Language Learning & Music

At the gym, I read the Can You Build a Better Brain? article in Newsweek about how to restructure our brains as we take on new things to learn. We need to repeat actions many times ...

Over two years ago, I wrote about the idea of a language as a homeland as I was starting my journey into the endangered language of Ladino/Judeo-Spanish. The Portuguese writer, Fernando Pessoa, is quoted as...

I learned more Arabic in 10 minutes with a $1 tea than from 1.5 hours of Rosetta Stone ($500).         (This review shows the negative and positive elements of the Rosetta Stone software for Arabic. I...

I am not the only one singing the praises of Brazilian music as a way to learn Portuguese! On September 29, 2011, I attended an event of the San Francisco Brazilian Portuguese MeetUp and asked...

Just because somebody speaks two languages, he/she is not a natural, automatic interpreter and translator. A multilingual person can’t translate anything anybody wants, and can’t do simultaneous interpretation. I have received many requests and demands to translate and interpret on the spot from monolingual people and from multilinguals who aren’t used to being in situations where they have to interpret or translate. The idea that just because somebody is bilingual that they should make a career as a translator and an interpreter or do it for friends and family as favors is absolutely faulty.

Luciana Lage of Street Smart Brazil and I have a video series on how to learn Portuguese via Brazilian songs. Here is the introductory video where we explain the connection between listening, music and learning...

I have heard on several occasions that the sign of fluency in a language is when one dreams in the language. That can't be true. Or else I'm fluent in Arabic without being aware...

Studying grammar is a good way to get one’s mind off of the Covid-19 pandemic. Susanna, do you seriously have nothing better to do? There are more entertaining things to do like watch movies on Netflix...

Learn languages for free on Open Culture.com. The site features 37 foreign languages, including Spanish, French, English, Mandarin, Italian, Russian and more. Download lessons to your computer and mp3 player and you’re good to...

Which US government agency is most interested in vocal about foreign language training? a) The Department of Education b) The Department of State 3) The Defense Department The answer is #3. The US has no national foreign language...