If you are a businessman or businesswoman, you need people and connections. This requires you to have a good rapport with your associates and employees, and sometimes even forge relationships with your business rivals. Building connections is one of the easiest ways for you to expand your business from region to region.

Are you looking to start building your connections? Here are a few easy ways to get you started.

Learning a new language

Communication is extremely vital among people. One of the easiest ways that you can quickly lose communication is when you or the person you are speaking to do not understand the other’s language. This can be nullified by learning a new language, one that allows you to promote your goods and services in other countries easily.

Is the person you are speaking to in Korea or Japan? You can always spend time to learn Japanese or learn Korean, giving you better chances to communicate clearly. Not only will you be able to explain your goods clearly but having the advantage of speaking the same language with your potential client can help you discern certain situations, helping you to adjust accordingly.

Join business clubs

In this day and age, like-minded people from all over the world are banding together and forming groups. These groups are created to help and promote each other in their various businesses. They seek to enlighten each other and endorse each other when needed. People in such groups can give you referrals that will elevate you to the next level.

Even though most of these business clubs or groups require a certain amount of money for you to be able to join, there is a small price to pay for you to be able to interact with the other businessmen and women. In these groups, you’ll be able to meet people at different stages of their business. You might find some in the start-up stage, while others are already having a steady stream of clients. It is beneficial to learn from the ones who have gone ahead, but also to take note of what you shouldn’t do.

Play a sport

If you are athletic, don’t hesitate to look around your neighbourhood for a sports club. You can engage in golf as you mingle and talk about business with other players. It is a great way to keep fit while connecting, promoting your business and making lifelong friends in the process.

Go digital

The world has become a tech-savvy place, and you may lose out if you are not in tune with tech. Technology enables you to meet new people and learn about sites that will usually cost a fortune to travel. By joining Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and other social media apps, you give yourself a platform to interact with other people, and for others to communicate with you. If you don’t have the time to learn another language, such as Japanese classes during the day, you can always pick up Japanese courses online. Most importantly, you can advertise your business on the respective platforms as well. Make sure to update your equipment in the office so that you can deliver services much more efficiently.

Take these opportunities to not only grow your business but yourself as well.

Most people would have travelling on their bucket list. However, as much as travelling can be enjoyable and fun, it can also be quite hectic and risky if you fail to plan well.

Thus, here are some ways to assist you in travelling safely and at ease.

1. Save up

You will require money to travel, and if you wish to enjoy your trip, you need to bring along sufficient cash. Food, transportation, and accommodation are the main factors that you will spend your significant share of money on. You should not forget about cash that you will require in times of emergencies as well. Accidents can be inevitable and may use up a large sum of money. Therefore, it is highly recommended that you bring two times the amount you actually plan to for your trip.

2. Have an itinerary

Planning is extremely important when travelling. Efficient planning can help you enjoy your trip well as you will be well aware of your daily schedule. Besides, effective planning can also help you avoid spending cash unnecessarily. Such instances may include spending additional money due to going to the wrong location.

By planning your itinerary, you will also be aware of the various transportation methods you will be utilizing. This includes travelling by plane, trains or buses. Taking a plane to cross a border will require much more than travelling by train or bus. Therefore, it is important to plan your itinerary and know how much the total travelling cost will take up.

Last but not least, planning your itinerary will also help you to learn about the entrance fees of the attractions you desire to visit.

3. Have your vaccinations done

Your health is vital. You should visit your health practitioner and tell them about the places you are planning to visit. They will then advise you on the immunizations needed in certain countries. Your doctor can also offer you some pieces of advice, for instance, how to keep yourself safe and healthy. This information will aid you in having a healthy and stress-free trip. After all, you will not be able to enjoy your trip well if you were to fall ill.

4. Pack right

A piece of huge luggage can be an inconvenience when it comes to moving around. Thus, it is vital to ensure that you pack right and do not bring along unnecessary items.

Remember to pack any necessary medication that you require for specific allergies and other conditions as well.

5. Learn a new language

Communication is imperative wherever you travel to. If you are planning to travel to Japan, you can consider learning Japanese by taking up a Japanese course in Singapore.

By taking into consideration the tips mentioned above, you will definitely have a fun, memorable and stress-free trip.

It has long been established that being multilingual aids you in your career growth. Being multilingual can even help you climb the corporate ladder faster than your work colleagues. By picking up a second language, you will not only be equipped with long-term health benefits, but there are also many other gains to be obtained for professional and personal life.

Let’s look at some of the important health benefits of becoming a multilingual:

Boosting concentration

Indeed, picking up anything new after already starting on your professional life generally requires more focus. The quote “it is never too late to learn” is accurate, but after a certain age, more concentration and effort is needed for the individual to learn correctly. It is why teaching a second language to your kids is much easier than when they are older. When we grow older, full concentration is required to absorb and learn these foreign languages, and thus enhance our concentration levels.

Increasing memory

It is not an easy feat to learn a foreign language. As individuals, we are often much more comfortable speaking a language we already know and moving out of our comfort zone to learn the basics of a second language is a difficult task. Many languages, such as Mandarin, Spanish and French, aren’t easy languages to pick up. Even getting started with Japanese courses can be pretty tricky as our memory power has to increase further for us to speak and master any language. The grammar and pronunciation takes up a lot of remembering, and thus exercises our memory in keeping it sharp.

Mastering your first language

Learning a second language makes you more aware of your mother tongue. For example, as you learn Japanese or any other foreign language, you acquire linguistic skills that enable you to master your mother tongue. It can be easier to distinguish between the grammars of the two languages and speak your mother tongue language better.

Delay of memory-related diseases

It is scientifically proven that human memory grows weaker with age, as speaking regularly in a foreign language requires the exercising of your mind always. Due to such mental exercise, many grow to become sharper than monolinguals at old age. Memory-related diseases in old age can be delayed as we learn and converse in a foreign language. The two most common examples of progressive diseases, dementia and Alzheimer’s, can be delayed by picking up a foreign language. Such symptoms are common among the older generation and knowing a foreign language can aid us in delaying memory loss.

Slow down ageing process

Physical exercise proves that we can keep our body fit. Similarly, we should also look to exercise our minds and keep them fit. Multilinguals require exercising of their minds to converse and speak a foreign language. The more you exercise your mind, the more it slows down the ageing process. When we speak more than one language, our human abilities such as multi-tasking, creativity, reasoning and problem-solving become much stronger. It, in turn, helps our brain work faster and better as we grow old.

Being multilingual not only benefits your career but also has many positive impacts on your health. It gives you one more reason not to delay and pick up a second language.

Having the ability and the knowledge of communicating in more than one language gives you an advantage in your professional career. Just by learning an additional language such as learning Japanese in Singapore, you become eligible for a huge range of job opportunities. Schools all over the world are making it mandatory for children to start learning a second language in their primary years of education as this not only enhances professional skills but also boosts a child’s developing cognitive skills.

There are also numerous language schools offering various language courses in Singapore. One instance is Japanese courses in Singapore.

You can consider various professions if you speak multiple languages. It puts you out there as a candidate who can adjust, speak and communicate clearly in a foreign country. In addition, you earn a higher remuneration as you are willing to travel and work in a foreign country.

The HR team of any global company is always on the lookout for multilingual professionals; these candidates always enjoy an upper-hand over the others throughout their professional career.

Here are some of the many professions that a multilingual person can pursue:

1. Hotel & Hospitality Industry

This service industry looks at hiring professionals who are polite and customer-oriented in their outlook. To know a second language would automatically make you eligible for a job in this industry. There are places where the hotel industry has to hire skilled professionals from other countries, knowing the local language only adds to your merits, and you will easily become the first choice for any hospitality company.

2. Government Jobs

Every government looks to hire professionals who can stay away from their home country in a foreign location to maintain friendly ties between the two countries. It is always easier to understand the emotions of any individual if you know how to communicate in their local language. Thus, it is easy to land a government job if you are multilingual. Governments also pay well to such diplomats who stay away from home to serve their country.

3. Travel Blogger

If you love travelling and exploring the world, then you should be fluent in more than one language. English is spoken all over the world, but there are countries where citizens would only like to communicate in their native language. Whichever country you travel to, speaking to the locals, visiting local shops, communicating in the local language will make the citizens welcome you. They will also be willing to share with you more details on their country’s tourism spots.

4. English Teacher

There are many countries where English is not the official language. These countries provide opportunities for people who are fluent in English to teach the language. For instance, in Japan, nearly half of the population do not speak English. Therefore, becoming an English teacher is considered a lucrative career option.

5. Musician

If you love music and would like to explore the music of a different culture, being multilingual will greatly benefit you. Knowing an additional language helps you understand and study the culture, as well as the evolution of its music. In addition, as a musician, it will definitely pay off in the long run if you can sing in more than one language.

The above are a handful of career opportunities that are unconventional from regular careers, such as a customer service representative, healthcare professional and many others. These are modern age career paths that multilingual professionals today can pursue.

It is always fun to learn something new, and learning a new language is a lot more fun than it seems.  Globalization is a reality, and all the countries are opening doors to people from all part of the world. Language is one of the few things that can break the intangible barrier between two people belonging to different parts of the world. Why be a monolingual when you can pick up so many other languages? Especially in today’s age, having the grasp of other languages put you at a disadvantage where countries establish businesses and trade with each other. This is especially so if a country is a monolingual one, such as Japan, and they will need expert translators to help communicate with others.

Enriching Experience

Learning a second language is an enriching experience. Knowledge is something that you gain, but the entire process also has some significant impact on your life and individual skillset. You may pick up a specific school of thoughts, and it may even be a life-changing experience. Let’s look at the impact of learning a second language brings about.

Increases Knowledge

Anything new that you read or learn increases your knowledge database; but learning a new language increases your knowledge about the evolution, history and culture of an entirely new country. You will not only learn a mere language but take a peek into its history and also, its culture. For instance, in Japanese classes, you will learn the difference between Kanji and Hiragana and the history behind these two writing systems; that being Kanji is considered a masculine writing system, thus, used in formal court settings. The women in the Heian court invented Hiragana to write their novels and poetry. Such in-depth knowledge allows you a glimpse of the society back then, but it also gives you an inkling of how it may have affected their society today. It helps to broaden your perspective about their history, art and culture. You may end up making this second language your favourite after knowing about their evolution.

Enhances Memory

Learning anything new requires exercising your memory. A language is a challenge in itself; it is said children are said to be sponges that absorb any knowledge, languages included. This mental ability slows down once you grow older, and it thus gets harder to pick up new languages along the way. However, this is an excellent opportunity to exercise your mental capabilities. By using parts of your brain that are hardly used, you are forcing your mind to familiarize itself with the way the language is spoken and written. Just like any muscle in your body, constant usage means better optimization. For the brain, this means an enhanced ability to retain memories. This also has long term health benefits; old age diseases like Dementia and Alzheimer’s are delayed in individuals are they keep exercising their memory by speaking a second language.

Career Scope

You might have the desire to move to another country for a better opportunity and learning their native tongue will not only allow better navigation and adaptability in an unfamiliar country, but it also enhances the chances of you getting your dream job. Monolingual countries like Japan will always prefer to hire someone who has taken the pains of learning their language. The Japanese language, or any language for that matter, is tough to learn, but if you put your heart to it, you could master their language. This process will be significantly shorter if you have the guidance of a teacher in a Japanese course.

Conclusion

Learning a second language overall is an enriching experience; most of the educational institutions have a second language as a part of their curriculum. The benefits of learning a second language have always been recognized as the reason why they say we should start early.

In today’s professional set up, having just a single degree in a specialized study course no longer makes you stand out from a crowd of contenders for your desired job. Perhaps it’s time for you to seek out additional skills to not only help you stand out from the crowd but also increase your chances of landing your desired job. Similar to a child studying in school, attaining a holistic education rather than one focused on your academics is going to assist you in the long run. If you’re looking to pull ahead of your competitors in landing a job or advance in your career, you are required to have an additional skill to set you apart from others who are also seeking the same position.

With more companies becoming more open to the idea of hiring individuals from other countries, acquiring a new foreign language could prove to be a unique skill to separate you from your competitors. Here are a few reasons on how learning a foreign language can improve your career prospects.

Additional Skill on your Resume

Having an additional skill on your resume while maintaining the right attitude and aptitude during learning can play an essential role in improving the prospects of your career. Learning a new foreign language through attending classes like Chinese or Japanese courses in Singapore can prove to be an additional skill in allowing the employer to focus on what you can offer, rather than another equally qualified contender. For example, a foreign language like Korean, Chinese or Japanese can automatically make you a candidate who has passed the first step of the interview. Not only can one pick up these language courses such as through Chinese, Korean or Japanese classes in Singapore, but with the right focus, you can easily pick up the language in no time.

Broaden Networking Skills

Knowing any foreign language can help broaden your professional network. When you can speak in the local language of any country, it helps you to make friends in that country. They will be more likely to accept you into their professional group, which can create a bond and a fulfilling friendship. Creating a meaningful and lifelong friendship can further help you in your career when you require help or a friendly face during lunch or dinner.

Increases Self-Confidence

The entire process of learning a foreign language is not as easy as it seems. Even if you’ve picked up a foreign language, you might find that self-confidence affects how you present yourself. By being confident when speaking in a foreign language, you can further boost your chances in acquiring a professional career in your desired job or play a part in improving your career.

Adapt To Foreign Culture

When you’re working in a foreign country, knowing their local language can help you in being accepted as one of their own. You can relate and understand their emotions better, allowing you to make friends through social chats and enjoy the new culture. This acceptance as one of their own helps you assimilate into their culture and give you a boost in your career with an additional social skill.

These are just a few advantages that can help you in your professional career should you acquire a new foreign language. Of course, the benefits of improving your career and your career prospects aren’t the only benefits. Through learning a new foreign language, you will find your cognitive skills increasing, allowing you to become more creative and intelligent. Acquiring the additional skill of a foreign language can open doors to an entirely different culture and history, helping you to understand more from other’s perspective and become a more tolerant individual.

In human evolution history, the modes of communication have shifted from the primitive cave drawings to the introduction of written and spoken language. It is said that the first language was spoken almost 2, 50,000 years ago. It was only when trade was made accessible that a specific language will bleed outside of one’s community and absorbed by another. The ability to pick up different languages was deemed ideal even back in those days as it helped to grow their business and expand their network. In today’s context, it is more vital now that globalization and trade are deeply entrenched in the world’s modus operandi. Foreign languages are considered to be essential tools in several industries. Singaporeans are often seen to opt for German classes, French classes and Japanese classes to boost their language skill sets.

While there are thousands of languages to exist in the world, to be fluent in more than two languages is an uncommon feat. Even in Singapore where, the education enforces lessons on the three different mother tongues, the younger generation is said to be more comfortable speaking in English than in their mother tongue.  It is progressive on the government’s part as knowing more than one language has various advantages. Let me list down the top 5 reasons for being multi-lingual.

Superior communication skills

This is a no brainer. Considering language is used as a tool of communication, undoubtedly, somebody who knows how to communicate in more than one language has better communication skills compared to somebody who doesn’t. Other than broadening your vocabulary bank, several cultural nuances are better explained in their native languages.

Children that were taught more than four languages within the tender age of five could grasp more advanced concepts than a child who has exposure to only one.

