’m doing this for fun. I can stay focused and also settle down a bit.” Oh, sweet relief! I then looked at what I wanted to do. I had already reached some of my goals.
I Want to Read an ENTIRE Book in French
This actually turned out to be one of my more realistic goals.

I wanted to read an entire book in French by the end of the first year and I did that within the first few months thanks to LingQ.

Reading is a favorite pastime of mine in English, so I just switched it over to French. I read much slower but I’ve read 17 books in French in that last 16 months. And my passive vocabulary has exploded which is, of course, seeping into my active vocabulary!

I also wanted to converse easily with people in my target language. As I was already having bumpy French conversations with my teacher, this goal was well on its way to being achieved.
Lightbulb Moment: You Can Change Your Goals!
After a few months of learning, I re-evaluated my goals. I realized that;

I hate taking exams. Why on earth am I doing that to myself?
Speaking with others really motivates me. Why don’t I do that more?
I can change my deadline again and again if necessary.

And so, I added weekly language exchanges with three lovely people who have now become lasting friends. I also moved my deadline of B2 to one year. After re-evaluating once again, I moved my B2 goal to 2 years. Regardless of hitting an official B2 by the two-year mark, I’ll begin my Spanish journey confidently because I will have had two very solid years of touching French every single day before moving forward in my polyglot-to-be journey.

My teachers tell me that I’m very close to a B2 level in French and I still have five more months of enjoying my serious study of French without the self-imposed (aka unnecessary) pressure. And my hobby is quite fulfilling now because I have gained so much already.
My Ultimate Goal (And Why Right Now I’ll Settle for Adorably Funny)
My ultimate goal is to be conversationally fluent in French. Here’s the kicker. Fluency is relative. If you plopped me down in France today, I would be able to not only order my breakfast. I could actually make friends with relative ease. At my current level of French, I’d be the adorably funny foreign chick, but that works for me.
Over to You
What expectations do you need to chop down? I’m interested in hearing about your moments of enlightenment.

The post The Rule of 80%: How to Curb Your Expectations and Reach Sustainable Success appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

Here are the 97 common Spanish phrases to know if you want to start speaking Spanish right now.

Here are 90+ common Spanish phrases -- the Spanish phrases to know if you want to start speaking Spanish right now.

I’ve found that the best way to learn Spanish is to speak it from day one. And the best way to start speaking is to learn Spanish phrases that you’ll use in real conversations.

(You can read about how I learned Spanish here. I honestly believe it was never my destiny to speak Spanish, but I did it anyway).

Now, back to Spanish phrases. Let’s get started!

Important Spanish Phrases to Know: The Basics

If you’re just starting out, you need to know basic Spanish greetings and introductions.

Here are a few to get started if you’re totally new to the language. Most of these are casual, so they’re best for informal situations.

Spanish Greetings


Hola - “Hello”
¿Qué tal? - “How are you?”
¿Qué pasa? - “What’s up?”
¿Cómo te va? - “How’re you doing?”
Bien - “Good”
Muy bien - “Very good”
Así así - “So-so”
No tan bien - “Not so good”
¿Y tú? - “And you?”
Me llamo… - “My name is…”
¿Cómo te llamas? - “What’s your name?”
Mucho gusto - “Nice to meet you”
Placér - “A pleasure”
Encantado/Encantada - “Charmed”, “Likewise”


Saying Goodbye in Spanish


Nos vemos mañana - “See you tomorrow”
Hasta luego - “See you later”
Hasta pronto amigo - “See you soon, friend”


Polite Phrases in Spanish


Gracias - “Thank you”
De nada - “You’re welcome”
No hay de qué - “No problem”
Disculpe - “Excuse me”
Lo siento - “I’m sorry”


If you want to expand more on the basics, check out these really useful Spanish phrases for conversation and travel, and all the essential beginning phrases you should know.

Common Spanish Phrases for Everyday Life

The sooner you can talk about your everyday life in Spanish, the easier you’ll find it to have real Spanish conversations.

Everyday life is different for everyone, so pay attention to the things you do throughout the day. What did you say? What did you do? Then, make your own list of words that are relevant for you so you can learn Spanish faster.

Use these phrases as starters to get you going.

Interests, Jobs, and Hobbies in Spanish

Getting to know others and talking about your interests are the bread and butter of learning a language. So you have to know how to express your hobbies!


