Category: Learning

Learning, Literature, Quotes

Why Storytelling Matters | Toni Morrison’s Lesson on Writing | Art of Saudade

Today we celebrate the birth of a legend, a superwoman, a fighter and a Nobel laureate. Did you know that Toni Morrison wrote her first novel, getting up every morning at 4 am to write, while raising two children on her own?  She described her first work, The Bluest Eye, as “history, sociology, folklore, nightmare and music”, depicting the dark side of humanity through the … Continue reading Why Storytelling Matters | Toni Morrison’s Lesson on Writing | Art of Saudade

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History, Learning, Quotes

Not all heroes wear capes, some wear glasses – Rosa Parks | Art of Saudade

American activist Rosa Parks was born on this day in 1913. December 1, 1955, Montgomery, Alabama – a quiet, 42-year-old woman was arrested for refusing to surrender her seat to a man on a bus. The reason? She was African-American and the man was “white”. Yes, I also can’t believe this happened less than 70 years ago. This event led to the United States Supreme … Continue reading Not all heroes wear capes, some wear glasses – Rosa Parks | Art of Saudade

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Learning, Life lessons, Philosophy, Quotes

Beckett’s Art of Failure: Fail again. Fail better | Art of Saudade

You know that frustrating feeling when you try your best but you don’t succeed? When you get what you want, but not what you need? Alright, I’ll stop quoting Chris Martin. But we’ve all been through this, right? There are high chances that you’re going through it right now. Social pressure, expectations versus reality, dreams taking time to manifest… These are hard times for dreamers. … Continue reading Beckett’s Art of Failure: Fail again. Fail better | Art of Saudade

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Languages, Learning

#2: Monthly language challenge – November 2021

Hello November! Time for a new language challenge!  This time the choice was easy – the language I’ll be studying in November is not a language that I’m starting from scratch as was the case in October. However, it is one of those languages that I’ve always wanted to learn, yet I never got the chance. So, here it is! One month of extensive learning, … Continue reading #2: Monthly language challenge – November 2021

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Languages, Learning

#1: Monthly language challenge – October 2021

Ühest keelest ei piisa kunagi! – One language is never enough! First impressions of the Estonian language  Trying to get familiar with a new language in only one month is definitely an interesting challenge for language enthusiasts, however it is not as easy as it seems. The idea was to start learning a language from scratch and see how much we can learn in a … Continue reading #1: Monthly language challenge – October 2021

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Languages, Learning

5 Steps to Follow in your First Week of Learning a Language from Scratch

Are you learning a language from scratch? Here are five tips that can help you get started: Define your motivation Having a strong motivation is one of the keys to acquiring a foreign language. Learning a language from scratch takes a lot of time, so make sure you have a good reason to learn it. It sounds contradictory, but I chose to learn a totally … Continue reading 5 Steps to Follow in your First Week of Learning a Language from Scratch

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Languages, Learning

New monthly language challenges! 🗣️

New monthly language challenges ! 🗣️ Sweet October comes and brings new challenges ! 🍂 Holidays are over and we’ve already got so much to do, but challenging our brains from time to time can help us keep our minds sharp. 🧠 Learning a foreign language and exposing yourself to a different culture is one of the best brain exercises. 💪 Most of us usually … Continue reading New monthly language challenges! 🗣️

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Creative writing, Education, Learning, Literature

Learn to write from the Masters: #2 Charles Kiefer – “Para ser escritor”

The writer’s struggle for the right word is the most painful struggle. This is Charles Kiefer’s statement, Brazilian literature professor and author who shares his thoughts on the most common challenges writers face. Finding the right word, or le mot juste that Flaubert himself struggled with, is obviously one of the obstacles in the writing process. In Flaubert’s case, this struggle turned into obsession (it … Continue reading Learn to write from the Masters: #2 Charles Kiefer – “Para ser escritor”

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Creative writing, Learning, Literature

Learn to write from the Masters: #1 Horacio Quiroga – Decalogue of the perfect storyteller

Fernando Pessoa said, “Literature is the most agreeable way of ignoring life”. However, what is truly agreeable is the final result which requires a long and painstaking work. Writers, whether they’re geniuses or amateurs, have all struggled with writer’s block. Quiroga, one of the greatest short story writers, shares 10 of his writing secrets that could help you get inspired, overcome writer’s block and finally, … Continue reading Learn to write from the Masters: #1 Horacio Quiroga – Decalogue of the perfect storyteller

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Languages, Learning

Sounding as authentic as possible when speaking a foreign language

This is a question that language enthusiasts often ask themselves – is good pronunciation important when speaking a language, or what matters is being able to understand and be understood by natives? Is grammar important? Is it more important to be able to speak or to write? Learning a foreign language is not an easy process, especially because languages constantly evolve. The fact that it … Continue reading Sounding as authentic as possible when speaking a foreign language

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