Thanks to websites and apps such as Instagram, you can now get paid to travel. So many influencers have hundreds of thousands of followers. From Instagram’s Erin Rose with 14k followers to Youtube’s Karl Watson with his 75k followers, millennials (1977-1995) and Gen Z (1996-present) are actively working towards becoming better traveled and cultured.
This Father’s Day, you could buy yet another boring tie, mundane cufflinks or calorie laden chocolates, or you could pep up papa’s summer with an online subscription to life-long learning, guaranteed not to be found hidden at the bottom of the cupboard.
Father’s Day, which originated in America, is celebrated in the Western world on the third Sunday, in the month of June. In much of the developed world, Father’s Day is celebrated in the same fashion, where folks go out to eat, dads get a few presents (shirt or tie is popular), and children come home from school with paper-crafts to show their appreciation.
Who says France and Paris has to be all about the romance? France has so much more to offer outside of the lovely restaurants and scenery! Here are seven ideas of things for you to enjoy, whether it’s alone, with your partner, or your best friend these are sure to thrill! 7. La Plagne Olympic Track TIME FROM PARIS: ~6 hours Although the main event at La Plagne seems to be the bobsleds in the...
The kids are out of school, you’ve saved up all of those vacation days all year for it, the pressure is on for this vacation to be the best! It can be hard to pick – how far do you want to go? How much money do you want to spend? How are you getting there? Be sure to explore these options before you make your decision!
Learning a new language or even improving your communication skills in your native language is a long, persistent process – actually, the learning process never really stops.
When you’re learning a new language, one of the best ways to do it is by attending online language events. Of course, there are more ways to do it – you can attend language conferences from your city, you can enroll in some online courses, you can learn from books and audiobooks, and you can even improve your language by listening to music and watching movies in that language.
The global society of today is exceedingly interdependent and interconnected. We can’t overlook the fact that we now have people from a different country, a different background, and speaking a different tongue living right next door to us.
The process of learning a new language consists of several different phases or aspects. Memorizing as many words as you can sometimes be challenging, but dedicating time to expanding your vocabulary will be very beneficial for you.
Perhaps you’re thinking about learning a language for business or to build a successful career. If you’re struggling to decide which language to pick, here’s a list of five languages that look fantastic on a business resume.
Have you always wanted to learn a language but simply didn’t have the time to attend classes and lessons? It’s now easier than ever to learn a language. Here are five great ways you can learn a language on your time!
Easter is a very special time of the year in many different cultures around the world. While most of us associate eggs, bunnies, and turkeys with Easter celebration, there is a lot more to it, and it’s all tied up with language and culture.
Easter weekend is the perfect time to whisk the family away on a mini vacation. If you are looking for a family-friendly Easter break, then we have the US top 3 for you that are sure to please.
The 20 months wait has finally come to an end as the latest episode of the Game of Thrones graced our screens — the longest wait GOT fans had to endure for a new season since its debut.
A new language – the gift that is surprising, useful, fun and an Easter present that is guaranteed to have less calories!
Ever thought about gapping abroad for a year or two, but worried about the impact it would have on your life, career and future? The irony is that those who have taken this leap of faith and taken a gap year, say that the benefits for their attitude to life had the opposite effect.
Cairo (Al-Qahira): A city that’s home to the Pyramids, the Sphinx of Giza, the Egyptian National Museum, the beautiful Nile river and shopping in the Khan al Halili Bazaar. Being the largest metropolis in the Arab World, Cairo attracts countless numbers of tourists, students and expats every year from around the world. Anyone who truly wants to understand the ancient and modern history of...
April Fools’ Day (sometimes referred to as All Fools’ Day) is celebrated all around the world with pranks and laughter. While most countries celebrate it on April 1st, there are some countries that celebrate it on different dates.
25th March 2019 marks the 198th Independence Day of Greece. A country that brought us democracy, philosophy, Olympics, Moussaka, and Gyros! On this joyous occasion, we take a look at one of Greece’s hidden gems discovered by one of our travel writers, Nikola K.
Learning languages has been an essential part of many celebrity lives across the globe. At times it is to fit into a character, communicate with a wider audience, or they may have picked it up while living abroad. Many famous celebrities have discovered the great benefits of learning another language.
Here is an awesome way to take in new cultures from around the world. Have a cup of coffee at the local plaza, piazza or platz and soak in the local culture like never before.
As the weather prepares to turn into spring, it is in our nature to be ready for a change. Exploring other cultures and the world is incredibly rewarding and is the best way to grow as human beings. The choice of places to visit this time of year is very exciting and varied. Here is our list!
The United Nations every year measures the quality of life for citizens around the world and releases the ‘World Happiness Report‘. 13 countries have dominated the top of the list since the reporting began in 2012. What makes these countries the happiest in the world? Let’s find out!
Today International Women’s Day is a public holiday in many countries around the globe and is celebrated on March 8th. The day celebrates the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women all over the world. But did you know some of the most important issues that the International Women’s Day has highlighted?
St. Patrick’s Day occurs annually on March 17 in observance of the death of St. Patrick, the patron saint of Ireland. Traditionally, the festival was a religious feast-day in 17th century which has now evolved into a celebration like no other.
The power of expressing love can move mountains or destroy lives. But what if they were expressed in a different language? The answer may surprise you.
American Sign Language is the primary sign language in use today in the United States of America. Many other nations together with their indigenous Sign Languages relies on ASL.
Mastering the finer points of English grammar is not enough as you need to practice (a lot) to become fluent in English and speak like a native speaker.
The chief objective of popular Daylight Saving Time (DST), known as Summer Time in Europe is to use daylight in an efficient manner. AS part of DST, clocks are moved an hour back during the summer.
February 14th is fast approaching and the search for a valentine is on. Or if you have one, the quest to impress them should be leaving you with sleepless nights. Don’t worry – we have you covered! Language has knitted many a romantic story and has been known to bring people closer. Just what you need to win hearts and minds.
Valentine’s Day is celebrated around the world on February 14th and is popularly acknowledged as the day that celebrates love and romance. However, most people do not know the historical significance of this festive day and its origin: Where? When? and How it began?
