While 30-day language challenges can be a fun and motivating way to kickstart your language learning journey, they may not be sufficient on their own to achieve fluency or deep proficiency in a language. Here are some reasons why:
1. Lack of Consistency:
Language learning requires consistent and sustained effort over time because a 30-day challenge may not provide enough time for the brain to form strong neural connections needed for language retention. Here are some tips to help you stay consistent with your language.
2. Limited Exposure:
Learning a language involves exposure to various aspects, including grammar, vocabulary, pronunciation, and cultural nuances. Generally a short challenge may not cover all these aspects comprehensively.
3. Surface-Level Learning:
A 30-day challenge often focuses on basic phrases and vocabulary, providing a superficial understanding of the language. Besides achieving fluency requires a deeper understanding of grammar, syntax, and context.
4. No Time for Practice:
Language learning is not just about memorizing words; it’s also about using them in context through speaking, writing, and listening. A 30-day challenge may not allow sufficient time for practical application and practice.
5. Lack of Customization:
Different learners have different strengths, weaknesses, and learning styles. A one-size-fits-all 30-day challenge may not cater to individual needs, making it less effective for some learners. At Nasma we offer customized lesson plans for each student’s needs. Therefore, our Levantine Arabic private classes are great for that!
6. Unrealistic Expectations:
Learning a language is a gradual process, and expecting significant progress in just 30 days can set unrealistic expectations. Further this might lead to frustration and disappointment.
7. Long-Term Commitment:
Language learning is a marathon, not a sprint. Long-term commitment and consistent practice are crucial for success. Furthermore, a short challenge may not instill the habits needed for sustained learning.
8. Limited Cultural Understanding:
Lastly, accordingly language and culture are often intertwined. Learning a language involves understanding cultural nuances, idioms, and social norms, which may be neglected in a brief challenge.
While a 30-day language challenge can serve as a helpful introduction or a way to jumpstart your learning, it should be seen as just one part of a broader language-learning strategy. To become proficient in a language, consider setting realistic goals, incorporating diverse learning methods, and maintaining a long-term commitment to regular practice. Check out this article by Jin Wu for more language tips!
How to teach kids Arabic in a fun way using music, story telling, games, art, crafts, interactive apps, and fun activities! Below are 7 interesting ways!
Teaching Arabic to kids in a fun way involves a variety of methods and tools, just like teaching any other language. Here are some methods that can help make the learning process enjoyable and engaging:
Games and Activities:
Games are a great way to help kids learn. You can use traditional board games and modify them to include Arabic vocabulary or phrases. Flashcards, memory games, word search puzzles, and picture matching activities can also be very helpful. We love this Lebanese bored game 7Zar Shou? Lebanese Charades is a card game that is your traditional charades with a Lebanese twist.
2 or more teams compete trying to act out & guess as many cards as possible. The team with the most points wins.
We are so excited to announce the new edition of 7zar Shou Lebanese Charades (135 cards):
more famous sayings, more categories & now with English Translation for non-Lebanese to join in on the fun!.
Songs are an effective way to teach a new language because they make learning enjoyable. Arabic nursery rhymes, songs, and even children’s music videos can be great resources. Our students enjoy watching and listening to Lila TV.
Crafts and Drawing:
Children love to draw and do crafts, and you can incorporate Arabic into these activities. For example, you can have them draw a picture and then label it with the corresponding Arabic words.
Interactive Apps:
There are several educational apps available that are designed to teach kids Arabic in a fun, interactive way. These can be particularly useful for learning vocabulary and basic phrases.
Dramas and Role Play:
Children learn effectively when they are actively engaged. Setting up dramas or role-play scenarios where they have to use Arabic can be an entertaining and practical way for them to learn.
Cultural Activities:
Introducing kids to Arabic culture can make learning the language more interesting and meaningful. This could include cooking Arabic food together, celebrating Arabic holidays, or exploring Arabic art and history.
Remember, children learn at their own pace, and what works best will depend on the child’s individual learning style, interests, and abilities. The goal is to make the learning experience enjoyable so that they will stay interested and motivated
Being a polyglot is really nice. Learning various languages has many unanticipated advantages in your career. This ability may come in handy in daily life at any time, such as when someone asks you for directions, you place an order at a restaurant, or you run into someone at a party.
But can speaking many languages genuinely contribute to your life’s purpose? Or do you keep additional languages on hand for those tiny necessities of life? Some positions are designed for bilingual individuals. Knowing another language increases your competitiveness as a candidate in certain fields. Here are a few potential professional paths where being bilingual might be your biggest asset.
Sales Representative
Why sell? because establishing a personal connection is a key component of sales. Because building a bridge to potential clients requires identifying points of commonality. Because convincing customers to buy from you requires building trust. The number of prospective consumers you can reach doubles when you know twice as many languages. When you speak two or more languages, your chances of closing the deal increase because selling is a numbers game.