¿Qué te gusta hacer? - “What do you like to do?”
Mi pasatiempo favorito es… - “My favourite pastime is…”
¿Cuáles son tus pasatiempos? - “What are your hobbies?”
¿Qué haces en tu tiempo libre? - “What do you do in your free time?”
Me gusta / No me gusta… - “I like / I don’t like…”
Me encanta… - “I love…”
¿Qué te gusta leer? - “Do you like to read?”
¿Que música te gusta? - “What music do you like?”
Mi favorito es… - “My favourite is…”
Me gusta ir… - “I like going to…”
¿En qué trabajas? - “What’s your job?”
¿Te gusta tu trabajo? - “Do you like your job?”
Trabajo en… - “I work at…”


With these phrases, you can say things like:


Me encanta café. ¿Quieres ir a tomar una taza? (“I love coffee. Wanna go grab a cup?”)
Trabajo en la escuela. Soy profesor. (“I work at the school. I’m a teacher.”)


Common Questions in Spanish

Once you know your basic Spanish question words, like qué and dónde, you can ask a whole number of things. These are some common questions you’ll hear:


¿Cuánto cuesta? - “How much is this?”
¿Dónde está el baño? - “Where’s the bathroom?”
¿Qué hora es? - “What time is it?”
¿Pasa algo? - “Is something wrong?”
¿Es esto correcto? - “Is this right?”
¿Me equivocado? - “Was I wrong?”
¿Me puede ayudar con esto? - “Can you help me with this?”
*¿Puedes traerme ... por favor?” - “Can you bring me … please?”
¿Puedo entrar? - “Can I come in?”
¿Quieres tomar una copa? - “Want to grab a drink?
¿A dónde deberíamos ir a comer? - “Where should we go to eat?”
¿Estás listo? - “Are you ready?”


Exclamations, Celebrations, and Well Wishes

It’s always good to know how to wish someone well, tell them happy birthday, or what to say when toasting at happy hour. These are simple, single-use phrases you can learn quickly.


¡Cuánto tiempo sin verlo(a)! - “Long time no see!”
¡Feliz cumpleaños! - “Happy birthday!”
¡Buena suerte! - “Good luck!”
¡Alto! - “Stop!”
¡Salud! - “Cheers!”
Que te mejores - “Get well soon”
Buen provecho - “Bon appetit”
Cuídate - “Take care”
Felicitaciones - “Congratulations”
¡Bien hecho! - “Well done!”
¡Genio!- “Genius!”
Estupendo - “Stupendous” or “Amazing”
Genial - “Great” or “Awesome”
¡Increíble! - “Incredible!” or “Impressive!”


Filler Words and Phrases

Smooth out your speech with conversational connectors, sentence stretchers and filler words in Spanish.

These words and phrases give you a moment to prepare what you’re going to say next. They’ll help you sound more natural and fluid, like how you speak in your native language. We use these types of sayings all the time!


A ver… - “Let’s see…”
Pues… - “Well…”
Bueno… - “Well then…”
¿Sabes? - “You know?”
Por supuesto - “Of course”
*Por otra parte…” - “On another note…”
Pero… - “But…”
De verdad? - “Really?”
Dios mio - “Oh my god”
Entonces… - “So…”
Asi que… - “So… About that…”


Helpful Phrases in Spanish

These are your essential phrases to fall back on when you need to express your intent, your needs, or you don’t understand.


Necesito ayuda - “I need help”
Llámame cuando llegues - “Call me when you arrive”
Me voy a casa - “I’m going home”
Necesito ir a… - “I need to go to…”
¿Como llego hasta ahí? - “How do I get there?”
No lo sé - “I don´t know”
No tengo idea - “I have no idea”
¿Lo entiendes? - “Do you understand?”
No entiendo - “I don’t understand.”
Quiero… - “I want…”
¿Puede hablar más despacio, por favor? - “Can you speak slowly, please?”


Funny Spanish Phrases

Add a little colour to your conversation with funny Spanish phrases and idioms! When you can use a well-known phrase like these, you sound much more natural in your everyday speech.


