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4/25/2017

How to Travel Internationally (When You Can't Actually Leave Home)

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​Many people list travel as one of their top hobbies or as one of the items on their bucket list. Sometimes, it's just not possible to get overseas. Whether it's logistics, finances, or fear that is stopping you, here are some ways you can travel without actually leaving home:

1.) Google Earth - How many of you have searched for the Pyramids of Giza or the Eiffel Tower on Google Earth? If you haven't yet, you have to check it out. I love "strolling" the streets of London with the click of my mouse and looking up my old apartment in Trešnjevka, Zagreb, Croatia. It's an amazing way to actually SEE what many parts of the world actually look like.
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​2.) Restaurant Menus - Living in the digital age, we have access to REAL WORLD RESOURCES to use as language learning tools! If you would love to visit Zürich but can't fly over, search for the best cafes and restaurants in the Old Town (Altstadt) on Yelp. Once you find one you like, navigate to their website, and explore the menu! While you're at it, test your knowledge of the food vocabulary and if something on the menu sounds especially delicious, why not try to recreate it at home?

3.) Make International Friends Online - As children, we were taught not to speak with strangers but thanks to the Internet, we can interact with people from all over the world. I've mentioned before how Instagram is an amazing language learning tool (especially thanks to Instagram Stories!) but by searching a geotag, you can find users who have posted from that location and follow along their adventures. I like to comment on photos and videos and practice my language skills that way. You can get to know people and make some friends who actually live there or have visited the place you've always wanted to go.
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4.) Skype Buddy - if you really want to visit but can't leave your country at the moment, find a Skype buddy to video chat with! You'll both be able to share your experiences while practicing your new language. If you don't know anyone who lives where you'd like to visit and you haven't been able to make a friend on Instagram, try out iTalki. You can start start a discussion and find a language partner from anywhere in the world. 

5.) Music - Put some music on from the country you'd like to visit! You can do a quick Google search for the latest hits in whatever country you'd like to visit, you can stream a radio station directly from your phone or laptop, or search for a playlist on Spotify with the type of music you'd like to hear. Turn the music up, close your eyes, and imagine you are there! You'll be passively practicing your listening skills while enjoying the music of another culture. I transport myself to the seaside in Croatia by playing my favorite summer hits on YouTube, feel like I'm in a crowded cafe in Cairo with this playlist, and keep up with the latest news and music in Bavaria, Germany by streaming Bayern 3.
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4/13/2017

How to Actually Learn Another Language in 2017

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We've all heard how beneficial it is for your overall health and neurological function to learn a second (or third or fourth, etc.) language but have you really tried to improve your foreign language skills? Have you ever been stuck at the very beginning, unsure of where to start?

You may have a bit of a background with another language already from let's say, your high school French class, or maybe you learned a few phrases from your friends whose parents are from another country, or perhaps you've picked up some Spanish from working in a restaurant (like I did while working at a Mediterranean restaurant in Philadelphia).

I will admit, I absolutely love being able to impress people with my language skills. It's so much fun to surprise people by busting out some Egyptian Arabic or a Bavarian accent when I meet people from their respective region. Here are my top tips for furthering your language learning by using the BEST resources out there. Whether you want to learn English, Polish, Chinese, or Hungarian, you WILL be able to get real-life experience in the target language of your choice by utilizing the best of the Internet!

1.) Instagram
​I am a HUGE fan of Instagram and absolutely love meeting and following along with people from all over the world. With Insta Stories in every language, this has become my absolute favorite way to use real world experiences in language learning. This is an excellent listening activity and can keep you up to date on slang and current dialects around the world. I love following German speakers like Caro Daur and Mon Rovi, Being able to comment and engage with real people, in the target language of your choice, is the aboslute best way to practice your language skills every single day.

2.) Podcasts
I'm so happy podcasts have become so mainstream. It is so much fun to explore podcasts in other languages. People all over the world are sharing their skills and creating content in hundreds of languages for all to hear. I highly recommend Slow German for those working on their German listening skills and my husband loves to listen to Coffee Break French on his drive home from work.

3.) Blogs
Whether they're focused on cooking, travel, fashion, or lifestyle, blogs are a great way to work on your reading comprehension while incorporating a hobby that you already enjoy. You can search for blogs by changing your search settings to a specific language, country, or website extentions, searching for an adjective of something you like, and the word blog and you can explore for hours! I love practicing reading Polish by catching up with bloggers like Fashionelka

4.) TV Shows in the Target Language
Between YouTube, all of the video streaming providers, and international channels' direct websites, you can now find your favorite TV shows IN the target language of your choice. Let's say you've seen the show Friends a million times. By watching Friends in German or the language you're learning, you'll already have an idea of what's going on while working on your listening comprehension and learning new vocabulary. You can also turn on subtitles (when available) and have double the practice with both reading and hearing the words. One of my favorite things to do is watch new Croatian shows like Bonton that come up directly on the Croatian Channel HRT. I am so happy to have access, for free, to current Croatian shows from the United States.

5.) Memrise, DuoLingo, Rosetta Stone & the like
You may already know what kind of learner you are but even if you don't, one of the the real methods to becoming fluent in another language is to practice it in many ways including reading, writing, listening, speaking, and repeating. Physically writing or typing the words can help you connect the dots in your brain better when you're trying to retain the word you previously learned. This is where apps like DuoLingo and Memrise come in handy. I am a huge fan of Memrise and love the variety of lessons you can find there. I feel DuoLingo work well for people with a background in their language of choice already (and there is a limited amount of levels to go through). Rosetta Stone is great if you're only trying to learn one language but if you're trying to learn many, I would recommend using a combination of all three.

Thanks to the Internet, we truly have instant access to the entire world at our fingertips. I teach people from all over the world over Skype and it's incredible how quickly my students learn to speak another language. Just because you don't have a private language teacher living in your town, doesn't mean you can't have one-on-one lessons in the comfort of your own home with an expert instructor. I absolutely love being able to connect with people globally and help them achieve their language dreams.

Apply here if you're interested in booking one of the limited spots available for private, individualized language lessons. If you have any questions, please feel free to leave a comment here, DM me on Instagram, or contact me here. 

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    ​​Nikki Prša

    Polish-American Polyglot, Language Expert, German Teacher, M.Ed., married to my dream guy, the Croatian Sensation. Let's connect!

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    I aim to provide as much free content as possible to help teach others around the world how to speak another language. I am trying out using affiliate links, which means that I may earn a tiny commission if you click on a link or make a purchase through a link posted here. All opinions and materials are my own, unless otherwise stated. If you use and like my materials, let me know! :)

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