From going to the movies to somber dinners in expensive restaurants, Valentine’s Day activities have become very ordinary and expensive.
Get inspired to make this 14th of February your most romantic yet, with 10 Valentine’s Day traditions from around the world. We’re loving this!
China has the largest population in the world with approximately 1.28 billion people, so learning to speak Chinese means you will be able to communicate with a gazillion people in the world! That’s just simple math that makes sense, whether you are the next Fermat or not.
Cudoo has a gift for all its readers. A Groundhog Day special, Cudoo has managed to secure an interview with the remarkable Punxsutawney Phil Sowerby. In an exclusive one-off interview, the weather prognosis extraordinaire has shared with us everything you ever wanted to know about Groundhog Day, before embarking on his winter slumber.
If you have ever traveled or lived in Lebanon, you would have certainly come across these 5 common Lebanese Arabic phrases that you wouldn’t hear anywhere else in the world.
Given its rich history and ancient culture, huge population, vast territory and diverse geographical features, China can be a jaw-dropping experience for even the most seasoned of travelers.
Chinese New Year is the most important holiday in China and is celebrated by Chinese people all over the world. Here are 10 interesting facts that you probably didn’t know about Chinese New Year.
The ability to speak fluently in two or more languages makes you a highly eligible candidate in the job market, and even just knowing a few useful words and phrases in another language will help you stand out.
Learn how to say hello in 12 international languages this New Year and get started on your New Year’s Resolutions with a simple ‘Hello’.
Increased globalization and access to almost every part of the world has created commercial and travel opportunities that seemed unimaginable just 50 years ago. This phenomenon has sharply drawn to focus the sheer number of languages and cultures practiced around the world, and the need to be, at the very least, bilingual is a common trend shaping up in the year 2019.
The year 2018 is soon going to end and as we set ourselves to welcome the new year (2019), with fireworks, parties and celebrations, here I have picked the top 10 countries you should add to your travel diary in the new year!
The festive season is galloping towards us with the nimble speed of a cheeky reindeer, a time when we all start to look forward to our own traditions and favorite Christmas dishes. Our cuisine is meshed and embedded in the language and culture of our home country, and is as much a feast of tradition as of tasty treats!
It’s that time of the year again. Be it social media, your local newspaper or even your closest buddy. They’re all on about their New Year’s resolution. From exercising more to spending less, the resolutions are as diverse as the people that make them. Learning a language shouldn’t be one of them.
According to statistics, 41% of Americans keep New Year resolutions every year, and only 9% actually manage to achieve with some success. So if you’re like most Americans and thinking about making a New Year’s resolution, from learning a new language to spending less and traveling more — congratulations, you have about 9% success rate!
Learning a language has been a popular new year resolution for many years, and has consistently featured as one of the top 10 resolutions of all time.
So, if you are considering learning a language this new year, then you are in luck as we have selected the top foreign languages to learn in 2019.
Winter is fast approaching, which can only mean one thing: It’s time to start planning your adventures for next year! If you need some inspiration, look no further than our jam-packed guide that features classical favorites and up-and-coming destinations.
Food idioms in languages point out a very particular aspect of each food, often tickling the funny bone. Here are a few examples in popular languages:
Some of you will be wondering isn’t “misspelled” misspelt, which makes this a bit of an interesting post. Actually, both are correct!
Halloween is all about trick or treat, the gruesome and the sugary sweet! Check out our quiz about fascinating language facts, and decide whether these 13 language facts are tricks or treats.
In the English language there are dozens of eponyms. We use eponyms everyday, even though we may not know what they are! So, before going through some of them, let’s first clarify what an eponym is.
Learning a foreign language is a gratifying experience that has many rewards and benefits. Here, we take a look at 10 benefits of learning a second language and how it can influence your personality.
Learn Portuguese and discover hidden treasures on four continents. Portuguese is gaining prominence in the world of business, as one of the official languages of the European Union and the language of key sporting events such as the World Cup and Rio2016 Summer Olympics. Be it Portugal’s musical festivals or Brazil’s dance carnivals and passion for football – discover vibrant and popular cultures...
English is the most widely-spoken language in the world, having the distinct status of being the official language of multiple countries. While the English language is uniform with major variations in spelling present between American English and British English, the dialect or accent is usually the factor that enables one to distinguish the various types of English out there.
Evil, we’ve experienced every sort throughout our brief time here as a species- and for the longest time; these evils were defined to be external entities. We’re now at a rather strange era in our evolution, one in which we as a whole have made the evil an internal aspect of our livelihoods. A study conducted by The Joseph Rowntree Foundation was dedicated to these very evils and termed them as...
Dr. Alexander Waibel (2012) believes that it isn’t the lack of connectivity or the tools used to link one another but rather the absence of other forms, such as language and culture, which negatively affects the growing phenomenon of globalization and hinders the interdependence that is supposed to bring people across the world together.
Lebanon, a 5000 plus-year-old country, with a population of over 5 million people, is located in the Middle East, bordering the Mediterranean sea on one side, and Israel and Syria at the other. This small Mediterranean nation forms a fascinating connection between the West and the Middle East; of tradition and modernity; of Christianity and Islam. It’s where family, religion, and culture...
Defining “fluency” itself is a task that seems tricky, and yet it is the ultimate goal every language learner yearns to achieve.
You’ve recently started a new business and you have a thousand different ideas and projects for growth. We know the feeling – it’s exhilarating.
Every year, the European Day of Languages is celebrated on the 26th of September to celebrate the linguistic and cultural diversity in the region.
Some of you might be familiar with the term “Millennials” as well as the terms that have been coined by them. But, I am also pretty sure that there are many who have no idea what I’m talking about.
The sun is scorching; humidity is at an all-time high; everyone is looking forward to having ice-lollies and summer salads and here we are talking about having a warm, heavy Christmas roast dinner instead.
American Independence Day, also referred to as the Fourth of July, is a federal holiday commemorating the adoption of the Declaration of Independence in 1776.
The FIFA 2018 World Cup in Russia kicks-off in under a week and there’s been a scramble for learning Russian all around the world by Football Fans!
Very nice, Very good. Well, that’s all very well but boring! Learn how to impress your friends, family, teacher or boss with 50 ways to replace very + adjective with a superlative, top-notch adjective.
