Quote of the week: 28 Jun 2014
“Learning is not attained by chance, it must be sought for with ardor and attended to with diligence.” Abigail Adams
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How much money are you wasting on language software?
So, you’ve decided to learn a language. Great! Now what?
If you’re anything like me, you’ll have gone straight to the Internet in a fit of great enthusiasm, and bought yourself a language course – whether that’s in an app, on a CD or online. You might even have gone a step further and enrolled in a class.
But then the sun comes out, or the World Cup kicks off, or you decide to start reading the Game of Thrones books (only recommended if you have nothing else to do with your time for at least six months), and that passion for your new language starts to fade a little bit. Suddenly there are other things to do with your time, and although you definitely still want to be able to speak the language, you just don’t seem to have the time or enthusiasm to actually learn it.
And so that language course you bought, which promised so much, is forgotten and unused, and your dream of going travelling and fitting in like a local remains just that – a dream.
Can anyone else hear violins…?
It might sound obvious, but the thing about language courses, whether it’s EuroTalk, Rosetta Stone, Duolingo or any of the other multitude of programs out there, is that they’re only as useful as you allow them to be. I wish I could tell you that simply by downloading uTalk to your iPhone, the vocabulary will magically find its way into your brain while you’re sleeping, but it’s just not true (although if you want to try it, it’s available from the App Store).
Let’s look at this another way. You want to lose weight, so you join a gym. Logical. Maybe you even go along a few times after work. But then six months later you’re still not skinny, and on top of that you’re out of money and you probably feel pretty bad about yourself too. According to research by online accountants Crunch.co.uk, here in Britain we were wasting £37m a year on unused gym memberships in 2011. Just think what we could have been doing with that money. Or how fit we could all have got if we’d kept going to the gym.
The fact is, gyms don’t magically make you fit, or thin. (If it were as easy as that, I’d have joined one a long time ago.) They just provide the conditions you need to get yourself there. Even a personal trainer, whose job it is to help you, will only get so far if you’re not willing to meet them in the middle. And it’s the same with language software – if you don’t use it, it can’t help you. We’d all love a big red button that will get us instantly to where we want to be, but life isn’t like that.
And that’s not necessarily a bad thing. Learning a language isn’t just about being able to speak that language. It’s also about the things you’ll discover along the way. You’ll learn to appreciate your own native tongue, understand the culture of the language you’re learning; you might even make a whole new group of friends. And personally, I think the satisfaction you feel the very first time you manage to speak to someone in another language, even if it’s just to say hello or thank you, is much greater than the pleasure you gain from becoming fluent. In the same way, reaching your target weight will feel amazing – but nothing will beat that first pound you lose.
So my advice is this – don’t buy language software, unless you’re going to use it. Because as the late Maya Angelou once said, ‘Nothing will work unless you do.’ And we don’t want your language app gathering virtual dust on your iPhone, until one day you realise you don’t need it any more and quietly delete it.
But if you do decide to invest in a course (hopefully EuroTalk!), and you follow through on that crazy plan you had one day to learn Russian, or Korean, or even Klingon, that’s great. I guarantee you won’t regret it – and it’ll definitely be less painful than going to the gym.
Liz
10 reasons to visit… Guernsey
I recently visited a friend in Guernsey, one of the Channel Islands. Not really knowing what to expect, I loved it from the moment I got on the Blue Islands flight from Southampton and was offered a free glass of champagne (can’t think why). Here are my top ten reasons to visit this small but lovely island.
1. It’s English, but not England
The Channel Islands don’t belong to the UK, but they are part of the British Isles. (Technically they’re British Crown Dependencies.) When you come out of the airport, everyone speaks English, cars drive on the left, and the whole island has a very quaint English village feel to it. So if you want to experience England without actually going to England, Guernsey is the perfect place.
2. It’s French, but not France
Having said all that, geographically Guernsey is much closer to France than it is to England, and you don’t have to go far to stumble upon a French café or boulangerie. There are also, unsurprisingly, a lot of French residents and visitors. Many of the place names look very French too, although confusingly most of them are said with an English accent. Castle Cornet is pronounced like the musical instrument, for example, rather than ‘cornay’, as you might expect.