Enhanced cognitive skills

Studies have proven that any individual who can switch between two languages would also possess better cognitive abilities in reasoning and planning. These individuals are found to be better problem solvers, task managers and decision-makers compared to their counterparts.

Being multi-lingual helps immensely at workplaces, especially if you are looking at a global role. Your resume will take precedence as you possess a skill that you could value add to the company.

Code-switching

Code-switching is defined as the ability to alternate between two or more languages. However, it is worth to note that it is more than that. Every language is entrenched in a deep history and nuanced cultural scripts. A multilingual person is one that has absorbed not only the language but the other facets that built the language. You will be able to understand the culture and traditions, making you more tolerant than most. You can engage in several discourses and switch your vernacular from one language to another while throwing in your different understanding of their cultures.

Healthy old age

Several studies showed that the onset of old age syndromes likes Dementia and Alzheimer’s can be delayed when you are engaged in brain exercises. Some of the more conventional ways to do so are by picking up a new skill, including learning new languages. People who can speak two languages are mentally healthier than most monolinguals. They also possess better memory and thinking skills, thus delaying the onset of cognitive impairment.

The above are just a few of the advantages that multi-linguals have over monolinguals. So why wait? There are various language centres in Singapore that you could head down to take up, for instance, a Japanese course. You have nothing to lose!

Do you wish to befriend South Korean people and get to know about their culture and lifestyle? If your answer is yes: then you should consider picking up and learning the Korean language.

If you want to watch Korean dramas and listen to K-pop songs without subtitles, you must learn the basics and grammar of Korean. Learning Korean grammar isn’t difficult. After all, it is the only Asian language where grammar is all about specific patterns and rules. As soon as you understand these patterns, you will be able to craft flawless yet straightforward sentences in the Korean language.

Korean grammar – how can you learn Korean?

Before you start your Korean classes in Singapore, decide where you should begin. Depending on your current speaking skills, you can either start learning Korean from scratch or begin with advance Korean grammar. For beginners, the basic grammar rules are a great place to start their Korean speaking journey.

Begin your Korean learning lessons with easy and frequently used words. For example, essential Korean grammar lessons for beginners include the Korean copula, possessive verb and location verb, negative verb form, and the necessary verbs. As soon as you learn about these verbs, you are ready to move to the next part, which is basic Korean grammar. Basic Korean grammar includes:

– Desire modal
– Past simple tense
– Present continuous tense
– Ability modal
– Adjectives
– Future simple tense
– Request modal

These are the most common and frequently used grammar rules. To be able to form simple yet grammatically correct sentences, you need to learn Korean grammar patterns. Try them with examples, make use of these grammar rules when talking to your Korean friend, and write them in your notebook to memorize them quickly.

Understanding Korean sentence structure

If learning Korean words and grammar seems easy, crafting Korean sentences using the right verbs and particles may prove to be a difficult task. English and Korean sentences cannot be compared. Sentences that appear flawless in Korean can be riddled with errors in English. This is because the English sentence structure follows the S-O-V rule (Subject-Object-Verb).

In English, the Subject comes first. Then, the Object followed by the Verb is used. In Korean, the S-O-V pattern is implemented while forming sentences. To understand this rule better, let’s take a look at an example.

– I gave her some money
– She runs a bakery shop
– I have a notebook

These three sentences follow English grammar sentence construction rules. However, if the same is written or spoken in Korean, you will get the following sentences (which are incorrect in English).

– I pen gave her
– She baker shop runs
– I notebook have

A simple trick to clearing this confusion is to end each Korean sentence with an adjective or verb. Make sure that it is the order and fluency of your sentence that determines how well you can speak a foreign language. If you want to learn Korean grammar, you should start learning its sentence construction.

There are many Korean classes in Singapore that you can pick up today to begin your journey to learning better Korean. When picking up a new language, you might find sentence structures different than the one you’ve discovered before.

And the same applies to any other language other out there! Whether you’re planning to learn Japanese, Korean or Mandarin – you’ll find that grammar is just as important in all languages we learn.

How do you identify a good language centre? One way is to ask their students, of course. Here at Language Explorer, it always warms our heart when we receive encouraging testimonials from our past and current students. Our teachers are constantly being praised for their exemplary teaching methods, patient guidance, as well as approachable and passionate spirits.

But apart from having an amazing team of teachers, we are also constantly striving to uphold excellent standards of business practices in our learning centres. So, imagine our excitement when we were called up with this news – Learning Explorer has been awarded the Business Trust Award 2019/2020!

The Business Trust Award recognises small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and entrepreneurs in Singapore which demonstrate exemplary service and customer satisfaction. These companies are known for earning the trust of their customers and business clients by engaging in fair and honest practices.

Indeed, our students are at the heart of our business, and we are always seeking ways to give our best to them. Not only are our professionally-trained teachers willing to go the extra mile to guide students, but the dedicated service staff are also committed to keeping the learning centres up and running smoothly. We are at the forefront of responding to the needs and feedback of our clients and partners, and constantly persevering to provide better experiences each time.

To receive our award, we were invited to the Night of Excellence 2019 – Award Ceremony cum Gala Dinner on the 19th of November, 2019, with the Member of Parliament for Pasir Ris-Punggol GRC, Zainal Sapari, gracing the event. The award was presented by Mr Alex Yeo, the CEO of Asia 1 Enrich Enterprise, to our founder and director, Linda Huang.

We were greatly humbled to connect with other driven and passionate business leaders and entrepreneurs during the gala, on top of enjoying an evening of great food and vibes. Seeing all the up-and-coming local brands at one place definitely fuels our commitment to continue working diligently to become a trusted household brand for language education.

This award adds on to our growing list of achievements at Language Explorer. Starting from our first – the Singapore Excellence Award for Language Teaching in 2015 – our language centres have been receiving recognition yearly for our ongoing education and business efforts. Together, Linda Mandarin, Chinese Edge, English Explorer, Korean Explorer, and Japanese Explorer aim to be the best provider of Chinese, English, Korean, and Japanese lessons in Singapore.

While we can owe our achievements to our superb team at Learning Explorer, we would also like to share our achievement with our biggest and most loyal supporters – our students and business partners! All of this would not have been possible without all the trust and support of all of them. So, with a huge heart of gratitude, we’d like to extend our biggest ‘THANK YOU’ to all of you, our supporters at Learning Explorer. With your continued support, we promise to reach even greater heights in 2020 and the years beyond!

If you’ve ever tried to read the Japanese newspaper, read a letter written in Japanese, or wanted to read your favourite manga in its original language, you may have met with an obstacle despite having learnt some basic Japanese. These written texts all commonly feature kanji, a writing system of Japanese.

While it is possible to speak and understand Japanese without knowledge of kanji, not knowing kanji can be an impediment to reading more complex texts in Japanese.

What is Kanji?

The Japanese language has three writing systems, namely, Hiragana, Katakana, and Kanji. While the former two are native Japanese systems, kanji is directly derived from Chinese characters. Kanji is notoriously more difficult to learn because there are so many of them (about 50,000!) and they can be used in varying ways depending on the context, unlike Hiragana and Katakana which are syllabic.

That said, having a decent grasp of kanji is immensely beneficial if you wish to read Japanese texts unhindered. These tips may be able to help you learn kanji more effectively:

1. Start with radicals

Rather than trying to learn all 50,000 Kanji one by one, it is useful to find some ways to categorise these words. Radicals are a good way to learn how to classify and identify kanji. Radicals are parts of the kanji character that appear in more than one character.

To give an example, there is a 3-stroke element that symbolises ‘water’. This 3-stroke element is present in the characters for ‘juice’, ‘river’, ‘bubble’, ‘sea’, and other water-related things. Thus, by recognising the 3-stroke element for ‘water’, you can guess the meaning of the kanji even if you are seeing it for the first time.

2. Practise stroke order

Like in Chinese, there is a stroke order for writing kanji as well. If you find it hard to remember the appearance of Kanji characters, it will be a good idea to practise writing the words, adhering to the stroke order. The stroke order helps you remember how to write and recognise the words, as well as help you write quicker.

Unfortunately, there is no ‘easy’ way to do this. You just have to grab an exercise book, and commit to practising a few new words a day. If you need help learning kanji in a systematic way, maybe signing up for some Japanese classes in Singapore will help you master kanji more quickly.

3. Learn Jouyou Kanji

We mentioned that there are 50,000 Kanji characters – this is true, but don’t scare yourself into thinking you must know all of them to be able to read Japanese. In fact, there is an official list of 2000 kanji characters called ‘Jouyou Kanji’ that are considered the most fundamental and widely used kanji characters in Japanese writing. In primary school, Japanese kids pick up about 1000 of these words, and in secondary school, the remaining 1000 of them.

So, you should make Jouyou Kanji your starting point for learning kanji. Don’t feel discouraged if it’s taking longer than you expect, because even Japanese children take years to master them! The good thing is, by picking up Jouyou Kanji, you should be able to read most texts in Japanese without much trouble.

4. Read Japanese text to practise

While some level of rote learning and memorisation is useful for learning kanji, it only truly sticks when you practise reading it regularly. This way, your brain will become more used to seeing the symbols and remembering their meanings. A good place to start is children’s storybooks or comics. However, if there’s something you love to read in Japanese, do pick that up, as it will be an added motivation for you.

If you prefer watching films and shows, try watching them with Japanese subtitles – this will really test your speed! You can also find a fellow Japanese learner or a friend who knows Japanese, and initiate a pen-pal or chat-buddy system to practice writing to each other in Japanese.

We won’t lie, learning kanji takes some time and effort, but it is all worth it when you can finally read Japanese texts smoothly. Hopefully these tips are helpful for kickstarting your Kanji learning!

The Korean language has been steadily rising in popularity as a foreign language to learn, mainly due to the wide appeal of its music and drama. Whether you are a K-pop fan, or simply a voracious learner of languages, Korean is an excellent choice of language to pick up. If you are fishing for reasons why you should be learning Korean, let this list of benefits convince you!

•    You can immerse yourself in Korean entertainment

One of the top reasons for learning Korean is the interest that was sparked off by Korean music or film. Although many people enjoy Korean music and dramas without understanding a word of the language, having knowledge of the language can further deepen the appreciation and enjoyment you receive from them. Not only can you experience the films and songs in their original language without subtitles, but you can also get a glimpse into their culture through their language.

•    It can make you smarter

This applies to any new language you learn – studies have shown that people who can speak multiple languages enjoy cognitive benefits like better task-switching, better memory, better attention, and more. Even as an adult learner, your brain can stand to gain from the challenges of learning a new language. In addition, there has been research showing that bilinguals and multilinguals exhibit signs of Alzheimer’s and dementia at a later age than their monolingual counterparts. If that isn’t enough reason to pick up a new language, we don’t know what is.

•    It will help you in your career

South Korea is home to numerous wealthy conglomerates, and is a strong contender in the tech and innovation fields. Think about it: LG, Samsung, and Hyundai are all well-known brands from Korea. If your business is planning to make its foray into the South Korean market, or if you are planning to nail a job at one of these prestigious companies, having a grasp of the Korean language will take you a long way. It will reflect well on you if you have put in the effort to learn the language, and will be extremely useful when you need to meet investors, partners, clients, and more.

•    You can travel to Korea comfortably

Although most people can travel anywhere in the world now with the help of translation tools and the widespread availability of English signs, it is still best to have some knowledge of the local language. In South Korea, knowing how to speak Korean will allow you to strike up conversation with the locals, and navigate your way using the Korean language signs. Imagine getting into a taxi and being able to rattle off the address flawlessly to the driver – that’s the level of convenience and confidence you should aim for.

Indeed, isn’t Korean a great language to learn? To reap the benefits of knowing Korean, it is best to enrol yourself in a language class which provides a step-by-step learning experience for beginner learners. But you may have realised by now, some of these benefits are not limited to learning Korean – you can enjoy these benefits by learning any new language. With a wide range of language classes in Singapore, like Japanese courses, Chinese courses, and Korean courses, there is bound to be one you will love to learn. Begin your language learning journey today!

How hard is it to learn Japanese? While some people may say it’s the most difficult language they have tried to learn, some people will tell you Japanese is not that hard to master. It all depends on your background and dedication in learning the language.

Speakers of Asian languages like Chinese and Korean may find Japanese easier to learn due to certain similarities across languages. For example, Chinese shares some written characters with the Japanese kanji writing system, making it easier for those who know Chinese to learn the meaning of kanji characters.

Even if you have no prior experience in languages that are similar to Japanese, learning the language can seem easy if you are highly motivated. The drive to master the language will help you stay committed and enjoy the learning process.

As some people will tell you, some parts of Japanese are easier to learn than others. Let’s walk through the different aspects and evaluate how challenging they truly are.

Phonetics

The pronunciation system of Japanese is not difficult, yet some key differences can be hard to grasp on the first try. Essentially, Japanese syllables are very simple – they are either a vowel (e.g. ‘a’) or a consonant plus vowel (e.g. ‘ya’). Never will you have consonant clusters like the ‘str-‘ sound in ‘strength’. By stringing up these simple syllables, you can easily make up words and sentences.

One sound that may trip you up at first is the ‘R’ or ‘L’ sound. In English, ‘R’ and ‘L’ have distinct sounds, but in Japanese, there is only one sound that is pronounced like an in-between of ‘R’ and ‘L’. In addition, Japanese has a ‘half-vowel’ sound commonly romanised as ‘u’, like in ‘gozaimasu’. This ‘u’ sound should not be a long ‘oo’ sound, but rather, pronounced like an extra beat of the ‘s’.

Overall, Japanese pronunciation should not be too tricky to master, save for those few exceptions. To pick up Japanese pronunciation readily, you should expose yourself to the sound of native Japanese speech through films, podcasts, or conversations with Japanese speakers. Practise goes a long way as well to refine your pronunciation, as, after all, pronunciation is a matter of muscle memory.

Japanese writing systems

You should know by now that Japanese has not one, but three distinct writing systems. This immediately makes the writing system of Japanese three times harder than that of other languages. However, with some practice, some of these writing systems are not as hard as you think.

Hiragana and Katana are the syllabic writing systems, meaning that each character corresponds to a fixed sound. Due to this straightforward mapping, all you have to do is memorise the characters and their sounds, much like how you would learn the alphabet. Learning them in the context of words will help you remember them better.

The bigger challenge comes in learning Kanji. These are borrowed characters from Chinese script, and are tricky because their use varies. For example, the character for ‘mountain’ can be pronounced in the native Japanese way ‘yama’ or in the Chinese adopted pronunciation ‘san’. While this will take some getting used to, the most critical aspect of Kanji will be to learn the meanings of these characters so that you can understand them in reading.

Japanese grammar

Depending on your native language, Japanese grammar can be extremely simple, or extremely confusing. If your native language shares grammatical similarities with Japanese, it won’t be hard to wrap your head around the word order in Japanese. However, if you come from an English-speaking background, for example, you will need to do some reverse engineering.

The most vital difference between English and Japanese grammar is the sentence structure. In Japanese, sentences have a subject-object-verb order, which means a sentence like ‘I like apples.’ will sound like ‘I apples like.’ In addition, you will need to learn how to mark tenses in Japanese using what is called ‘verb conjugation’, rather than in the English way where we add ‘-ed’ or ‘-s’ to words.

