Hindi – Ancient Yet Modern

A historical perspective on Hindi is very useful to those who want to learn how to speak Hindi.

Best Learning Hindi Online Resources

A number of English words are derived from Hindi, like juggernaut, so it is not an ancient language that is unrelated to English. While we all know that Hindi is India’s official language. Countries like Nepal and Pakistan use Hindi broadly, as do a number of other countries or areas in South Asia. It is also the second language in many countries, such as Surinam, Fiji, Mauritius, and Trinidad, as a result of many migrant workers being imported to those countries during a period of the British Empire, and then staying to form communities.

Hindi is a very widely spoken language, overtaken only by Mandarin and English. Because Sanskrit is where Hindi came from, and Sanscript writing is very logical and ordered, Hindi is actually a relatively easy language to learn. No capital letters exist in the Hindi script. Alphabetically, there are 33 consonants and 11 vowels in Hindi. Unusually, Hindi has three greeting levels – formal, familiar, and intimate, which makes it different to many other languages.

Hindi has been enriched by Persian, Turkish, Farsi, English and Portuguese.

The Hindi language is broadly similar to Urdu, the official language of Pakistan. While many of the words have been softened for general speech purposes, most come from equivalent Sanskrit words. Classical works of literature about in this epic rich language.

For those seeking an entry point into the oldest of civilizations, learning Hindi will open doors. It is very difficult to comprehend some of the core aspect of Indian civilization without learning Hindi or studying the Hindi language.

While Hindi is viewed as an ancient language, it was as recently as 1949 that it was made mandatory for Indian Government use and 1950 when it was written into the constitution of India as the official language.

In conclusion, for those seeking to understand Indian culture, and to study a language steeped in epic and classical literature works, Hindi is the correct choice. Additionally, with the Indian economy booming, particularly with outsourcing endeavors where other countries are exporting projects because of the low labor cost and relatively high educational standard and broad knowledge of English, Hindi can be a useful language to learn from a business perspective. And it is not as hard as you think to learn how to speak Hindi.

Learning Hindi Academic Program Links

Here are some links to some academic programs for learning Hindi. These links were all working at the time of publication of this page, but if you find one that is outdated, please let us know by using the contact page at the foot of this page. Also, if there are any additional links for learning Hindi you would like us to include, please similarly advise us. Thank you.

Great Learning French Web Resources

Here are some interesting links, with free resources, available on the web to help you as you embark on your learning French journey. We will add to these as we find more resources which we think might be of interest to you, and you may use the contact us link below if you wish to make a suggestion about a link which you feel would be of value to other site visitors. Good luck with learning French! And enjoy the links.

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Learning Chinese Web Resources

Listed below are some great learning Chinese resources available free on the internet.

Chinese is considered by many to be a difficult language to learn because of the numerous symbols that need to be learned, and I would agree with that if your goal is to learn written Chinese. Spoken Chinese is a totally different matter. There are no conjugations, no plurals, no tenses, and prepositions are very simple and straightforward.

The reality is that most European languages are harder to learn than spoken Chinese. Enjoy the resources below, with our compliments!

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Some of the Many Benefits of Learning Chinese

Learning Chinese has many benefits. And Mandarin Chinese is the Chinese you should learn, unless there is a particular family or travel reason why you might want to learn a different form.

Chinese is considered by many to be a difficult language to learn, and I would agree with that if you intend to try to learn written Chinese, because of the thousands of symbols that need to be learned. Spoken Chinese is a totally different matter. For example, there are no conjugations, no plurals, no tenses, and prepositions are very simple and straightforward. The reality is that most European languages are harder to learn than spoken Chinese.

There is no question that the Chinese language will become more valuable and necessary in the future. Emerging as an economic powerhouse, the world’s great powers now count China among their members. Nobody can escape China’s surging economic power, now the second biggest economy in the world. This huge economic shift will ultimately lead to a shift in opportunities, and Chinese speakers will be at an advantage in certain situations. Let’s face it – if you were a Chinese businessman, would you not prefer to speak to a foreign partner or supplier who spoke your language. Certainly I absolutely would.

