Let’s Make Language Learning Fun

Language learning can feel like a chore. Adapting to a new way of speaking includes learning new vocabulary words, practicing pronunciation, and most importantly, making sure there is an understanding of what’s being learned. Long story short, it can get old very quickly. But learning a language is a very valuable skill that is worth exploring if the chance presents itself. 

Let’s look at some facts: 

• Only 20% of the US population is bilingual

• 43% of the world is bilingual; another 17% is multilingual 

• Roughly 3% of the world can speak more than four languages

  That means more than half of the entire world can speak more than one language!

It’s okay if you need a bit of motivation and encouragement, learning a language is no easy feat. Not everyone is fortunate enough to start language learning when they’re a child, even if it is really common. It’s never too late to learn though, don’t let young(er) learners discourage you! If you’re still not sure, I’ll share some tips that have helped me practice my language learning skills as an older learner.

1. Try making a recipe in your target language

Food in itself is a language. It is often used to communicate sentiments of love, tenderness, remorse or simply kindness. Opting to cook something in your target language can not only familiarize you with new vocabulary words you’d never seen, but it can connect you with the cultural roots behind the food and language of your choosing. Ideally, you’d choose a simple recipe that is of your interest and give it your best effort. Bon Appétit!

2. Change the settings on your preferred device to the language you’re trying to learn

Sometimes, getting off our phones is hard. Other times, we find entertainment waiting for us at the click of a button or a simple scroll and that can deter us from putting the time and effort into practicing our vocab words. But that isn’t entirely a bad thing if the words we see on our screen aren’t in our native tongue. This tactic is a particularly versatile one because it can be modified based on your level of knowledge on the language of your choice. If changing the entire language configuration of your device is too much, start by changing the language(s) on your social media and/or streaming platforms and move up from there. Ultimately, you’ll be able to navigate on your device just as you did before!

3. Consume media in the language of your choosing

Let’s say you managed to get off your phone and are determined to get some language practice done, but you don’t really feel like sticking to a simple lesson plan. What better way to beat boredom than to have a dance party? Listening to music in your target language can have lots of benefits, especially when it comes to pronunciation. Watching your comfort movie or TV show in your target language can also be of benefit to you. Not all learning needs to be traditional– fun and inventive techniques can be just as effective if you stick to them!

4. Play word learning games in your target language

The entire world is currently in a Wordle phase. Something about having six tries to guess a random five-letter word really gets people going. The Wordle’s popularity has expanded into other things, such as music and countries around the world. Lucky for you, that means that other websites offer a version of the Wordle in other languages. If you aren’t with the times and not a part of the Wordle trend, now is the time to get on it! However, if you think only finding one word in six tries isn’t enough of a challenge, try doing a full crossword puzzle in your target language, or try a different version of Scrabble. Happy guessing!

5. Joke around with the language you want to learn

Oftentimes, jokes and common sayings get lost in translation when watching or listening to podcasts/movies/TV shows in another language. What better way to fix that than to learn the equivalent joke/saying? Taking the time to find the equivalent translation can help you learn contextual skills, expand your vocabulary, and give you fun icebreakers to use if you’re ever in need of any. It’ll make you look knowledgeable, too. Just be sure to use what you learn in the appropriate settings!

A Parting Note…

Learning a new language is never an easy undertaking, congrats for being brave and following through! It’s okay to stumble and fall and make mistakes, the important part is to take a break and try again. Remember, there is not a right way to learn, only what is right for you. Finding a groove and sticking to it can be challenging, but once you find your niche there’s no going back! My advice is this… while you embark on your language journey, start saving some money and plan a little getaway to a country that speaks the language you want to learn. When you feel confident enough, go on that well-deserved adventure! There is no better teacher than experience. Just remember to take it one word at a time. Happy learning! 

Works Cited  

Galatro, T. (2022, April 12). Why Do Children Learn Languages Faster than Adults? Tessa International School. https://tessais.org/children-learn-languages-faster-adults/#:%7E:text=It%20is%20because%20of%20the,as%20the%20%E2%80%9Ccritical%20period%E2%80%9D.