Translator
Of course. A polyglot can make a wonderful living as a translator. However, did you know that this career option is gaining popularity as companies expand internationally at a faster rate? These days, translators aren’t simply for the United Nations. They can be found in medical facilities, courtrooms, factories, boardrooms, and government offices. Your life’s work as a translator entails talking on other people’s behalf, which has the potential to significantly impact people’s lives.
Hospitality Staff
Working as staff in a hotel can be the ideal setting for your bilingual self to shine if you love the notion of travelling, tourism, and new countries. Chances are good that you’ll interact with individuals from all over the world on a regular basis whether you work as a desk clerk or a hotel manager. You’ll deliver service that exceeds their expectations if you can communicate with foreign tourists in their original tongue. Additionally, you could positively affect someone’s holiday or business trip by guiding them away from expensive blunders or tourist traps.
Teacher
Being multilingual will help you in a career in education, even if you’re not teaching English as a Second Language (ESL). Significant numbers of kids come from homes where Spanish is the main language in many US neighbourhoods. Spanish-speaking instructors are in high demand for teaching positions. Parent-teacher conferences and educational planning can go much more smoothly if you can communicate in another language.
Journalist
Being multilingual can make or break a story for investigative journalists covering current events. The more languages you speak, the better prepared you will be for interviews, research, and comprehending the subtleties of culture and international policy. Speaking other languages can help you get around obstacles in your reporting, whether you’re interviewing sources at the US border or travelling to the Middle East to see how America’s foreign policy is affecting the rest of the globe.
Want to advance your group’s or company’s use of language? Contact us to find out more about our specialised language programmes for a global workforce.
The majority of commerce and tourism is conducted by English speakers. But after you master English, which language gives you a corporate competitive advantage? Being multilingual gives you an advantage whether or not travelling is a part of your job—or something you want it to be.
Speaking another language improves your ability to communicate with clients, partners, and coworkers around the world. Reading books and watching movies will help you learn while erasing cultural barriers. There is no quicker method to establish trust and camaraderie when business is all about connections than via language. The most useful languages for students with a business mindset are listed below.
Spanish (400 million+ speakers)
Nearly 30% of Americans are Hispanic, and Mexico is one of the US’s biggest trading partners. Spanish is a commonly spoken alternative or official language in more than 40 nations worldwide. Learning Spanish can advance your career internationally for all of the aforementioned reasons.
Spanish has been ranked among the most requested languages in US job postings. After English, it is by far the most valuable language to speak in America. According to experts, its significance will only increase as a result of the growing number of native Spanish speakers employed by American businesses.
Mandarin (1 billion+ speakers)
China is the second-largest economy in the world, and it is the most widely spoken language in the world. The desire to study the language of the future motivates a lot of people to learn Chinese. Mandarin Chinese will increasingly be used in business dealings as China becomes one of the world’s top economic powers.
The plus side of Mandarin being one of the hardest languages for English speakers to learn? Once you understand it, it’s quite astounding. For international hiring managers and potential clients, learning Mandarin will make you stand out.
Russian (200 million+ speakers)
The UN recognises Russian as one of its official languages. Russia is a political and economic powerhouse that has produced a sizable part of the world’s billionaires in recent years. For both Eastern and Western nations, Russia routinely ranks as one of the most significant international trading partners. It also ranks well among the world’s oil and natural gas producers.
In contrast to other European nations, English is not widely spoken or understood in parts of Russia and the former Soviet Union. It may be essential to understand Russian in order to travel and speak effectively if you intend to conduct business with these nations.
Arabic (420 million+ speakers)
Arabic is the fifth most spoken language in the world. Arabic is the official language of wealthy nations like Dubai. Over the past few decades, there has been an increase in demand for Arabic speakers among governments, nonprofit organisations, and for-profit businesses. Arabic language proficiency is essential for those working in the building and real estate sectors in the Middle East and North Africa. Additionally, a significant chunk of the European and American markets are now driven by investments from the Arab world.
Arabic is a very difficult language for native English speakers to master, much like Mandarin. But what it really means is that once you can hold a conversation, you’ll be different from most other English-speaking natives.
French (275 million+ speakers)
More than 29 nations have French as their primary language. It is one of the UN’s official languages and the second most spoken language in the European Union. Although it is no longer the world’s primary language, many nations that speak French still favour conducting business only with firms who share their language.
The chance to work overseas is a dream come true for many people. One approach to deeply comprehend a location is to have career experience there. An overseas employment can, at best, dramatically and wondrously alter the path of your life. It is extremely isolating at worst.
Here are some useful queries you can pose to your intended workplace before you start packing your bags in order to promote the former and prevent the latter.
What is the scope of work?
Most likely, you’re not familiar with the labour laws of another nation. You may be more susceptible to traps, dishonest parties, and unpleasant surprises as a result of your naivete. Your duties, working hours, sick leave and vacation policies, as well as any other peculiarities of the position, should all be fully disclosed to you.