3. The sunset
I’m a bit of a sunset addict, so my friend made sure to include a trip to Cobo Bay, on the west coast of the island, where we bought some fish and chips and settled down to watch the sun set in the sea. Although we had to move several times to avoid getting washed away by the tide, the view was absolutely stunning, and it was well worth the epic walk from the bus stop to Cobo, which turned out to be a bit further away than we thought…
4. The history
If you’re a history buff, there’s plenty to keep you occupied on Guernsey. Evidence of the German occupation during World War 2 is everywhere, from the concrete fortifications all around the coast, to the huge monument marking the island’s liberation in St Peter Port. There’s also La Vallette, the underground military museum, the 13th century Castle Cornet and the Victoria Tower, which was constructed in honour of a visit from Queen Victoria and Prince Albert in 1846.
5. Le Petit Café and Bistro
My friend told me shortly after my arrival that I couldn’t come to Guernsey and not visit Le Petit Café, her favourite restaurant on the island. In fact during my three-day stay, we ended up going twice, once for dinner and then, not too many hours later, for brunch. It’s really cosy, with friendly staff and great French food. It’s also really easy to find, right at the bottom of the main shopping street in St Peter Port. Try the coq au vin!
6. The views
Guernsey is far more than just sunsets. I’m not much of a photographer, but even I came away with some spectacular pictures, which could easily have been taken somewhere far more exotic. Both the island itself and the views across the sea, to the other Channel Islands, are amazing; you can even see across to France on a clear day. We were lucky because we had great weather, so were able to spend the whole weekend outside exploring and enjoying the sights.
7. The people
Within minutes of my arrival, we’d made friends with the taxi driver, who insisted on giving me a selection of maps and brochures to allow me to make the most of my stay, even though I was visiting someone who lives there and knows her way around. The following morning, as I walked into town along the seafront, I was greeted repeatedly by people passing me. As someone who’s used to the stony silence of the London Underground, this was a pleasant, if slightly disconcerting, change.
8. Victor Hugo
Best known as the author of Les Misérables (the book, not the musical) and The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Victor Hugo spent several years in exile on Guernsey, and his house is now a museum. Don’t be put off by the slightly tense atmosphere in the waiting area before your tour; it’s well worth a visit, if only for the spectacular view from the top floor. And if you’re lucky you’ll get the tour guide who likes to tell colourful stories about Hugo’s mistress.
9. Herm
On my last day, we took a ferry across to the small neighbouring island of Herm (20 minutes away), which is just beautiful. No cars are allowed and the island only has about three shops, so it’s not the place to go if you want action, but if you’re looking for a lovely beach to relax on, I recommend Herm. We couldn’t stay long because I had to catch my flight home, but we spent an enjoyable couple of hours on Shell Beach, musing about what it must be like to live on a private island (like Jethou, very close by and shown in the photo below) and which kind of boat we’d buy if we could afford it (which we can’t, sadly).
10. The weather
Typically, Guernsey enjoys more sunshine hours and has a milder climate than the UK, so it’s a great place to go if you enjoy a bit of summer sun. When I visited, although the weather forecast predicted 14 degrees and cloudy, it was more like 22, with not a cloud in the sky. Not ideal when you’ve packed for cooler conditions, but I wasn’t complaining.
Overall, Guernsey was a lovely surprise, and just goes to show you don’t always have to travel far to find somewhere amazing to visit. If you’re over in this part of the world (whether on holiday or because you live here), I definitely recommend checking Guernsey out.
Liz
By the way, we’d love to add Guernésiais to our range of language learning programs. If you, or anyone you know, can help with translation or recording, please get in touch. Thank you!
10 reasons to visit… Brazil
Where else for this week’s ’10 reasons…’ post but Brazil? This huge, beautiful and unique country will be attracting tourists by the thousands over the coming weeks, so here are our top tips – whether you’re visiting for the football and have a bit of spare time, or you’re planning a holiday for later in the year.