Gration, E. (2022, April 5). Bilingualism in 2021: US, UK & Global Statistics. Language Learning with Preply Blog. https://preply.com/en/blog/bilingualism-statistics/#:%7E:text=However%2C%20current%20estimates%20predict%20that,more%20than%20one%20language%20fluently.

Lokot, T. (2022, February 6). ‘Your’dle: Wordle is now available in many of the world’s languages. Globalvoices.Org. https://globalvoices.org/2022/02/02/yourdle-wordle-is-now-available-in-many-of-the-worlds-languages/amp/

Mathews, J. (2019, April 25). Half of the world is bilingual. What’s our problem? Washington Post. https://www.washingtonpost.com/local/education/half-the-world-is-bilingual-whats-our-problem/2019/04/24/1c2b0cc2-6625-11e9-a1b6-b29b90efa879_story.html

Multilingual People - Are you a polyglot? (2018). Ilanguages.Org. http://ilanguages.org/bilingual.php

Music as an Effective Tool for Learning Languages | Altissia. (2022). Altissia.Org. https://altissia.org/music-as-an-effective-tool-for-learning-languages/#:%7E:text=Music%20offers%20many%20advantages%20for,pronounced%20than%20when%20we%20speak.

Valencia, G. (2020, April 7). The language of food. FIU News. https://news.fiu.edu/2020/the-language-of-food

Watching Subtitled Films Can Help Learning Foreign Languages. (2016). National Library of Medicine. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4927148/

Kimye Divorce: A Social Media Battle That Could Lead to Future Settlement Issues

Gregory Pace/Shutterstock

Kim Kardashian is not a stranger to ending nuptials. The supermodel star had been married twice before tying the knot with Kanye West in 2014, bringing her total up three times down the aisle. At 19, she married producer Damon Thomas, ten years her senior. Their marriage ended in 2003. She then married basketball player Kris Humphries in 2011 after a short engagement. That seemed to foreshadow the duration of the marriage, considering that 72 hours later, she filed for divorce. Their split was finalized in 2013 after 536 days of nasty court battles. Most recently, Kim Kardashian tied the knot with rapper Kanye West in 2014. After nearly 7 years of marriage, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce. As of last March, after a months-long battle, Kim Kardashian is legally single.

Why did Kim Kardashian file for divorce?

In February of 2021, Kim Kardashian filed for divorce from Kanye West, the reasons not completely explained. Later, in an interview with Vogue, Kim shared that after spending so much time doing things for other people, it was time to start choosing herself and making her interests and who she really was as a priority. 2020 was a rough year for the couple, seeing as during the beginning of the pandemic, things from their personal lives started to spill out for the world to know. West ran for presidency, made statements that brought up concerns about his mental health and bipolar disorder, and had relocated to Wyoming. His irrationality and actions ultimately led to him needing to be placed on psychiatric hold after spending some tumultuous few days on tour in 2016. Throughout the rough times, Kim always asked for compassion and empathy for Kanye, stating that caring and understanding someone with mental health complications was no easy feat. In the end, Kim Kardashian stated that there were too many irreconcilable differences in her marriage, and that both her and West deserved to start new lives.

What could make Kanye West’s custody battle more difficult?

If Kanye West and Kim Kardashian cannot come to an agreement regarding their children, custody battles are going to get really ugly. Since trying to finalize her divorce, Kanye West has been very vocal about the state of his feelings for Kim and his children. However, his usage of social media to voice these feelings could potentially harm him when custody battles come into play. In a social media rant lasting a few days, Kanye West exposed private texts between him and Kim Kardashian, insulted Kim’s most recent partner- Pete Davidson, and voiced concerns about their eldest daughter, North West, being on Tiktok. When two people end their marriage and there are children involved, the courts take into consideration the psychological state of each parent when deciding who and how much custody rights are allotted. Because Kanye West made all of his concerns known to the public and ultimately harassed his now ex-wife, that material is evidence for custody battles. All that he posted can, and most likely will, be used against him.

When will the divorce be finalized?