And that concludes it – does Japanese seem easy or difficult to you? If you think you need some help with learning Japanese, not to worry! In Singapore Japanese courses are not hard to come by. By enrolling in a well-reputed language class, you can be introduced to these aspects of Japanese in a step-by-step manner, ensuring you will get a good grasp of them in the most efficient way possible.

Japanese is one of the most popular languages to learn, due to Japanese media like anime, movies, and music being widely popular all around the world. While many people can pick up simple conversational Japanese from watching movies and anime, learning how to read Japanese presents a whole new set of challenges.

Japanese writing systems

What seems daunting to new learners is the fact that Japanese has not one, but three writing systems! Hiragana and katakana are both syllabic systems that are native to Japanese. Together, they are known as ‘kana’. The only difference is that hiragana is mainly used for native Japanese words, while katakana is used for loanwords – for example, when you need to spell out ‘hamburger’ in Japanese. The last writing system (and the oldest) is kanji. Kanji looks just like Chinese characters because they were adopted from the Chinese writing system. However, the pronunciations and meanings of the characters may differ from the Chinese ones.

As you would expect, kana is easier to learn because the sounds are easily matched to the symbols. In contrast, kanji requires memorisation of how each character can be read (some words can be read more than one way!), making it more challenging to learn. To compound the difficulty, Japanese text can be written in all three forms, sometimes in combination in a single sentence. So, it isn’t enough to just learn one form – a serious learner of Japanese needs to master all three.

Tips for mastering the Japanese writing systems

As hiragana and katakana are easier to learn, most learners will find it easier to begin with these two writing systems. Both systems contain 46 basic characters in modern use, but don’t let this daunt you! You can pick up the systems quickly by employing some smart learning techniques. As for kanji, you can pick it up later as you become more exposed to Japanese texts.

Here are some learning tips for mastering the writing systems:

Use associations: Find associations between the symbols and their sounds or meanings to help you remember them better.

Remember using words: Learning the symbols in the context of a word is easier than memorising them in isolation. This is akin to remembering ‘A is for apple, B is for boy’ in English.

Use flashcards: Flashcards are a great way to test and practice your memory. You can create a game out of it and use them to revise your learning every day.

Practise writing: Learning how to write the symbols will help you remember them more effectively. A traditional method used in Japanese schools is to write each letter out repetitively until you remember them. An important point to note is that Japanese characters have a stroke order – so don’t jumble this up!

Practise reading: After you have reached some familiarity with all your Japanese writing systems, you can increase your fluency by reading more Japanese texts. This makes an excellent excuse to pick up a new manga series, or you can watch your anime or Japanese movies with Japanese subtitles.

Learning how to read Japanese may seem difficult at first, but the results are worth it! It unlocks the doors to understanding Japanese text, which will come in useful when travelling, or when enjoying your favourite Japanese manga.

If you are serious about learning Japanese, learning the alphabet is only just the beginning. A Japanese class will be immensely helpful to your learning of Japanese, from the reading and writing to the listening and speaking. In Singapore, Japanese courses are widely available to help you kickstart your Japanese learning journey. Get started today!

Japanese is one of the popular East Asian languages spoken by more than 128 million people across the globe. Even though Japanese is Japan’s national language – people in different corners of the world speak Japanese. The language is spoken in significant parts of Korea, Brazil, and the United States – mainly by the immigrant groups.

And it’s about time you grasp the language too. Whether it’s for a visit or relocation to Japan, it’s important that you learn their native language to have a simple and trouble-free life while you’re over there.

In this guide, we’ll show you three effortless and entertaining ways to learn this language. Let’s begin!

1. Learn the alphabets first

Naturally, you will want to master this language as soon as possible. But that doesn’t mean you can skip the important part.

If you want the learning journey to be a smooth-sailing one – you have to start from the basics. And that means starting with the alphabet. Basically, the Japanese language involves three crucial writing systems:

Hiragana: Hiragana comprises a total of 46 Japanese characters and 51 phonetic characters. The language is important for beginners who want to understand how the Japanese words are pronounced and sound when spoken. For those who want to be able to understand the native accent of Japanese – learning Higarana is your first step.

Katakana: Katakana does not involve native Japanese words. In fact, this part is composed of scientific and technical terms. As compared to Higarana, Katakana can be difficult since these words are not used frequently.

Kanji: As much as Kanji is difficult to learn for beginners, it is imperative to learn the Japanese language completely! You need to get familiar with Kanji to be able to speak, write, and understand Japanese words.

2. Practice grammar regularly

First things first, English grammar and Japanese grammar differ significantly. You can never rely on English translations to understand Japanese or improve your Japanese vocabulary. The best part about Japanese is that it has only two forms of tenses: present and future. So, it doesn’t involve complications.

Once you are done learning its alphabets, it is time to move to the challenging part – grammar. You can start the grammar practice with easy and regular phrases such as “hello”, “how are you”, “what is your name”, “how do you do”, “where are you from”, and so on.

3. Speak the language every day

Practice makes perfect – and that applies when you are learning Japanese as well! Try to converse with someone else and squeeze in some time for writing practices. Even adding a couple of new habits like watching Japanese movies and reading books are extremely helpful to speed up the learning process.

Not to mention, you can find hundreds of Japanese shows and movies on online streaming service such as Netflix.

On the other hand, if you’re someone who prefers someone to guide you along the way as you’re learning something new – a teacher may be able to assist you. There are plenty of Japanese courses that’ll cover all of the above and make sure you’re doing everything right too! There will be assignments, homework, and a couple of tests here and there – but it’ll definitely help you learn the language much quicker.

You may be new at Japanese, but it truly doesn’t matter – everyone has to start from somewhere! Follow these tips closely, and you will get the hang of the language in no time.

Any new language will feel like a feat to learn. However, people who learn languages easily will tell you that there is a method to master a new language with less effort.

Firstly, you must understand that language learning takes time. After that is established, you can then begin with the basics of the language. Although there is a multitude of things to learn, don’t be caught up by the advanced aspects, and focus only on what is necessary at the start. By taking baby steps and consistent effort, you will find yourself picking up the language naturally.

The big question is: where should you start in learning a new language? Here is a suggested guide to help you:

Master common phrases

Rather than learning individual words and trying to piece them together, it will be much more helpful to begin with whole phrases. For example, most language classes start off by teaching students how to perform greetings like ‘hello’ and ‘thank you’, and how to introduce oneself. After that, you can move on to everyday phrases like asking for help, asking for the prices of items in a shop, and so on.

Learn the numbers

And of course, it will be useless to ask for the price of any item if you can’t understand the reply! So, learning numbers is also one of the basics of any language. If you think about it, numbers are widely found in everyday life – in prices, addresses, dates, phone numbers, and more. Thus, it will be very useful to get a firm grasp of numbers from the start.

Learn the phonological system

‘Phonological system’ may sound like a mouthful, but it basically means the system of sounds that make up a language. For example, in English, you need to understand the alphabet and the sounds of the alphabets when you put them in a word. For Chinese, this will not work with Chinese characters, but learning hanyu pinyin will help you learn the pronunciations. If you are learning Japanese, you will need to learn pronunciation alongside katakana. After you have grasped the basic pronunciation system, you will need to practice speaking it so that you can speak the words naturally without stumbling over them.

Learn the writing system

You may have realised that when you learn to pronounce words, it often comes along with learning how to write and read them. Thus, you also need to learn the writing system of the language, be it an alphabetic system, or other symbolic characters (like in Chinese). If you are lucky, the language you choose to learn uses the Roman alphabet, and you won’t need to take this extra step. But if you are learning languages like Japanese or Korean, this is a vital step you cannot miss.

Pick up new vocabulary

Building your vocabulary is important as it gives you more words to be able to express yourself. For example, knowing the word ‘sad’ alone may not be enough for your express your extent or nature of sadness – it would be better if you knew other words like ‘distraught’ or ‘disappointed’. Although learning new vocabulary is difficult, you can make it more manageable by breaking it into attainable goals, like learning 20 new words every week.

A smart way to approach it is to focus on the most commonly used words in the language. You can find these easily online or in a dictionary. Additionally, if you are learning the language for a specific purpose, focus first on the relevant words. For example, if you intend to do business in the language, master the business jargon first.

Don’t fret over grammar

While grammar is an integral part of language, it is one of the things that people find most challenging in learning the new language. That’s because it is not just about saying what you want to say, but about rewiring your brain to reorder what you want to say. At some point, you will need to learn the grammar of the language to be able to speak it well. However, many languages are also quite forgivable of speakers who mess up the grammar. If you are a new learner, you can speak to someone ungrammatically, and chances are, they can decipher what you mean.

Although memorisation is a good way to approach vocabulary-learning, it is not a good method for picking up grammar. The best way to master the structure of any language is to use it often. If possible, practise it with someone else who knows the language. That way, you can learn by listening to them, and they can also correct you as you go. This makes it easier to remember the rules that you need to know.

Do yourself a favour, and strategise an efficient way to learn a new language using these tips! Language classes are also immensely beneficial for language learning, as they employ tried-and-tested methods like these to help learners grasp a new language quickly. If you are interested in picking up a new language in a systematic and effective manner, don’t hesitate to check out the offerings of Skillsfuture Japanese courses, Chinese courses, and Korean courses available.

If you have challenged yourself to learn a new language, there may be times you feel discouraged when the process seems to take longer than you anticipated. Seeing your friends and classmates all speaking fluently while you can’t grasp the right pronunciations can be demoralising. However, don’t give up just yet! You may be taking a longer time because you have not been using the right techniques to learn. To help you speed up your learning process, you can try out these tips that have been shown to be beneficial for language learning:

Practice speaking with someone fluent in the language 

The best way you can start learning a new language is to actually use it. It is normal to need to sit down and memorise the new words, but that alone is not enough. Practice helps you retain what you have learned, and gives you a realistic way to practise the language in conversation. If you have friends or colleagues who speak the language you are learning, you are in luck! If not, you can take to the internet to find a learning buddy who you can converse with over chat or video-call to practise the language regularly.

Be committed 

One common reason for not progressing in learning a language is the lack of commitment. Some people think that going for weekly language classes is sufficient. However, this is often untrue. Sometimes, the difference between those that succeed in learning a language and those that don’t is the amount of effort they put in. Some people study the language for hours every day, while some don’t do anything in between weekly lessons. If you are guilty of not putting in enough effort, perhaps it’s time to set up a study plan to help you stay on track.

Try and include the language in your lifestyle 

Listening to music or watching films in the language you are interested in learning is a fun way to help you not only remember words and their meanings but also help you grasp the correct pronunciation. If you are completely new to the language, it is best to start with films with simple plots, such as kids’ shows. Listening to music and looking up the meaning of the lyrics can also be a good way to learn. Consuming media in your target language is an enjoyable way to learn new words and grow more comfortable with listening and understanding the language.

Learning a language is all about putting in continuous effort. To reach your goals in learning a new language, you should employ these tips to help you accelerate your learning. If you have yet to start your language-learning journey, perhaps it is time to start with some classes. Why not check out the range of Korean, Chinese, or Japanese classes in Singapore?

Children tend to pick up languages very quickly, whereas adults seem to take more effort to get a grasp of a new language. While it may be true that it is harder to pick up a new language as an adult learner, it does not mean it is an impossible task. These tips will give you some ideas on how to best learn a new language to fluency:

Set realistic goals

Learning a new language can be overwhelming if you think about all that you have yet to learn. However, you can make the process less intimidating by setting smaller goals for your learning. For example, you can aim to master 50 new words every week. By setting attainable goals, you get a confidence boost every time you reach your goal, which gives you the motivation to continue your learning journey.

Make language learning a lifestyle

It is challenging to learn a language if you don’t use it often. Thus, you should find ways to use it in your daily life. For example, keep a diary or Twitter account where you only use the new language. This way, it becomes a habit to use the language every day, and you can practise the usage of words that you have learnt, helping you remember them better. You should also expose yourself to the language by reading books or listening to music in that language.

Use the help of technology

Technology exists to make life easier, and it is no exception for learning. It can be as simple as setting your phone or browser language to the language you are learning. You can also use online resources like translators to help you learn new words on the go.

Practise with friends

The best way to practise a new language is to speak with others who use the language. As language is meant to be spoken, it is not enough to only know how to read and write the language. To truly get comfortable conversing in the language, you need to speak it. If you attend a language class, you can practise with your teacher and classmates. If not, look for neighbours, relatives, colleagues, or friends who are native speakers of the language. In conversing with them, you will learn the pronunciation and conventions of the language more easily.

Practise without fear

It is normal to make mistakes as a learner of a language. Accepting this fact will allow you to be more daring to go forth and speak in the language. Sometimes, the funny situations that language errors create can help you remember the correct way to speak. If you are afraid of speaking to a native speaker, you can begin by speaking to a young native speaker, such as a child. This way, you won’t feel as intimidated, and will soon grow more comfortable with the language.

Attend a language class

On top of all the methods mentioned, attending a language class is still one of the best ways to ensure you learn the language in an effective way. It can be difficult to teach yourself a language through books and online resources only, as you lack the systematic structure and feedback that helps you progress quicker. When you join a language class, you will be surrounded by like-minded people who are motivated to learn the language, and a teacher who is trained to impart language skills. With step-by-step, proven methods, you will be able to master the new language efficiently and enjoyably.

Are you considering picking up a new language? Use these tips in conjunction with a good language class to facilitate your learning! Check out the wide range of Chinese, Korean, and Japanese classes in Singapore, and soon you’ll be able to show off your new language skills to everyone you meet!

Language comes naturally to most people. While animals can also communicate in their own way through sounds, actions, or chemical markings, language is unique to humans. With an estimated 7000 languages in the world, language is present all over the world wherever there are humans. Many of us speak our native language without much thought. But the truth is, language has immense importance to the social fabric of humankind. This article will delve into how language is used in society to fulfill different purposes:

Language helps us communicate

The most apparent function of language is communication. Language arose out of a need for humans to communicate and socialise. As humans are inherently social beings, this need for communication will never die out. Language helps us to communicate with people who can speak the same language, through conventionalised vocal sounds and structures that allow us to understand each other.

Language is also so much more than simply passing on a message. Bees, too, can communicate with each other, signalling the direction of food sources with specific dances. However, human language allows us to do so much more. We can use language to share complex thoughts, opinions, and ideas, which enables human-to-human connections to form.

Language helps us learn

Have you ever tried to think without using language? While that can be possible for some visual imagination, it will be hard to think of complex processes without putting it into words. That is why language is essential to help us learn and gain knowledge. With language, we are able to understand the lectures in school, what we read in books, and what we hear on the news. Without language, there would be so much information that would be impossible for our brains to grasp, and even more impossible to transmit these pieces of knowledge from one person to another.

Language reflects culture

Languages of different nations and ethnicities differ so vastly, making them difficult for non-natives to learn. One might wonder why languages differ so greatly. This is because different languages develop independently in the community they are spoken in, and over time, they start to reflect the culture of the people. For example, Chinese people value familial ties and social order much more so than Americans who value egalitarianism. This is reflected by how the Chinese language has specific kinship terms for paternal uncles, maternal uncles, and even the age of the uncle in relation to your own parent. Whereas in English, uncles are uncles regardless of whether they are your mother’s older or younger brother, or your dad’s brother, for that matter.