Take a trip to London, home to the recently married Royal Couple and the Royal Family, the Beckhams, Madonna, Richard Branson and tons of other cool celebrities, and get on famously with your English skills.
The United States of America has always been an ideal destination for immigrants in search of a better life, especially those from developing and ethnically diverse countries.
We often assume that languages are unique and different from each other, and this (false) assumption leads to our fear of learning new languages.
The ‘Avengers: Infinity War’ film is all set to make a devastating impact on our lives this weekend and as we prepare to welcome the 19th installment coming from the Marvel Cinematic Universe (MCU), and celebrate the global reach of Marvel comics and movies, we list our favorite Marvel superhero names in different world languages!
St George’s Day takes place on April 23rd every year, celebrating the patron saint of England, made famous for slaying a dragon and saving a maiden in distress.
The German language has many words that are identical in English. They are spelled and written in the same way but have totally different meanings.
Multiply your Chances of Being Hired: A foreign language is your passport for a good job. It is the best way to differentiate yourself. All companies now need people who can communicate with foreign clients. Get a Promotion: The advantages of being multilingual do not stop once hired. The language barrier is the number one reason to forbid companies to get business abroad. Managers who can close...
Learn English Idioms the Hogwarts Way! Read on for 12 magical phrases to help you brush up on your English Idioms and fit right in at the Hogwarts School of Magic.
Saying ‘thank you’ is a universal gesture of appreciation and expression of our gratitude to the people in our lives who have made us everything we are today.
French is one of the six official languages of the United Nations and yet, only 25% who took part in the famous French Revolution spoke French! Read on to find out more.
Whether it’s a simple handshake or an important business lunch, these 5 tips on French business etiquette can be the difference between landing an important job or a crucial client, or offending your host.
Words such as ‘gulab jamun’, ‘vada’ and ‘keema’, which are part of the staple diet in many parts of India can now be found in the Oxford English Dictionary (OED).
Here is a list of 25 common English words and phrases which are used daily by English speakers across the world! You are likely to hear these words in everyday conversations and dialogues happening around you in the English language.
Millenials are so quick to invent and re-invent words on social media that it may seem impossible to keep up. So if you have just acquainted yourself with terms such as Bae and Slay, then brace yourself as we look into these latest millennial slangs/words to watch out for in 2018.
You must be wondering what exactly I am talking about here. Many questions arise in your mind such as, ‘Are idioms a type of cake? Or what does idiom even mean?’ Here I will explain to you what are idioms and after reading this article you would definitely agree with me saying “Idioms are actually a piece of cake.”
It is believed that the best way to learn a language is through complete immersion, i.e. to live in a country that is native to the language you want to learn, for a considerable amount of time.
Google’s Pixel 2 event in San Francisco revealed the world changing Pixel Buds, wireless headphones that translate between 40 languages in real-time. As described by Google’s hardware product manager, during the event.
The English Language can be very ambiguous, especially when it comes to its complex vocabulary and grammar. Among all the concepts of English grammar such as the tenses, modal, imperatives and conditions, there are a certain set of words that have the same spelling but have completely different meaning.
On an average, it is estimated that an individual will shakehands 15000 in their lifetime and yet, 70% of the surveyed population said they lacked confidence when it came to performing the gesture, according to a survey at the car making firm, Chevrolet.
How well do you know the capital cities of European countries? Test your knowledge with our quiz and challenge your friends to test their knowledge of Europe!
Shaking hands may seem like a universally accepted form of greeting your counterparts, however, what would you do if the other person doesn’t offer their hand? Such as if you are greeting a woman in a conservative Muslim culture in the Middle East, or when your Japanese business contact greets you with a bow!
Learning a new language can be liberating as well as frustrating. Once you have learned a new language, your horizons widen, including the number of vacation spots, while a feeling of accomplishment settles in.
You might be going on a holiday, with no care in the world, just wanting to enjoy some fresh local food and doing the usual touristy things. Well, while planning your trip you may or may not be aware of how easy it is to offend people that belong to a different culture. So, rather than unknowlingly offending people or getting a lot of dirty looks on your blissful vacation, it would be better to...
Having the ability to communicate in more than one language is known to be beneficial and an attractive quality for a long time. Not only does it increase your marketability as an individual for job opportunities, as a student, etc., but being multilingual is known to help improve soft-skills such as multitasking.
Keeping up with Millennials and their lingo is tough! But fear not, here’s a post that might make it easier for you and make you more #relatable!
Vacations usually start before you even leave for them. You start imagining how the hotel will be; all the delicious food you will get to eat and how much you will get to relax and sleep in. There’s so much to look forward to.
A fictional language constructed for George R. R. Martin’s immensely famous fantasy novel series A Song of Ice and Fire and its television adaptation Game of Thrones, Dothraki is now a worldwide phenomenon.
Emojis are a great way to express emotions between friends, family and colleagues! We use emojis almost on an hourly basis and are universally accepted as standalone replies in our WhatsApp or Skype conversations. However, are you sure you atr using them properly?
As the ‘Back to School’ season kicks-in and schools are getting ready to re-open and welcome students for a new academic year, we take a look at how parents can prepare their children and themselves to the daily routine to follow the summer break.
A flag indicates more than a piece of cloth with colors and designs – it is a symbol of an entire nation. Every flag in the world varies distinctly from one country to another and is a direct reflection of the state’s history, culture and background. However, who designs the national flag of a country and what motivates the particular designs of each flag? What are they commonly referred to as...
A bestseller and now ranked one of the most popular TV series of all time, Game of Thrones has left its very prominent mark in the literary and cultural world. With the series comprising some stunning one-liners, the dialogues are equally famous and quoted often.
Learning how to eat the right way in the country you plan to visit is an important part of the prep before a trip. Just like looking up common phrases in the foreign destination’s language, or the climate your future trip location enjoys – researching the local dining etiquette can save you from seeming rude. Tipping, cutlery usage, and even seasoning should be kept in mind, and improper...
“I am learning all the time. The tombstone will be my diploma.” This quote by Eartha Kitt is profound in that as human beings, we never truly stop learning. We learn how to walk, how to talk, to read, write, and develop as many skills as we need to become active and functioning contributors to our society. But in the meantime, have we spent enough time learning how to learn?