As of last March, one of the many court hearings needed to finalize the Kardashian/West divorce went underway. Through this hearing, Kim Kardashian was declared legally single and was able to drop “West” from her last name. The declaration came about a year since Kim Kardashian had originally filed for divorce. The decision also comes a few weeks after Kim Kardashian urged the court not to be deterred by Kanye’s efforts to delay the divorce by creating social media scandals and attempting to change their prenup agreements. Though both parties are now legally separated, there are still hearings to be held in order to discuss things such as the pre-nup agreement, custody of their four children and/or other matters that need to be settled by a judge. Their next trial is in August of this year.

Divorce is messy no matter who the parties are. Many things go into consideration when it comes to being legally separated and this case is a prime example of behaviors to avoid when going through this process. More often than not, children will be involved in the process and will see their parents go through a tough time settling the end of their parents’ relationship. It is a series of very unfortunate events– a split that could’ve ended amicably has turned sour and full of drama because a chunk of it was put on social media with no context. Just as any other personal situation, divorce is something that might be better off handled behind closed doors.

The Re-Recording Saga (Taylor’s Version)

Taylor Swift / Beth Garrabrant

Taylor Swift has been re-recording her original six albums since signing with Universal Music Group in 2018 after her contract with Big Machine Records came to an end. As a part of her contract with Big Machine Records, Swift does not own any of her master recordings. After signing with Universal Music Group and an ongoing battle with Big Machine Records owner Scooter Braun, Taylor Swift’s master recordings were sold for an estimated $300 million to Ithaca Holdings. 

Why doesn’t Taylor Swift own the master rights for her original six albums?

Upon signing with Big Machine Records in 2005, part of the contractual agreements stated that Big Machine would own the master recordings of the music released by them. This is a typical practice of many recording companies when signing an artist. Because she wanted to own her work, Taylor Swift attempted to undergo a series of negotiations with Big Machine and its owner, Scooter Braun. Big Machine offered to allow Swift to reacquire her albums by resigning with the label and releasing one new album per her old ones. In other words, in order to attain ownership of her original six albums, she needed to release six new ones under Big Machine. The efforts were fruitless, seeing as Scooter Braun ended up selling Swift’s catalog to Ithaca Holdings. However, because Swift wrote every song in her catalog, she owns the “sync rights” and has the ability to re-record her albums once the five-year mark has passed.  

Which album comes next?

So far, Taylor Swift has re-recorded new versions of her Grammy Award winning albums Fearless and Red. Under her new label, these versions have “Taylor’s Version” to signify her ownership of these newer versions. However, the release dates for the remaining four original albums remain unknown. Swift is known for leaving clues around her social media accounts for her fans to use and try to decipher what comes back next. These clues show up in captions, posts, tweets, and even in Swift’s outfit choices. Fans are currently debating whether 1989 (Taylor’s Version) or Speak Now (Taylor’s Version) is coming next. After the Red (Taylor’s Version), avid Swifties picked up on a number of clues hidden in the “I Bet You Think About Me” music video that point to Speak Now (Taylor’s Version), such as the iconic red dress worn in the video. However, the music video also seemed to provide a number of references to 1989 (Taylor’s Version). Additionally, Swift surprise dropped “Wildest Dreams (Taylor’s Version)” back in September of 2021, leading fans to believe that 1989 (Taylor’s Version) would be coming soon. Though the video is inundated with hints and the surprise drop, fans have also taken into consideration the ongoing lawsuit against Swift for her 1989 song “Shake it Off,” making the release of 1989 (Taylor’s Version) less likely.  

What albums does Taylor Swift currently own?

@heartbreakprince13 / Reddit

Since joining Universal Music Group and Republic Records in 2018, Taylor Swift has released three new, original albums: Lover (2019), Folklore (2020) and Evermore (2020). Swift dubbed her first fully owned album, Lover, a “love letter to love itself”. The bright colored and sounding album came two years after her release of the polar opposite album, Reputation, in response to the feud between Swift and Kim Kardashian and Kanye West. True to Taylor Swift fashion, the tracks reflect on love, equality, stereotypes and relationships in a mix of acoustic and pop-sounding melodies. In 2020, when COVID-19 was making its way across the world, Swift made a switch in genre. From pop princess to soft, indie chords telling the story of made up characters. She released both Folklore and Evermore in 2020, barely five months apart. Following the release of two surprise albums full of new music, Swift came back stronger than a 90s trend and released the Taylor’s Version of her acclaimed albums Fearless and Red, both in 2021. In these re-recordings, Swift included vault tracks, unreleased songs that did not make the cut the first time around.