Language is identity

Just as how growing up in a certain culture becomes a part of your identity, the language you speak also forms a part of your self. You may not think much of it, but you truly feel it when you go to a foreign land where your native tongue is not spoken. When you hear your own language being spoken by another traveller or immigrant, that sense of familiarity and comfort is undeniable. Even if you don’t strongly identify with the culture tied to the language, the language itself is the canvas of your mind – the means by which you form your thoughts and feelings. Speaking in your own language always makes you feel the most comfortable, at home, and most true to yourself. The interesting thing is, some multilinguals feel different identities when they speak in different languages, further proving how language can play a part in forming our identities.

Language is a commodity

Many people learn a new language for purposes of furthering their academic or career pursuits. By saying that language is a commodity, it reflects that language has become a ‘sellable’ trait. People who know more languages can market themselves as people with extra skills, and these can land them exclusive jobs that monolinguals cannot do. Certain languages are also more attractive or useful than others, if one were to compare them in terms of ‘market value’. For example, a Mandarin Chinese speaker will be highly sought after as they can go to China to tap into their vast market. However, learning a lesser-known language may not be as useful in terms of the practicality of the language.

Language is a fascinating phenomenon in society. To gain a further appreciation of how language plays a huge role in the way we socialise and live our lives, it is always good to learn different languages and appreciate the uniqueness of each one. Why not get started on your language exploration with some Japanese, Korean, or Chinese classes in Singapore?

When it comes to learning a new language, people are often daunted by the challenges that await them. The feeling of incompetency rises especially when you hear native speakers who seem to speak so flawlessly – you cannot help but think that you will never reach that standard! While it is true that learning a foreign language is not easy, it is definitely not impossible. Get to know the common difficulties that people face when learning a new language, and how you can overcome them:

Motivation to get started

When deciding to learn a new language, it can be challenging to even get started. It is easy to pick up a few words or phrases from other speakers or television shows in the language, but it takes real effort to make time to learn the language formally. One way to get over this is to find your motivation for learning the language. Are you learning it to be able to converse to the locals on your next overseas trip? Or do you want to be able to read your favourite comics in the original language? Setting a goal gives you the motivation to get started.

Where to get started

Another difficulty in getting started is where to begin with the language. Any language would have anything between tens of thousands to a million over words. Some of them have vastly different grammatical structure from that of your native tongue. All these may seem very overwhelming to learn, but remember – you are just a beginner! You don’t have to master the language in a day. If you have a specific goal, you can use that as a guide as to where you should begin. For example, if you want to learn this language for travel purposes, start with essential phrases that you will need to use to get around.

Remembering words

As mentioned, any language would have a vast bank of words for you to learn, and it is a common difficulty to not be able to remember them as quickly as you wish. To counter this, it is useful to pace your learning into manageable chunks. For example, set yourself a number of words you want to learn and remember every week. The most effective way to remember new words is to use them. Thus, it is helpful to find ways to practice the language frequently, be it through reading, watching films, speaking to a conversation partner, or writing a journal.

Speaking to native speakers

Even after attaining a certain level of proficiency in your new language, it can be intimidating to have to speak to someone who is a native in that language. That’s because they speak much more fluently, and may use slang that you do not learn from formal language instruction. There is also an inevitable sense of trepidation for fear of embarrassing yourself speaking to them. To get over this, it is best to start with speaking to someone you are comfortable with. This may be your language teacher, or a friend you have who speaks the language. Having someone who will be patient and understanding will help you allay your fears of speaking in the new language to a native speaker.

Despite the numerous challenges in learning a new language, the process can be made easier with the right learning methods and learning attitude. For example, taking up a beginner language course can help you structure your learning from the very beginning, and provide you with the opportunities to practise the language with your classmates and language teachers. Whichever language you are embarking on, ease your language learning with reliable courses such as Korean classes, Chinese classes, and Japanese classes in Singapore.

We often speak of language and communication like the same thing, but the fact is, they are different. Humans are regarded as the only beings in the world that have language. While you may think that animals can also ‘speak’ to each other, that’s where the difference in language and communication lies – animals can communicate, but they do not have language. Let’s further explore the difference between language and communication:

Language is made up of symbols

Languages are made of symbols – that is, words – by which we convey meaning to others. These sounds and meanings are agreed upon by humans who communicate, which over time become conventionalised into languages we know today.

On the other hand, communication can occur without having agreed-upon symbols. For example, one can gesture the action of drinking water to show the message ‘I am thirsty’, despite not having that gesture being recorded in a dictionary or learnt in school.

Communication does not require language to happen

As the above example would have shown, communication does not necessarily need to involve language to happen. For example, think of a young baby who has not learnt how to speak. Through her vocalisations and actions, she can communicate what she wants to her caregivers. This is an example of communication without language.

Language is a system

Remember having to learn grammar in school? Or perhaps you are taking up a new language, like in one of the Japanese classes in Singapore, and you are reliving grammar classes all over again. This is needed because language is a system that is governed by structure and rules.

Communication in itself does not require grammatical rules. Recall a time you had to communicate to someone who does not speak in your language – even with a few basic words, zero grammatical correctness and many gestures, you can get your message across.

Language is productive

One defining characteristic of language is that it can be used to create an infinite number of sentences and meanings. For example, a child may just know a few words, but they can manipulate the words to convey different meanings like ‘red apple’, ‘two apples’, ‘green ball’, ‘two green balls’.

This is where we say animals do not have language even though they can communicate. Dogs can bark in different ways to tell you if they are hungry, tired, or happy. However, they are unable to change the structure or order of their barks in a systematic way to tell you other messages like ‘I only like chicken sausages’.

Language is cultural while communication is universal

As we know, humans are social beings who communicate naturally. This is why civilisations have language – because there is a need to communicate. However, the specific language being spoken is not universal, but based on culture. Thus, people of different nationalities and ethnicities speak different languages.

It is only in recent times that languages have become less associated with their cultures, given increasing cross-border mobility and people who learn languages from other cultures. Especially for world-dominant languages like English and Mandarin Chinese, the speakers may not necessarily identify with the culture of the language, but simply speak it because it is a means of communication across the world.

While language and communication are closely intertwined, they are markedly different. Language is a tool to achieve communication, and it is unique to humans. Many people now learn more than one language as a meaningful intellectual pursuit, or to learn about other cultures, or for practical reasons. Why not gain a deeper appreciation for your ability to use language by picking up a new language? The widespread availability of language classes like Korean classes and Japanese classes in Singapore make it ever so accessible for anyone to experience a new language.

Learning a language seldom occurs in a vacuum. When you learn a new language, you also get to know more about the culture of the people who speak the language.

For example, Mandarin Chinese has words like关系 ‘guan xi’ that people regard as having no English equivalent. Hence, to comprehend what ‘guan xi’ is, one needs to put themselves in the shoes of the Chinese and understand how they perceive relationships and networking. One then realises through learning language how much importance Chinese people put on the concept of mutual reciprocation and the like.

Now, that’s just one language, but the world has an estimated 7000 languages! That’s a lot of languages and cultures for you to explore. Learning languages is a window to the cultures and perspectives of the world, so if you are curious about another culture, try learning the language.

Here are some aspects of culture that a knowledge of the native tongue can help you gain a deeper appreciation of:

History

History is a treasure-trove of knowledge, such as historical events, ancient teachings and philosophies, and classical literary works. True history buffs will know how crucial an understanding of the language is to interpreting these ancient records, as many things that we receive in translation may have lost some layers of meanings. Just think of Shakespeare: Reading Shakespeare with our current knowledge of Modern English won’t give us the same appreciation of all the wit and wordplay as when we read with an understanding of early Modern English.

Same goes for other languages. Classical Chinese texts, Japanese literature, and other historical texts are best appreciated and understood in its original language. This allows the reader to read between the lines and achieve an integrated understanding of the layered meanings and social context of the writing.

Art Forms

Different cultures have their own distinctive art forms, be it dance, theatre, visual arts, and more. While you may think that artworks like paintings are universally understood, a knowledge of the artist’s language could in fact help you appreciate the art more. When you know the language, you know more about the culture of the people, and this is useful in interpreting art of any form, because art is greatly influenced by one’s culture, their perspective of the world, and the social context surrounding the artist.

Even if you are not the artsy-fartsy type, you are likely to still consume art forms through movies, TV shows, or anime today. Most people would agree that watching a foreign film in its original language sounds better than when its dubbed. Somehow, it just conveys the emotions and authenticity of the story better. Now, imagine that you can understand the foreign language without relying on the subtitles – now you won’t miss any scenes from glancing down at the subtitles, and you get the most true-to-life experience of the film.

Cultural Nuances

Ever gone to another country only to have people stare at you queerly because you committed a faux pas unknowingly? Social norms differ across cultures, and some of these rules can be learnt explicitly without learning the language. For example, in Japan, it is considered a compliment to the chef if you slurp your noodles loudly, but in the US, slurping would be very rude!

In terms of language, there are also rules for how different cultures communicate, and some of these are best learnt through language itself. For example, in Japan and Korea, terms of address are strictly hierarchical. Thus there are different ways to address someone depending on their age and social relation to you. If you didn’t learn Korean, everyone might be a ‘bro’ to you, but when you go to Korea, you need to know when to call someone ‘older brother’, ‘younger brother’, ‘senior’, or ‘junior’, or ‘teacher’, and the list goes on.

Similarly, for Japanese, there are also various terms of address based on hierarchy. To learn more about these specific terms and other social nuances rooted in language, Japanese classes in Singapore make great starting points.

 As you can see, learning a language opens up doors to understand so much more about another culture. Whether you are interested in the historical aspect, the art forms, or simply want to learn how to communicate appropriately in another country, learning a new language will empower you to delve deeper into another culture with more ease.

English is the lingua franca of the world, and the 2nd most widely spoken language on earth. (Surprise! The top place is taken by Mandarin Chinese, with 1.1 billion speakers worldwide.) Owing to the historical dominance of the British empire and today’s economic and cultural influence of the US, English has become the preferred language of communication between peoples of different tongues.

From science to technology, a lot of words we use today are based in or borrowed from English. At least 55 nations in the world have English as one of their official languages, and a lot of universities in the world have courses with English as the medium of instruction. With English having such great importance in the world today, it would be a significant disadvantage to have a limited command of the language.

If you are reading this article, chances are, you might not need help in English. But you might know someone who is struggling with the language, or someone who desires to improve their fluency in English. English classes are recommended to enhance anyone’s proficiency in the language, and here’s why:

Paced learning

If you have tried to learn anything on your own using internet tutorials or instructional books, you will know that it takes a whole lot of motivation to make just a small step of progress.

Similarly for English, it is always better to take up a course as it is more structured, and the learning is paced appropriately for you. Professional teachers will be able to give you personalised feedback and suitable learning materials to help you progress quickly. Attending a class also forces you to keep on schedule and learn something weekly, rather than leaving you room for procrastination.

Confidence Build-up

When you learn a language on your own, it can be immensely daunting the first time you try to speak to someone else in the new language. By participating in a language class, you will be able to gain confidence using the language with native users of the language. From speaking to writing, you will build up experience communicating with a native user of the language in the safe confines of the classroom before you go out to use it in real-life situations.

English classes will give you ample opportunities to practice your English such that you will be ready to tackle conversations with proficient English speakers in no time! Soon, you will be able to welcome English-speaking visitors and liaise with English-speaking clients. Confidence in your newly learnt language will go a long way in establishing relations in your personal and professional life.

Learn relevant knowledge

An English language course is recommended as it will teach you in a relevant way to use the language in the world. Sometimes, learning language from a book may teach you a lot of good vocabulary, but not words you need to use in your daily life. In contrast, language courses are structured such that you learn all that you need to know to get by in life using the language.

As cross-border mobilisation is increasingly common nowadays, you can be sure that a reputable language course will equip you with the necessary language skills to navigate a new land. Have peace of mind when you travel, knowing that you can read the signs, and can seek help from the locals.

Don’t lose out in a world dominated by English – English is no longer just a language, but a tool for empowerment. If you or anyone you know are seeking ways to improve their English, consider attending an English course in Singapore.

Around the globe, more and more societies are becoming increasingly diverse. Where most communities used to be more homogenous in terms of ethnicity and language, globalisation has led to massive cross-border movements resulting in rich diversity in cities around the world.

Against such a backdrop, it seems that it is no longer enough to speak just one language well. Speaking more languages opens the doors to speakers of other communities, opening up countless opportunities for cultural exchange and business partnerships.

Indeed, being bilingual or multilingual is seen to be a huge advantage in today’s world, and here’s why:

Career Opportunities

There are a number of career opportunities that spring up when you are able to converse in multiple languages. For example, you can be a tour guide who can speak in the native tongue of your tour group, and also navigate around the local area by speaking the local language. Translation and interpretation jobs also abound in various industries, from diplomacy to law, and in regional or multinational companies. Who knew that a knowledge of multiple languages could bring you so far?

Getting to know another culture

With another language under your belt, you gain access to a whole new population of people and their perspectives. Speaking to people in their native tongue forges closer connections and more authentic relationships. You will also be able to gain insights into their culture and lifestyle, and broaden your world view. Some also believe that simply speaking another language can change the way you think! As different languages work differently, you are actually learning a new way of categorising and looking at the world when you learn to speak another language.

Travelling Abroad with Ease

Being bilingual or multilingual certainly puts you in a strong position to travel abroad with ease and confidence. Although many tourist destinations now have English signs, it is still best to be able to read the native language and converse with the locals in their native tongue. Doing so grants you a more authentic and immersive experience, and you do not need to worry about relying on others or translation apps to help you get around. For the history buffs, nothing beats being able to appreciate the history and culture of a place through its native tongue.

A sense of achievement

Who says you need a practical reason to learn a language? For example, if you are enamoured by the Chinese dramas you’ve been watching, you can sign up for Chinese classes in Singapore to learn the language. When you see yourself improving constantly, that is an achievement in itself to be celebrated!

Some researchers believe that picking up multiple languages makes one smarter as well, as the brain needs to be able to differentiate and choose between the words and structure of the various languages. In any case, your ability to switch between multiple languages is definitely a valuable skill, and one that will command the respect of everyone around you!

Learning new languages is an extremely fulfilling journey, and even more so if it is such a marketable skill. If you haven’t already done so, why not begin your own journey into becoming a bilingual or multilingual?

Die-hard anime fan? Or perhaps you can’t get enough of Japan’s rich historical culture, or are thinking of taking your business to Japan. Many people today are interested in the Japanese language, and this is evident by the sheer number of folks signing up for Japanese language classes in Singapore. Clearly, the desire to learn Japanese and get ever so close to Japanese culture is on the rise.

The average person may know a smattering of Japanese like konnichiwa(‘good day’) and arigato(‘thank you’), but here are some fun facts about Japanese that may just make you go nani?!