Ponte las pilas - “Put in your batteries”. It’s like telling someone to “look alive”, “snap out of it”, or “wake up”. You say it to a person who’s daydreaming.
Papando moscas - “Catching flies”. Speaking of daydreaming, that’s called catching flies in Spanish. Which is quite a visual: Your friend sitting there, so completely lost in thought, the flies have started to land on him or her. But he or she doesn’t even notice!
Comiendo moscas - “Eating flies”. Flies are popular in Spanish idioms for some reason. You use this phrase when the person talking to you is quite long-winded. It can be said about anyone who goes on tangents, or someone who can’t stay on point.
Buena onda - “Good wave”. This means good vibes. You can also use it to describe someone who has a positive outlook and attitude.
Me pica el bagre - “The catfish is biting me”. The catfish being your stomach, and the biting being the painful ache of hunger. In other words, “I’m starved!”
Hablando del rey de Roma - “Speaking of the king of Rome”. It has the same meaning as “speak of the devil” in English. You say this whenever you were just talking about someone, and then they appear.
Meter la pata - “To put a paw it in.” It means “to screw up”, and it’s used like how we say in English, “to put your foot in your mouth”.
Creerse la última coca-cola del desierto - “To think of yourself as the last Coca-Cola in the desert”. This is an interesting one to me. It means you think you’re better than everyone else, or you think you’re hot stuff.
Tener la cola sucia - “To have a dirty tail.” It comes from the idea of being sneaky like a fox. Doing something you know is wrong, but doing it anyway and trying to get away with it.
Se puso hasta las chanclas - “Puts on his flip-flops”. It’s like the saying “He/She put on his/her beer goggles.” He or she got hammered, too drunk, trashed.
Échale ganas - “Insert desire”. It means to try your best. “How bad do you want it?”
Mandar a alguien por un tubo - “Send someone through a tube”. You use this to tell someone to “shove it”.
Mala leche - “Bad milk”. You can say this about someone who has bad intentions.
Tirar la casa por la ventana - “Throw the house out the window”. Or as you would hear Donna from Parks & Rec say, “Treat yo’ self”. It means to splurge, spend a lot of money, or otherwise go all out for a special occasion.




If this is your kind of thing, you can also check out these classic Spanish puns and Spanish jokes that are so bad they’re amazing.

¡Felicitaciones! You’re Off to a Good Start

Well done! That was a lot to go through, but you made it. I hope you learned some helpful phrases to start speaking with others in Spanish. Keep practising, and ¡buena suerte!

Did I miss any phrases that you use every day? What phrases did you add to your list? Let me hear them in the comments.

The post Here are the 97 common Spanish phrases to know if you want to start speaking Spanish right now. appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

How Pretending I Understood Italian Got Me Into a Whole Lot of Trouble in Italy

Finally, it was here. Our long-awaited holiday, a whole two weeks touring our favourite country - Italy! I was excited not just because of the amazing landscapes, food and culture, but because it was also home to my target language!

On top of this, touring Italy had been a high priority on my partner’s bucket list. For years, she romanticised strolling the quaint streets of Verona with a gelato in hand, taking in the historic treasures of Rome at every turn, of being the first person to have their picture taken while propping up the Leaning Tower of Pisa.

For months I’d been hard at work studying Italian to prepare myself for this trip. I was looking forward to it, and I expected to impress the locals with my Italian.

It wasn’t until we found ourselves locked out of our accommodation in Rome and hitchhiking on a busy dual carriageway in Pompeii that I realised it was time to leave my ego behind...
I Reassured My Girlfriend: “I’m Fluent in Italian… Kind of”
The host of our Airbnb in Florence had specifically said ‘‘we only speak Chinese and Italian.’’

‘’Don’t worry,” I said to my girlfriend. ‘’It’ll be fine, I’m basically fluent in Italian anyway... kind of.’’

Now, being the ever-supportive lady she is, she would never say it. But, I could tell from the look in her eyes she felt sceptical.

So, with a few months to go before the trip, and for every moment that I wasn’t working, eating or sleeping, I was studying Italian. Actually, sometimes I even studied whilst eating, working and sleeping. I hammered my grammar book for knowledge more than a blacksmith hammers an anvil. But still, I felt my progress was slow. I was plateauing. I was drowning in verbs, articles and tenses.

The more I struggled, the more hours I put in. ‘’I must be fluent in time for the trip!’’ I would repeatedly tell myself as I clicked replay on the audio of Luigi checking into a hotel in Milan. After listening to the clip for what felt like the 100th time, Luigi was really starting to annoy me. He was obsessed with complimenting the hotel on their choice of curtains, repeatedly insisting that the check-in assistant sends this important information back to the hotel manager. Somehow, I reflected, I don’t think this is a helpful exercise. I went to bed frustrated. Hours invested = improvement, right?