Learning a language can be and should be a lengthy process, where keeping motivation up is sometimes more important than any other strategy. Once the honeymoon phase of language learning is completed, the intermediate stages can feel like you are standing in the same place for a while. So what can be done to keep up motivation and not remain in the continuous spiral of the “plateau phase”? Follow...
The roots of a city’s name is often associated with the place’s culture, and understanding why and how a place was given its name can result in a fascinating outlook into its traditions, background and historical relevance.
Read on to find out super interesting historical facts about the etymologies of some of the world’s most important cities.
The traditional imagery of learning a language is usually associated with books, a tutor, pen pals, and a whole lot of other seemingly endless (and heavy) material that frankly doesn’t seem practical in today’s world.
Fluency in a language does not guarantee perfect grammar. Especially for a language as quirky as English, the correct use of words and spellings can be confusing. Even native speakers are subject to mistakes when using homonyms, commas and apostrophes. Learn English grammar using these 20 tips, and you never have to suffer the wrath of that one grammar control friend!
In a world that is constantly “shrinking”, the need for effective language communication both personally and professionally is ever increasing. With more people living, working and traveling internationally, fluency in multiples languages is an attractive skill to possess, with multinational companies like Apple and Amazon actively recruiting bilingual and multilingual employees. In fact, the...
Spice up your “nice”! He’s nice. What a nice dress. Boring! Learn how to impress your friends, family, teacher or boss with 50 ways to say “nice”, and add delicious flavor to your words.
Ever hear expressions said in contexts that make no sense? The English language, with its kinks, twists and quirks, can seem complex, when in reality it is a truly a fun language with beach bags of character. With the heat of summer and the hope of vacation upon us, here are 20 unique phrases and their meanings relating to the holidays that’ll definitely help you seem like a native speaker!
A portmanteau of “phone” and “snubbing”, phubbing describes the habit of ignoring someone in favor of a mobile phone. Initially coined by a campaign conducted by Macquarie Dictionary, the word gained the majority of its traction and popularity due to the “Stop Phubbing” campaign created by Alex Haigh of McCann advertising agency.
Apart from being just downright fun, idioms are also a window into a language’s cultural origins and an amazing way of blending into a new place as a local. What is an idiom? This is an expression whose meaning is not predictable from the usual meanings of its constituent elements. In other, a bunch of words put together in an unusual way to mean something completely different! In the spirit of...
How’s your Thai etiquette? With the arrival of summer come the vacation plans and getaways, and what better place for a holiday than one of South East Asia’s most popular travel destinations, Thailand? With its beaches, national parks, benign climate and incredible culture, Thailand continues to dominate at the forefront of South Asian tourism, and with good reason. The year of 2016 saw 32...
Add color to your language and sound like a native speaker! A primary means of describing any object is to talk about its color. It immediately paints an image of the object in the mind’s eye and allows for more creative expression during a dialogue. However, the real challenge is to go beyond the monotony of the reds, blues and yellows to really describe an object using a specific...
Over the past 2 decades, the UAE has become a significant business and leisure destination. From its stunning architecture to its irresistible beaches, the UAE has redefined the art of hospitality in its central geographical location where “east meets west”. Make sure you know the ins and outs of UAE cultural etiquette to make the most of your trip or relocation to this...
“To have another language is to possess a second soul.” This famous quote by Charlemagne is especially significant in an increasingly globalized world, where functionality in multiple languages may be considered as the passport of a true global citizen. Therefore in a world with over 6000 spoken dialects, what languages would be the most useful to maximize communication? The following is a list...
Ramadan is a holy month in the religion of Islam and is marked by a time of required fasting. Observance of Ramadan is one of the Five Pillars of Islam. Ramadan takes place in the ninth month of the Islamic calendar, which is lunar-based., and therefore falls on a different date in the Gregorian calendar every year. Here’s our quick guide to useful phrases you should know...
Language learning is often associated with cramming vocabulary and remembering grammar rules. While these are necessary to master a language, there are additional factors that play a role in how fast and how well you can be fluent in a particular language.
You say p’TAYto and I say p’TAdo. Although both countries speak the same language, anyone can tell the difference between an American and a British person.
Whether you are a seasoned visitor to Atlanta or a first time visitor, these 10 interesting facts are sure to impress you!
Teaching English can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do, and if you are looking for purpose in your life, then this is a way to really give back and make a difference.
Read on for an amazing insight into the world of English teaching, as Mr. Kai shares the challenges and joys of his 18-year journey as a teacher.
In this day and age of autocorrect and spell checks, there is a tendency for even the sharpest amongst us to assume our work is flawless. What we don’t realize is that auto correct and spell checks only check the spelling and there is no intelligent bot embedded in any software or devices (so far) to identify the logical accuracy of sentences we construct. In the English language, there are a...
Often behavior that is interpreted as rude or offensive is unintentional. What is perfectly reasonable to one culture can be highly inappropriate to another. So where does this leave us when working and living in multi-cultural companies or cities? Nowhere is the lack of culture awareness more evident or more problematic than in the world of business. Building trust and effective relationships is...
In the United States, and increasingly in the United Kingdom and Canada, a promenade dance, most commonly called a prom, is a semi-formal (black tie) dance or gathering of high school students.
The ‘Star Wars’ saga has inspired many people around the world to use the movies for learning English and practicing their listening and speaking skills. Here are a few prominent dialogues and one-liners that any Star Wars fans would remember for sure and can be applied to everyday, meaningful conversations while speaking English.
Did you know that the longest English word ever (a chemical name for titin) is 189,819 letters long and takes approximately three and a half hours to pronounce!
Thankfully not all words are as long or complicated. Some are significantly lower with as little as 24 letters.
Here is a list of the longest words in 13 languages from all around the globe.
English is a funny language! We know that already. After all, ‘a fat chance’ and ‘a slim chance’ in English have the same meaning. We also have ‘noses that run’ and ‘feet that smell’, which is just bizarre to anyone who has just started to learn English. Today, however, we will take a look at English words that are strange, but make absolute sense...
These everyday useful phrases in French language are a must for anyone planning a visit to France and to make your trip a memorable experience.