Japanese is one of the fastest spoken languages

Ever noticed that speakers of certain languages tend to speak quicker than others? It has been empirically observed that speakers of different languages speak at different rates. Languages such as Mandarin and Vietnamese were found to be delivered slower, while Japanese is spoken quite rapidly. We’re looking at almost eight syllables per second for Japanese, which easily beats out languages such as Italian or French. One theory for this is that the Japanese language requires more syllables to convey the same amount of information compared to in other languages, so Japanese speakers make up for it by speaking quicker.

Japanese has three writing systems

Chinese learners, take note! If you think learning Chinese is hard due to having to memorise all those Chinese characters, Japanese learners will have you know they have it harder. Written Japanese has 3 systems, called hiragana, katakana, and kanji.

Hiragana is the native writing system of Japanese, used for pure Japanese words and function words. Katakana is used for loanwords and names, such as English words, or scientific terms. Kanji is adopted from Chinese characters and is logographic. This means that a kanji character reflects both meaning and pronunciation. In contrast, Hiragana and Katakana are both syllabic systems, where one character corresponds to one syllable, and they have no meaning on their own.

Japanese is not related to Chinese

Most languages around the world are related to other languages in one way or another. You can think of it like family trees, where languages have relatives and parents. For example, English is a Germanic language, meaning that it is historically closely related to other Germanic languages like German and Dutch. They derive from a common parent language, and share similarities in phonology (the sound system of the language) and morphology (the structure and grammar of the language).

However, Japanese is not directly related to any other language. If you think it may be related to Chinese languages, that is not the case! Only the writing systems and several loanwords were adopted from Chinese, but native Japanese is not actually related to Chinese.

Japanese has the ninth-largest population of speakers

In terms of the number of speakers, Japanese is the ninth most used language in the world. This population of speakers includes the 130 million-strong population of Japan, and learners of Japanese around the world. While the use of Japanese is relatively concentrated to the region of Japan, the population of Japanese learners around the world is growing.

Singapore Japanese courses similarly report an increasing number of students who are attracted to the Japanese language. Speaking a language with a large population of speakers make it a valuable tool in communications, opening up possibilities of working in translation and interpretation, diplomatic relations, or working in a Japanese company.

Japanese is the fourth most used language on the web

As mentioned, Japanese has the ninth-largest population of speakers in the world. But did you know it is also the fourth most commonly used language on the Internet? Only English, Russian, and German see greater online usage than Japanese. This is a testimony to the prolific usage of the Internet in Japan, and the large population of Japanese Internet users.

So, if you are a Japanese learner, it should be no sweat to look up Japanese resources on the Internet, or even find a Japanese buddy to chat with and practice your Japanese online.

Indeed, Japanese is a language with a rich history and some very unique characteristics. Its appeal is evident by its increasing usage, and it doesn’t seem to be slowing any time soon.

Did any of these facts surprise you? Share the love of Japanese today, and consider learning more about the language yourself!

With Chinese and Japanese businesses dominating the global business landscape in today’s day and age, it really comes as no surprise at all that in the corporate world, these are some of the most widely used languages.

This in turn implies a very strong demand among professionals to get well versed with these languages since they know that doing so is likely to give their own professional careers quite a boost.

Large Chinese and Japanese businesses

Major Japanese corporations like Honda, Sony, Toyota, Mitsubishi, and so on are already very well known around the world. Today, Chinese companies are also making their presence felt in a big way. Take online entities like Tencent and Alibaba which have clearly made a very big name for them in the tech world.

The global presence of these companies has meant a beeline of foreigners making it to Headquarters of these companies and/or interacting with executives of these companies when they visit their native countries. Across either of these scenarios, knowing Chinese and Japanese really proves fruitful. Which is why taking up Japanese and Chinese classes in Singapore will definitely go a long way.

Can be difficult to learn on your own

For a lot of languages, we find folks somehow managing to teach themselves. For instance, many non-natives have self-taught Spanish to themselves with surprisingly effective results. In the case of Chinese and Japanese though, it is certainly a lot harder though!

This aspect is especially true for busy professionals for whom time is a significant premium. Taking mandarin classes for instance would be a much easier proposition than trying to learn Mandarin entirely on their own.

Cultural curiosity

Besides obvious professional compulsions such as interacting with company executives from these countries, there is also a sense of cultural curiosity that creeps in. To give you an example, folks working in overseas divisions of Chinese and Japanese companies are especially very curious about the cultures where these companies originate.

This aspect is particularly visible here in Singapore where there is a veritable presence of both Chinese and Japanese businesses. This keenness to familiarise with Chinese and Japanese cultures has in turn egged a lot of folks to take up classes.

Conclusion

There is absolutely no doubt whatsoever that when it comes to professionals, a lot of them are taking up Chinese and Japanese lessons. They have clearly seen a wide array of benefits that arise from doing so, and therefore are leaving no stone unturned in that quest.

While millions of people from all over the world visit Singapore each year, Chinese nationals top the list with sheer numbers alone. This, in turn, mandates adequate knowledge and understanding of the Chinese language in order to guide and assist these visitors well.

That is where an in-depth SkillsFuture Chinese lessons in Singapore can make a big difference since they are able to impart quality learning to anyone willing to put in the effort to learn with perseverance.

Complexity of the Chinese language

The Chinese language is certainly not very easy to learn on one’s own. Specialised instructions are considered essential for learning the language. Under such circumstances, SkillsFuture Mandarin classes really prove to be very handy. That is because these lessons go into the nitty-gritty details of the Chinese language; ensuring that students imbibe all its intricate nuances. Clearly, superficial learning alone will not do while trying to learn the Chinese language; it is necessary to go in-depth in order to grasp and master this difficult language.

Most Chinese nationals only speak their language

Unlike a lot of nationalities such as Americans, British, or Indians to quite an extent, Chinese nationals are almost exclusively comfortable with the Chinese language, with notable exceptions of course. Therefore, when it comes to visitors from China, they are best communicated within their own language.

For that, needing to be well versed in communicating in the Chinese language is a given, especially for those in the service industry. Again, as we mentioned above, it may be quite difficult to learn on one’s own, but with the help of SkillsFuture Chinese lessons, things get a whole lot easier.

High-quality lessons at Skillsfuture

When taking up SkillsFuture Mandarin classes, one can rest assured of the quality of lessons being imparted. For instance, instructors are highly experienced and well aware that students are likely to find it tough at the outset. Progressively, things are of course likely to get a lot smoother – something that these instructors are well prepared for and patiently expect.

Moreover, these lessons cover things like regional intricacies, dialects, various colloquialisms, slang, etc. Almost anywhere else, one would be hard-pressed to find such Chinese language lessons that actually go into the depths of these aspects. To give you an example, within Simplified Chinese, while Mandarin predominates, there’s also Min, Wu, and Yue among other regional languages. Going into the nuances of these aspects is what gives SkillsFuture such an edge.

Reasonable costs

For any instructional design course to be popular among masses, it has to be priced reasonably. Again, with Singapore‘s SkillsFuture Chinese lessons, we find that to be precisely the case. As a result, a lot of folks can easily take up these high-quality and immensely beneficial Chinese lessons without ending up with a proverbial hole in their pocket.

It also explains the popularity of these classes since the uptake has been incredibly high!

Conclusion

With the huge influx of Chinese visitors to Singapore, coupled with the fact that Chinese influence on Singapore has been effervescent, it really pays off to take up Chinese lessons. It is in that context where we find SkillsFuture Mandarin classes to be among the finest on offer.

Gone are the days of limited and boring career paths. These unconventional careers will show you how multilingual can attain a fulfilling professional identity. Read on to know more. 

1. Diplomat

Foreign ambassadors need to travel to unknown lands as a part of their job. Under such circumstances, knowing the language of the land will come extremely handy in conducting business as well as in settling down comfortably in the foreign land.

2. Healthcare

Paramedics, nurses, home health aides and physician’s assistant interact with patients coming from all walks of life and from all over the world. It would be highly beneficial to be able to converse them in their own language and better understand their illness. Don’t wait any longer and enrol in Singapore Skillsfuture Japanese courses today!

 3. Hospitality

Another industry where being multilingual is a much-desired quality, people working in hotels, spas and resorts in different positions like desk clerk, hotel or resort manager and concierge manager need to provide quality service to tourists. The ability to converse with tourists in their native language will give you an edge over others.

4. Education

The education industry regularly attracts students from different cultural backgrounds and if you are planning for a career in the teaching background, being multilingual will really help you. You will also be able to make international students feel welcomed and comfortable in your institution.

5. Customer service

These days, we often find companies employing multilingual candidates for their customer care department as these employees. They promise better customer satisfaction levels as they are able to connect with their customers at a much deeper level—in their own tongue.

6. Law enforcement

If you plan to become a part of the law enforcement industry, you will have to deal with people speaking different languages and belonging to different cultures. However, if you are multilingual, you can easily communicate with them and understand their point of view in a better way. You will not have to depend on translators anymore. So don’t wait and enrol into Korean courses today!

7. Finance

Finance and accounting have always been lucrative career choices. Wherever money travels, so do the job opportunities associated with it. Therefore, along with a degree in finance, if you are multilingual as well, your chances of making it big in the finance world will be higher. Now that China’s economy is doing so well, enrolling into Skillsfuture Mandarin courses will undoubtedly benefit you in the future.

8. Media

When you are a media person, being multilingual is an asset that will be highly beneficial in taking your career to new heights. Your title does not matter. When interviewing a foreign national, you will also be pushed to the front. Along the same lines, you would be the preferred candidate for writing news pieces in a foreign language or in translating foreign articles.

If you are bored of having a regular job and want to do something exciting with your life, being multilingual can go a long way in fulfilling that dream. So, enrol yourself in a language learning centre today!

We all want to grow in our chosen career path. This is where being multilingual can help immensely. Read on to know how fluency in multiple languages can improve your chances of professional growth.

1. Increases your chances of getting the job

As more and more multinational companies are mushrooming in the market, being multilingual can increase your chances of getting hired. Currently, multilingualism is dubbed as the hottest skill in the job market.

2. A second source of income

When you are multilingual, you can easily take up additional work like translation, teaching, interpretation etc. that can be used to supplement your day job. Teaching can also give you an opportunity to travel to different countries.

3. Bridges cultural gap

When you are multilingual, it becomes easy for you to get acquainted with people belonging to different cultures. When you learn a foreign country’s language, you also learn about its etiquettes and customs, which can go a long way in bridging cultural gaps. When people have knowledge about foreign culture, they are more mindful, considerate and aware of what kind of behaviour will help them in forging successful business relations.

4. More travel opportunities

When you are a multilingual employee in a company that has its office in different parts of the world, your chances of being sent to work on a project in that country is quite high. This fact remains true even when you are lower in post than a monolingual. You will be given preference by the company as they want to ensure effective communication between the offices.

5. Varied job opportunities

Being multilingual also increases the domains in which you can work. Every industry has a high demand for language, from engineering to public relations, media as well as marketing. When you supplement your technical skills with multilingualism, you can target even a very small niche. Multilinguals are in high demand even in prestigious international organisations such as the United Nations.

6. Increase in income

Multilinguals have a special skill added to their resumes that means increased revenue for the company. This translates into higher paycheques for the employee as well. The difference in the hourly pay between monolinguals and multilinguals can be between 5-20%. Don’t wait any longer and sign up for Mandarin classes in Singapore!

7. Brainpower

When you make an effort to learn foreign languages, you exercise those grey cells of your brain and make them sharper. People who are multilingual tend to perform better in terms of IQ as well as problem-solving tests as compared to people who are monolinguals. Intelligence flexibility is promoted when the brain shifts from one language to another.

We hope that these amazing advantages will force you to get out of your couches and sign up at a language learning centre today! Happy Learning!

Knowing a foreign language or two can do wonders for your personality and popularity. If you are thinking of taking some time to learn a new language or hone one that you already know, this article will tell you why it is a good idea to do so.

1. Increased job opportunities

When you learn another language, you open up a huge number of job opportunities. Apart from freelancing, there are a number of other ways in which knowing another language can improve your chances of employability.

As multinational companies are mushrooming throughout the world, multilingual people are becoming more and more in demand. Even in interviews for smaller companies, being multilingual can provide you with an edge over other applicants.

2. Enjoy foreign culture

When you learn another language, you also get to experience its culture as well. Language and culture go hand in hand. Without language, you cannot understand the culture of a foreign land.

Also, when you know a foreign language and its culture, you can enjoy their art better, be it in the form of films, drama, paintings and so on. Imagine the kind of exposure you will have and how it will enhance your overall personality!

3. Make better decisions

A number of studies have indicated that when you think in another language, you tend to make better decisions. This is because while thinking in your second language, you do not mix emotions with logic, therefore resulting in better decisions. Decisions that are made in the flash of a second while you are emotionally charged can lead to worse outcomes.

4. Enhance your personality

When you know a few different languages apart from your mother tongue, you will always have something interesting to share with the crowd whenever you step out. Your personality will automatically shine differently from other people who are monolinguals. As your life experiences will be far more enriched than others if you enroll in Skillsfuture Mandarin classes, for instance, people will admire you more too.  

5. See your culture from different sets of eyes

When you learn a different language by joining language classes such as Singapore Chinese classes or Skillsfuture Mandarin Courses in Singapore, you get to interact with people from different parts of the world in a way that deeply connects you. From them, you can get a newer perspective about your own culture. The way in which foreigners view your culture is far different from your own viewpoint and it is always interesting to be able to see things from another set of eyes.

6. Establish new friendships

Knowing a foreign language can help you in meeting new people and forging new friendships. When you meet people belonging to different cultural backgrounds, you can easily make friends with them if you know their language. Having friends across different cultures can add a feather in your cap and open up a new lease of life for you.

We hope that these advantages will push you to join a language learning centre today. Don’t wait any longer and just do it. Happy learning!

There is a famous proverb in the Czech Republic that says that you get a new soul whenever you learn a new language. This is absolutely true and valid for multilinguals. Several studies have indicated that when you learn a new language, you transform your personality in a better way. This is where professional foreign language courses like Singapore Skillsfuture Japanese courses can be extremely valuable. Read on to know the many ways in which professional language courses can prove to be one of the best decisions of your life.

Gain more confidence

When you know more than one language, you become more confident in your general outlook. This confidence is evident in the way you interact with others, and how you behave. Therefore, learning a new language is an excellent way to change your personality for the better. When you enrol for a professional foreign language course, you instantly start feeling the difference in your outlook and your confidence. Thus, being multilingual is a positive step on the journey of becoming better and more confident.

Understand Cultural Differences

When you decide to learn a foreign language, you become aware of the minute and fine aspects of a culture that used to be largely unknown to you. With this awareness, you become more receptive and malleable when it comes to understanding cultural differences and respecting them. Therefore, you become more sensitive. This has a greatly positive impact on your personality, making you more empathic and understanding.

Mingle better with people

Once your mind becomes aware and receptive about the cultural differences, it becomes much easier for you to mingle with others and understand their point of view. This increases your popularity and friend circle. Another added advantage of this aspect is that you learn a lot more when you are able to communicate easily with new friends and understand them. Therefore, enrolling for a foreign language course, like Skillsfuture Mandarin classes in Singapore, can bring about a great transformation in your personality and attitude.