Taylor Swift’s re-recordings have proven to be a success in the process the renowned star is going through to reclaim her work. Her drops have broken records, attracted a new wave of listeners, provided new music along with beloved favorites, among many other accomplishments. The ongoing re-recording of Swift’s past albums allow for criticism on how the music industry takes advantage of artists and their work by trapping them in contracts that claim ownership of original work. This case serves as an example of the importance of revising contracts and most importantly, standing up for what is rightfully yours in the eyes of the law.

Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson Nominated to Supreme Court

Photograph by Carolyn Kaster / AP / Shutterstock

President Joe Biden has nominated Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson to the Supreme Court of the United States. Judge Jackson is the first Black woman to be nominated to the Court, and would once again make history if she is confirmed and would succeed Justice Stephen Breyer, who spent 27 years serving on the Court and is set to retire at the end of term.

Who is Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson?

Kevin Lamarque / Pool via Getty Images file

D.C. born, Ketanji Brown Jackson grew up in Miami, Florida to preschool teacher parents. Both her parents attended segregated schools and later attended historically black colleges and universities. During her pre-school years, her father attended law school, and they opted to often complete their homework together— going over law school readings and filling in the lines of a coloring book. Jackson was often seen in leadership positions throughout her young academic life, such as student body president and part of her high school debate team. Ketanji Brown Jakcson went on to study and graduate from Harvard for both her undergraduate studies and her J.D. with honors. Her legal experience ranges from being a public defender, a Supreme Court clerk to soon to be Justice Stephen G. Breyer, Vice Chair of the U.S. Sentencing Commission, Judge on the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia and Judge on the U.S. Court of Appeals for the D.C. Circuit before her nomination to the Supreme Court.

What does Judge Jackson’s potential confirmation as Justice mean for SCOTUS?

If confirmed, Judge Jackson would become the first Black woman to sit on the Supreme Court bench. The Supreme Court currently seats nine (9) members, and holds a 6-3 conservative majority. As Judge Jackson’s confirmation hearings continue to be underway, discussions about her impact on the Court have started to roll out. Opinions range from believing that Jackson’s confirmation will do nothing to reshape the Court and is simply trading a “liberal for a liberal”, stating that her joining the Court won’t amount to much. Other opinions focus on celebrating  her influence as the first Black woman to sit on the bench and how she could make a difference. Though her potential confirmation will not change the dominant political ideology of the Court, her confirmation would mean that all three Democratic justices are women. Justice Jackson would sit alongside Justice Sotomayor; the first woman of color, Hispanic, and Latina member of the Court; and Elena Kagan, the first woman to serve as solicitor general of the United States before joining the Court. 

Who are the current justices of the Supreme Court?

Fred Schilling / Collection of the Supreme Court of the United States

As of October 2020, there are nine justices sitting on the Supreme Court bench. Out of the nine, eight of them serve as associate justices. The associate justices include: Clarence Thomas (confirmed 1991), Stephen G. Breyer (confirmed 1994), Samuel A. Alito, Jr. (confirmed 2006), Sonia Sotomayor (confirmed 2009), Elena Kagan (confirmed 2010), Neil M. Gorsuch (confirmed 2017), Brett M. Kavanaugh (confirmed 2018) and Amy Coney Barrett (confirmed 2020) These eight members of the Court vote on cases brought to them, draft opinions, circuit oversight, among other duties. The remaining justice serves as Chief Justice. Their duties include presiding over the hearings, writing the majority opinion(s) when in the majority, presiding over presidential impeachment hearings, among other duties. As of 2005, John G. Roberts has been serving as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of the United States.

How does a nominee get confirmed to the Supreme Court?

As stated in the Constitution, the President of the United States is responsible for nominating an individual for the position of Supreme Court justice. In order for the nominees to be confirmed, they will undergo a series of hearings directed by the Senate Judiciary Committee. These hearings usually last a month. In these hearings, witnesses, both supporting and opposing the nomination, present their views. Senators in the committee question the nominee on topics relevant to their background such as their philosophy, qualifications, etc. Following the conclusion of the hearings, the Senate Judiciary Committee votes on the nomination and decides whether the nominee should be confirmed, rejected, or no recommendation and the full Senate debates the results. In order to be confirmed, 51 votes from the Senate are required. If there is a tie, the Vice President, who is the President of the Senate, will cast the deciding vote.

