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When I was in elementary school I went to a Spanish immersion school. And when I was in first grade, an obsession rippled through our school. The obsession was a song (with some amazingly choreographed dance moves) called “Asereje” by…
Earlier this afternoon I was standing oog in oog met (face to face with) Van Gogh in Amsterdam. There he was with his green eyes and red beard wearing a blue smock telling me goedemiddag (good afternoon). And all of…
I tutor a French middle schooler, and he speaks almost perfect English. We’ll talk for 30 minutes and he’ll make one, two or sometimes zero mistakes. I also tutor a few French friends who are in their 20s. Some of…
As I write this I’m sitting on the couch looking out my window in Rouen, France, a mid-size town an hour and half north of Paris. I’ve been here for the last two years as a high school English teaching…
Even in times of self-imposed isolation, we can still become proficient in a language. I fooled myself into believing that my environment had a direct impact on whether or not I could speak a language. The key to learning a language is effort. Here are some ways to think outside the box when it comes to not just learning a language but learning a different culture as well.
St. Patrick’s Day won’t be the same this year, since parades from Dublin to New York have been canceled, but that shouldn’t stop anyone from reminiscing about years past or preparing for the years ahead. If you plan on traveling…
Before I stepped foot in Louisiana, I made Isaac Toups gumbo and thought it turned out pretty well. I made my own roux with grapeseed oil, flower and elbow grease, and took it up a notch with homemade bone broth. I thought it was pretty good. Then I ate Louis Michot’s gumbo, and realized I was missing so much (and I was working too hard).
An Interview with Life Coach and Motivational Speaker Marie Forleo When you made that resolution to learn a new language, you were probably eager to wipe the slate clean and launch energetically into the best version of yourself. But it’s…
Fresh off the car, the plane, and the bus, it was time to establish myself as a functioning adult member of society in Spain. This included, but was not limited to, getting a Spanish phone number, finding an apartment, opening…
Would you find it particularly cute if your boyfriend called you his flea? Or how about if your wife sent you a cute text calling you, the love of her life, her cabbage? How about if your partner addressed a…
Ecotourism has gained visibility in the past decade as many popular destinations like Venice and Australia are suffering the devastating impacts of climate change. From flooding to the destruction of habitat, the effects of global warming have accelerated and threaten…
If you’re salivating thinking about spring break or summer vacation, you’re not alone. Millions will make travel plans this year to visit popular destinations that offer sand, surf, and sometimes, a bit of culture and cobblestone streets to go with…