Create better professional prospects

When you learn new, non-native languages, you increase your chances of succeeding in your professional life too. Thanks to the interpersonal skills that you hone while learning a foreign language, you are able to tackle many uneasy situations better and more successfully. These soft skills are the imperceptible indicators of your likelihood of succeeding in your chosen career path. What’s better? Being multilingual gives you the option of having your pick out of the many out-of-the-box careers that pay well.

Hone Your Critical Thinking Skills

Learning a foreign language is not very straightforward. It involves plenty of brain work and mental exercises that sharpen your critical thinking ability and induce a mental workout. As a result, you become sharper and your ability to solve problems improves. The mental training and discipline that you experience at professional language courses, such as Skillsfuture Chinese Lessons, go a long way in ensuring a more stable and better future for you.

It can be seen that learning a foreign language polishes not only your language skills but also your personality and other soft skills. This will likely have a great positive impact on your life. Thus, you should definitely consider enrolling for a foreign language course.

Aren’t we all charmed when we hear a foreign national speaking our native language? The magic of a foreign language touches every heart. This is why many people take out the time from their busy schedules and enrol in professional foreign language courses, such as Skillsfuture Mandarin courses in Singapore. This move, however, is not just for charming others. Knowing one or more foreign languages can be extremely beneficial to your professional as well as personal life. Read on to know how this is the case.

Plenty of exercise for your brain

We try to take care of our physical health by devoting time to running and other forms of exercise. If so, why neglect our mental health and wellbeing? Learning a foreign language is an excellent workout for your brain, honing your logical thinking, problem-solving, and critical thinking skills. These skills have a huge impact on your performance at work and also in your daily life. Therefore, enrolling in professional foreign language courses is like taking up a gym membership for your brain.

Improvement in your personality

Research has proven that people who are multilingual are more sensitive and aware of cultural differences and ideologies. They tend to be more sensitive and appreciative of other people’s point of view and attitude. Therefore, when you learn a new language, you bring these positive changes in your personality that will make you more empathic and popular amongst peers and friends. Thus, your social circle will expand, you will make new friends, and possibly also find more ways to enrich your life.

Faster career growth

People who know more than one language have a much higher chance of climbing up the ladder of success in their chosen field. Not only do they have a higher likelihood of being selected for jobs, but they also are more likely to grow further in the profession. This might have to do something with the soft skills they polish during the foreign language classes. Multilinguals have no dearth of potential well-paying jobs, many of which might involve exposure to foreign countries and spending a considerable part of life abroad.

With China’s rapidly growing economy, it would undoubtedly be beneficial to enrol in Skillsfuture Chinese classes and master the language for a better advantage in future employment.

Better flexibility and open-mindedness

These are more soft skills that you tend to hone upon enrolling into foreign language courses like Singapore Chinese courses. When you try to speak in a non-native language, you hone your brain in a way that you become more adaptable and open-minded. These essential skills go a long way in improving the quality of your personal and professional life.

Gaining confidence

Last on this list, but certainly not the least, you gain more confidence as you improve your foreign language speaking and comprehension skills. As you gain confidence, you perform better in daily life, interact better with people around you, and are able to interact with strangers better. All these aspects ultimately benefit your life, both on a personal as well as a professional front.

It is never too late to start learning a new language. If you cannot devote any time for this purpose on weekdays, you should inquire about weekend classes for programs like Skillsfuture Mandarin courses in Singapore. A small step in the right direction will bring great returns in the long run.

Are you one amongst that group of people who are struggling to pick up another language? If you believe that you can never become bilingual or multilingual, this article is just for you. Here is how to learn your next new language without any trouble.

Know the motivation behind the idea

This might seem to be a common trick but the motivation really does matter. If you know the compelling reason why you are choosing to learn a different language, then you would probably stay more focused and determined—which is bound to always turn out to be a good thing in the long run. Once you commit to your end goal of learning a new language, there is no turning back from it. Courses like Skillsfuture English courses in Singapore will help you to pave the path find the necessary motivation to do so. 

Start having conversations with yourself

Once you start having conversations with yourself in a foreign language, you would become a little more confident about conversing in it with someone else. This would not only bring out the confidence in yourself but also, end up in you correcting your own mistakes as you speak out loud. Who else can have a better understanding of your own mistakes?

If having conversations with yourself doesn’t quite give you sufficient confidence, why not enroll in SkillsFuture Chinese classes? Learning one of the toughest languages in the world requires a qualified teacher to guide you and a practice partner who will converse with you—both of which you’ll find by enrolling in Chinese courses in Singapore!

Listen to what people have to say

You must learn to listen before you start trying to speak. Every language sounds difficult when you hear it, but once you get the hang of it, you become familiar with it and it becomes a walk in the park. The more you put yourself out there and explore the use of a language, the more effortlessly fluent in it you’ll become.

Observe keenly

Once you start observing how people talk, you’ll understand the fact that different languages have different demands of your tongue, throat and lips. Pronunciation plays a vital role in it. If you get the pronunciation correct, you get half of it spot-on already.

Take the plunge

Once you’ve made the decision to start learning a different language, there is no turning back from it. Enrolling yourself into classes like Skillsfuture English lessons will not only get you to master the language but also provide you with the momentum of learning. It will also provide you with daily practice in conversing in the foreign language.

Once you decide to learn a completely new foreign language, you’ve already taken one step ahead in your life. Motivation is the key, but also going out of your comfort zone helps you in realising how important and significant some things can be.

Taking a step forward into learning something new motivates you and makes you the person you’d love to become. Try being as much creative as you can possibly be—when it comes to learning something different or unique, creativity always comes to the rescue.

Now that you’re all pumped up to learn and experiment with the new language, best wishes to you. We hope that this guide comes in handy in your journey to becoming bilingual or multilingual.

Every day, we think about doing something new that will add a new dynamic aspect to our personal, as well as professional lives, and learning a new language is definitely one of them. However, most people are unable to convert their thoughts into action due to a lack of motivation or time. However, we will reveal to you some of the amazing benefits of learning a foreign language that will compel you to leave your couches and enrol in a language course today!

Association with new friends

 When you start speaking another language, you expand your reach to the world. You get past the language barrier and are able to communicate with people belonging to a different culture and country. This will help you in making new friends and adding their experiences to your life experience.  Also, when you enrol in a new language class like Japanese classes in Singapore, you make new friends who are potentially lifelong ones.

 Boosts self-confidence

When you learn a new language, your trust and confidence in yourself increase. When you push yourself to achieve seemingly unachievable goals, you give a positive signal to your brain— ‘Yes! I can do it!” Learning a new language is a fun and lively process that will really enrich your personality. You will be getting compliments from people who are only dreaming of learning a new language and furthermore, your horizons will be broadened.

Keeps your brain fit

Learning a new language is almost like a sport for your brain cells—it helps them to keep fit and stay away from premature ageing. A study conducted by University College London (UCL) states that learning a new language helps in increasing the density of grey matter in your brain, thereby boosting your memory and keeping diseases like Alzheimer’s and Dementia at bay. Why not take on some of the toughest languages to learn? If you’re up for the challenge, try and learn Mandarin in Singapore!

Your employers will love you

As the world today is turning into a global village, employers are willing to expand their reach to people living in different parts of the world. This is where multilingual employees have the edge over the monolinguals. When you enrol in courses like SkillsFuture Korean lessons, you increase your chances of employability. Being multilingual comes in number one out of the top eight criteria that employers nowadays are looking for in their employees.

You get paid more

Being multilingual can make your wallet happy too. Multilingual professionals can demand more lucrative salaries, and even the industry is willing to pay them so. According to a survey, the sectors that have the highest demand for multilingual professionals are sales, marketing, and the media.

You climb the promotion ladder faster

 In a globalised work environment, it is almost imperative that you speak at least two languages if you want to improve your profile and handle posts with more responsibilities. Companies are increasingly becoming more and more keen to venture out internationally and expect their employees to be able to communicate effectively with their clients from all around the world. Learning a language does not only teach you about that language’s grammar and vocabulary but also about its people’s culture, history, thinking pattern and traditions. When you deal with people belonging to different cultures, you learn and grow as an individual as well.

To sum it up, learning a new language can go a long way in enriching your personal and professional life. It will add a sense of adventure to your daily life, and reward you with bountiful success. Enrol in a foreign language course today!

Being multilingual can make the world your oyster and give you a substantial edge over your competitors. However, learning a new language can be extremely difficult for some people and can become so frustrating that you might even leave the course. However, there’s no need to worry—we are here to help you overcome your difficulties and sail you over smoothly to a brighter future.

Here are some of the tips that will help you in learning any language with minimum efforts:

Know your motivation

This might sound a bit out of context but it is very important to have a real reason behind learning a new language. This is because, in the absence of a good, solid reason, you are most likely to lose motivation when the going gets tough. No matter what the reason is, it should be strong enough to keep you committed towards the goal.

Find a partner

Having someone that shares your passion for learning a new language can go a long way in keeping you motivated and staying on the right path of learning. When you enroll yourself in courses like Skillsfuture Korean lessons, you will meet a number of people who are in the same boat as you. You can push each other to try just a little bit harder and reach the finish line together.

Keep your goals realistic

Do not set your goals too high in the beginning. Any skill takes time to develop and with the right amount of hard work, you will someday reach that goal. However, if you imagine that you will be able to start conversing fluently in a different language in a small amount of time, you are mistaken. Take small steps every day and you will eventually succeed.

Act Like a Child

There is a myth that children are better learners than adults. The only reasons kids can learn skills faster is because they are less self-aware and do not shy away from making mistakes. Adults make failing a social taboo while that doesn’t burden children. When it comes to learning a new language, it is important to admit to yourself that you do not know everything and will learn gradually. The grown-up inhibitions need to go! For example, if you are planning to learn Japanese in Singapore, try to regain your inner child-like qualities again—stay curious and ask about the things you don’t understand.

Step out of your comfort zone

When you are willing to make mistakes, you are putting yourself out there in an embarrassing situation—which honestly can be extremely scary. However, this is the only way that you can learn and improve. The more often you do this, the more you will expand your comfort zone and in turn your learning.

Listen

Listening is a very important art. Before you can speak, it is essential that you listen. Every new language sounds strange to our ears initially but the more we listen to it, the more familiar we become and the easier it is for us to learn it. This is especially important when you learn Mandarin. Difficult languages will require you to pay as much attention in listening and speaking to fully understand them.

So, what are you waiting for? Just dive in completely and we are sure that with the help of these tips, you will come out successful.

Learning a new language could be infuriating, lackluster and also possibly one of the slowest moving processes you’ve ever had to go through. Most people believe that they will have to spend hours in front of the screen just to get the hang of it or go through innumerable books and stacks of flashcards to learn the meaning of words before framing them into meaningful sentences. While there is no substitute for hard work, there definitely are a few tricks that could make the learning process easier and less monotonous. This is why courses like Singapore Chinese courses and Skillsfuture Korean lessons in Singapore are drawing students’ attention. They make learning far more interesting and gratifying. Keep reading to know more about it.

The first thing to keep in mind is to take baby steps every day and to not jump to the final destination before being prepared for it. So, let’s have a look at the few hacks that would make learning a new language simpler for you.

Hack 1:  Start with the basics

When it comes to vocabulary, some words are ordinarily used here and there so if you understand the meaning and framing of those particular words half your work is done already. The key to this is to select 100 basic words that are used on a daily basis and then memorize it while making sure to repeat it every now and then. By doing this, you’ve already learnt the backbone of the particular language—giving you momentum in learning and setting you on the path to mastering the language in the future.

Hack 2: Talk to those who actually know the language

This one is the most significant one, but also the most neglected one as well. What’s better than speaking and talking to someone who is actually fluent in the language that you’re trying to learn? While spending hours in reading and writing certainly will help, the impact conversations have on the human brain is a lot more as compared to the impact created by reading.

Hack 3: Keep having different conversations in your head

Believe it or not, everyone is mostly humming something or other in their mind and running monologues or scripted conversations in their head all the time. So, why not incorporate the few basic vocabulary words into the brain conversations you have on a daily basis? Inserting foreign vocabulary words into your mental conversation would not only save you from discomfort but also give you the confidence to speak it in front of others as well.

Hack 4: Practice makes perfect

As a given fact, we all know that there is no shortcut to success and that there is no better way of learning something than practising it every day. The more you practice, the better you understand the concepts. Enrolling for courses like Skillsfuture Korean lessons in Singapore or Skillsfuture Chinese lessons in Singapore will not only help you in the learning process but also in allowing you to practice and learn more.

Learning a new language may involve a lot of work which tends to get boring after some time, but there are undoubtedly a few ways that, when incorporated, can make the process fun.

The world that we live in is increasingly becoming more interconnected and interdependent with every passing second. In order to keep pace with this ever-evolving world, you need to have the magic of different languages. This will give you an opportunity to communicate with the outside world in a more meaningful fashion—preparing you for becoming part of the global economy. Here, we list down the top five advantages of learning foreign languages.

Connect better with people

The five senses in our body help us in connecting with the world around us. By having a working knowledge of any foreign language, we can increase our horizon of connectivity by margins as high as a bunch of countries and even continents! If you join courses like Japanese classes in Singapore, you will have an amazing opportunity to connect with a wide range of people in their personal and professional lives. You can also enrich your life by exploring different cultures across the globe and forging lifelong friendships. The rewards of being multilingual can be reaped throughout your life.

Accelerate your career

As the world has evolved into a global village, multilingual professionals have an edge over others, no matter what your skill level. It is one of the top eight skills that recruiters seek in their employees. As a matter of fact, between 2010 and 2015, the U.S. job market saw a favorable inclination towards multilingual candidates. This is mostly because it helps companies in expanding their customer base in different parts of the world. Also, being multilingual shows your employers that you are motivated and have the zeal to learn new skills.  For example, if you attend SkillsFuture Mandarin lessons in Singapore, you can be sure of being ahead of the crowd!

Brain tonic

No one can deny the cognitive benefits of learning different languages. Multilingual people have better memory, critical thinking and problem-solving skills, improved concentration, and listening skills. They are more creative and flexible than monolinguals. Their mental aging and cognitive decline take a backseat and they continue to enjoy the advantages of having a young brain.  These people are also known to score better in standardized tests as compared to monolinguals, especially in the areas of reading, math and vocabulary. With how unique mandarin Chinese is as a language, it will surely be a great challenge—and tonic for the brain. Enrol in SkillsFuture Chinese classes today and start reaping the various benefits mentioned!

Improved multi-tasking skills

Today’s fast-paced world demands multitasking. According to a study conducted by Pennsylvania State University, multilingual people who can easily slip from one language into another train their brain to adapt and perform this demanding task proficiently. These people become excellent multi-taskers and are successful in keeping their stress level at bay.

Enhanced decision-making power

There are a number of studies that show that decisions made in a language other than your mother tongue are more reason-driven. This happens because when we are thinking in another language, our brain distances itself from the emotional biases and responses that become deeply rooted with our native tongue. This helps us in making clear-headed and systemic decisions based entirely on the facts.

Thus, you have seen that becoming multilingual can offer you a number of benefits and add a spark to your personality. So, what’s the next language that you will learn?

The language used to communicate in business is directly affected by changes the international business goes through. In the world of business, different languages are used for communication, no matter how big or small your company is. When selling your services to companies overseas, one must have a firm grasp on their language as well.

