Language Exchange User Posts

According to the World Health Organization, 285 million people are estimated to be visually impaired. About 39 million are completely blind and 246 million have low vision. Blindness is a condition that affects people’s activities of daily living. People with blindness learn how to live their lives differently by relying on their other four senses. Blind people use their hearing to communicate with others and their touch to feel around their environment. One question people may ask is, “How do blind people learn?” or more specifically, “How does a person learn a new language like Spanish if they cannot see?”

Without a doubt, vision is an important component in the learning process, especially when it comes to learning a new language. We use our vision to see how vocabulary words are spelled, to see how sentences are constructed, to read texts, to write notes, to observe how words are pronounced by the mouth, and so much more. Despite all of this, learning a language without the benefit of sight is by no means impossible. People who are blind primarily learn by listening to a teacher or audio books and by reading books in Braille. In other words, learning through hearing and touch can be just as effective as learning through vision.

Hearing is a very important sense for those who cannot see. Blind people use their sense of hearing to communicate with others, to understand their environment, and, of course, to learn. Someone who is blind can learn a new language by sitting in a class or by talking with a tutor. A blind person taking a Spanish class would have to listen very carefully to what the professor teaches such as how specific words and phrases are pronounced. It would be most helpful for this person to use a tape recorder in class so lectures can be re-listened to as many times as needed. One-on-one Spanish tutoring sessions can be very helpful because students can ask direct questions to their tutor and the tutor can accommodate their teaching style for the student’s learning needs.

Another way to learn Spanish for someone who could not see is by listening to audio podcasts. A vast majority of Spanish teaching lessons contain an audio component. There are also many sites online that offer Spanish audio lessons, files, and MP3s that can be easily downloaded for personal devices. These audio files are very important because correct pronunciations of words, phrases, and sentences are crucial to learning Spanish or any language for that matter. By constant listening, repetition of sounds, and pronunciation practice, anyone can learn a new language such as Spanish without having to read a word.

In addition to using their sense of hearing to learn, blind people also learn new subjects and languages through their sense of touch. Braille is a written language in which letters are symbolized by raised dots that can be felt with the fingertips. People who are blind learn Braille in order to read and write. Braille differs for every language since language have different letters in their alphabet. For example, in addition to the letters in the English alphabet, the Spanish alphabet also includes letters with accents that represent different sounds.

Blind or not, anyone can also learn Spanish just by engaging in conversation with native Spanish speakers. This is where language exchange and learning exchange comes into play. Language exchange is the process of teaching a language you know and learning a new language you are interested to learn in exchange. Learning exchange is a similar process but involves opportunities to learn subjects beyond language. For example, if I am interested in learning Spanish and I am very skilled in Math, I can meet up with a person who can teach Spanish and may need a little help in Math. We can then exchange Spanish and Math lessons with each other. LRNGO is a social media website that facilitates free learning exchange with people locally and around the world. By signing up for this site, you can meet hundreds of people who are willing to teach and are yearning to learn!

In conclusion, a disability such as blindness in no way has to hinder the process of learning a new language. Without vision, a new language such as Spanish can be learned through hearing and touch. Blind people can learn Spanish by listening to teachers, tutors, or friends made through learning exchange. People with blindness can also learn Spanish by learning and practicing with Spanish’s Braille system.


Photo Credit: Christian Liechti

When most people think of taxi cab drivers, they think of New York City. They are a main form of transportation there, but you can find cab services in most cities and towns across the United States. For many people who are unaccustomed to city life, hailing a cab can actually be surprisingly difficult. You may find yourself running around like a fool trying to get the attention of a cab driver, but there are only a few simple things to know about taxi cabs that will make it easy for you to get around the city.

First of all, you need to know what the lights on the roof of a cab mean. The lights indicate whether the cab is available, occupied, or off duty. On the display there is a central number surrounded by 'Off Duty' lights. If only the center number is lit, this cab is available for a hail. If none of the lights are lit, the cab driver is already occupied with a customer. If both the center and the 'Off Duty' lights are lit, or only the 'Off Duty' lights are lit, the cab is off duty. Many people make the mistake of trying to hail off duty or occupied taxis and get discouraged.

When you are ready to hail a cab driver, it is best to stand on the side of the street that has cars going in the direction you want to go. This means that the cab won't have to turn around, which will save you time and money. Find somewhere to stand where you will be highly visible to drivers, and step off the curb a foot or so. Do not go out into traffic, and keep an eye on incoming cars. Street corners are good places to stand when hailing a cab driver. Avoid shadowy places and overhangs where it might be difficult to see you.

When you see a cab driver coming, stick your arm out far towards the street. Don't be timid with this gesture, you want to make sure that you are seen. Try to make eye contact with the taxi driver, because he or she may give you some indication that they are going to pull over for you. If you get the cab, tell the driver the address of your destination if possible, rather than the name of a particular store or building. Also, it is a nice thing to let them know if you need to make multiple stops.

A standard taxi cab allows no more than four people in at a time, but sometimes there are larger vehicles available. A tip of 15 percent is standard in most cities, and you may want to give a little extra if you have bags that the driver helps you with. Try to exit the cab curbside for safety purposes. Remember that a little courtesy goes a long way – don't be afraid to be friendly with your driver.


Photo Credit: Damian Morys

There is a high demand for Spanish to English online translation and translators who can fulfill the role of academic teachers for primary and secondary schools. There is more to being a bilingual teacher than meets the eye, as school administration board recruiters and school districts want teachers to be more than fluent Spanish to English speakers. Today’s online or offline bilingual academic teacher needs to be bi-cultural also, with the ability to understand both Spanish and English cultures.

With the emphasis on retaining cultural roots of native Spanish speaking students, Spanish to English online translation is becoming a backup as Spanish to English translation becomes the norm within school districts. Resources for teachers looking for placement within schools can be found posted on the many teacher job placement sites online. An Academic teacher with credentials and qualifications in Spanish to English course work, and can post their resume on teachers-teachers.com and easily find a position in Spanish to English online translation. There is a complete listing of credentials required state-by-state, as well as links to each.

For those Spanish to English teachers who are interested in working in Spanish to English online translation or at one of the many independent schools nationwide, nais.org offers several resources, information on working at an independent school, career center assistance, and job searches.

International academic teacher positions are also now widely available for those interested in working overseas. Obtaining an academic position abroad for Spanish to English teachers requires excellent qualifications though, and they must be very fluent in Spanish, even for Spanish to English online translation.

For Spanish to English online translation resources, such as hiring a translator for your company or business that requires special terminology, perusing various websites such as Spanish-translation-help.com can provide an initial place to start.


Photo Credit: David Dennis