With the advancement of technology, the line between formal learning and social learning is become blurred. An up and coming trend is the emergence of social language exchange platforms. Requiring only an internet connection and the need for thrill that accompanies language learning, many language learners are turning towards these platforms to practice their classroom knowledge of a particular...
When traveling to a new country, we often find ourselves holding a dictionary or a language guide that contains phrases that might not necessarily reflect the local lingo. This gives us away when we try to blend in with the local community and culture as we are regarded as tourists. In order to blend in, picking up a few phrases that are frequently used by the locals can be very handy. Stand out...
So you may be wondering what the difference is between castellano, español and Latin American Spanish. So in one sentence: castellano and español are the same. Peninsular Spanish is the name of the Castilian spoken in Spain. The other forms of Castilian (Spanish) spoken elsewhere is all classified as Latin American Spanish.
Phew, now that we have got that clear…
An estimated 840 million people speak English around the world. Known as the global business language, there are 335 million people on the planet who speak it as a first language and 505 million who speak it as a second language.
Arabic offers a blend of critical language skills and is useful in over 20 countries with around 300 million native speakers. There’s no doubt that those who learn Arabic can live, work, and interact with a more diverse set of countries. As the Arabic saying goes, ‘awwal alshshajarat bidharr (“A tree begins with a seed.”) A trend can be seen in the private and non-profit sectors...
Just as learning is for everyone, everyone can learn a language. Check out our famous polyglots as you read the blog! (A polyglot is a person who speaks multiple languages fluently.) While a multitude of factors might hinder you from learning a sport or a musical instrument, language learning is a path where obstacles are seldom present.
With the increasing number of multicultural people living and interacting in one city, cultural diversity is the norm. Gen Z are about to enter the workplace and have grown up with and expect cultural diversity. However, there are certain cities around the world that are considered to be prime examples of cultural hubs. Now that’s a great way to get more for your buck when it comes to...
Saying thank you is a universal gesture of appreciation and expression of our gratitude.
Sitting next to a Gen Xer on their phone versus a Gen Zer on their phone is not just chat that is streets apart; it’s another planet. We are talking grammatically correct sentences with the odd “u” or “K” versus strings of emojis…Gen Y sit in between with abbreviations and emoji combo. Get ready for a different type of language learning. Gen Z leads when...
When is it? March 21 or the previous/following day, depending on where it is observed. Nowruz is the traditional Iranian festival of spring, which starts at the exact moment of the vernal equinox, commencing the start of the spring. It is considered as the start of the New Year among Iranians along with some other ethno-linguistic groups. The name comes from Avestan meaning “new...
INTRODUCTION: American Sign Language (ASL) is a fascinating language that many people start to see its value and purpose. It is a visual language formed by organized hand gestures, body movements, and facial expressions. Learning ASL won’t just create meaningful relationships, but will provide more job opportunities, as it’s becoming increasingly essential in many workplaces. Its...
The simple cup of tea is so much more than a refreshing beverage. It is steeped in decades of history and brewed in culture and language. Find out why with our journey around the world teaser.
If you’re reading this blog post, it must mean you are intrigued by the Russian language. You might be attracted by the beauty of the language, the melody of its sound or be simply an aspiring linguist looking for a challenge.
The Russian Federation has over 150 million people, and covers an area of greater than 6,592,800 square miles. No wonder that Russia is a country of cultural contradictions. Now add to this a very noticeable generational gap, which is reflected in the business world.
Learn Russian Business Etiquette; here’s what you need to know to do business successfully in Russia.
St. Petersburg is the second largest city in Russia and is located on the Neva River at the head of the Gulf of Finland. The city was founded in 1703 by Tsar Peter the Great and was once even the capital of the Russian Empire.
Nikola shares his memorable trip to St. Petersburg, Russia.
Getting close to a Deaf person requires a little vulnerability on both sides. Many Deaf people are just as insecure about not being understood as you are, but most are patient and incredibly skilled at getting their point across to you. Think about how would you feel if you were living in a foreign land where the language, customs and culture weren’t native to you? Deaf people often feel this way...
Learning a language can be exciting, stimulating, challenging, frustrating, or it can be all of these at the same time. Everyone knows there are oodles of benefits to learning a second language, from improving your relationships to getting that new job or working those gray cells to make sure they last. Most of all, it’s just downright fun, and here are 10 resources that prove just that!
People are different. Therefore, they will behave differently in your classroom. Managing those differences and keeping all students focused at the exact time that you need them to focus is one of the challenges teachers face daily. For language teachers, now throw in the extra interest that comes from teaching to a multi-lingual group, where each native language brings a different set of...
As a working adult, it is not easy to find time to spare. Yet there will be instances when one would have the urge to pick up a new language or learn a musical instrument or simply build up the skills section in the resume. Learning at a physical institution can be difficult for those who have a full-time job and additional responsibilities at home. Despite being tailored for working adults...
People communicate with people and not companies, and these days business is an international affair. Clients and suppliers are often spread out throughout around the globe. The linguistic complexities involved are magnified when the company has branch offices and subsidiaries in different countries, with employees speaking a range of languages. Smooth and effective communication can quickly...
A melting pot of cosmopolitan cultures, Mexico is a gem to world travellers. Home to strolling mariachis and several world-famous artists, Mexico welcomes visitors looking to immerse themselves in the country’s vibrant culture so get ready to embrace its unique ambience. Vanessa, our guest blogger, describes her adventure as she gets to know Mexico better before deciding whether to...
The latest figures approximate the number of languages present and practiced around the globe to be 6500. Out of these, about 2000 languages have fewer than 1000 speakers. While most of us must have come across a good part of those languages at some point in our lives, there is still a sizeable chunk that you probably didn’t know about.
American Sign Language (ASL) plays an important role in facilitating communication within the Deaf community and enabling them to communicate with each other, and others around the world.
French is spoken in thirty-nine countries spread out across five continents. These nations are known as francophone or French speaking nations. They have French either as an official language or use it for daily communication. This is Part 2 of a four-part blog identifying the nations in each of the five continents where this beautiful language is spoken. Click here to see Part One
“With languages, you are at home anywhere.”– Edmund De Waal
Read on to find out how much of a role language plays in a country’s identity and why it is considered to be the ultimate trump card when it comes to one’s nationality.