So, without any further ado, let’s look at the top 5 influential business languages.

1. English undoubtedly takes first place as the language of the globe. Did you know that over ¾ of the world’s total population can understand and speak English? In fact, it is the Native language of 94 countries and is spoken by about 339 million people all over the world. Other than this, English remains in the number one position as the most popular language used on the Internet. This makes English the language of globalization.

2. Did you know that the Mandarin language is the newest thing in town? We cannot miss out the mandarin language when we talk about the most commonly used languages in the world. So, what makes the mandarin language so popular? The reason behind this success is that the Chinese people have expanded their business across the world. And judging by the present situation, the Chinese economy will be the world’s biggest by 2050. So, if you plan to do business with the Chinese, do make sure to learn Mandarin in Singapore. Consider Singapore Chinese courses for the best results.

3. Spanish is the fastest growing language in America. It may sound weird, but the United States is the second largest Spanish speaking country in the world and about 37.6 million people are Native Spanish speakers. We all know the economy in the USA is the largest, and if this continues, then, it’s likely for Spanish to become more important by 2050.

4. German is the language of European industries. And if you plan to pursue your business with German natives or in Germany, than mastering the language will prove to be quite beneficial. A fun fact is that German is not only spoken in Germany, but also widely spoken even in countries like Austria, Holland, Denmark and Switzerland.

5. Finally, the language attaining the fifth position is Portuguese. In fact, it occupies a position in the top 10 for the most spoken languages in the world. Portugal is known as the continent of opportunity and Brazil is the country which you should do business with. Countless opportunities are available when it comes to scientific cooperation in areas like energy and pharmaceuticals. According to some sources, the market there will undergo growth in the near future. Portuguese will also be gaining popularity in Asia. Thus, if you plan to improve your sales worldwide, learn the language.

Travelling to China is an amazing and enjoyable experience. As one of the biggest countries in the world, it has many popular tourist attractions such as the Great Wall in Beijing, the Terracotta Army Museum in Xian, and The Bund in Shanghai. For those of you who are interested in vacationing to this country that has a population of more than 1 billion, check out the following tips so your trip goes smoothly and pleasantly!

Prepare for the right time

As China is a vast land that is located in subarctic to tropical conditions, you need to consider these five aspects before leaving: which city you will go to, the purpose of your visit, what season you like or want to avoid, how much your budget is, and whether or not you want to come during high season or low tourist traffic season.

Prepare your Itinerary

After determining the budget that you have and the time of departure, your itinerary should be prepared so as to avoid being confused or lost while you are there. China is a huge country with an unlimited choice of tourist attractions. Look for information about the various tourist attractions and historic cities that you wish to visit and plan it out accordingly in your itinerary. You can also download travel plans on the Internet for free.

Public transport

After that, if you’re thinking of travelling by public transportation, you should gather as much info as possible about public transit in the city that you will be visiting. You can book tickets while still at home—starting from plane tickets, train tickets, or even bus tickets. Remember to make a small note about the destination and departure schedule of the public transport that you’re taking.

Lodging

Lodging is an important factor when you are travelling to China. You should start looking for accommodation that suits you well when you’re planning your trip. If you are diligent in checking cheap hotel and hostel promo prices, you may find promotions or deals that can fit within your budget, saving you extra money.

Language

To avoid miscommunication when travelling in such a huge country, knowing how to speak basic Mandarin is essential in China. Chinese people use Mandarin as their official language so it’s the main spoken language there. Upon stepping on Chinese land, you will find very few signs that have English writing on them.

Almost all the signs you see will be written in Mandarin or other dialects. So, for those of you who don’t speak Chinese yet, perhaps you should enroll in a SkillsFuture Chinese Class to learn Mandarin in Singapore first. A SkillsFuture Mandarin course in Singapore is one of the many ways you can learn the basics of the language. Simply look up ‘Singapore Skillsfuture Chinese Class’, and before you know it you’ll be embarking on your journey to China soon enough!

When you invest your time and energy in learning a new language, you not only become a multilingual person with a new dynamic quality added to your personality – but you are one that is ready to take on the world.

Companies all over the world are rushing to add multilingual employees to their workforce. However, when you take a closer look at the job description, it basically translates to being their translator, which can be monotonous and boring for a lot of people.

But don’t worry, we have five amazing career options for multilingual people who want non-traditional jobs.

Tour guides

If you have an interest in history and an ability to cram interesting facts about all sorts of places along with good communication skills, you can do wonders as a tour guide. You do not need to be a native of the place to become a tour guide.

If you attend courses like Skillsfuture Mandarin courses in Singapore, you can become an asset in some cases where they can successfully chalk out things that foreign tourists will be more interested in exploring in any country.

As a tour guide, you can forge new friendships each day and spend your day in the lap of nature, surrounded by amazing sights, far-away from the chains of the desk. Being a tour guide, however, requires a lot of energy and a fair amount of theatricality in order to keep your group engaged.

Copywriter

If you have a command over grammar and possess good writing skills, you can try your hand at becoming a copywriter for companies across the world. As the world is becoming a global village, companies have an ever-expanding vacancy for writers, both remote and in-house as they look out to expand.

Multilingual employees become their international representatives. If you have additional expertise in web design or marketing, you can really take your career to new heights in the field of copywriting.

Hospitality employee

If you do not want to work all around the year, you can try your hands in the hospitality sector which deals with a large turnover of the guests only during the season. Employers in these sectors are often looking for multilingual employees to enhance the experience of their guests and make them feel welcome.

If you choose to hone your English skills at courses like Skillsfuture English lessons in Singapore, you will get to live in an exotic location, work with a lot of new people and thoroughly enjoy your life.

Flight attendant

If you love travelling, but do not like the paying part, then becoming a flight attendant is the best option for you. It is an extremely glamorous jobs where you will get to travel the world.

Being multilingual will certainly give you an edge over others and airlines will be lining up to take your career to new heights. Although the job can be strenuous at times, you will get to interact with all kinds of people moving from one place to another.

Journalist

Any job that involves interacting with a large number of people can benefit from employees who are multilingual and this is a real boon for journalists. Having knowledge of another language actually has the potential of making or breaking your career in this line.

Multilingual people can shape up their career in any field that interests them as a new language opens up a wide variety of opportunity for them. So, take up a new language today and give new heights to your career.

English has become a universal language used in the world of technology, education, politics, commerce, and so on. Language is the most crucial communication tool. Currently, English has significantly dominated all aspects of communication. In this modern world full of challenges and super tight competition, everyone is advised to not only have a high level of education but also specialised skills, one of which is English language skills. For those of you who aren’t proficient in English yet, you can try out these tips, namely:

1. Watching English-style movies without subtitles

The quickest way to learn English is to watch a video. You can use this to learn English because by watching videos you can learn how to speak, listen, and add words to your vocabulary. The more often you watch movies in English, the better your understanding of the English language. The tip is not to use subtitles, to look for words that you don’t understand in the dictionary.

2. Listen to English songs

Besides watching movies, another easy way is to listen to English songs. You can practice listening to and writing down different genres of English songs. The tip is, when you listen to the song, try to rewrite the lyrics you are hearing. Then match them with the real lyrics, does your hearing match the actual lyrics of the song? Listen repeatedly to practice some more!

3. Read articles in English

Reading can be dull sometimes, but if you read English language articles often enough, you can learn how to read and write in English better. You will also be able to arrange the order of your sentences and add more words to your vocabulary. So, even as you’re reading this article, you’re improving your English!

4. Do it regularly

In anything that you do, it won’t improve if you don’t do it often. So, try to practice your English through the various language exercises often, since practice makes perfect.

5. Try an English course

Sometimes, there are times when studying alone makes you unsure of whether the things you’re learning are truly correct. If this is the case, it is a sign is that you need expert help. Even if you can speak English locally, it doesn’t hurt to take an English course. When it comes to English courses in Singapore, there is a highly recommended course for you, namely English Explorer by Learning Explorer.

English Explorer is an excellent Skillsfuture English course in Singapore. As a provider of Singapore English lessons, they have the best standards in learning the language. English Explorer also has the best teachers who are certified in CELTA and TESOL who will help you master writing, reading and speaking in English.

English is the universal language for all; travelling to France and don’t know French? Don’t worry! Speak in English instead, and this stands true for all other countries as well. In this article, we will be looking at the top reasons why English is considered a universal language.

English is the Language of Business

We can’t deny the strong presence of the global economy all around the world. Large organisations have spread their wings all over the world, thus, knowing a language that is known by all is important, and in this case, it’s English.

Domination of Hollywood

Hollywood movies are considered big, though they can’t beat the regional movies that are made in China, Russia, France, and many other countries. Let’s face it; no matter what corner of the world you live in, you must be watching, or at least have watched Hollywood movies. So, if you really want to understand what you are watching, rather than watching movies with subtitles or dubbed over voices, learn English.

The Original Language of Literature in English

If you are a fan of reading, then being proficiently in the language is important. English literature is a vast field that consists of various genres and era-specified terms that you need a strong grasp of the language to understand. It is an exciting and definitely an intriguing reason why English is the universal language.

English is a Simple Language

If you think that English is a difficult language, then you need to know that it’s a relatively simpler language to learn compared to many other languages. There are many levels to learning the language: from basic to the more advanced levels. If that’s not enough, there are many professional courses for individuals looking to learn English for the purpose of business. Start slowly and progress forward; eventually, you’ll learn it well.

Versatile Language

English is a very versatile language. By far the language with the largest vocabulary, English is a combination of many languages, most of which are extinct now, such as Latin. English, in itself, has many different forms of speaking, like slang, formal, informal and conversational English.

Will English stay the universal language?

This is the million-dollar question. While we cannot predict the future, looking at facts alone, history suggests otherwise. For thousands of years’, Latin was one of the most influential languages of Europe, however now, it is only spoken by scholars and priests. On the other hand, looking at the popularity of the language, it is unlikely that English will lose its charm anytime soon.

As you have seen, English is a very important language as it is used in all aspects of life. If you struggle with the language and want to fully master it to perfection, join SkillsFuture English courses in Singapore. There’s a course designed just for you; crash course, basic course or a more advanced course, you can find it all. Enrol now and learn the universal language of the world within days.

Finding the right Chinese teacher is very important as your success in learning the language is heavily dependent on it. If you live outside China, let’s say in Singapore, finding the right center for learning becomes mandatory as many people will claim that they know the language, when in fact they really don’t.

So, before you begin your search for Chinese lessons in Singapore, look out for the following things:

1. Knowing a language and teaching it to others are two different things. For example, you may know how to paint, but you might not know how to teach it to others. Therefore, someone who says they know Chinese, ask them, ‘Do you know how to teach it to me?’ A good teacher should have experience in teaching others and should be well aware of the difficulties the student might face.

2. Chinese is a very difficult language, so to make it interesting you need someone who can bring the language to life. The teacher should know ways to make the language more interesting so that learning is easier for you.

3. Your teacher should teach you the language progressively. Since Chinese has a lot of alphabets and grasping them at one go is tough, your teacher should know how to break things down in a logical way. Structuring the language is important so the lessons should be pre-planned ahead of time.

4. Your teacher should be a good motivator. When you learn a new word in Chinese, the teacher should compliment you, so that this way you will feel motivated to learn more. The teacher should also offer feedback so that you are aware of your progress. Pointing out mistakes is also important. If the teacher doesn’t give you suggestions or point out mistakes, you won’t realize how far you’ve gotten. Don’t be afraid of criticism. They only want the best out of you. Ask them where you went wrong and how to correct your mistakes to do better.

5. Your teacher should be passionate about their work. A teacher who just reads from the book is not of much use. An interesting teacher should be enthusiastic about the subject, even in teaching it to others. They should be eager to teach and share their knowledge of the subject.

6. Finally, the teacher should be patient. All language learners take time to learn any new language, and since grasping Chinese is a little tough, the teacher’s patience is key.

If you harbor an interest in attending Chinese classes in Singapore, there are many professional centers that offer different Chinese lessons. One such example is the Skills Future Center, where you can check out skillsfuture Chinese courses in Singapore.

They have certified and experienced teachers who will make your journey of learning the language easier and more fun. At the end of the day, what you learn is limited to what your teacher is able to teach you, thus, the vast knowledge of your tutor is very important.

Mandarin is one of the most popular languages in the world. According to a recent survey, almost about 1.2 billion individuals around the world speak Chinese and out of them, one billion alone speaks Mandarin. This is actually quite a large number. Now, if we consider the importance of Mandarin in the world of business, it weighs out much more. Staying above the rest of the crowd is important, and with so much completion everywhere, expanding your business across the borders becomes mandatory.

Business in China

The market in China is flourishing slowly but steadily, but is poised to be present for a very long time. So, if you want to expand your business, first, understand the market in China, or learn how the Chinese people operate their business in Singapore. And secondly, learn their language. Nothing can impress a business client more than speaking in their native language. Although, yes, English is the universal language, learning Mandarin will help you to work in close relation with the Chinese. Haven’t you noticed that there are Chinese businesses everywhere? They are in the IT, automobiles, technology, mobile industry, and more. Yes, their economy has spread all over the world.

There is ample opportunity for any business to collaborate with Chinese businesses. But, learn how they operate and do learn Mandarin in Singapore first. It does not matter whether you don’t wish to visit China; the Chinese are working in Singapore too. Residing in Singapore and learning the language can open up many opportunities for you.

Chinese Presence Around the World

Did you know that China occupies around a fifth of the total population around the world? Because of this, Chinese is one of the most famous languages spoken worldwide. While we can’t deny that the Chinese market is taking over everywhere, Mandarin is and will grow in the near future. For a business deal to be successful, both parties’ needs to communicate well, while you can surely speak in English, why not impress your potential client by speaking their language too?

We have seen the Chinese closing deals with people from around the globe. Did you also know that China is a major trading partner in Africa? This means, in the near future, you will come across many Chinese projects starting there. This is why you should learn Mandarin now and thrive in the world of business. Look for a professional centre in Singapore for this case. Skills Future is one of them and they offer professional Mandarin courses.

As we have seen, learning Chinese will only prove to be beneficial for you and your business. Remember, for business purposes, there are special Mandarin courses. Make sure you enroll for the right course. Call the centre, and ask which course is beneficial for you.

Did you know that there are presently more than 7,000 languages spoken worldwide? And among such a big list, there are only a quite a handful that learners can easily learn. But know that learning Korean is worth doing so.

For many Native English speakers, their first choice is either Spanish, French or German. And if any one of them is interested in learning an Asian language, then it’s either Chinese or Japanese.

The Korean language is usually not a common choice. However, this is was the case only a few years ago. Now, with K-Pop, Korean dramas, and Hallyu stars, more people are steadily gaining interest in Korean as well.

If you are planning to learn the language, but are looking for reasons as to why you should opt for Korean, then read this article:

1. Firstly, the language is easy to learn. Any person can learn Hangul in about an hour. So, ideally, you can learn the language, if it’s just the basics, in only a day.

2. Learning Korean can tell you so much about their culture. Their history is rich and knowing how to talk in Korean can open various doors for you. This, along with your academic degree, can help you get hired easily in Singapore. Enroll now for the skillsfuture Korean lessons in Singapore.