China houses 20% of the population of the world and is a huge importer of US goods and services. More and more communication will take place in Chinese, of that there is no question. Would it not be better to be able to participate without the help of a translator?

Vacation and travel opportunities are huge in both Taiwan and in China. Being able to communicate with locals makes any trip a much more rewarding travel experience. There is no question that you will get much out of it.

The cultural history of China is diverse and totally fascinating, and a grasp of Mandarin Chinese will allow you to get greater value out of experiencing it.

In both the USA and Europe, Chinese is now one of the languages studied most. So for college applications, having Chinese can help. For job opportunities advertised, you will notice more and more that Chinese speaking skills are being mentioned as a requirement or as a desired skill. Why would you want to exclude yourself, or your children from an increasing number of opportunities. There is no need to answer, as the answer is obvious.

The mental challenge of learning another language is good for the brain. So you could say that learning Chinese is good for your health – your financial health, your physical health, and your mental health.

You can start right now! it is possible to Learn To Speak Chinese Online in about 8 weeks if you spend an hour a day with the right tools!

Some Good Reasons to Learn Japanese

Other languages can be learned a little faster than Japanese – no question. But it is possible, as any of the 500,000 US citizens who live in Japan will probably tell you. Japanese is not the irrelevant and small language that some people think, as it has more than one hundred twenty million speakers around the world. It’s better to look at it as being in an exclusive group, not in a small group.

Companies from Japan are represented in nearly every major country in the World, befitting of one of the world’s greatest export economies. There are clearly benefits, if you work for or want to work for, one of those companies if you speak Japanese.

Japanese managers still hold many of the senior positions outside of Japan in the bigger Japanese corporations. However, many non-Japanese have advanced by moving to the headquarters in Japan and working there for a few years, before being promoted to a senior position in their home country. But for that, you need to learn Japanese. Even if your employer has some internal programs, there is a lot to be said for getting noticed by taking matters into your own hands and doing and external program also.

The Japanese culture is one where respect is everything. Learning the Japanese language is a great way to clearly display honor and respect, and won’t go unnoticed. Start with spoken Japanese, that is the best way. Writing skills can be dealt with afterwards.

Japan is a country of adventurous travelers. The hospitality industry in many countries places a great value on having Japanese speakers on its staff. From both a personal and professional perspective, there are many advantages to being able to talk with Japanese tourists.

Grammar in Japanese is considerably more simple than grammar in most other languages. There are no noun genders, no accompanying articles, and no plural forms to learn while studying Japanese. There are very few irregular verbs in Japanese, and only the past and present tenses. Japanese pronunciation is quite easy, due to the fact that there are only five vowel sounds and also because spelling is always phonetically obvious. With good online Japanese Language Courses, learning Japanese is quite easy.

Japan has been influenced by Asia’s greatest civilizations: India, China, and Korea. Western traditions and habits are shared across Western cultures, and Asian cultures similarly share many habits and traditions. Accordingly, studying Japanese, which shares many traditions and beliefs with other great Asian civilizations, can give you insights beyond Japan and throughout Asia instead. A familiarity with Asian cultures also allows you to step outside of your own culture and see the Japanese and Asian cultures in a whole new and fresh light.

Learning Arabic – Some Benefits

Learning Arabic is easier now than ever before. There are numerous Internet resources available, and also many language programs online which help with pronunciation, grammar, vocabulary, and indeed in some cases do quite a good job of simulating immersion and context, which is the best way to learn any language, including Arabic.

However, it is still challenging, particularly for English speakers. In contrast to, for example, the Germanic language sounds or the Romantic language sounds, Arabic sounds can seem quite guttural. The sounds are very different. That is balanced, and more than balanced, by the fact that Arabic only has two verb tenses, and very few grammar rules to master.