1. Ilha Grande
A beautiful island off the coast of Rio, which can be reached by ferry (no cars allowed – there are no roads for them to drive on anyway). It’s a great place to see local wildlife, and also has a fascinating history, having been a pirates’ lair, a leper colony and a prison in its time.
2. Beaches
With over 7,000km of coastline, it’s no surprise that Brazil has a lot of beaches. It would be impossible to name them all, but a couple of the most famous are Copacabana Beach in Rio de Janeiro, which is particularly well known for its New Year celebrations, attended by about three million people each year, and Praia do Cassino, near Rio Grande in the south of the country, which is thought to be the longest beach in the world at an incredible 245km.
3. Languages
With over 180 indigenous languages, Brazil is a language lover’s dream. Although most tourists should be able to get around with a smattering of basic Portuguese, if you’re heading off the beaten track, you may hear people speaking Tupí, Arawak, Carib, and Gê languages, among many others.
4. Let’s dance!
Brazil is probably best known for samba, the African-influenced music and dance style now popular across the world, and celebrated most famously at the annual Carnaval in Rio de Janeiro. Samba is far more than just music; it’s a hugely important part of Brazilian culture, and you’d be hard pressed to visit the country without experiencing it (and why would you want to?). Capoeira is another well-known tradition, which combines dance, acrobatics and martial arts set to music. Someone once tried to teach me some capoeira moves at university. It did not go well – turns out it’s quite difficult, especially if you’re as uncoordinated as I am – but it’s great fun to watch.
5. Iguaçu Falls
Found on the border between Brazil and Argentina, the Iguaçu Falls (or Iguazu Falls if you’re in Argentina) are one of the region’s most famous natural landmarks. There are 275 waterfalls in total, along a 2.7km stretch of the Iguazu River. Be sure to see the Devil’s Throat, a U-shaped chasm right on the border between the two countries, and if you can, take a boat trip under the falls for the ultimate water ride.
6. Christ the Redeemer
Another world-famous landmark, and one of the New Seven Wonders of the World, the 124 feet high statue of Jesus Christ hit the headlines last week when travel blogger Lee Thompson was given permission to climb to the top to take a selfie. Towering over the city of Rio de Janeiro from the top of the Corcovado mountain, the monument is a must-see if you go to Brazil. Unlike Lee, you won’t be able to go inside the statue, but you can visit the chapel in the pedestal at its base and the views from the mountain are still amazing.
7. Sea Kayaking in Paraty
Staying in Rio, if you want to get away from the crowds, why not try a spot of sea kayaking in Paraty Bay? Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced kayaker, this is a great way to enjoy fantastic views of the town and mountains, relax on the beautiful sandy beaches and explore a mangrove forest on your way to the base of the Sugarloaf mountain.
8. Amazon
The rainforest, not the website. Not an area to venture into unprepared, or alone, obviously, but great if you’re tired of the cities and want to get back to nature. Take a boat trip down the river, have a treetop adventure (there’s even a hotel), or try your hand at piranha fishing (not sure about that one, personally). The rainforest is full of wildlife, although many of the animals and birds will keep themselves to themselves, so if you do encounter any, it’s pretty exciting.
9. Food
Being a huge country, Brazil has many, many types of food, from feijoada (a black bean stew with beef and sausage), to pastéis (deep fried parcels containing pretty much whatever you like – cheese, beef, cod, you name it), quindim (a custard dessert made from sugar, egg yolks and coconut) to bolinhos de chuva* (fried doughballs sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon). It’s safe to say that whatever your tastes, you’ll probably find something you like in Brazil.
* I’m tempted to go to Brazil right now for some of these.
10. Football…?
Someone told me there’s a big football tournament happening in Brazil this month, so if you’re a fan, now might be a good time to visit. I don’t know about that, but I do know Brazil are a huge footballing nation. They’ve won the World Cup (that was it!) five times, more than any other nation, and will be hoping to make it six in a few weeks. If they can get past England, obviously…
If you are visiting Brazil, remember to learn some basic Brazilian Portuguese before you go – it’ll make everything a lot easier and much more fun. Take uTalk for iOS with you and you’ll never be lost for words!