The process for Supreme Court nominees to enter the highest judicial power in the country is rigourous and challenging. However, it ensures that whoever is confirmed will uphold the laws as they are written and without comprises. Judge Ketanji Brown Jackson is a highly qualified candidate that is receiving an an influx of bipartisan support. If appointed and confirmed, she would make a valuable asset to the the highest Court in the land.

Where Do We Stand?

In the midst of a territorial crisis on the other side of the world, where does the United States stand?

Image Credit: Stefan Fussan

To understand what the United States’ position is in relation to the ongoing conflict between Russia and Ukraine, it is important to understand why conflict is happening in the first place. 

Why is Russia invading Ukraine?

After the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991, countries that were once a part of the Communist sphere started being overtaken by NATO. Russia’s long-term leader Vladimir Putin saw this as a threat, now that most of the countries that used to form part of a world superpower were joining forces and backing each other in case of military conflicts. NATO borders were trudging along Europe and essentially surrounding Russia, actions which Putin does not like. Russia’s move to attack Ukraine also stems from the desire to redraw the parameters of the Soviet Union. President Putin believes that both Belarus and Ukraine are rightful parts of Russia, and thus need to be reclaimed. Additionally, talks of having Ukraine be another nation in NATO’s arsenal would mean more bad news for Russia.

What is the U.S.A.’s role in this conflict?

Because Ukraine is not part of NATO, the member states cannot start a war on behalf of Russia’s advancements. The United States will not go to war against Russia unless it makes a direct attack on an allied country. Instead, the U.S, members of NATO and other countries across the globe are opting to hold Russia accountable for its actions by imposing sanctions that will harm its economy. So far, the United States has banned the imports of Russian oil, gas and coal, cut off Russia from U.S. dollar financing, among other financial sanctions. This way, the United States can continue to support Ukraine without violating treaties set in place to prevent the President from sending the country into war by himself. Additionally, the United States is able to send Ukraine provisions of both non-lethal and lethal defensive items such as High Mobility Multipurpose Wheeled Vehicles, tactical Unmanned Aerial Vehicles, secure communications, satellite imagery and analysis support, counter-battery radars, night vision devices and thermal scopes, sniper rifles, and equipment to support military medical treatment and combat evacuation procedures. The United States has also continued financial support stemming all the way back to 2014 when the conflict with Russia began. Though the U.S. continues to show support for Ukraine, it is not willing to overstep any lines and be caught in the crossfire and start a nuclear war with Russia.

Will Ukraine be joining NATO?

Currently, though Ukraine is not a member of NATO, it is an Enhanced Opportunities Partner. This title is given to countries that have “made significant contributions to Nato-led operations and missions.” Other nations that hold this title include Australia, Finland and Jordan. In order to become a member of NATO, all 30 members must unanimously be in favor of a new addition to the lineup. If Ukraine were to join NATO, its military presence would see improvement and would guarantee Ally involvement in military conflicts as per the organization's guidelines. It is unlikely that Ukraine will be a part of NATO in the near future due to the ongoing conflict with Russia and unresolved territorial issues.

What happens next?

Ultimately, the United States cannot participate in the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict because it is not in its legal right to do so. Overstepping the boundaries put in place with the foundation of NATO would lead to a full-blown third World War. However, because Ukraine is an ally of NATO, its members are doing what they can to aid Ukrainians in surviving Russia’s attacks. The United States has stood firmly as an ally to Ukraine since 2014 and continues to do so today as a world leader in participating in economic sanctions to penalize Russia. Though the duration of this conflict is uncertain, the United States and the members of NATO have made it known that supporting Ukraine is, and will continue to be, the main goal for as long as it is deemed necessary.

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Welcome to Talk Legal To Me!

These short articles are meant to keep you in the know with a legal twist. Always know the why and how of current events and impress everyone in your friend group!

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