Despite the differences, a number of Arabic words have found their way into English – elixir, alcohol (surprisingly), algebra, magazine – these are just some examples.

Arabic is written from the right of the page, similar to Hebrew. The Modern Standard Arabic language is also the language of Islam, and it is spreading throughout the world as Islam spreads as a world religion, to most countries in Europe and elsewhere.

Incredibly rich in history, Arabic comes from the group of languages called Semitic. Dating back to Mohammed and the 7th century, it is now spoken in over 20 countries with 195 million people speaking Arabic as their first language, and another 35 million plus speaking it as their second language.

While written Arabic is quite standard across the Arab world, be aware that there are a significant number of local dialects.

With a structure to the language that is harmonious and very rhythmic, poetry and literature are a very important part of Arabic language history. Written records began in the 7th century, with generation to generation verbal pass-down before that. Because of the rhythmic nature of the language, much of the prose is written in verse form.

Modern Standard Arabic comprises twenty eight consonants. There are three vowels, but each vowel has a long and a short form, creating totally different long and short syllables, so important in Arabic poetry.

Arabic is also considered a sacred language among Muslims, largely because it is the language of their prophet, through which the Koran was revealed. And that is the reason why Arabic has emerged as the biggest Semitic language.

Learning Arabic has many benefits. But don’t be put off by pronunciations which seem challenging. But the benefits of a great perspective and wonderful insights into an early civilization and its incredible history will make you want to put the effort into mastering them, which is possible with some practice.

So what are you waiting for?

See Our Recommended Learning Arabic Online Programs

Benefits of Learning German

The German language has a rich history, and understanding some of the history helps to put learning German in context. As a language it is one of the major languages in the world, and it is also the largest first language in the European Union. German is still the third most studied language, so if you are thinking of learning German you are certainly not alone.

The last 200 years saw much German migration, so there are also large German derived pockets in places like Brazil, Argentina, Mexico, Uruguay, Chile and Venezuela – however most of the descendents of these migrants no longer speak German as their primary language, if at all.

Also, who would have thought that people of German ancestry in the USA outnumber Irish and English ancestry groups.

The language of government and commescr of the Habsburg Empire was German – significant as that Empire spread to most of Central and Eastern Eurpoe. But did you know that Germany was mostly a written language until about 1850 – there were really no common spoken rules of pronunciation, rather a connection of loosely related dialects.

The Grimm Brothers developed the first dictionary of the German language in the mid-1800s, which remains to this day the most comprehensive guide to German vocabulary.
It was only in 1996 that the Spelling Reform of German standardized and simplified rules of spelling and pronunciation. Since the spelling reform, old and new coexisted in general use, with only schools sticking rigidly to the new rules.

The Indo-European group of languages is where German comes from, namely the West Germanic subset of the Germanic branch. This is in common with English, Dutch, Yiddish, and some other languages. If you look hard you will find that many German words have crept into the English language – for example kindergarten and frankfurter.

In German there are two tiers of address, the informal style and the formal style.

For English speakers learning German, pronunciation takes a lot of practice as there are sometimes clusters of three consonants, even in one syllable of a word. To put the spelling reform in context, 212 spelling rules went to 112 rules after the reform, and 52 rules on pronunciation were slashed to only nine. So if it seems difficult now, learning German is certainly easier than it was before.

How long does it take to learn German? That obviously depends, but with the right immersive tools you can be holding German conversations after about 8 weeks.

There are also many online tools which can help, particularly with vocabulary expansion, pronunciation and verb tenses and rules. Be sure to pick one which does a good job of simulating immersion, this is really necessary to truly grasp the German language in context.

See Our Recommended Learning German programs

Fast Spanish Skills – The Benefits

Those learning Spanish describe it as a fun experience. That should be reason enough to give learning Spanish a go. While you might be intimidated by the fast Spanish you encounter among native speakers, do not worry, they will slow down for you.

