Matcha (抹茶 maccha) is Japanese stone-ground green tea powder, and it is rich in antioxidants! Matcha is the type of tea used in formal Japanese tea ceremonies. Because of its powder form, matcha can be easily added to baked goods and drinks. Here is a quick and easy recipe for hot matcha latte, which is perfect to sip on a cold winter day! Continue reading
Stollen is the Christmas treat with probably the longest tradition in Germany, dating back to 1329. While there are numerous recipes for Stollen across the country's regions, the most famous Stollen comes from Sachsen (Saxony). One such recipe is for the Dresden Stollen, which is baked with marzipan, almonds and raisins. Continue reading
Torrone, the most popular Italian nougat candy, which, together with pandoro and panettone, has become a symbol of an Italian Christmas, is made of honey, sugar and egg white, with toasted almonds or other nuts, covered in edible rice paper and usually shaped into either a rectangular tablet or a round cake. Get the recipe. Continue reading
Our production assistant, Darlene Sterling, sat down with our audio producer, Ok Hee Kolwitz, to bring you a behind-the-scenes interview. Read on to learn how Living Language courses are cast, recorded, and produced. Continue reading
Sushi and sake are probably the most well known Japanese words to English speakers. However, there are more than a few Japanese words that have entered into English dictionaries. Here are twenty-five of them; let’s see if you knew they were all Japanese! Continue reading
As in any language, there are expressions in French which do not necessarily make sense when translated literally. Yet, they are embedded in the culture because they seem to express certain situations or feelings so appropriately. Here are some of the … Continue reading
Brazilian commercial movie production really only started in the 1940s. Before that it was sporadic labor of love, not always well received or profitable. The Portuguese-born, Brazilian actress, dancer and singer, Carmen Miranda, helped put Brazilian movies on the radar both for national and international audiences. Continue reading
Watching foreign movies with sous-titres (subtitles) is a great way to get to know a culture and its language. More and more films are now available, but it may be difficult to find those suited to one’s level. Some like … Continue reading