We have all, at some point, come across terms such as IQ (Intelligence Quotient) and EQ (Emotional Quotient). While IQ is used to assess the cognitive ability of a person, the EQ tests are used to identify a person’s ability to recognize and relate to emotions exhibited by others and themselves. A new metric for measuring human capability has now been introduced, known as Cultural Intelligence or...
French is spoken in thirty-nine countries spread out across five continents. These nations are known as francophone or French speaking nations. They have French either as an official language or use it for daily communication.
The French are famous for their cuisine, and indeed they invented the word! For breakfast, they prefer to keep it short and sweet. After all, they don’t call it “le petit déjeuner” for nothing (the little breakfast). A typical breakfast in France is a croissant (buttery rolls of flaky pastry) and/or a tartine (French bread sliced lengthwise, with butter...
India is the 7th largest economy in the world in terms of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). India has also overtaken China to be the fastest growing large economy. India is facing exciting times in economic growth and has a hospitable business environment. Being a country with 22 official languages spread across its various states, overseas businesses eager to enter the Indian market are usually...
Some learn a new language just before they travel to a new country. Others learn it to expand their intellect and explore new cultures. Most turn to languages to help them in their careers and help them earn more than what they do at present.
Cornwall, also known as Cornish Riviera, is a county on England’s rugged sothwestern tip, culminating at the promontory Land’s End. The county is famous for its picturesque harbor villages and sandy beaches.
Here are 5 reasons why Cornwall in England should be your next holiday destination.
The Cornish language, which was branded as ‘Extinct’, has been reclassified as “critically endangered” by the United Nations group UNESCO. This change reflects the revitalization process that has taken place over the years to resurrect the language after it was believed to have died out as a first language in the year 1777.
Introduction: Reviving elements of history to enjoy it in the present is a practice we have adopted for long. Language, as with everything else, disappears as soon as the followers or people who practice them decide to move onto something better. At times its’ impractical grammar but more often than not, it’s usually a change in the social dynamics that lead to a language disappearing from the...
Deciding to learn a language is always the hardest step. Or so you would think. The hardest part about learning a new language is deciding which language to learn. There are over 160 languages in the world from which you have to choose the language that you think will satisfy your need for adventure and excitement and of course, practicality. After all, language learning is not all about grammar...
“You gather the idea that Mauritius was made first and then heaven, and that heaven was copied after Mauritius.” (Mark Twain). Vulture Culture Patrizia shares her memories of one of the most romantic locations in the world!
Named after Saint Paul of Tarsus, São Paulo is Brazil’s vibrant financial center. As well as being Brazil’s richest state, it’s also the largest city in South America. Located in the southeast region of Brazil, it’s well worth a visit, especially if you are into cool architecture. We’re thinking here of its iconic buildings, from its neo-Gothic cathedral and the 1929...
While most might think of learning a supposedly “dead” language as a waste of time, there are a few people who feel otherwise. I’m one amongst them and I’m here to tell you how Latin is more alive than ever and why it might be one of the most useful languages you can learn.
More and more businesses are developing into multinational firms, and acquiring the skill of a foreign language could result in better career opportunities for the employee as well as higher productivity for the organization. While it is widely accepted and encouraged to have a multilingual workplace today, some industries must be more proactive than others.
Technology has never been so powerful. With the advancement of technology, humans are spending more money and resources into developing intelligent systems that can replace humans without losing the human touch. From language learning to smart homes, bots are a part of our life and their presence is only going to increase in the coming years.
Here’s a rundown on everything bot related.
Malaysia has a healthy foreign population who coexist peacefully with the locals. People from various countries come to Malaysia for tourism, business activities, education etc. Malaysia is a melting pot of cultures. The major ethnic groups in Malaysia are the Malays, Chinese and the Indians. When conducting business in Malaysia, it is very common to run into people from all or some of these...
Govind’s graduate view on 4 years in Malaysia… By the end of September 2017, I will have completed my fourth year on the Island of Sarawak in Malaysia. My four years in the capital city of the state and travelling in and around Malaysia has made me realize why learning the various spoken languages in Malaysia has been way too much fun for ‘serious’ language lovers. Here...
INTRODUCTION: Taking the step to work or study abroad is like leaping into the Brave New World. It takes courage, vision and a sense of adventure. Take Govind. From India, lived in Dubai with his family and then opted to go to university in Malaysia. Here’s his personal take on studying abroad, and ‘what I have learnt in the last four years I spent in Kuching...
Best-in-Class companies are 22% more likely to provide employees access to a learning self-service portal. Research conducted by Ambient Insight 2012-2017 stated that 42% of businesses claimed a rise in revenue after the adoption of e-learning techniques for training.
The Spanish are a very open and communicative people; they value highly their families, personal relationships and cultural traditions. As Spain’s economy begins its recovery, understanding this flamboyant culture is key to effectively conducting business in this Europe’s fourth largest country. Learn Spanish and Spanish Business Etiquette before you go. As Europe’s fourth...
The Klingon language has been popular around Trekkies (Star Trek fans) since it was introduced on the big screen almost three decades ago. Now, non-Trekkies are having a go at learning the Klingon language. Learn Klingon and join a group of very interesting people in a very exclusive language club, where you can be safe in the knowledge that not many people are going to be able to eavesdrop! Here...
It’s usually said that in Spanish, we write as we pronounce. However, it’s not easy to catch our speed as when we speak, we tend to go really fast! There are sounds that don’t exist in other languages, such as our beloved “ñ” or our double r “rr” and, with the latter, one better be ready to roll their tongue. Here are 12 words with tricky pronunciation we are sure you can master with just bit of...
Bots are taking over the world. That sounds like the theme of a sci-fi flick but that’s the reality of the world today. Companies like Facebook, Google and Microsoft are pouring their energies into developing chat bots that can interact intelligently with people because people spend much more time on messaging apps than on websites or social networks.
Find out why…
Arabic, a language spoken by more than 300 million people around the globe, has some heavy sounds that are hard for non-native speakers to pronounce accurately. However, once you master those sounds, it becomes pretty straightforward to articulate all the Arabic words perfectly. Learn Arabic the easy way with our quick guide.
