Change Up Your Language Practice - Games You Can Play

Internet Polyglot has some games which you can use to vary up your language practice, and get some more grammar and vocab. Most of the games are accessible for free.

The site's interface leaves a lot to be desired, and the games actually require a little knowledge of Spanish, but I've become a big believer in the idea that you need to have a few options at your disposal while you are learning, simply because you might need a break. You don't eat Cheerios every morning, do you? (actually I often do, but sometimes eggs and bacon really hit the spot).

Conversational, spoken practice is the ultimate end goal for me, but building vocabulary is so important - so I hope this helps you stay focused on your goals, and your daily language practice.

What The Kids Are Using To Learn Spanish

No, it isn't drugs or rock and roll. I'm actually talking about sites with interactive books, like this one from Scholastic. They put it out on the web for you, so it would be insulting if you didn't use it to learn Spanish!

The level of interactivity is not huge, but you can read sentences in Spanish, have the read for you, and pick up some practice. As long as you are down with Clifford.

Don't lie to yourself now, you know you like Clifford the Big Red Dog. If you are honest with yourself, you may even admit that Clifford Puppy Days books are the last things you cast your drowsy eyes on before you sleep each night.

Have fun.

Free Resources for Spanish Practice - iGoogle Widget

You may or may not use Google's Personalized Home functionality (called iGoogle), but if you are learning a foreign language, you might consider it.

I've been using a widget from braser.com each day to practice vocabulary (see image below). Setting up the widget is fairly easy - first you have to have iGoogle set up on your Google Account, then you add the widget to your page.


What you end up with is a new vocabulary word each day, with a phonetic pronunciation and the word used in a sentence. I look at it each day, to supplement the rest of my practice.

And, of course, it's free.

Culture Tips - Did I Shake Your Hand Too Hard?

When learning language, learning cultural "do's and don'ts" can be really valuable. Of course, being able to say "Encantado de concerte" is important to meeting someone who doesn't speak your language, but nonverbal communication makes up a very high percentage of what you end up communicating.

So something as simple as how you shake a person's hand can say as much as your words!

For example, I learned this tip from a Korean friend of mine the other day. When shaking hands, he asked me "Is it the custom in the US to shake hands firmly, or to shake hands lightly?" Being a man, I of course replied "Firmly!"

Without thinking of whom we are shaking hands with, we usually default to whatever the most appropriate thing is in our culture. My friend told me, however, that it is most polite to shake hands lightly in Korea.

Had I not know him, and greeted him "Anyang ha sayo," while shaking hands, my fine use of a Korean greeting might have been completely undermined by a firm, and impolite, handshake!

Here's an article on the topic.