Language Exchange User Posts

Hindi is a rich and beautiful language, and the culture and traditions surrounding the language make it all the more meaningful. Learning Hindi can be a challenge, as it is an extremely complicated and nuanced dialect, but with enough study and dedication, the language could become part of your skill set. If you’re interested in learning Hindi, there are a number of resources available to you that can help the process along, for free. You have the power to learn, so take the leap and start practicing.

Language Exchange Partner

Learning with an actual human being is beneficial when it comes to languages, as they are able to learn how you learn and can therefore cater lessons to fit your skills and needs. Not only this, but by working with native speakers in particular, you will have access to tons of cultural information so that you can understand the language beyond its structure. The idea is that we can all teach, so why not teach each other instead of paying for a tutor? Of course, you can connect with a language exchange partner for free at sites like LRNGO.

YouTube

HindiPod101 is a good place to go if you’re looking for basic vocabulary. The goal is for you to master ten Hindi words in each three-minute lesson, significantly strengthening your vocabulary in a short amount of time.

hindiuniversity is a non-profit project from Washington DC whose goal it is to bring Hindi to learners. Videos span a variety of topics, focusing on writing and conversation while using a lecture format.

Anil Mahato’s channel is jam-packed with useful videos for learners. From jokes to mathematics and everything in between, this channel is a great place to go if you’re looking for variety in your Hindi education.

Online Exercises

Mindur Hindi has plenty of different, valuable resources on its site for Hindi learners, most notably an exercise section so that you can test your progress and identify where you need to practice most.

The University of Texas at Austin Hindi Urdu Flagship has created an awesome place to find free worksheets ranging from crosswords to grammar checks on a free PDF format.

Anil Mahato remember our YouTube friend here? Well not only is his channel a great place for learners to go, but his website is also top notch and useful. You’ll find, amongst the cultural and learning-centric material, online exercises for you to get practicing what you learned in his videos.

Podcasts

HindiPod101 is a good place to go if you want to have a better grip on the basics, from phrases to vocabulary. All podcasts are available free on iTunes, making them easily accessible wherever you go.

Learn Hindi from Bollywood Movies is the place to be for fans of Bollywood films. Listen to podcasts as they relate to Bollywood films and strengthen your listening skills and vocabulary by listening to something you enjoy.

Other Sites

Hindi 101 has great links to Hindi news and radio sites, as well as helpful tools like a Hindi keyboard and useful phrase list.

Learning Hindi offers over one hundred free Hindi lessons—for free. Start at the intro level and work your way up to more complicated grammar!

Linguanaut offers basic vocabulary and phrase lists, as well as helpful search options for tutors and human translation services.

With all of these resources just waiting to be used, you have all you need to start your Hindi education today!


Photo Credit: Conni Ma

Because of the increased interest by many people in learning foreign languages, jobs teaching languages are one of the best options available. Those who have skill in teaching and are fluent in one or more languages will be able to find a whole range of jobs teaching languages available. It can be relatively easy to find good jobs teaching languages if you know where to look.

One of the best places to find jobs and foreign languages students is in classifieds in the local paper. This is a great place for less experienced teachers to start out, because the students will live nearby as locals and might even be neighbors and friends. Experienced and less practiced tutors alike can find great jobs teaching languages just by checking the local papers.

Another great place to look for jobs teaching languages is on job searching sites online. Job sites will provide a great range of job openings and options for language tutors. Openings in the nearby area as well as from other cities and states can be found, and prospective tutors can enjoy the flexibility and variety the sites provide. These sites have huge, up to date, and detailed databases that are easy to browse and provide many jobs teaching languages.

People interested in foreign languages and jobs teaching languages can also check with schools and colleges to find opening with enrolled students and their parents. Schools often have places for tutors to connect with students and positions available as language teachers, and tutors can often get well-paid and fulfilling jobs through these establishments.


Photo Credit: Rona Proudfoot

You’ve taken that dream vacation to Brazil…but you were absolutely lost during conversation with anyone but your fellow tourists. This is not the ideal way to travel, as without communication with locals you lose an important look at an unfamiliar culture and don’t get to forge the opportunity to make new friends across the world. You decided that the next time you visited you would come prepared—a crew of Portuguese translators would come along with you to bridge the language gap!

All joking aside, there is no time like the present to put some serious time and energy into learning Portuguese, and the best part is that you can do so without leaving your home.

Learning Portuguese is well worth the time spent when you weigh in the eight countries whose national language is Portuguese, the huge influence it has had on English and many other language, and the approximately 272 million Portuguese speakers worldwide! Thanks to this vast diversity, Portuguese tutors are available from many of the these countries, so that you can specialize, if need be, in the accents, language peculiarities, and manner of speaking peculiar to each of these individual countries. It is reportedly the 5th most widely spoken language in the world, so you’ll be able to use your newfound language skills to communicate with tons of new people.

Whether the scenario above resonates with you or you’re looking to learn Portuguese for another reason, you’ll have plenty of opportunities to by following this advice.

Hire a Tutor
Having face-to-face guidance from another human being who is familiar with the language is an important part of the learning process. You can’t learn everything from a textbook, and a native or fluent speaker is your best resource for making lesson plans, helping you practice, and helping you understand the nuances of the language and the culture surrounding it. If you’re looking to learn Portuguese from your home, hiring a tutor that can come to you is ideal. You can find such tutors by searching local classifieds or by using online tutoring sites like WyzAnt. You can also find tutors from anywhere in the world who you can connect with through Skype at sites like VerbalPlanet.

Connect with a Language Exchange Partner
Maybe the idea of having someone guide you sounds great, but you don’t want to spend the money on a tutor. You’re in luck! With language exchange becoming more and more common, you’ll be sure to find a partner who would be interested in teaching you Portuguese in exchange for lessons in one of your skills (you speak English, don’t you?). Sites like LRNGO offer a free platform where you can connect with a partner locally or even globally by making use of video chat, and the site expands to more than just languages so you can use any of your skills to teach in exchange for Portuguese lessons.

Utilize Online Resources
There are tons of websites that offer valuable Portuguese language study tools, so be sure to make use of them. Check out some general Portuguese learning sites like BBC Portuguese or Portuguese 101, YouTube sites like PortuguesePod101, podcasts like BrazilianPodClass, and online exercises like those found at Digital Dialects. Practicing outside of your time with a tutor or exchange partner is essential, and these are a perfect way to get your practice in without leaving your home.

Put on your comfiest pajamas, kick back, and start learning Portuguese so on your next dream vacation, you’ll be able to speak like a pro.


Photo Credit: Monica Navarro Aranda
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