3. You don’t need to master the language to convey your message to Koreans. These days, many English loanwords are being used that the Koreans can understand as well.

4. In today’s society, if you want to thrive, you must have additional skills. Excelling in just the academics won’t help. With so much competition, you need to stand out from the crowd. If you want to get hired by a good company in Singapore, you should learn the Korean language, as many international companies, such as Hyundai, are Korean.

5. Korean pronunciation is rather easy to grasp. Although a little difficult to learn at first, once you get the hang of it, there is no way you can go wrong with the Korean pronunciation ever again in your life.

If you ever have watched any Korean drama or heard K-pop, you must know that this wave has been here to stay for a very long time. Korea is a very dedicated country, and the people there work very hard. Thus, stay assured that Korea won’t run out of its artists so soon. There’s much more coming up in the years.

So, what does a person do when a country is so rich in culture that you want to learn more? Of course, you learn the language in order to dig deeper into the culture. Want to enjoy K-pop and Korean culture? Enroll now in the skills future Korean learning courses in Singapore and start enjoying Korean culture. Let me assure you, once you learn the language and start following their dramas and music, you will be hooked. Take my word for it!

Learning a new language requires dedication, patience and time. Learning a language can become easier if you break it down into smaller, and reasonable goals. If you want to learn a language in one week, that’s impossible. Be realistic and achieve what you can reasonably without burdening yourself in the process.

Let’s look at some things you should know before you learn a language;

1. Ask yourself why you want to learn English. Let’s say, because you want to enjoy the Hollywood movies and read the English novels. These two reasons are valid enough to keep you motivated. Write down a reason on a diary and stick to it to stay motivated.

2. There are many means of learning English. You can join English courses in Singapore, you can opt for a home tutor, learn online through YouTube and so on. Whatever method you decide to choose, just remember that the learning method does not matter, what’s important is how much can you take in.

3. The best way to keep learning is to keep reading. When reading, you are exposed to different vocabulary and new words each day.

4. Having said that, learning new vocab can be a challenging task, however, an easy way out is to learn them in context to texts or situations you come across. This way, the content will always remain with you since you will always connect it to your experience.

5. Learning has no age limit. You can learn a language even after 50 years of age. If you feel demotivated, remember that the early founders of linguistics learnt dozens of languages as adults, to almost encyclopedic levels. I hope that inspired you enough. Learning a language is a systematic and organic process, and as adults, we learn systematically.

6. Keep revising your native language because it is important to master your native language before you try to learn a second language. Being a Native, let’s say German speaker does not mean that you have mastered the language, it simply means you understand it enough. So, once you master your native language and understand how languages work, learning a second language, and in this case, English will come easily to you.

7. Carry a pocket dictionary with you. If you want to make conversation easier for you with others, make sure you use a good dictionary. These days you can even download a dictionary online as well, which is a more portable and convenient alternative. Believe me! It will make your life so much better.

8. Finally, when learning a second language, it is important that you translate it to your native language so that you understand the language better.

Learning a new language is always a fun thing to do. Don’t take it too seriously though, if you are learning a language for fun, take it slow. Don’t rush into it. Give it some time and make sure you join a good and reputable English course in Singapore. One such example is the Skillsfuture English courses offered in Singapore.

The Mandarin language is considered as one of the most spoken languages in the world. 92% of Chinese people speak Mandarin Chinese. That is why Singapore institutes now encourage learning the Mandarin language as the characters and sentence structure of Mandarin language helps the brain to work more efficiently.

We’ll explore what you need to know about the Mandarin language so learning it can be easier.

It’s Only Difficult at First

The very first thing about Mandarin is that it is not as difficult as people say. It has certain difficulties such as the characters, but it is a matter of staying with it and doing it every day by finding a system that works for you. Mandarin characters are one area where careful vocabulary study is helpful especially for the first 1000 characters. After that, when you come across them in reading, and you are more familiar with the components, it is a little bit easier to pick them up on the fly. To learn the language effectively, try to get engaged in input-based learning. Input-Based learning means reading in the Mandarin language extensively.

Intonation

Another difficulty that people might come across is the range of tones in language, but here again, remember that everything that seems so strange at first in any language gradually seems easier. There is a snowball effect. With the passage of time and practice, the language becomes more and more familiar and easier to learn. Moreover, you should not put a lot of effort in trying to nail the pronunciation at the beginning, instead put your effort into listening and getting used to hearing the tones better. Tones are something that you will gradually get used to and don’t worry about it. It does not inhibit or should not inhibit your ability to enjoy the language through reading and listening.

Vocabulary

The third thing about the Mandarin language is vocabulary. It does not have many common vocabulary items with other languages except for some Asian languages. And if we go through the parts of speech, the good news in Mandarin is that the grammar is quite simple nouns. There are no plural or feminine characters. You have to learn the nouns and verbs. Very often adverbs and adjectives can be used interchangeably.

Simplified Version of the Mandarin Language

There are a lot of situations where the genius of the Mandarin language is that it contains the most simplified version of things. This does not reflect the sign of the language being less developed. It is very helpful to have simplified these things. The order of the sentence is also very simple just like the English language.  You need to know where to put the time and the location of words.

Learning Mandarin is not very difficult, especially if your native language is close to the Chinese language such as Korean or Japanese, which uses most of the Chinese Character in it. Even if you are not from the Asian countries, you can learn Mandarin in Singapore from a good institute or online sources.

To learn any language, it’s really important to know how fast you want to progress in a language within a given amount of time and you absolutely have to know what exactly are you going to do to get there.

Give yourself a deadline and then stick to that deadline. Same goes for learning the Korean language, which is the official language of North & South Korea and some of China’s autonomous tribes.

Use Time Limits To Level Up

A handy tip for any Korean learner is to use some scale or set levels that you have to achieve in a stated time period. For instance, give yourself a task of learning 1,000 words in two weeks or learning 100 sentences in three days.

Once you get pastone level, move on to another level. To motivate yourself, you can even give yourself a reward each time you complete a level. Not only is this encouraging, but you will pick up the language even quickly as you boost your motivation.

Download Interactive Apps

You can easily ask native speakers questions about their languages and you will come to realise that the responses you receive through most of the apps are pretty fast accurate. Some of them even offer a rather cool function where you get to record yourself saying a few words of the language and people get to comment as to whether it is accurate or not.

Below are some of these apps and their features are as follows:

Talkie: This app is especially useful for those looking to perfect their language. You simply write a journal entry or a short paragraph about a certain topic, log it in, and you will receive corrections from native speakers who will fix your mistakes.

Lingo: Mainly focusing on three languages, namely Korean, Japanese and Chinese, this app gives you the opportunity of learning the Korean language. And it does an especially excellent job. There is audio inputted for everything that teaches you how to write the characters and it is very grammar intensive.

Hello Talk: Its amazing timeline features works exactly like Facebook, where you can add photos and comments; and ask people different things. Also, you can search for people to practice Chinese with, followed by a simple search in the app store which will yield wonderful results.

Apart from these apps, other websites like Memrise, FluentU and KoreanClass101 are also available to help you in speaking the Korean language fluently.

Start With The Basics

It doesn’t matter what language you plan to pick up, as long as you are at the starting point, you should begin with simple vocabulary and move on to complex words or sentence structures later on.

If you are someone who prefers learning from someone else, then you can always join Korean classes in Singapore and ensure you have no trouble learning the language.

The wider your vocabulary is, the easier it gets to speak fluently. Try to familiarize yourself with as many words as possible and then use them in simple sentences in routine conversation. It is important that you know how to translate a word or phrase from English to Korean and vice versa.

Understand How To Speak The Language Appropriately

Another important area of consideration is to learn the difference between the intensity of any word or speech. Know how to say the words politely or harshly.

When it comes to verbs, Korean is different from the English language. So, you should be aware of how to address older people or how to behave in social settings.

While all of these tips are indeed important, the last but not least thing you should take note of is to keep track of your progress. It will be especially useful in helping you see how far you have come. Start writing a diary, make a blog or start a study ground to get yourself be used to writing Korean and you easily speak the language in no time.

Everyone thinks that Korean is one of the most difficult languages in the world. Even the US government has officially released that it takes at least 2,200 hours to become proficient in the Korean language.

There are some formal speech and grammar parts that are difficult, but other parts are relatively easier. It is difficult at first, but if you learn, you can adapt to every language. That could have been the possible reason why Korean dramas and music is getting fame these days.

Here are five reasons explaining why the Korean language being difficult is not true.

1. Similar Or Even Easier To Learn Than Chinese & Japanese

You can write a lot of vocabulary words with just a few letters because of the beautiful harmony of Korean consonants and vowels. The first step in learning the Korean language is to familiarize yourself with the alphabets; which are more like the Chinese characters.

When you look at the alphabets, they might seem a bunch of scribbles or doodles. However, Korean alphabets are relatively easier than Chinese characters or Japanese characters in Hiragana and Katakana.

2. Does Not Take Long To Master

Just like the English language, the Korean language has a definite structure of Subject – Object – Verb. It also has conjugation and tenses so that you can learn the parts of speech and grammar with the rules.

There are only five types of irregular verbs and a very limited number of consonants, therefore, it does not take much longer to learn the grammar rules and sentence structure of the Korean language.

3. Easy Writing System

By far, the Korean language has the easiest writing system in the world. The writing system of the Korean language can be easily learned within a week’s time period.  Unlike other alphabets that expand organically, Korean alphabets were devised through a pre-planned process. They were invented with a particular purpose of making them easier to learn.

There are only 24 letters which can be fully learned within 90 minutes. That is why the writing system of Hangul, the Korean alphabet is very simple and quick to learn.

4. Unique Design Of Words

Korean letters are made with such intricacy and logic that you can make concise words therefrom. Unlike English letters, which are written in a horizontal line, Korean letters can be stacked together upon one another making the whole word brief and small.

The Korean language is made up of three types of words; Pure Korean, English and Chinese. The design of the words is such that when you learn one word, you can easily move onto the next word.

5. Naturally Familiar With Plenty Of Korean Words

One important reason for Korean being not a difficult language is that you already are familiar with thousands of Korean words. As stated earlier, the Korean language is made up of three types of words, and English words taking the prominent position after pure Korean words.

Hence, in Korean, many English words are being used. For instance, Taxi, computer, ice-cream and so on shall have a similar meaning as they have in the English language.

After reading all this, you must be wondering where to learn the Korean language in Singapore. The good news is, many schools and institutions are now offering Korean classes in Singapore. They provide professional learning courses at very economical rates. So, get ready to enroll in one yourself.

Do you think that Chinese is the most difficult language? Well, not anymore.

In this article, we give you some good tips on where and how to start learning the Chinese language. So, brace yourself and get immersed in one of the oldest languages of the world, more so because Singapore is situated in the same continent as China and its citizens need to learn the language of fellow countries.

1. Digest at least 100 common Chinese characters

Before you even decide to learn a couple of basic sentences, you will first need to completely master at least 100 widely used Chinese characters. There are many websites which list the most used words, phrases or sentences in any language.

Don’t jump on to learning a whole bunch of complicated characters that you don’t know about at the same time. Instead, learn the basic greetings and grammar even if you only know a few basic sentences. By learning the right words, you will be able to easily put together a few sentences without any difficulty.

2. Master The Stroke Order

You will have to learn the stroke order for writing as it really differs from character to character in the Chinese language.

Understand how the different characters are being written and master the ways of writing them. There are some rules that you need to apply, like starting from top to bottom, left to right and so on. It is a idea to know exactly how to write the characters.

3. Learn Basic Grammar Structures

There are a lot of ways to learn basic grammar structures, whether it is through online on Youtube, through the traditional textbooks method or by attending Chinese classes in Singapore. Either way, you have plenty of options to choose from, you just have to pick the right one that can help you learn the language much easier.

Once you have got a grammar structure, you can add in the vocabulary words that you learned. Try to write the one grammar structure over and over again and fill that in with new words.

4. Invest In A Good Textbook And Dictionary

As said before, you don’t actually have to pay for your books. In fact, you can just go online and just download a free dictionary from Google or PlayStore. One good app for Chinese learning is Plecos. It comes with a Chinese keyboard with the writing input. You can write the character and if the keyboard picks it up, it will pop up on it.

Alternatively, you can type a word in English and the app gives you the Chinese translation. However, it is always a good idea to invest in the character dictionary as it will help you find characters a lot more easily. Paper dictionaries are still nice to have in terms of textbooks after all.

5. Watch Chinese Movies And TV Shows With Subtitles

Just like any other language that you have in mind, this is possibly one of the best ways out there to fully master a language.

The reason for this advice is that by watching TV shows, you will constantly be exposed to a native pronunciation to a native pronunciation by hearing how people really talk, you can learn to ‘copy’ them and your accent will improve very rapidly.

6. Get A Langauge Partner

Hellotalk is probably the best and most popular way to find language learning partners. One tip for finding a really good language partner is to make a commitment to each other that you will help each other and fix all the mistakes.

You can set up a time each day or each week to Skype with them and if they are as serious about learning your language as you are about learning, the language exchange should be successful if you both make and follow your commitment. You can also come up with topics beforehand to talk to them.

Being aware of these tips are simply not enough if you are not putting them to good use by applying them. So, make sure you use these tips and master the beautiful Chinese language.

Although you are currently learning English, you might not have fully mastered it. Or worse yet, it may turn out that you have been speaking it wrong all these years. However, there is nothing wrong with that as we are all bound to make a few mistakes here and there when learning something new.

Many native English speakers use some very common ways of expression and grammar that are widely known but are in fact not used in school.

In this article, we will be presenting three brilliant hacks to help you learn the English language like how natives normally do easily.

1. Correct Your Speaking

You enter into a restaurant with your friends and the waiter says how many are you and you say “We are two.”

However, that is not the right way to say it as in English, we usually talk impersonally. When we talk about people even if it includes us, we would say “There are two of us.” So, the main tip here is to use “There are” and not “We are” when talking about yourself and other people.

2. Use The Verb To Tell

When using our senses; the sense of smell, touch, taste, feeling or hearing to recognize information then we use the verb to tell and not make or know. For instance, the sentence, “It is not easy to know the difference between the French wine and a New Zealand wine when you’re drinking it,” is not grammatically correct.

Instead, the correct way to say it is by changing the word know to tell. Over here, we are not using the verb ‘tell’ to mean saying something to something, it is a different meaning of “tell”. Similarly, you might hear some people say, “I can know the difference between a clementine and a tangerine.” But it is an incorrect way of saying it as you don’t use “can” and “know” together in an affirmative way. When using your senses we should use “tell, on the other hand, we should use “know” to talk about situations when we have prior information, for example, “I know what will happen next in the movie as I’ve seen it before.”

3. Use “Though” In Your Sentences

More specifically, you should be using the word, “though” at the end of the sentence to show a contrast, but “although” should only be used at the beginning or the middle of a sentence. However, most English speakers speak informally by putting “though” at the end of a sentence.

For example, “It is very cold outside, nice day though.”

All you need is a statement and something that contradicts that statement and then add “though” at the end, which you say with a rising tone.

The only way to learn English is by learning about it through an experienced tutor from a good institute in Singapore as lengthy course materials are not simply enough for fully comprehending the languaging, and especially not substantial if you want to learn how to speak properly.