How to Learn a Foreign Language

Most people think that learning a language is difficult, time-consuming and expensive. However, this is far from the truth. As someone who has been passionate about language learning since 15 years old, I have tried pretty much every app, book, website there is out there and I've even travelled abroad to learn a language! I have compiled a list of my favourite resources which are easy, excellent for even the busiest of people, and cheap or even free!

After viewing this list, you have no excuse not to learn that language you always wish you could speak.

1. Duolingo

Type in "duolingo" in the app/play store.
This is probably the most well known resource in this list but it's only ONE of the best.
FREE

Strengths: Excellent for daily 5 minute lessons for when you're short on time but need to update your knowledge.

Weaknesses: There is a limited choice of languages and it's not the best for when you're learning a language with a different alphabet.

2. Memrise

Type "memrise" in the app/play store
FREE

Strengths: Gives you puns, Gifs, memes, riddles etc to help you remember vocabulary and has every language you could think of. The cool thing about this app is that when you learn a new word, you 'water' a plant, and when you revise a word you are "growing" the plant. Once the plant has bloomed the word has entered your long term memory.

Weaknesses: Can be repetitive on certain words.

3. Coffee Break podcasts

Type "Coffe Break Language you want to learn" in Podcasts
FREE

Strengths: Amazing app for when you're super busy and the only spare time you have are those 20 minutes wasted on commuting. This podcast is by a Scotsman so dont be taken aback by the accent. Excellent for teaching the 'every day spoken' language along with useful Grammar and cultural points.

Weaknesses: Only available in French, German, Spanish and Italian, although more languages may be added in the future.

4. Languages For Dummies

Available in various book shops.
Around £10-15 depending on where you purchase.

Strengths: Has excellent Grammar points, cultural knowledge and even teaches you slang and idioms which most resources don't teach you! This book doesn't just teach you a language the class room way. It actually shows you how the language is really spoken by the native speakers so you don't sound like a fool.

Weaknesses: Can be a little time-consuming.


5. Learn Language Apps by Greg Vick

Type in language of choice in the app/store
FREE

Strengths: Has a huge list of vocabulary in every topic you could think of. Also excellent for when you're busy and commuting. You can test yourself through listening, spelling, pronunciation, or vocabulary

Weaknesses: Has many bugs but still one of my favourite language apps out of the many I've tried. Also has no grammar explanations.




I guarantee you, use one of these resources and you will be asking yourself why you didn't start learning a language earlier. They're so easy to incorporate into your busy life and you learn a lot from it for no money.
If you use any of the items I've mentioned in this list and it changes you're life, I'd love to hear about it!

My next blog post will be about my experience living in France and giving advice on living in the country of your target language.

Saya

xx

Funny idioms in different languages

In my last post I remained pretty local with the topic of Scottish slang. But there's a whole world out there with thousands of different ways people communicate. So, in this post I want to take you to a journey around the world where we will discover unique popular phrases together that make no sense to us but perfect sense to the people saying them.

1. The first train stop is France, where they say:

"Le petit Jésus en culotte de velours" 

which literally means

"It's the little baby jesus in velvet pants" 

This means that the wine is good. It's used for wine that is silky and delightful. (I can't believe I found a picture of baby Jesus wearing velvet trousers either).


2. Now we're going to take a mini boat ride from France to Greece, Mamammia style, where in Greece people say:

"Στο πούτσο μου λουλούδια και γύρω γύρω μέλισσες"

This literally means

"there are flowers and bees around my manhood"

When a Greek person says this to you, they are trying to tell you that they dont care. This is probably one of my favorite phrases.


3. Next we're going a little to the West side of Europe where in Spain people say:

"Estar en la edad del pavo"

Literally meaning

"To be in the age of turkey"

This phrase is used by Spaniards to explain that awkward stage of life we all know as being a teenager.

4. We're going to travel back to the south now where we find Italy in which the people say:

"Cavoli risaldati"

which says 

"Reheated cabbage"

This expression is used to represent a failed attempt of reviving a relationship. Much like how you cannot reheat a wilted cabbage. 

5. Finally, we're travelling all the way to the Middle East, where the Persians say:

"من کبد شما را می خورم"

which says 

"I would eat your liver"

Don't be alarmed if a Persian says to you they want to eat your liver. You should actually be flattered because this means I love you. The idea behind this phrase is that you love someone so much that you would do anything for them. 

Congratulations! You have completed this journey around the world with me and now we can go back home where we can put the kettle on.

If you found this post interesting, look out for my next post which will be about learning a language.

Saya