Learn New Words with Favorite Netflix Series

Become fluent in Spanish after watching Narcos, in German after Dogs of Berlin, and English after Friends?

Hooking way better than a boring classroom learning, right?

Jokes aside, watching movies and series is a very relaxing and efficient way to virtually immerse yourself in the environment of the language you set out to learn. And thus, learn a lot of vocabulary and pick up new grammatical structures. Hardly anyone would say learning vocabulary on flashcards is more fun than watching a favorite series or a movie. Continue reading “Learn New Words with Favorite Netflix Series”

10 Spanish Curse Words and Expressions that’d Make your Grandma Blush

When it comes to Spanish curse words, there’s a subtle art to swearing. Whether it be venting in a moment of frustration, expressing enthusiasm or making an exclamation of pain or disgust, Spanish-speakers sure know the power of an emphatic expletive.

Sometimes, a dirty look just isn't enough. Express your feelings of anger and frustration with these Spanish curse words.
Sometimes, a dirty look just isn’t enough. Express your feelings of anger and frustration with these Spanish curse words. Photo by Andre Hunter on Unsplash

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5 Ways to Memorize New Words in a Flash and Expand your Vocabulary

Need to memorize new words for an upcoming quiz in a short period of time? Sick of asking how to say a particular word over and over again? Or are you simply making a concerted effort to expand your vocabulary?

Whatever the motivation, these 5 easy tricks will have you using new words when speaking and writing in your target language in no time at all.

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How to Build Your French Vocabulary

Having an extensive French vocabulary can make communication easier all round. It not only helps us express ourselves better but also understand others better too.

Get more out of your holiday interactions by brushing up on French vocabulary and expressions before you leave home.
Get more out of your holiday interactions by brushing up on French vocabulary and expressions before you leave home. Photo by Paul Rysz on Unsplash

Equally, your vocabulary, or lack thereof, can limit your interactions. Ever had one of those moments where you think you understand what someone is saying from context, but you don’t know the one crucial word they’re using? Or perhaps, you’ve tried to describe something very specific but find yourself searching for that one important missing word? Continue reading “How to Build Your French Vocabulary”

5 Best Language Learning Apps You Should Try To Improve Your Vocabulary

Improve your vocabulary with an app. There are plenty to choose from. Photo by Hitesh Choudhary on Unsplash
Improve your vocabulary with an app. Photo by Hitesh Choudhary on Unsplash

Ever feel like you have lots to say but you lack the vocabulary to put your ideas into words?

Simplifying your ideas can help. Explaining your way around a missing word often works well too. But sometimes, you just need to suck it up and dedicate more time to learning new vocabulary. Especially, if your work uses technical language or you need to communicate with clients in a foreign language. 

So, you’ve decided you want to do something about it but where to start?

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Flashcard App Comparison: Reji vs Anki vs Quizlet

Flashcards should be a staple part of any students’ study routine. You can use them to memorize and drill anything from vocabulary to verb conjugations or lexical chunks. The trick is to stick with it and review at regular intervals so you don’t forget all that useful info. (Learn more about how our brains memorize new words and retain information, and how to harness this in my previous post here.)

The most simple flashcards have a word written in your first language on one side and the translation in your target language on the other side, but flashcards have come a long way from the homemade handwritten variety. Now, there are loads of great apps with lots of cool features which you can use to review anytime, anywhere, on the go. Much more convenient than lugging a stack of cards to the library with you.

But, which app is right for you? In this blog post, we look at the pros and cons of 3 flashcard apps - Reji, Anki, and Quizlet. Keep reading to find out more.

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How to Really Learn New Words: 5 Tips to Boost your English Vocabulary Fast

Words are the building blocks of a language. If you want to build a solid house you need a good foundation. After the structure of the house is sturdy and secure, you can continue adding to it by investing time and hard work. The same is true of expanding your vocabulary.

So, what happens if you do a sloppy renovation job? Maybe something breaks and needs to be repaired. That means maintenance work. Either you can let it go and just live with it or you can reinforce which would definitely be the best long-term policy. Again, this rings true of learning new words in English.

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Same Same But Different: 3 Easy Ways to Learn Synonyms

For some reason unbeknownst to me, some students have this notion that synonyms are like the holy grail of vocabulary. My hunch is that they think since they already know the meaning of these words, they’re easier to memorize. Whatever the reason, synonyms are a useful tool for language learners to avoid repetition when speaking and especially when writing in English (or any other language for that matter). If you don’t know what a synonym is, it’s simply a word or phrase which has the same meaning as another word.

Don’t get stuck in the habit of memorizing long lists of words which you’ll never actually use and eventually just forget! Instead, try to expand your vocabulary in a conscious and meaningful way. It will make remembering them new vocabulary easier and more enjoyable. Not sure how? Read on for 3 easy tips.

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