TESOL is the acronym for Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages, and ESL is English as a Second Language. However, it’s not just about cool acronyms. Teaching English can be one of the most rewarding things you ever do, and if you are looking for purpose in your life, then this is a way to really give back and make a difference. Having spent some years in and out of the classroom...
Studies suggest that the English language is one of the happiest languages in the world and is spoken by more than 1/4th of the global population. But, did you know that the second most spoken language in the world (inclusive of native and foreign speakers) is majorly dominated by words derived from the French and Latin language? Well, it is!
German can be a challenge for language learners. With four cases, the grammar is tricky – but the pronunciation can also be difficult for those who haven’t been listening to the language since birth. German is world-famous for its unbelievably long compound words. While the length of a word isn’t necessarily proportional to its tongue-twisting capacity, the sheer mass of letters...
If you want to learn Italian, you have to learn about Italian food at the same time. Italian cuisine has influenced food culture around the world and is viewed as a form of art by many. Think of Pasta in all its shapes and sizes, widths and lengths: penne, spaghetti, linguine, fusilli and lasagna. So you already know five Italian words without realising it! Check out our 10...
After the huge popularity of our blog post Are you actually pronouncing these words wrong? we have come up with another similar post focusing on international brands. Read on and see how many of these brands you are pronouncing correctly.
If you ask most people about their goals or action list, it usually includes more exercise. Be different – work on your mental fitness as well as your abs this time round, and learn a language for the ultimate brain workout.
See our top tips for flexing your neurons and toning your synapses. No pain and all gain!
Back in 1884, when the very first edition started publication, it took around 50 years for them to finish the first run of the Oxford English Dictionary. Nowadays, 1,200 words are added every quarter to the online version, and it is now bursting at the seams with over 600,000 words.
Here are 10 words that made us ‘Squee’ (‘an exclamation expressing delight or excitement’)!
Words in English can at times be tricky to pronounce, what with the different accents between the British and the Americans and other English speakers from around the world. We can never be quite sure if we are pronouncing it the right way. See how you compare to other English speakers from around the world with these 12 simple everyday words in English.
Whether you’re moving abroad as part of a business assignment or you’re selling your possessions and moving overseas in pursuit of adventure, there are some key steps that you can take to ensure that the move is smooth, and your relocation rocks.
Here are our Top Five hacks for truly moving abroad rather than just ‘physically relocating’:
On average, we spend $164 a year on buying coffee when out and about, and drink 3 cups/mugs of coffee on an average day. It’s so popular that it’s the second most exported commodity in the world after crude oil. In the U.S., people drink three times as much coffee as tea; in Russian the ratio is almost exactly reversed. While coffee drinking trends vary by country and continent, there is no...
Thinking you might learn Arabic? There are over 100 words in Arabic for camel and more than ten words for love. Not surprising from the language of poetry, with a rich tapestry of history dating back to the first century. From ghouls and mummies to love and language, read on for 10 surprising facts that we bet you didn’t know about the Arabic language.
The holiday season is in the air, and it’s the time when family, love, and giving are at the top of the tree in many countries!
A new language – the gift that is surprising, useful, fun and a present that is pretty much guaranteed not to “stay in the box”! Holiday gifting can be hard sometimes, especially if the person you are buying for has very particular tastes, or is super fussy when it comes to model, version, color etc. On the other hand, the gifting and getting it spot on can also be great fun and...
Nikola K. brings to life the sweet and hidden flavors of Symi, Greece. Approach it’s horseshoe shaped port, feel the welcome of the indigo, ochre and terracotta colored traditional stone houses, and start your journey…
China boasts one of the longest single unified civilizations in world. From ancient walls, temples and cities to mystical mountains and mist covered rice terraces; its history is characterized by dramatic shifts in power and periods of peace, prosperity and trade. Planes, trains, bicycles and taxis; Sue Brett, C.E.O of Cudoo, shares a journey from the imperial splendour of Beijing to magical...
As a foreigner’s first gateway to the local culture, if you work in a hotel, then you are truly an ambassador of national heritage. Russians are Europe’s fastest growing outbound travel group, so make sure that you know how to greet your guests with a few well-chosen phrases.
36 ways to make them smile coming up…
According to CNN Travel, a record breaking 1.2 billion tourists travelled abroad in 2015. Europe, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific all recorded nearly 5% increase in international arrivals. This number is predicted to double by 2035. As a foreigner’s first gateway to the local culture, hotelier staff serve as ambassadors of national heritage. If around 8m people are employed in the hospitality...
Kyrgyzstan is a Central Asian country weaving along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route between China and the Mediterranean, a land of incredible natural beauty and proud nomadic traditions. The Tian Shan mountains, which surround the ancient caravan route and tower over the country, are home to snow leopards, lynx and sheep. Its ancient trading history and semi-nomadic, yurt-dwelling shepherd...
So, it’s been a while since you started learning a foreign language and the time has come to practice your skills in the ‘real’ world with other speakers of the language. “What if I get the grammar wrong? What if the pronunciation is completely off? Or I use the wrong word and get mocked?” Have you started thinking along the lines above? Has the fear or anxiety kicked in yet? Well, let’s stop you...
Imagine rows of candles adorning the path from the entrance of your home all the way up to the bedroom, the warm glow, the serenity, and the soothing yet powerful feelings they evoke. It’s a beautiful scene you’ve likely seen replicated by many in an effort to create a similar atmosphere but Diwali takes that image and magnifies it several thousand times over. It’s absolutely breath taking. Our...
The United Arab Emirates is one of the fastest growing destinations for business and leisure visitors, with its fascinating mix of the ancient and modern. Huge investment in the economic and tourism infrastructure has reinvented it as a unique strategic hub between East and West. Make sure you know how to navigate the fascinating cultural waterways of this desert country, as Expo 2020 looms. From...
When the Sherman Brothers wrote, “It’s a small world after all” for Disney, they probably never dreamed that it would (arguably) become one of the most widely used phrase in the world. It is a small world indeed, and it very likely it won’t be long before you pack your bags for your next holiday or trip abroad.
