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Why Mandarin is Easy to Learn

Posted by Teddy Nee on June 20, 2025

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Analyzing Taiwanese Learners' Perceptions of English Varieties

Posted by Teddy Nee on May 07, 2025

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The Importance of Knowing Medan Hokkien for International Communication

Knowing Medan Hokkien can be very beneficial for communication, especially in international settings. Medan Hokkien is a dialect spoken by many Chinese Indonesians, and it connects people across different cultures. Medan Hokkien helps connect Chinese Indonesians with their roots. Many people from Taiwan, Malaysia, and Singapore also speak Hokkien. Knowing this language allows for better communication with these communities, making it easier to build friendships and partnerships. In today’s global market, speaking Medan Hokkien can open doors to business opportunities. Many companies in Southeast Asia value employees who can communicate in local languages. There is a saying in Hokkien, "kaki lang (our people)," indicating Hokkien people's uniqueness and solidarity to strengthen their community. Language is a big part of culture. By learning Medan Hokkien, individuals can better understand the hundred-year-old traditions and values of Medan Hokkien-speaking communities that...

Uzbek language: A Central Asian treasure

Yulduzkhan Turgunova Uzbek is the official language of Uzbekistan and belongs to the Turkic language family. It is spoken by over 32 million people and has several dialects, with Northern and Southern Uzbek being the most prominent. Historically written in Arabic script, Uzbek transitioned to Latin script in the 1920s and later to Cyrillic script during the Soviet era. Since Uzbekistan's independence in 1991, there has been a renewed effort to promote the Latin alphabet. The language reflects a rich cultural heritage, incorporating influences from Persian, Arabic, and Russian, making it a vital part of Central Asian identity. As a language enthusiast, the Turkic languages are also a treasure awaiting to be discovered. I began with learning the most popular Turkic language, that is Turkish. Then I read somewhere that Uzbek is even the easiest Turkic language because it lacks vowel harmony and other aspects of the Turkic languages. It is quite easy to find learning materials for Uzbe...

The first Macanese legislator of Macau

José Maria Pereira Coutinho (高天賜 in Chinese) is a Macanese jurist and politician, of Portuguese nationality and was born in Macau, China. He has been a member of the Legislative Assembly of Macau since 2005 and President of the Board of Directors of the Macau Civil Servants Association since 1998. Between 2003 and 2021, he was a Counsellor for the Portuguese Communities. He was born in Macau on July 22, 1957, the son of Basílio Câncio Coutinho, a police chief, and Maria Ida Lourdinha Julieta Pereira Coutinho, a housewife. His parents were both born in the then-Portuguese territory of Goa. His mother tongue is Portuguese, and as he was born in Macau, he learned to speak Cantonese in his teenage years and English while studying in high school and university. Coutinho is fluent in Portuguese, English, and Cantonese, and is relatively proficient in Mandarin. Portuguese Cantonese English

Indonesian Vice Minister from the best university in China

Stella Christie is an Academic, Cognitive Scientist from Medan, North Sumatra, Indonesia who has served as the Deputy Minister of Higher Education, Science, and Technology since 2024. She earned her BA from Harvard University and her PhD in cognitive psychology from Northwestern University. She is a professor at Tsinghua University in Beijing, China, where she also holds the position of Research Chair at the Tsinghua Brain and Intelligence Laboratory and Director of the Child Cognition Center. To realize her mission of spreading knowledge to the wider community, Prof. Stella often appears in science and education-themed media, reaching more than 500,000 viewers. One of her famous works is the documentary “Rahasia Otak,” produced by CCTV 9. In January 2024, UNICEF released a short film titled "Championing Her Future" highlighting Prof. Stella's journey as a scientist, aiming to inspire women, especially the younger generation, to pursue a career in science. Prof. Stella sp...

