Be Fluent Today

Hi there! Today we are going to talk about an extremely interesting topic. If you've never studied an Asian language, it's easy to mix up Chinese, Japanese, and Korean. Despite some similarities, these three languages are very different, and each one has its own set of challenges that may differ from the next. There is so much we can talk about when analysing them, however in this post I will focus on a brief history and the basic features of these unique languages, plus how they can be discerned from each other. I'll do all my best to help you to wrap your head around all this. So let's start! Language history Chinese Chinese is the most widely spoken language with over 1.3 billion native speakers. In fact, the land of the red dragon has the oldest spoken language currently being used in the world. We are talking about a language that dates back to over 3,000 years ago😮!  China has several spoken languages, hundreds of dialects, and only one written system. The standa...

Hi there! Today we are going to talk about Ukrainian and Russian languages and why they are not as similar as a lot of people think. I'm full of beans to make a coherent explanation regarding this issue, as  if there are origin names of these languages, indeed there must be any difference. And this difference is enough to dispel all russian propaganda around the Ukrainian language😉. Because if it wasn't russian propaganda, we would have no such thing as this question. No one is asked if there are differences between the Spanish and Italian or between Portuguese and French languages. But the distance between Ukrainian and Russian is the same as between French and Portuguese. The differences exist, otherwise why would russians pay so much attention to the Ukrainian language and are so afraid of the it? Only one fact with prohibition Ukrainian language worth more than thousands words that describes this question and attitude to Ukrainian. But after all distortions and attempts to...

Hi there! You've heard all the reasons why some people don't learn languages, many of these founded on long-held myths and misconceptions. The truth is, in today's world, proficiency in other languages is a vital skill. If you still waver whether you need to learn a foreign language or not (how did that happened😮), you came to the right place. Today I've prepared some reasons why you need to cast aside your doubts and just do that 😉 Communicate Being able to communicate with someone in his or her language is an incredible gift. Knowing the language makes you a local no matter where you are, opening up your world literally and figuratively. You will be shaped by communities. You will be impressed by the kindness of strangers. You will build lifelong friendships.  Advance Your Career It's no secret that learning a foreign language can improve your employment prospects. The need for multilingual specialists isn't ephemeral. More companies than ever are doing busi...

Hi there! Today we are going to talk about Foreign Language Anxiety (the feeling of tension, fear and apprehension associated with such foreign language contexts as speaking, listening and learning). Does this sound familiar: Your forehead breaks out in a cold sweat, your throat is dry and your hands are trembling. Saying something simple in the language you're learning should be easy, but you feel immobilized😓. Foreign language anxiety usually boils down to a few reasons: the fear of failing, embarrassing yourself or being laughed at.  Speaking a new language can be particularly stress-inducing because you've diligently practiced new vocabulary and learned the grammar, but at the critical moment, you lose your courage and can't find the right words. But don't give up yet - not all hope is lost! These tips will help you keep your foreign language anxiety in check and slowly conquer your fears without having money to burn😉. Tip 1: Prepare Yourself Start with the obviou...

Hi there! The ability to function in two or more languages feels almost like a superpower – and science agrees. The effects of bilingualism have been increasingly studied in the last few years and determined as overwhelmingly positive. (Yes, there was a time when it was thought that learning an additional language as a child would only serve to confuse the brain. Thankfully, that’s all in the past, as we gradually inched forward to agree that this is a false belief.) Now I will leave no stone unturned to persuade you why bilingualism rocks😉. Bilingualism actually grows grey matter! In the recent past, parents and teachers assumed that teaching children to another language at an early age would delay their language skills and somehow stunt their overall intellectual growth. It was quite common to find children with foreign mothers or fathers who had not made any particular effort to immediately pass on their language to their children. As scientific research progresses, however, it is ...

Hi there!  Some people pick up languages like cold or sunburns - without effort, through simple immersion in the atmosphere. Others can't hear the word "conjugate" without flashing back, in shame, to the times when they failed to undo the spell of monolingualism and show the green-eyed monster of one's success now. What exactly is it that allows the first group to make small talk in Spanish and read Confucius in Chinese while the rest of us struggle with just one language? Are some people really inept in language learning? Well, now let's get a look at some features that maybe can influence it. (I hope that after reading this post you will not hedge your bets and decide rather to learn mathematics😅) Age A lot of people say that the younger you are when you start to learn a new language, the better you will be at that language and the more native-like you will sound. Babies initially can tell the difference between sounds and make sounds that aren’t used in their ...