And so it continued right up until my trip. I dutifully “put in the hours.”
Why I Felt Like a Failure After Saying “It’s Cold in England”
The trip soon came around, and before long, I found myself in the back of a taxi talking to the taxi driver in Italian about the weather in England. This was my first conversation, the main event I spent hours prepping for was finally here. This is it! I can do it... ‘’How was the weather in England?’’ asked the taxi driver in Italian. Fumbling and nervous in a mild panic, I managed to blurt out in an over the top sing-song like Italian accent Fa freddo!

“WHAT?” said the voice in my head. “You said ‘It’s cold!?’ It’s not cold in England! It’s been the hottest summer in years…”

As small as it might seem, this conversation really knocked my confidence. In hindsight it really didn’t matter, it was a tiny mistake and as we all know making mistakes is all part of the process and essential to improving in any language. But at the time I felt like a failure before I was even off the starting blocks.
“Are You Sure You Got All of That?”
Anyway, off we went on our trip. We were immersed in all things Italian, so I wasn’t going to let the opportunity pass me by. I continued getting in as much practice as possible, and although I was always improving, I still wasn’t achieving that very high bar I had told myself all those months earlier that I would achieve by this trip. After most conversations, my partner would chime: “Are you sure you got all of that?”

With feigned confidence, I would reply “Of course!”

It wasn’t until we found ourselves locked out of our accommodation in Rome, and hitchhiking on a busy dual carriageway in Pompeii, that I realised it was time to leave my ego behind and be honest about my language learning progress.
Blind Stubbornness: How My Ego Led Me Astray
Now, I don’t know about you, but when I say I will do something, I like to do it. It’s a good way to be, right? Well yes, it is, but in the right circumstances. My little trip to Italy made me realise that this blind stubbornness can be extremely destructive with language learning. Because I said I would be fluent by the trip, all that mattered to me was honouring my word so that my girlfriend didn’t think I was some kind of loser. All talk, no action. I didn’t want her to end up running off with the milkman... or maybe more appropriately for nowadays, the Amazon Prime delivery driver.

Because my motivation to learn Italian was shallow, I was doomed to mess it up. It’s not always just ourselves who are responsible for the weight of pressure that comes down when we take on a new language. My family members aren’t known for being linguists, so when I told them I was learning Italian I automatically donned the title of “resident Italian translator”. Even though I could barely say Come stai (“How are you?”), I was suddenly the go-to guy for all things Italy. Even down to advice about food, art and politics! This wasn’t fair! The most Italian thing I’d done that year was that I’d gone for a meal at the Italian chain, Prezzo. And even then, I had garlic bread! That’s French, right?
Confession Time: How I Learned to Have Confidence in My Incompetence
When we finally made it out of Pompeii safely, I confessed to my partner that although I generally did get the gist of what the locals were saying, I missed a few words. This might have been the reason why we ended up on so many wild goose chases. After this admission, I came to some realisations.

My change in attitude and direction really helped me to make big improvements in the last few days of our holiday. I reassessed why I wanted to learn Italian and realised that my motivation was superficial. That I needed to get back to the bare bones of why I chose to learn Italian. Because of my love of the culture, the food and the beautiful landscapes. Because it’s something that I am hugely passionate about and a long-term investment for my life. Not so I can impress my partner or my family!
Here’s How to Enjoy Language Learning
Pushing yourself too hard can be a recipe for disaster with language learning. It’s important that we regularly give ourselves a pat on the back. To turn around and take a look at how far we have come. We are all so focused on the end goal. Yet the more we fixate on the finish line, the less likely we are to get there.

Now, I don’t write claiming to be an expert in languages. I’m about as far away from being a polyglot as I am from Australia and I live in the UK. That’s pretty far! But I do think that it’s helpful sometimes to humanise the learning process and realise that there are many people in the same boat as you.

Especially in the early days, language learning really is about understanding that you don’t know much. Acknowledge this, let it settle and then just get out there and fail anyway. It’s not until you start doing this that you can really improve. In my experience, the locals are always more than happy to help. We will always have days that we feel more on it than others and that’s absolutely fine. The important thing is that we keep failing, and thus, improving. Leave your ego at the grammar book and have confidence in your incompetence!