Salary Disparity Between Foreign English Teachers and Office Workers in Taiwan

Taiwan is a popular destination for foreign English teachers. Many come to Taiwan because of the good pay and benefits compared to other jobs. However, there is a noticeable difference between the salaries of foreign English teachers and regular office workers. English Teacher Salaries Foreign English teachers in Taiwan can earn between $2,000 to $3,000 USD per month. Some teachers may earn more depending on their experience and the school they work for. Many schools also offer benefits such as housing allowances, bonuses, and paid vacations. Some teachers take extra tutoring jobs, which can pay $20 to $25 USD per hour. Office Worker Salaries In contrast, regular office workers in Taiwan often earn much less. The average salary for an office worker is around $1,000 to $1,500 USD per month. Many office workers work long hours, sometimes 50 to 60 hours per week, but their salaries remain lower than those of foreign teachers. Reasons for the Salary Difference There are several reasons why...

Afrikaans language: A Dutch offspring in Africa

Afrikaans is a West Germanic language derived from Dutch, spoken primarily in South Africa and Namibia. It evolved in the 17th century among Dutch settlers, combining elements of Dutch, Malay, Portuguese, and indigenous African languages. Afrikaans is one of South Africa's 11 official languages and is known for its straightforward grammar and vocabulary. It serves as a cultural identifier for many South Africans, particularly the Afrikaner community. Despite its controversial history during apartheid, Afrikaans remains a vibrant language used in literature, media, and education, reflecting the country's diverse heritage. I had Afrikaner classmates at the university, but I was not aware of their language. I thought they were speaking Dutch. It was not until I learned Dutch that I began to realize that their language is uniquely African. Never before had I known that the Dutch colonizers left so many traces behind in South Africa. It is the opposite of the situation in the Dutch ...

Chavacano language: The Spanish language of Asia

Chavacano is a Spanish-based Creole language spoken primarily in Zamboanga City and parts of the Philippines. Originating during the Spanish colonial era, it blends Spanish vocabulary with local Philippine languages like Tagalog and Cebuano. Approximately 70% of its lexicon comes from Spanish, yet it features unique grammatical structures. Chavacano is a vital cultural identifier for its speakers and is used in local media and education. Despite challenges from dominant languages like Tagalog and English, efforts to preserve and promote Chavacano continue, highlighting its importance in the Philippines' linguistic heritage. I had the chance to learn this beautiful language on a language-learning platform called Italki. My teacher was the only Chavacano teacher so I felt fortunate to have found her. I find this language easy to learn because I already know Spanish. Chavacano sounds like the Filipino version of the Spanish language.

Boost Your Language Skills with Alison's Free Online Courses

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Were people in the past more serious about invented languages?

Historical Uses of Invented Languages Philosophers and Universal Languages: In the past, many invented languages were driven by a desire to improve communication and understanding. For example: Esperanto (1887): L. L. Zamenhof created Esperanto as a universal language to promote international peace and understanding. This was a serious, idealistic ambition. Logical Languages: Philosophers such as Gottfried Leibniz in the 17th century dreamed of a universal, logical language that could replace natural languages, often seen as confusing and imperfect. Religion and Mysticism: Invented languages were also used in religious or mystical contexts. An example is Enochian, an "angelic language" that John Dee and Edward Kelley claimed was given to them by supernatural beings in the 16th century. These languages were often considered sacred or symbolic and therefore treated very seriously. Motives Behind Earlier Invented Languages Earlier invented languages often had greater phi...

Why don't you learn these popular invented languages?

I often encounter invented languages when researching the latest stories in language learning. Out of curiosity, I picked up one invented language to learn: Esperanto. Gladly, I made a good decision because Esperanto turned out to be the easiest language that I had ever learned at that time. I submitted a short article to an Esperanto magazine in Brazil after 4 months of learning Esperanto, and it was published one month later! Esperanto is just one of many invented languages in this world. Here are some of the popular ones. Esperanto is a language designed for international communication and understanding. It has simple and regular grammar, and its vocabulary is based on root words from major European languages. Esperanto has been used for over a century, and it has a global community of speakers. Toki Pona is a minimalist language designed for simplicity and clarity. It uses a small vocabulary and grammatical structure to express basic concepts. Its goal is to promote peace, simplici...

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