The Language Learning Specialists
In the second part of our blog series on myths surrounding language learning, we’re exploring the myth that you have to be under a certain age to learn a new language. Do children really learn everything better than adults, or are there some advantages to being older and learning a new skill? If you’re over … Read more
For the past two years, Finland has been named the happiest place on Earth, narrowly beating out fellow close-competitors Norway, Denmark, Iceland, and Switzerland. But what is it that makes Finns so happy—and how can you go about achieving this happiness, too? Although they’re living in a country where, in winter, the hours of daylight … Read more
In this blog series, we’re going to explore common myths people have about learning a new language so that we can encourage you to give it a try. Today’s post explores the idea of a ‘language-learning gene’—do some people really just have a talent for languages? Making assumptions is never ideal. However, we’re going to … Read more
You’ll now be able to listen to music in the background while learning which, according to the people who know, can ease stress, create a positive mood and aid learning. And, to show we’ve thought of everything, the music turns off automatically when you’re recording. You’ll also be able to adjust the text size from … Read more
By our multi-lingual friend Brian Loo Soon Hua, a.k.a. uTalk’s Language Guru. “No Smoking” signs in Nuuk, Greenland are often in three languages: Greenlandic (Pujortarfigeqqusaanngitsoq), Danish (Røgfrit Område– literally “Smoke-free Area”) and English (No Smoking). Notice anything special about the Greenlandic version? Greenlandic, like several other indigenous languages in North and South America, allows the … Read more
Pay your respects to St Patrick by learning how to pronounce his name in Irish! (And knowing the Irish for shamrock and whiskey might come in handy too…) Click below to hear: St Patrick – Naomh Pádraig Shamrock – an tseamróg Whiskey – an t-uisce beatha Did you know the Irish for whiskey translates as ‘water of life’? … Read more
If Valentine’s Day gives you a heavy heart instead of a heart-warming glow, try moving to South Korea! On 14th February, women give chocolate to men as a sign of affection and all their loved ones have to do is say thank you (감사합니다 or gamsahamnida in Korean). But the tables are turned on 14th … Read more
Languages say something about our culture and our soul, according to uTalk’s language guru (pictured). Which is why Brian Loo Soon Hua, who knows upwards of eight languages, is worried about the number of endangered languages on the verge of becoming extinct. ‘Languages are going extinct and regional differences are slowly dying out,’ he says. … Read more
UK youngsters, who have clocked up three new languages in nine months, are now just weeks away from the Final of a national language learning competition. Top prize in the uTalk Junior Language Challenge 2018 Final, on Fri Nov 9 at London’s Olympia, is a family holiday of a lifetime to Africa. But, to … Read more
Here’s the five Gut and Wurst things you need to know about the language: Lots of similar words: Around 40% of German words are similar to English ones because they once shared the same ancestral language. Shared words include Hammer (hammer), Freund (friend) and gut (good) as well as phrases like was ist das? (what is that?) and … Read more