Now when I’m at home with my family and ‘Nessun Dorma’ blurts out behind a perfume advert I have absolutely no shame in admitting ‘I haven’t the faintest clue what the hell Puccini is singing about’ when they ask me to translate every word. I also learnt that learning a language is a steady marathon and not a sprint. I love learning Italian and I love being incompetent.

The post How Pretending I Understood Italian Got Me Into a Whole Lot of Trouble in Italy appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.

Polish Language Classes: 48 Resources and Lessons to Learn Polish Free Online

Looking for Polish language resources, but not sure where to start? There are plenty of Polish courses out there, so if you’re learning to speak Polish, it can feel like you’d have to spend hours trying everything out to decide what’s good quality.

Ready for some good news? I’ve put this article together because I’ve done the work for you. I’ve tried out several Polish learning tools to find the best ones out there. And the best part? They’re all free.

Let’s take a look at these online Polish language resources and classes so you can learn Polish, for free.

Online Audio & Podcasts to Help You Learn Polish Free

Listening comprehension is often a struggle for language learners, so doing a lot of active listening is a must. But where do you find good quality audio lessons in Polish?

To start, podcasts are a great way to learn Polish. You can take them with you wherever you go -- on a quick trip to the store, in the queue at your local coffee shop, or even as an accompaniment to your bath. Anytime you have a spare moment, you can fit in some language learning.

There are a lot of Polish language podcasts out there, but not many that provide a complete Polish course. I prefer podcasts that provide a step-by-step Polish class. I also think it’s good to listen to Polish as it’s spoken in real conversations

Here’s where to start with Polish language audio:


PolishPod101 is free to sign up for and is a favorite of the Fluent in 3 Months team. It has an impressive amount of Polish content available at every level from complete beginner to advanced. You get a one-week free trial to test out lessons at all skill levels. After that, you do have to pay for the more advanced lessons and premium material, although it’s very much worth it.
TuneIn: Listen to radio from Poland on TuneIn. Test out a few stations based on the subjects you’re interested in, see what catches your attention and enjoy. Download the app to enjoy radio on your mobile device.
Forvo: If you come across a new word, especially with Polish that has a lot of diacritics or accents, Forvo is a great place to listen to words spoken by a native speaker. It has a large database and is a good reference for pronunciation.
Polski z Grazyna: This Polish podcast has two free seasons on iTunes and they’ve even created a free Memrise deck to accompany the course.
Misja Krakow: A reading course also available as a podcast. It’s a crime/mystery story that helps you learn the basics of Polish.
Learn Real Polish: This Polish podcast features scenarios and discussions you may have in your daily life - all in Polish! Learn to talk about everything from vacation to the importance of sleep and more.


YouTube: Free Polish Video Lessons

YouTube is an incredible place to find free Polish classes and resources. The following channels give you hours of Polish lessons in an entertaining format. Plus, video has the added benefits of giving you access to facial expressions, body language and other non-verbal aspects of the Polish language.


PolishPod101: In addition to their free podcast lessons, PolishPod101 also has an excellent YouTube channel with hours of free content.
Super Easy Polish: I love the Easy Languages channel because it gives you a look at the local culture and offers you context. In this series, the hosts go out into the streets of Poland and interview the people they meet there. It’s a great way to hear the way people really speak the language, pick up useful conversational language, and practice your listening comprehension.
Learn Polish with Darek posts long videos with loads of useful phrases in Polish. I just recommend ignoring the advice to learn while you sleep - active listening is the way to go!
Polish for Beginners is a popular channel for Polish learners. I particularly enjoy Aneta’s explanations of Polish cases.
Course of Polish shares videos with detailed grammar explanations and helpful tips for Polish language learners. Start with the Crash Course.
Polish with Ania: Another great channel with lots of free Polish lessons.


