language hacking
Spanish Grammar and Vocabulary Are So Hard!!!
It seems like a BIG challenge, but we’ll help you slip right into fluent Spanish with enticing phrases and sexy situational learning. You’ll be pumping out correctly conjugated verbs and smokingly precise vocab, and the hot hot HOT Spanish you learn this way will be lodged in your animal brain forever. Our sizzling Spanish-learning app …
The Best (Most Intriguing, Fun, Informative…) Italian Podcasts Being Made in 2023
The world of Italian podcasts has exploded with slick new options; as Italian language learners, in 2023 we’re no longer limited to drive-time jabber from RAI (Radiotelevisione italiana) or sloppily uploaded audio from Italian amateurs. Italian podcasting can compete with podcasts anywhere; there are quality offerings in the genres of true crime, humor, in-depth news …
Learn All 53 Catalan Expressions Involving Shit
It’s hard to complete a Catalan sentence without merda. Shit is always on the tip of the Catalan tongue, whether used to describe speed, cowardice, disappointment, avarice, explosive mushrooms, etc., etc., literally ad nauseum. In my quest to speak Catalan like a native, I’ve compiled an exhaustive list of shit-based expressions from friends and academic sources. At my …
My Favorite Books for Learning Turkish
I dived into a number of books while learning Turkish over the past year. There are not a whole lot of great options, but, fortunately, there are a few that work great for taking you from zero to intermediate-level Turkish. These books make an excellent basis for learning and supplement other learning methods (online or …
A Smart Italian Audio Course: My Experience with “Think in Italian”
On my way to learning Italian I’ve tried out many books, apps, and podcasts. This review will focus on the audio-based course Think in Italian, which turned out to be something I wish I had picked up much earlier in my journey. It’s not a perfect course but there is so much about it worth …
Neapolitan in 20 Minutes: Learn Just Enough for Any Conversation in Southern Italy
If you want to joke, flirt, and make a proper toast in the south of Italy, you could certainly speak Italian. Or English — or Galician or Russian, for that matter, as Italians are generally only too delighted to carry on a conversation without the slightest comprehension. But if you really want a truly local adventure, you must speak at least …
The Kindle as a Powerhouse for Language Learning: Hacks and Review
Look up foreign-language words without blocking your reading flow, then export and learn your vocabulary list to make them yours. Over the years I’ve been using a Kindle to learn languages, I’ve very gradually uncovered hacks and tools for efficient vocabulary building. But this article will throw them all at you, right here, in one …
Important Phrases for Boinking Your Lover(s) in Mexican Spanish
Mexican Spanish is unique, and this is especially true when you’re making love — you’re likely to hear phrases that differ those heard in your love piles in other Spanish-speaking countries. As in many cultures, sex is considered a bit “naughty” in Mexico, but with consternation and intrigue comes linguistic creativity. There’s a rich range …
The Best Books for Learning Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian
Over the years I’ve spent learning and refining my Serbian/Croatian/Bosnian, I’ve tried out plenty of textbooks and learning guides. Most of them were terrible. But a few have risen to the top and are worth recommending. These books aren’t the very first step you should take into the language; your first few minutes of Serbian learning should …
Minchia ch’è beddu! 20 Minutes to Feigning Fluent-ish Sicilian
If you want to joke, flirt, and gripe with the locals in Sicily, you could do so in Italian. But if you manage to do so in Sicilian you’re going to have way more fun. Sicilian is the language of the island of Sicily. Some refer to it as a “dialect” — but, prior to …