What Language Learning and Martial Arts Have in Common Last week I went to a Muay Thai kickboxing class for the first time in months. I was comfortable until the last part of the class when the teacher had us go up in pairs for light sparring rounds (practice fights). I do Muay Thai f
Everyday Spanish Words with a Peruvian Twist Spanish is spoken a little differently in each country, as I explain here. I have lived in Mexico and Spain, and travelled to various countries throughout Central and South America. Now I live in Peru and I have noticed that Peruvians use c
Translating Citizen Media for the World What is it? “Global Voices is a community of more than 700 authors and 600 translators around the world who work together to bring you reports from blogs and citizen media everywhere, with emphasis on voices that are not ordinarily heard i
Eek! I have no vocabulary! This weekend I traveled to El Chorro (“the Spurt”) in southern Spain to do some rock climbing. Two days before I went, I realized that I knew very little Spanish climbing vocabulary. Communication between climbing partners is important, and often
Turning an email into a loneliness antidote One of my closest friends is leaving for a long trip abroad tomorrow. I was on my way to meet her today to say goodbye, and my bus was late. I stood for 20 minutes in the rain, wearing inappropriate shoes and wondering whether I should final
The Story Three years ago I made a music video about a city that I had the pleasure of living and working in–Tetouan, Morocco. In the music video, based on Jay-Z’s Empire State of Mind, I hoped to celebrate the city and capture some experiences. Friends contributed their e
An unconventional listening comprehension strategy This weekend I did the Grouse Grind—the infamous hike that takes you straight up the side of Grouse Mountain in North Vancouver. On a Sunday in late August it was packed, and we were walking in step with dozens of other people. Amid t
Cats, grammar, and the internet as language playground I love my cat. Every day, I tell him how happy his paws and his fur and his ears make me. As I type this, he is sitting on my lap and occasionally nudging the edge of the computer with his head. I’m not alone in my love of all thi
The pleasures and frustrations of learning a new language From fully-functioning adult Speaking my mother tongue all day and being understood is a privilege. Whether I go to the library, the bike shop, the café, or the office, I carry all the necessary vocabulary and grammar and all t
The Question I Always Ask as a Language Learner, and the Importance of Context “¿Me entiendes?” (Do you understand me?) is one of the questions I have asked most frequently to Spanish-speakers around the globe. I really do wonder sometimes. I consider myself fluent in Spanish but I am