Free Online Polish Courses and Systems

If you’re interested in guided lessons, there is an exceptional selection of free online Polish courses and systems available. Here are just a few websites that offer online Polish lessons at no cost:


Mówić po polsku: This site has a wide range of free Polish language classes. It has modules on everything from pronunciation to grammar.
Wikibooks offers Polish language learners a free online coursebook.
Live Lingua: There are several free courses in Polish on Live Lingua, a database of Peace Corps and FSI coursebooks and audio materials.
Elementary Polish is a free basic Polish course created by a faculty member at the University of Chicago.
Polish Grammar features free Polish grammar lessons as well as flashcards and information about Polish culture.
I Will Teach You Polish: Pawel teaches you Polish through texts with audio. There are lessons on specific topics like going to the movies, but he also breaks down the lyrics to different Polish songs.
Goethe Verlag has 100 free lessons for Polish language learners. They cover everything from numbers to preparing for a trip and running errands.
BBC Languages: Looking for a fantastic introduction to the Polish language with video and tons of accompanying material? The BBC’s Polish course has it all.


Free Polish Language Apps

Apps are a handy way to learn a new language, especially for those who like to study on the go.


Memrise or Anki (for iOS, for Android, and for everyone else): These are flashcard systems that you can use to create your own Polish vocabulary decks or download those already created by other users. The desktop version of Anki is free, as is the basic version of Memrise.
Duolingo is a popular language learning app that introduces you to both Polish vocabulary and grammar. It’s a gamified platform, so it’s fun to use and addictive, so you’ll keep coming back to learn more.
Drops helps you build your Polish vocabulary in just five minutes of study time per day..
Clozemaster is a language learning app that uses cloze (fill in the blank) to help you master new vocabulary in Polish.


Free Online Polish Language Resources for Advanced Polish Learners

Watch Polish Vloggers on YouTube

If you’re looking for native and relevant material for your Polish language learning, YouTubers are a great source. Polish vloggers cover everything from comedy to beauty to food, so you’re sure to find a YouTube personality who covers a topic that you’re interested in.

Here are a few of my favorites:


Globstory: Enjoy travel? Then, this vlog is just for you. Kaja takes you on her adventures around the world in Polish.
Podróże Busem Przez Świat: A vlog that documents their travels around the world by car. So far, they’ve visited more than 50 countries and only spend about $8 a day.
Kocham Gotować: The perfect channel for food lovers. Not only do you get to try out tasty recipes, but you also get a peek at some beautifully plated food.
*Kuchnia Lidla: This channel features a range of hosts who all make a variety of fun and tasty dishes.
SciFun: Learn about science in Polish!
Historia bez cenzury: Is history your thing? Now you can watch entertaining videos about history in Polish.
Na Galezi: Are you a movie buff? Then this channel is definitely something that will interest you. Marcin shares his thoughts on current movies in Polish.
EuroGamerPL: EuroGamerPL is a Polish vlogger who reviews games and shares gameplay videos with new content every few days.
Broda ty: Another game vlogger who shares reviews of games as well as gaming gear.
Abstrachuje TV: If you’re into comedy, this channel is known for posting comedy skits.
The Unboxall: This channel has around 1.5 million subscribers and if showcases unboxing videos and experiments.


Free Polish Language Reading Materials

Finding reading material appropriate for your level in the language can be a challenge. Thankfully, there’s a decent selection of Polish reading resources available to you as a learner online for free.


Wikipedia: Use Wikipedia to read short articles in Polish. You can switch back to your native language to check your comprehension.
LingQ: LingQ is a popular online learning system that helps you acquire new vocabulary through its reading interface. It’s free to sign up, though if you want to use it long-term you’ll need to opt for a paid plan.
Gazeta: This is an online newspaper with loads of articles in Polish.
Paralleltext.io: This unassuming website lets you read the classics like Sherlock Holmes with the Polish and English text side-by-side on the screen! Click a sentence to hear it pronounced by a computer voice. Tap the circle next to a sentence to change it from Polish to English and back. Switch from a side-by-side English/Polish view to Polish-only if your reading skills are more advanced.
Wolnelektury.pl: This site has thousands of free books you can read in Polish.
National Geographic: Do you enjoy reading National Geographic? Now you can do so in Polish.


What Free Online Polish Resources Do You Use?

It’s incredible how many excellent resources are available to learn Polish at no cost online. Though I’ve featured 48 places you can learn Polish for free, I’m sure there are many more. Is there anything you feel that I’ve missed? Let me know in the comments!

Want More? Check out Benny's favorite Polish resources.

The post Polish Language Classes: 48 Resources and Lessons to Learn Polish Free Online appeared first on Fluent in 3 months - Language Hacking and Travel Tips.