12/23/2019

#HotNerdFall Recap + All About Language Exams

How was your #HotNerdFall? How is it going with your language goals?

In this video, I’ll be following up on my last video “Tips To Have The BEST #HotNerdFall EVER!” and letting you know how it went for me (to check out that video here), briefly mention about my FREE SEMINAR coming up called “The REAL Secrets to Language Learning" that is slated for January. Stay tuned! Also talking about my experience with language exams: how to study for them and tips to pass.

Besitos,

Language Bae

8/26/2019

Language Learners That Look Like ME?

Have you ever wanted to connect with other language learners that look like you, to have someone you can “click” with over language, culture, travel, etc.? Ever wanted to vent your frustrations to someone who “gets it”? Do you know how important it is to see someone who looks like you that is studying and mastering language and how encouraging that could be? How it can motivate you to make much needed changes in your life, like following your passions or even changing careers? Have you ever felt a sense of sisterhood?

That’s EXACTLY why I created Black Girls Learn Languages and that's EXACTLY what the Black Girls Learn Languages Facebook group is all about. Our Facebook group has more than 1K black women members who are part of the language community in many forms, for example, as language enthusiasts, language geeks, blerds, bilinguals, multilinguals, etc. The best part? The group is active! AND the BESTEST part? It’s not just limited to talking about language. We talk about all kinds of things, like venting about what's bothering us, asking for advice or just sharing memes. Why? Because in addition to language being our common bond, we are also black women navigating a world that never intended for us to thrive in it. WE ALL WE GOT!

So, if you were ever looking for a place to belong, a safe space, you’ve found it! Oh, and it is a CLOSED group. So please be sure to answer the three entry questions for the admin to review, otherwise your request may not be approved.

I look forward to seeing you inside the group!

Besitos,

Language Bae

6/02/2019

6 Things Black Multilinguals Are Tired Of

I love being multilingual and breaking stereotypes that black people (especially Americans), can’t speak more than one language. But I also get tired of the ignorant comments that come with it. Not just from fellow Americans, but from people I encounter when traveling and living abroad. Is it SO hard to believe that I’m just a black girl with an interest in languages? Does there have to be some kind of hidden cultural connection in my background that justifies my passion and ability to learn languages? So, y’all just not gonna let me be smart, huh?
Inspired by Aintilatina.com's post, here are 6 things black multilinguals are tired of:

3/10/2019

Everything You Need To Know About Language Exams

1. The higher the level, the more grueling they are. While A1 and A2 exams are relatively quick, B1 and B2 exams can take up more than half the day. C1 and C2 can take from 1-2 whole days to complete.

2. It’s all or nothing. This isn’t a test in your high school foreign language class. This is an exam. That you’re paying for. That you’ll have to shell out even more money for if you fail. Do your absolute best. Go all in.

3. Smaller test centers tend to be less nerve wracking. Have you ever taken a standardized test with just a few other people in the room? Now take that same test with 50 people in the room. Ok, now try 100. It went from 0 to 100 real quick, didn’t it? Try to pick a test center that may be smaller and have less traffic, if at all possible.

4. Trying to impress the examiners will get you flunked. Don’t try to be witty or impress the examiners by saying anything out of the ordinary or picking a subject matter that you’re not familiar with because it seemed ‘cool’. It won’t give you an edge and you’ll end up looking like you don’t know how to speak the language very well (can you say failed verbal?).

5. You WILL be compared to your speaking partner. One of you will have the upper hand. Which one will it be? If you notice that your speaking partner seems to speak better than you do and seems more confident and fluent, play off of what they are saying by rephrasing or re-using some of their wording. You can also try adding some of your thoughts when doing this. It will help you to ease into formulating your own thoughts and give you a fighting chance at seeming as if you are on equal footing linguistically to the examiners.

