In Brazil, it is very common to find examples of well-known people who go by only one name which, in some cases, is not even their first name but actually a nickname. Some of the most internationally recognized are Brazil’s … Continue reading
Monthly Archives: May 2013
Bicycling in France and Italy: From Leisure to Competition
May, Bike Month, is coming to an end! Learn about cycling in France and Italy, two very important countries for the sport. Continue reading
‘Premier sourire du printemps’ - A Springtime French poem by Théophile Gautier
To celebrate spring time, let’s read a poem by French author Théophile Gautier (1811-1872). As always, a ‘perfect’ translation of a poem from one language to another is simply impossible. So all the more reason to improve your French! … Continue reading
A pop song for learning Arabic: He Walks Next to Me by Nancy Ajram
One of the most watched Youtube videos in the Middle East is a video clip for a famous Lebanese artist, Nancy Ajram. The song is called "Maashi Haddi" which translates to "While He Walks Next to Me." Try to read the Arabic lyrics and follow along. Continue reading
Spring in Italy
Spring (primavera) is a lovely season in Italy. From north to south, the Boot is covered with fragrant petals (petali) and green gardens (giardini). Continue reading
Mother’s Day in Italy
Needless to say that in Italy the “mamma” is an institution like in no other country. So it is no surprise that we have Mother's Day (Festa della mamma). Continue reading
Japanese Movies for Mother’s Day
Celebrate Mother's Day by watching one of these two Japanese movies about moms and their children! Continue reading
Chinese spring vocabulary and a poem by Meng Haoran
Let's learn some spring vocabulary through a Chinese poem by 孟浩然 (mèng hào rán) called 春晓 chūn xiǎo - A Morning In The Spring. Continue reading
Popular Dog Breeds in Japan and the U.S.
According to registration statistics from Japan Kennel Club and American Kennel Club, most popular dog breeds in Japan and the U.S. are quite different. In general, large dogs are popular in the U.S, while smaller dogs are popular in Japan. Continue reading
Make a michelada for Cinco de Mayo!
Many will be celebrating Cinco de Mayo today with margaritas, but another great Mexican drink is la michelada, a type of cerveza preparada (a shandy, lit., a prepared beer), Continue reading