Tips for Learning Another Language

Learning a new language can be tricky, sometimes you'll have to learn a completely different grammar or alphabet. This requires a lot of time, practice, and dedication, but you could also make good use of some tips to either speed up the process, or making memorizing words and characters (if you're learning something like Japanese or Mandarin) way easier. We'll give you some tips that might help you a lot when learning a new language.

1. Find a partner

Things will be way easier if you find a friend to practice with. A partner can correct you if there's something you're doing wrong, and can also be of great help when practicing how to speak in a new language. Some people even say that having a friend learn a language alongside them, can help motivate them, they try to compete with each other to see who can practice or learn faster.

2. Leave your comfort zone

When you're learning something new, chances are you'll make a ton of mistakes, and the sooner you learn to overcome them, the better. The whole experience could be a little bit scary, but it'll all be worth it in the end. Remember, good things take time, and learning a language takes especially a lot of time, but once you're speaking fluently with someone else you'll find out the whole thing was just awesome.

3. Label things from your everyday life

Creating labels and pasting them around your house can help you learn words a lot easier. You'll be seeing them every day, and repeating them often can also help memorizing how things like cabinet, sink or drawer are said and spelled. 

4. Keep practicing in your head

It doesn't matter where you are, you should never stop practicing in your head. When you're on your way to work/school, showering or working out, you should try as best as you can to practice what you've learned. Think about grammar and pronunciation of the words or phrases you've learned, try to translate stuff in your head...You could train your brain to begin thinking in another language, making it easier for you to get used to it.

5. Use entertainment to learn words and phrases

Many people will tell you that they learned a lot of English by playing video games or listening to music in that language. It can be tricky at first, but once you get the hang of it, it could turn into a fun tool for learning phrases and words. Don't forget to turn on the subtitles of the games you're playing, and even try to sing along with some foreign songs by looking up the lyrics online. 

6. Learn from mistakes

It doesn't matter if, at first you make a lot of mistakes, it's all part of the process, so you'll need to know how to embrace them. Many times, getting something wrong one or two times can help you remember those mistakes a lot easier. Keep trying, everyone was in your place at one time or another, and you should never feel ashamed of mistakes, just practice a lot and you'll improve with time.

7. Technology is your pocket-sized teacher

Apps like Duolingo, Memrise, and Babbel can help you learn new words, grammar, and pronunciation from almost any language you want. These are basically teachers you can carry in your pocket, so you get to practice and learn anywhere. Many of these applications also have flash cards, that'll help you memorize words or characters (in Mandarin or Japanese), and could help you improve faster.

8. Stick to the basics at first

Don't try to get ahead of yourself by trying to learn almost every single word in a new language. Even in English, only 300 words make up everyday vocabulary, and no one ever learns every single word in their native language. This means you don't have to rush to learn everything, start with the basics, words you'll use on a daily basis, and after some time, you'll slowly start expanding your vocabulary.

10. Think about it as a door to many opportunities 

After learning a new language, you'll see the world under a completely different light. Your perception of your surroundings change and you'll have so many new and amazing experiences. Speaking more than one language opens your opportunities to new jobs, employers appreciate bilingual workers a lot more. When you study a new language, keep in mind that by doing so, you're broadening your opportunities around the world.

10. Learning languages gets easier after a while

After you learn a second language, the ones following will be a lot easier, and you'll learn them faster. The first time you'll learn another language, you'll probably have a hard time. New words, grammar, and even alphabets can be really tricky at first, and it'll take you some time to get used to it. But after you've mastered that one, you'll find learning a third one way easier, you'll have your techniques in place, you'll know your strengths and weaknesses, and you'll already be used to the whole process.

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Things Foreigners Find Weird About Latin America

Latin America is amazing, its culture is extremely diverse and their people are kind and lively. But being basically a culture of its own, foreigners can usually find some discrepancies from their own countries. Many things in Latin America are done completely different from other countries, people behave differently, and services don't work like they do in countries like the United States or Canada. We found some of the things foreigners find most interesting about Latin American culture, and we'll share them here with you!

1. In most Latin countries, toilet paper is thrown in a trash can

In some places, their plumbing is not built to handle paper being thrown on toilets, and doing it can result in severely clogging it. Most places will have signs on the stalls' doors to remind you to use the trashcan, but sometimes, since it's not a common practice, people inevitably throw their paper in the toilet.