6. If you are offered options, always take the ones that are the most convenient to you. Things happen and you may be offered alternative options by the examiner. Do NOT consider other test takers, other situations, other circumstances, etc., when choosing options. The examiners offered you the option for a reason. State what is the most convenient for you. This may seem selfish but no one in the room cares about your score but you. Do everything you can to put yourself in a position to pass.

7. Get a good night’s rest, make sure you have a good breakfast and lunch. This should go without saying, but I feel the need to say it. Especially since I went to one of my exams with an empty stomach and tired. I managed to pass but just barely.

8. Be Positive. Do not go into the exam thinking you’ll fail. If you go in defeated, you definitely will fail. Be positive and imagine yourself with the certificate that you worked so hard for! Trust me it works.

What tips, tricks or advice do you have about foreign language exams?

3/03/2019

The Top 5 Languages for Black Professionals & Entrepreneurs

I read in an article that only 18% of Americans speak a foreign language, which was pretty low in comparison to Europeans and Africans. Of those 18% of Americans who do speak a foreign language, I can’t even begin to guess how many are black, but I’m pretty sure it’s a low number.

With black women being the largest demographic of higher education seekers, business professionals and entrepreneurs, knowing an additional language will give you a competitive advantage. If you want to make yourself, your product or your services more marketable, multilingualism is a must. Here are the top 5 languages for black professionals and entrepreneurs to know in order to stay relevant and take advantage of the global market:

2/24/2019

Your Language Learning Horoscope!

Ever since I was a little girl, I had an interest in astrology. I loved reading about zodiac signs (especially when they were on point)! I bought magazines mostly for the horoscopes inside. I mean, who doesn't love horoscopes? They are so fun to think about! Here's the tea on how each zodiac sign learns languages. Enjoy!

2/17/2019

6 Things I Learned About Being German

Good morning everyone,

I read a blog entry by Diva On A Dare called On Being German... which is basically a crash course on the culture clash of living in Germany, that I thought was hilarious!!! After living in Germany for 6 years, I completely identify with these. I am going to share the ones I loved the most:

2/10/2019

How to Impress, Amaze and Awe Natives: 8 Clever Tricks to Seem Fluent

There will be times when you need to bring your A game when it comes to your foreign language skills. Be it an interview, oral part of a language examination or just wanting to impress the right person for the right opportunity, here are some tips that may help your language skills seem effortless:

1/28/2019

Craziest Things Overheard In Another Language

If you speak more than one language, it's undoubtedly happened to you: while minding your own business and being great, you hear some people talking in your target language. Not only are they talking in front of you, they are saying some wild things. It's clear they think you probably don't understand what they're saying. Except you do.

I know it's happened to me so many times in Germany, even in New York City. I always wondered, what's the craziest thing that you have overheard in another language?

Here’s what some of our readers had to share:

1/20/2019

10 Amazing Black Linguistas You Should Follow in 2019

Let’s face it, the faces of the language learning community lack diversity (see what I did there? Let’s face it, the faces of…never mind). Anyway, I can’t tell you how many times I came across these “language bloggers you should follow” or “notable polyglot” lists, only to scour the list and not see so much as a brown face on the list. It’s very disappointing to say the least. Especially when I KNOW FOR A FACT that there are black language bloggers and vloggers out here KILLING the language learning game.

I’ve put together a list of black language bloggers that you HAVE GOT TO FOLLOW in 2019 because they make language learning seem easy and fun!

The Urban Eve

1/16/2019

A Quick Guide To Dating In a Foreign Language: 7 Guy Types To Avoid

Dating in another language/dating a foreigner is another way to get language practice and it can also be fun. One of the things that I learned is that just because you’re dating in another language or dating a foreigner, that doesn’t always mean it will be interracial. Consider Africans, as well as Afro-Europeans, Afro-Latinos and Afro-Asians that DO exist, contrary to popular belief. The following can apply to anyone, even guys in your home country!

To make the most of your experience, here are 7 guy types to avoid when dating in a foreign language/dating a foreigner: