Culture Class: Learning a Foreign Language

I have been living in Austria for almost 8 months now and although that sounds like sufficient time to get to grips with German, which is the language spoken here, let me tell you, the words go in one ear and out the other. It's definitely a challenge learning a foreign language, although its also not impossible. Guess it just takes effort and practice.

This is about all the English to German I have learnt whilst living abroad:
* monkey - affe
* castle - burg
* hello - hallo
* good night - gute nacht

And the list of random things/sayings goes on.. But really most of them are useless in everyday speech. Especially when you walk into a shop and want to ask for a piece of meat cut in a certain way, but don't have the words to articulate your wish. It gets awkward. lol!

Mostly I have learnt through hearing people speak with each other or being taught the words by the kids I work with. Pronounciation is probably the hardest part. German has something funny going on with the 'r' sound, and for the life of me, I can't say it right.

The language I want to grapple with next is Czech. I started learning the basics about 8 months ago, but havent really continued since I've been in Austria and surrounded by German.

All I can say is keep trying, eventually you will get it. It'll never be perfect, but you'll feel proud of yourself and you'll have fun trying out what you learn in real life :)

Photo of The Week 9

Location: Prague, Czech Republic
Photographer: theInternationalLocal

Press pLAy : Dr Dre, Eminem and Skylar Grey

Can't get I Need a Doctor by Dr Dre, featuring Eminem and Skylar Grey outta my head. It's a powerful song dedicated to the passing of rapper Eric Wright in 1995. The music video is off the hook amazing.

Do yourself a big favour and listen to this song asap. Wow! I've always been a fan of Eminem, but seeing and hearing him working alongside his mentor Dr Dre and with the beautiful voice of Skylar Grey (recently heard in Coming Home with Diddy), this song is on some other level.

Press pLAy :)

Press pLAy : Avril Lavigne

Goodbye Lullaby is Avril Lavigne's latest album. I don't know about you, but I have been so looking forward to this release, especially after hearing her single What the hell. This Canadian singer knows how to sing and this album is as brilliant as her others have been, maybe even better. I'll let you judge that. I can see where her inspiration comes from and I'm in the same "place" at the moment, so I'll definitely be listening to Goodbye Lullaby alot. Music heals the soul and heart, well at least i hope.

Best tracks include:
* Not Enough
* 4 real
* Push
* Wish You Were Here
* Stop Standing There

I could honestly say almost every track on the album is really good!! Take a listen, it's the kind of music that makes you feel something, and this album will hopefully make you feel really good.

Press pLAy!!!

  

Press pLAy : Aura Dione

Aura Dione is the new voice to keep an ear out for. Her latest album Columbine has hit the shelves a while back and trust me, its pretty dam amazing. Aura Dione hails from Copenhagen, Denmark.

Just like her album cover shows, she has a flair for the beautiful different and it shows in her music. Her album rocks! There's something for every mood and feeling.

Best tracks include:
* Song For Sophie
* Stay The Same
* Something From Nothing
* I Will Love You Monday

Press pLAy asap :) Peace & Love

Photo of The Week 8

Location: Addo Elephant National Park
Country: South Africa
Photographer: the International Local

Press pLAy : Jessie J

Jessie J's new album Who You Are hit the shelves in February and let me tell you, its pretty rocking. Lots of cool tracks from this up and coming lady from Britain.

Extra cool tracks on the album include:
* Do it like a dude
* Price tag
* Who you are

and lots more!! check it out :) press pLAy

Art Buzz: Lab Art 2011: Sweet Disposition

Some Inspiration For Those Confused Days

" Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do then by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbour. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover. " - Mark Twain

" Take the first step in faith. You don't have to see the whole staircase, just need to take the first step" - Martin Luther King

" Begin with the end in mind" - Stephen Covey

" You got to dress for the job you want, not the job you've got" - Head of State

" You mustn't be afraid to dream a little bigger, darling" - Inception

" I think a man does what he can until his destiny is revealed" - The Last Samurai

" He gets to the end of his life and he looks back and decides that all those years he suffered, those were the best years of his life. Because they made him who he was. All those years he was happy, you know, total waste. He didn't learn a thing. " - Little Miss Sunshine

" Sometimes you have to risk the dark in order to see the light" - Minority Report

" Perhaps he knew, as I did not, that the Earth was made round so that we would not see too far down the road" - Out of Africa

Press pLAy : The King's Speech

An absolutely brilliant movie that you must watch is The King's Speech. It's clever, witty and will have you glued to the screen. Not to mention Colin Firth having just recently won an Oscar for his performance as the stuttering King George, his co-stars are right up there with him. Geoffrey Rush is pure brilliance in this film. To see what I mean, put The King's Speech on your pLAy list now!