Adopt A New Foreign Word (or Three) Part 1

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 Have you always wanted a pet? Did you get a Tamagochi when you were a kid? Are you a fan of Pokémon?
Chances are you fit into one of these descriptions. I think most language learners do. We are word hoarders.
We like having new, shiny things to play with.

However, sometimes you keep forgetting words. What could you do to memorize them better?
Adopt a new word.

You have several options (some aren't for the faint-hearted):
1. Get a tattoo
Kanji tattoos are all the rage so maybe now is the time to get one. Choose a character you like, but keep forgetting. I think wrist kanji tattoos are pretty common, and quite elegant too.
Looking at the character and caring for your new tattoo is sure to be a memorable experience, and you get to spread the word: yes, you're learning Japanese. Yes, you like it (it doesn't matter if you aren't Asian.)
I'd recommend getting it inked in black because the ink used for kanji is black... and black can be easily lasered out if you ever want to get rid of the kanji.

2. Write a new word on your body every day
This is a less hardcore version of tip 1.
I suggest getting a surgical pen or pens used in make-up so that you don't get ink poisoning (writing on your skin with a biro or a felt-tip pen can be dangerous).
If you don't have any of these tools at your disposal, write your foreign word with a felt-tip pen for kids.
These should be really safe because children like to draw on themselves. Make sure the ink is washable (you can always use rubbing alcohol if it just won't come off.)

This is the end of Part 1. I hope you're enjoying this quirky series!
Showing other people that you like languages can help you make many friends.
Consider adopting a neglected, unloved word for a day or two.

I'm a Beginner Language Learner: What Should I Watch? Everything Is Too Difficult! Part 2

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This is the second part of the article. Please check out the first part too! Once you've watched a few shows for young children, it's time to graduate to show for teens or shows which deal with your favorite hobby. For example, if you like sports, watch a few matches/games. After watching ten baseball games in a foreign language, you will start to memorize the important vocabulary for that sport. Concentrate on a single topic for some time. Don't hesitate to use a dictionary if there are words don't understand. Using tools such as dictionaries will expedite the language-learning process. I also recommend you read the news from time to time. Websites such as the BBC are a gold mine for English learners. Find the equivalent of the BBC or NPR in your target language. News bulletins usually contain common words, no slang, and some of them can be particularly interesting, especially tabloids if you're into gossiping. May your language-learning goals become a reality!

Part 3: Becoming Fluent in a Foreign Language Fast by Using the News—Learn Spanish

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Another form of news media you can use to become fluent in your foreign language faster is television news. 

In the past, few people in the US had access to Spanish television stations. Now, there is a variety of Spanish language stations to choose from. Moreover, virtually every one of them broadcasts news in Spanish.

To learn Spanish by watching the news, you have two choices. First, you can put yourself to the test by watching it in real time. This is good practice if you want to improve your listening comprehension in the foreign language. You will be surprised at how much you will get out of the broadcast if you listen to it closely. If you don't understand everything yet, don't worry. Just keep listening, and it will get easier!

The second option is to record the Spanish show and watch it a little at a time. 

You can learn Spanish in more depth this way because you can translate every single word. It will take more time, but you will learn Spanish vocabulary that is up-to-date. This way, you will also know about current events in Spanish-speaking countries.

Using the news to learn Spanish faster and to improve your vocabulary is a good move, especially if you are a busy person who doesn't have much time to learn foreign languages. It doesn't require a lot of time, even if you use translations. Furthermore, you get to read or watch the news every day while learning Spanish faster than ever before.

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