So you’re learning a new language. Sitting in front of your course book, practicing your phrases, and it’s just not doing it for you? There you are, wishing you could just curl up and watch a movie instead; you can almost taste the salty explosion of homemade popcorn…Well, doing both at the same time could just be the ideal way to light up your lingo skills. One of the reasons...
With the internet and technology affecting all human activities today, it’s no surprise that social media has become a vital part of our daily lives and how! Learning languages socially isn’t unheard of yet many still aren’t aware of the many advantages it offers. From vlogs and blogs to a time convenient group ‘chat’ session, social language learning can make you a fluent foreign language...
El inglés es la lengua franca más hablada en el mundo. Hoy en día millones de personas lo utilizan como segundo idioma, y es por esto que el inglés es el lenguaje de negocios más importante en la actualidad. Ya sea que seas miembro de una empresa con sucursales alrededor del mundo, o que tu trabajo involucre mantenerte en contacto con hombres de negocios extranjeros, aprender inglés es una...
All Camino roads lead to Santiago de Compostela in the province of Galicia Join us for a very special insight into the cultural journey of the famous Camino de Santiago, with all Camino roads leading to Santiago de Compostela in the province of Galicia, known to be the final resting place of St. James the Apostle. Our travel writer, Vanessa Lynn Uzcategui, gets up front and...
If you love travelling, it’s almost certain that somewhere in Europe is on your romantic list, your bucket list, pretty much your everything list! Europe is the perfect getaway to satisfy wanderlust – from alfresco dinners next to the quaint canals of Amsterdam, visiting centuries of history and art in Rome, taking selfies against the azure blue horizon of Greek beaches, clubbing in...
Learning foreign languages is known to help your brain develop even more, not to mention other great benefits that come with speaking different languages, such as increased chances of finding the perfect job or the possibility to adapt faster in case of relocating to another country for instance. In the past years, English has become one of the most popular languages in the world, which is why...
After failing or just barely passing every Spanish or French class you’ve ever taken, there’s probably been a point in your life where you’ve given up.
Hello, Marhaba, Hola, Bonjour, Buongiorno, Hallo! As you can perhaps tell, I’m truly a culture vulture and I love languages, with all of the multitudes of sounds and beautiful diverse scripts that reflect cultures from over thousands of years. So if you are the same, here are my all-time top-secret tips that I’ve picked up on my learning journey.
TESOL (Teaching English to Speakers of Other Languages) is a certificate course designed for individuals aspiring to become teachers of the English language.
Have you ever had those times when you come across what you know is a hilarious video because of all the cry-laughing emojis in the comments section but can’t understand a lick of what’s going on in it? Yeah, me too. It’s one of the most frustrating things that’ll ever happen to you on social media. You can ask a fellow twitterer (or is it tweeter?) what it means, but there’s something about...
According to an article by Forbes.com, Global Mobility: A Win-Win For You And Your Employer, Global Mobility is an increasing phenomenon with employees eager to travel across the world in order to boost their personal and professional progress, thus enlarging the distance of Employee Mobility.
If a picture is worth a thousand words (popular English Idiom), then imagine the amount one can communicate via videos!
Learning a new language with its specific grammar can tie our noodle into knots, and make dotting the I’s and crossing the T’s the least of our worries.
Best known for its fast cars, famous Oktoberfest and fairytale castles, Germany has many surprises to offer even to a seasoned traveller.
With the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (Hiu gee Zhaneiru) coming up, many of you will be flying out there to experience the tingling warmth of the sun against your skin as you walk along the beautiful beach of Ipanema, white sand crunching softly beneath your feet between days of marveling at athletes as they dazzle you with feast of physical excellence. If you happen to be among the many tourists...
On 1st April 2016, a newspaper in France published a rather infamous article on whether English would remain an official language of the EU (European Union) should the United Kingdom decide to exit the EU following a referendum to be held in June, the same year.
Italians are joyful and passionate people who are proud of their zest for life and strong heritage, right from their mouth-watering food to their age old family bound traditions.
Spanish language as we know it today, derived from a dialect of spoken latin that evolved in the north-central part of the Iberian Peninsula after the fall of the Western Roman Empire in the 5th century.
Russian is the fifth most spoken language in the world, boasting 277 million speakers around the world, including 154 million native speakers. Below are the top 5 reasons why you should learn Russian.
French, a top language in the culinary scene is also the official language in 57 countries spread across 5 continents.
With global travel the modern walk in the park, language learning and cultural understanding are essential to provide service excellence in the aviation industry.
Italian language and culture is famous for its passion for music, architecture, delicious cuisine and the arts. However you may not have thought of these amazing 5 reasons why you should learn Italian.
Whether flying into Brazil on business or connecting digitally, the single most important thing you need to know is:
Brazilians negotiate and make business with people not companies. Brazilians would also do almost anything for close friends. They even have a saying for that: “For friends – everything. For enemies – the law.”
The average B2B customer has completed more than one-half of the purchase decision-making progress PRIOR to engaging a sales person directly, and at the upper limit this can be as high as 70%. The modern buyer starts with their own online research as a jumping off point for the exploration and discovery process. Difficult to read body language if you are not in front of your buyer!
The Importance of Learning Another Language Learning a new language has a great many advantages. Apart from the requirement from some institutions to learn a foreign language, many individuals are pursuing second and even third language options for a number of reasons. There is a great deal of self-fulfillment and accomplishment in discovering and mastering another language through an online...
Essential business etiquette and cultural intelligence of the Land of the Rising Sun, Japan. Customer service in Japan is a highly developed art form, and it is not surprising to know that a same level of service would be expected whilst abroad. Bring on Japanese “Omotenashi” (Service – Japanese-style!). “Omotenashi” means “to welcome guests wholeheartedly.” It comes from...
Find out the difference between the Nanolearning and Microlearning, and why both make absolute sense when it comes to learning a language, with all of its grammar, vocab, idioms and odd little rules.
Verbs, verbs, verbs…-ar, -er, -ir, pretérito imperfecto, pretérito indefinido, futuro simple or future imperfecto, pretérito perfecto…if you are already starting to sweat, then serve up the gazpacho and cool it down a notch as we take a look at some useful Spanish verbs.