What is the payment structure in this work?
Of course, you’ll want to know how much money you’re making, but the inquiries might not end there. How often do you get paid? Which taxes are you in charge of? Before you may get paid for the first time, will you need a local bank account? Will you also have to submit tax returns in your home nation? It’s better if you enter your employment with some grasp of the financial logistics because setting yourself up for remuneration can take some time.
What is the living situation for my work?
It’s crucial to comprehend the rental and housing ecology, whether or not your employment offers housing. Some nations have stringent tenancy restrictions, such as limitations on the number of roommates you can have. In some areas, paying a hefty broker fee in exchange for assistance finding housing is standard practise. Make every effort to learn about housing in your destination country because being without a place to live is one of the most unpleasant situations you may go through.
What are the social customs?
If you work abroad, there’s a good likelihood that you’ll frequently interact with people who follow different social norms. Even if learning a language might change the way you view the world, it cannot always assure you that you will instantly comprehend cultural norms. For instance, if you attend a business dinner in South Korea, you should anticipate that the host will place the order for the group and that you won’t be able to begin eating until the host gives the all-clear. A back-and-forth dispute over who should pay the bill is also to be anticipated, although the host will usually win out in the end. Whether you’ll be working with students, tourists, or business professionals, make sure you enquire about and comprehend any customs they may have.
What is healthcare like?
Good luck to the foreign immigrant who has to learn how to navigate the complex American healthcare system. In a similar vein, an American travelling abroad might discover that they must sign up for a universal healthcare programme. You may need to make decisions if there is a mix of private and state insurance. Asking your hiring manager about how typically overseas employees handle medical issues will provide you with useful information.
Your queries have all been addressed, therefore the only thing left to do is practise your language abilities. Why not check out our online group lessons, which give you classroom advantages without requiring you to leave your house?
The concept of “mindfulness” is one trend that has recently appeared everywhere. It is a broad concept with many definitions, but this one is great: “Mindfulness means maintaining a moment-by-moment awareness of our thoughts, feelings, bodily sensations, and surrounding environment, through a gentle, nurturing lens.”
The practice of mindfulness at home, at work, or with your kids is a topic that is frequently discussed. However, mindfulness may be practiced everywhere, even when traveling. Traveling more mindfully has advantages for everyone, not just you. The people around you gain from it.
Use these eight strategies to help you practice mindfulness while traveling to your ideal destination if you’re arranging a trip.
Slow Down
Have you ever taken a trip and then realized you needed a holiday from your vacation? Despite your best efforts, it’s difficult to unwind when traveling because there are so many things to see and do. In an effort to avoid any potential FOMO, you are nonstop the entire journey. And even though you might see and engage in a lot of things, are you really experiencing them?
It’s acceptable to take your time and spend the morning exploring aimlessly. Allow yourself the opportunity to enjoy your time off. Even if you might visit a few less sights, you’ll focus on the ones that really important and take pleasure in them.
Put Your Phone Down
This is a difficult one in the modern world. Your phone is really useful when traveling and does everything. You use it for everything, including finding restaurants, obtaining great pictures for Instagram, and directions. But make an effort to store it for a while. Take a few pictures while you’re traveling, and then make an effort to put your phone in your bag. Take full advantage of the sights and experiences that travel has to offer. After all, people have historically accomplished all of this without smartphones.
Use All Your Senses
Although sight is only one of your five senses, traveling is undoubtedly a visual experience. What kind of experience would you have if you applied them all?
Try it. Close your eyes and listen to the music emanating from the neighborhood café. Enjoy the flavors of your surroundings while tasting the many spices in your dinner at a nearby restaurant. As you trek across the mountains, feel the rocks. Spend some time reflecting on your day in a journal when you’re sitting down. When you make a conscious effort to employ more than just your sense of sight, your travels will have greater meaning.
Connect With Locals
The most life-changing encounters occur when you get to know people who have spent their entire lives in the place you’re experiencing for the first time. Make sure you can communicate by using a few words in the language of your destination. Say hi to the woman selling you souvenirs, thank the server who gives you dinner, and smile at the cab driver. You might be surprised by how these basic techniques for interacting can result in more in-depth discussions and a better grasp of the people and country you are visiting.
Start Being Mindful Before You Leave
Have you got any travel plans? So begin practicing mindfulness right away, before you even take off. Make practicing mindfulness a regular habit. What do you see when you examine the aforementioned tips? Now is the time to practice them all. They are all healthy routines for your daily life, and if you start practicing mindfulness right away, it will fit into your schedule seamlessly, no matter where you are.
Check out Nasma Of NY’s courses if you’re arranging a trip to your ideal location and would like to be able to communicate with the locals in order to better understand the culture. We provide conversation classes in a variety of languages to make you a more thoughtful traveler.
