For those newly arrived in the United States, cultural norms can be difficult to understand. How do Americans decide what to tip? Why do Americans say “let’s get together sometime” and then not make further plans? What is “small talk” and why … Continue reading
Americans and Brits have shared a language for the entirety of America’s existence, but why do we have a hard time understanding each other sometimes? We might speak the language, but we each have very different vocabularies. (We’ve looked at … Continue reading
Immigration and language in the United States is a hot button topic. Some people believe that today’s immigrants are not learning English as quickly as those from earlier waves of immigration did. But research shows this to be a misconception. According to … Continue reading
Idioms or idiomatic expressions are difficult to learn in any language. Taken literally, they often make no sense, but once they’re learned, they add a natural flare to a language that will make you sound more native. Just be sure … Continue reading
Have you ever, in moment of frustration while learning a language, thought to yourself, “Wouldn’t it be nice if we all just spoke the same language?” You wouldn’t be alone in thinking that. L.L. Zamenhof also dreamed of a universal … Continue reading
Known as the 4th of July or Independence Day, this holiday commemorates the American Declaration of Independence from Great Britain that took place in 1776 during the Revolutionary War (1775-83). The Declaration of Independence, the document proclaiming the new country’s … Continue reading
On June 14, 1777, almost a year after the United States gained independence from England, the Second Continental Congress, made up of representatives from the Thirteen Colonies, adopted a flag to represent the newly formed country. The flag that was … Continue reading
Is Labor Day in May or September? September, you say? Well, actually, that depends on where you live. China, the Philippines, France, Russia, Kenya, and Brazil are just a sampling of the over 80 countries around the world who honor … Continue reading
Today is the winter solstice. Solstices and equinoxes are astronomical phenomena connected to the seasons and describe the relationship between the sun and the Earth. An equinox happens twice a year. The word comes from Latin, meaning aequus (equal) and nox (night). An … Continue reading
Aprender a usar las preposiciones en inglés puede parecer muy difícil pero hay unas reglas muy simples y muy útiles. Si las sigue ya verá que no es tan difícil como parece. Entre las preposiciones más comunes se encuentran in, … Continue reading