The Language Learning Specialists
uTalk Tomorrow is a very special day that occurs once every four years: Leap Day! Now, we all know that it’s added to correct for the fact that one cycle of the Earth around the Sun isn’t actually 365 days long, but where did it come from, and how is it observed around the world? As … Read more
Studies have proven that music can help when it comes to learning, boosting your mood and helping you to form memories. But when it comes to learning languages, in particular, there’s another way that music can help—they’re direct exposure to your target language! In this blog post, we’ll be looking at music from Uganda, as … Read more
After protests turned deadly in East Pakistan in 1952, it seemed unlikely that the mainly-Bengali speaking protesters would ever realise their dream: that of Bengali being a recognised national language on the same level as Urdu. Years of unrest followed, culminating in acceptance of Bengali as an official national language and the creation of International … Read more
If you visit India, you might feel inclined to greet everyone with ‘namaste,’ a traditional Hindu greeting that shows your respect. But you might not hear the same thing in reply. In this blog post, we explore the origins of the word ‘namaste,’ how it is used in India today, and the impact of its … Read more
uTalk’s regular guest blogger and all-round language guru, Brian Loo Soon Hua, is back with our 500th published post, all about Valentine’s Day! Learn what to call your loved one in different languages—and maybe try some out on the 14th! It’s that time of year again; Valentine’s Day is just around the corner. If you’re … Read more
South Korean film, Parasite, has the potential to be a game-changer at the 92nd Academy Awards this weekend. Could this movie bring the ‘local’ awards ceremony kicking and screaming into an international world, or will it prove that the largest film event of the year still has a long way to come? It’s only recently … Read more
Last month, the Oxford English Dictionary (OED) announced a list of words it was adding to its ranks—including many from Nigerian Standard English for the first time. English is the official language of Nigeria but is only one of 500 spoken in the country. In this post, we’re going to take a look at an … Read more
This round of uTalk’s Junior Language Challenge (JLC), now coming into its sixteenth year, began back in September of 2019. With around 2,500 students up and down the country taking part, in this post, we’re going to take a look at how many got through to Round Two and how they’re all getting on. For … Read more
Here at uTalk, we’ve spoken a little before about the traditions surrounding the Chinese New Year, which involve all kinds of things, chief among them wearing red, eating a reunion dinner with your family, and not washing your hair. But what about the origins of Chinese New Year—and why are there so many animals involved? … Read more
When it comes to learning new languages, it’s not all about being fluent. Language company founder, Richard Howeson, shares his do’s and don’ts on language learning for beginners. When you’re preparing for an overseas trip, language learning is often lucky to scrap in at the bottom of your ‘to-do’ list. But, thanks to digital downloads … Read more