I realise I’ve barely scratched the surface of what this huge country has to offer, so if you want to share any tips of your own, please do so in the comments.
Liz
What language does the voice in your head speak?
In today’s day and age, a great percent of the people travel, either for vacations, business or even a longer period of time, in search of a better job, better opportunities, to be with the loved ones and why not, just for the sake of a multi-cultural experience. While some of us learn a new language as a hobby or in school, migrants find that it is difficult to live in a country whose language you can’t speak. So this is where we get to the point of this article: how does it feel to speak another language than your native one, every day with everyone.
First of all, let me take you on a history trip back in the ‘90s. No, we’re not going to listen to Backstreet Boys, instead I’m going to tell you how our generation got to learn English from TV back in Romania. There was a single cartoon program back then, Cartoon Network, and it wasn’t dubbed in Romanian (like it is now), nor did we have subtitles. So we’d just watch the cartoons without completely understanding what they were saying (not that there was much conversation, but still) and I would occasionally ask my parents what does this/that mean. From the age of eight we’d eventually start learning English in school, but by then it already sounded familiar and we would only add the grammar to the equation.
Growing up, we had daily contact with American English from movies and music and by the time I finished high school I’d already got a certified advanced level.
So I was quite confident in my English; I got the chance to use it for both of the jobs I had in the years I worked in Romania, and I got along really well with the people I’d have to speak in English on the telephone or in meetings.
Last year, when I moved to London I was rather surprised to find that I couldn’t understand what these people were saying. I panicked at first but then I realised that no one is expecting me to be 100% fluent in English so I started asking questions or asking people to repeat so that I can understand properly. As I said, most of the English vocabulary I had was American, so I started picking up the differences like, ‘mug’ not ‘cup’, ‘biscuits’ not ‘cookies’ and ‘fringe’ not ‘bangs’.
At first I found it quite exhausting, and at the end of the day I wasn’t able to concentrate anymore or to use more complex words. With time, I got used to it and I started learning more and more words and expressions that I would afterwards try to use in conversations (like for example ‘I’m skint’, which means ‘I’m broke’). Also, in the first months here, I used to get nervous at the supermarket or whenever a unexpected conversation would start, fearing that I won’t find my words or that I wouldn’t remember certain things. With time, I started gaining more confidence and now, after ten months, I am easily able to have a conversation, express my feelings and ideas accurately and understand almost all what the other person is saying. I still have trouble understanding different English accents, and I would probably see myself stuck in a conversation about, let’s say, gardening tools – so certain topics with a specific word-pool.
You know how in your native language you can express your feelings and state of mind by the words you choose and by your tone of voice? Well, good luck doing that when you only know a single set of words for each thing. Also, studies have shown that sometimes people find that they can speak more freely in a non-native language because they don’t feel that the words ‘really’ belong to them, they’re not ‘their’ words.
But what happens when you spend more than half of the day speaking a different language? Your brain starts to associate certain situations, new situations that you didn’t have to deal with in your home-country, with a certain language – this is when you start to ‘think’ in another language. Some people associate this moment with the moment you start to feel like you belong to a certain culture, that your roots are starting to clench to the ground and now you’ve become (or at least moved closer to being) one of ‘them’.
So I’ve found myself in situations in which it was easier for me to express myself using an English word rather than a Romanian one, either because I found that it sounded better or because I couldn’t think of a proper translation.
It’s funny how the brain works sometimes – I got a call at work today from a business partner that also speaks native Romanian, so naturally I started talking to her in Romanian and found it very difficult to find the right words or to build the sentences without sounding stupid. I felt like I had to do a reverse-translation of what I would normally say in English.
At the end of the day, I can agree that using multiple languages really does wonders for your way of thinking and for the structure of your thoughts. Like Nelson Mandela once said, ‘If you talk to a man in a language he understands, it goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.’
Ioana