2. In some countries, it's cheaper to buy liquids in bags

Things like milk, or sometimes water, can be cheaper when sold in bottles. Even some street vendors or small grocery shops sell soft drinks or natural juices in small bags.

3. In some Latin American countries, getting around can be tricky

Addresses don't work like they do in the US, in Latin America, landmarks or well-known locations are used as a reference to get somewhere. Also, some of them don't use blocks for a measure, but often use meters to tell how far you have to go.

4. Students wear uniforms up until high school

Some schools, whether they're private or public, require their students to wear uniforms. From elementary, up until high school, students are supposed to wear a school uniform.

5. Dish soap is not liquid, it's a paste

Liquid dish soap can be a little expensive in some countries, but paste soap is way cheaper and usually lasts longer. 

6. If you're meeting someone new, don't be weirded out when they kiss you on the cheek

In most countries, people greet by kissing each other on the cheek. It's used more often when you're friends with someone, but sometimes someone you just met might greet you like that. This also works when you're saying goodbye to someone.

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Reasons Why You Should Study in Costa Rica

Costa Rica is a biodiversity gem in Central America, and it is often preferred by international students as a learning destination. This country offers many benefits to foreign students, and it surely leaves a lifetime impression on them. Here are some of the reasons why studying in Costa Rica could be one of the best experiences of your life.



1. Programs are very affordable

Costa Rica's study programs are usually the most affordable. Even keeping into account things like housing, meals, and textbooks (everything's usually included in their prices), they keep being one of the most comfortable options to choose in Central America.





2. The "Pura Vida" lifestyle

Costa Rica lives by its slogan, and if you come to study here you might be charmed by its population's relaxed lifestyle. Many students have said to prefer Costa Rica over other Latin American countries because of how cooperative and helpful citizens were to them. 




3. Great quality education

Costa Rica invests a lot in education, so they have one of the highest literacy rates in Latin America. High-quality education is the greatest reason of why to come to Costa Rica. 





4. Sustainability is a great deal

In Costa Rica, a big factor in its quality of living is how much interest there is in taking great care of the environment. If you're interested in sustainable development and environmental conservation, Costa Rica is the perfect country for you.





5. Costa Rica is filled with nature's wonders

Some of nature's most amazing works can be seen in Costa Rica. Its many mountains, rainforests, beaches, rivers, national parks, and volcanoes. are worth experiencing at least once, and studying here might give you even more time to experience just how amazing all these places are.




6. The learning Spanish experience

If you come to Costa Rica to learn Spanish, you'll probably attend a university or some sort of learning institution. You'll find out that many people in Costa Rica are bilingual and are more than willing to help you practice your Spanish.





7. Year-round climate

Being in Costa Rica, you'll find out what the word "rainforest" means. And while there's quite some rain, most days could be warm and sunny.  Winter season is not nearly as cold as in the US, but summer season can be really warm and you might need lots of sunscreen,





8. You might get to visit three countries while you're here

Visiting Costa Rica's neighbor countries could be easier than you think. Fares to both frontiers are usually very affordable and crossing from one country to the other is pretty simple.





9. Sunsets are stunning

Costa Rica's sunsets are probably one of the most beautiful things you'll ever see, and walking down the beach during sundown is one of the best experiences you could ever have in this tropical country.

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What Volunteering Can Do For You

Volunteering can offer vital help to people who need it and their communities. But it can also help you with reducing stress, depression and may even provide you with a sense of purpose. The things you experience while volunteering can help advance your career in the future and it's a great addition to your curriculum. Here are some of the things that volunteering could do for you.

1. It gives you a sense of happiness

The more you volunteer, the happier you could be. Research has shown that the odds of being "very happy" increase by 7% for people who have had volunteering experiences.



2. Connects you to others

When you're volunteering, you connect to the community you're helping. When you dedicate so much of your time and efforts to help out other, even with the smallest tasks, you could make a lot of friends that might even last a lifetime.



3. Improves your mental and physical health

Volunteering can help combat stress, anger, anxiety, and depression, and at the same time it improves your self-confidence and helps you stay physically healthy.



4. You could learn new skills

Volunteering can help you develop new job skills, as well as improve the ones you already had. Many of the skills you learn could help you gain points in some job interviews since experience is of great value.


5. Get inspired into what you'd like to do

If you've not decided yet which career to choose, seeking volunteering options that adjust to your likings could help you make a decision. You could introduce yourself to the work you might end up doing in the future.



6. You learn a lot about teamwork

You'll have a better understanding of how teams work, and how to work in harmony with other people for the same cause.

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