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BRAVE Blog

Duolingo – the Future of Language Learning?

It is very rare for me to find a gadget, machine or solution that I would completely fall in  love with (my espresso machine was, I think, a memorable exception to the rule).

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BRAVE Blog

Four TV Shows Which Will Help You Learn Languages

Someone once counted that we spend 12 years of our lives watching TV. Once again, I find that my decision not to get one is one of the best ones I’ve made. But if you’ve already got one – or if, like me, you like to watch a show online every now and then – you’ll quickly find that some shows are more useful than others.

For language learners, almost every show in their favourite foreign language should be a huge incentive, but also a challenge. Watching TV in foreign languages improves your listening skills, and is a great way to absorb a lot of foreign culture along with the vocabulary. Sure, it’s hard at first – but very rewarding eventually (and it can be used to lower your language learning anxiety, as described here).

Here’s even more good news – certain shows (or kinds of shows) are useful to all language learners. They’re either universal, very popular (and translated), or – due to their unique focus and creativeness – appealing to any language learning enthusiast. Today I want to describe four such shows – I hope you’ll enjoy them and suggest some more!

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BRAVE Blog

Rock Your Language Flashcards With Studyblue

Typical, isn’t it? One day you complain about how depressingly unusable the flashcard apps tend to be – and the next day an app comes along and changes your view completely. Well, I can’t complain: looks like a killer app for language learning has finally been found. It’s not without its flaws, but its versatility and ease of use more than make up for the occasional hiccup. Today, I’m going to give you a quick review of the app, along with some ideas for using it effectively.

Everyone: meet Studyblue.

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BRAVE Blog

Learn a Language, Lend a Hand: How to Learn Languages Through Charity

“It feels too good to be true.”

helping Haiti
Not everything must cost you money.

We had just come across an awesome idea, and were staring at the screen in disbelief. Somebody out there was actually doing things we had been dreaming of doing. And managing to change the world for the better at the same time.

The best thing is, we actually had three “Eureka” moments like this while searching the Web. They’re all described below, ranging from the very easy to the radical and bold. Whatever their difficulty level, these designs have one thing in common. They will let you learn a language and help people who need help – all this without having to pay a penny for your lessons.

Get in, and hold on tight.