After all, if you are going to be learning Spanish, it might as well not be for purely academic reasons. Soaked in history and culture, Spanish is a rich language, used in many, many places around the world.

Research has shown that the development of ailments like Alzheimer’s disease and dementia can be slowed by learning Spanish, or any second language? Better critical thinking skills, better memory retention, and a slowing of age-related mental problems.

Also, it has been shown that both adults and children who speak a second language have enhanced mental abilities.

Even if you live in the USA, having a grasp of Spanish given you access to many large Hispanic communities which are thriving and growing. The benefits of speaking Spanish can only increase, as the Hispanic population shows the fastest growth.

Travel is a totally different and superior experience, and with Spanish, your options are huge – most of Latin America, and well as Spain in Europe. Indeed, over 350 million people speak Spanish as their first language. Your whole experience will be opened up, you will absorb more of the local history and culture, you will find the best places and you will interact with real local native speakers.

Everybody would agree that there are better ways to experience a new country than as a pure tourist. Trying to speak the local language when you are visiting another country is the biggest compliment you can pay. Even if you mess it up, people will be friendlier, more accepting, and more cooperative. They truly do appreciate the gesture.

In terms of evolution of the Spanish language, it derived from the group of languages known as the Romance languages. The roots of Romance languages were in Latin, and it is from there that English is derived also. So learning Spanish can actually help you improve your vocabulary in English and also your word comprehension skills. Spanish and Latin have contributed many words to English, especially in the law and medicine.

You should already be convinced and searching online for learning Spanish resources, but also remember that your business or your career can be helped by learning Spanish. You must be able to see the advantages of wider communication abilities, whether it is partners, vendors, or customers.

So what are you waiting for? You can Learn To Speak Spanish Fast!

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Why You Should Consider Learning Hindi

For those considering studying or learning Hindi, it is useful to give a historical perspective to the language and culture.

Firstly, English words like juggernaut, sherbet, and dungarees originate from the Hindi language, so it is not to be perceived as an old language, distant from English. Hindi, as we all know, Is India’s official language. Hindi is widely used in South Asia, in countries like Pakistan and Nepal. Because the British, in the Empire days, exported many migrant workers to other colonies, places like Fiji and Trinidad have large portions of their population who are Hindi speakers.

Fiji has had many coups in its history, but the second to last coup was as a result of indigenous Fijians revolting against the first Indian prime minister to be elected. The most recent coup, which was driven by the military, related to a desire for more recognition of equality for the Hindi speaking community. I will, however, stay away from the political commentary.

After English and Mandarin, Hindi is the third most spoken language in the world. The structure of the Hindi language is very logical and defined, making it quite an easy language to learn. The script has no capital letters. The Hindi alphabet has 11 vowels and 33 consonants. Unusually, Hindi has three greeting levels – formal, familiar, and intimate, which makes it different to many other languages.

Hindi has been enriched by Persian, Turkish, Farsi, English and Portuguese.

The Hindi language is broadly similar to Urdu, the official language of Pakistan. While many of the words have been softened for general speech purposes, most come from equivalent Sanskrit words. The language is rich in epics and classical works of literature.

Learning Hindi is essential as a gateway to one of the oldest civilizations. It is very difficult to comprehend some of the core aspect of Indian civilization without learning Hindi or studying the Hindi language.

If you are thinking of Hindi as an ancient language, you might be surprised to realize that it only became the official language of India in 1950, by constitutional amendment.

Who has not heard of Bollywood? – Hindi movies are huge.

Hindi, as a language, is easy to learn and is quite necessary for those who wish to truly explore Indian culture. Hindi is useful from a business perspective also, as the Indian economy has opened up, and many companies, from call centers to software development houses, have operations based in or outsourced to India.

You can start learning Hindi right now!