Word for the Travel Wise (12/31/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

As promised I’m taking this one full year of language from across the globe and from the teeny tiny villages found in the Congo out with an explosive big bang! Okay, so you saw right through my attempt to hype it up, but really this is an exciting time. 2007 is only hours away for us and this completes a full year first year for the “Word for the Travel Wise” feature. I hope that the lessons have not only been helpful, but a little memorable. For the last time this year I just want to relay that while I do not have a degree as a linguist or speak fluently the mother tongue of several far more exotic places than my home digs in Florida, I appreciate the feedback and minor corrections that have been given and look forward to building a better world language feature in the new year.

Here is Happy New Year in various languages:

  • Yiddish – A git yor
  • Portuguese – Feliz ano novo
  • French – Bonne année
  • Italian – Buon anno
  • Persian – sal-e no mobarak
  • Japanese – Akemashite omedeto
  • Turkish – Mutlu yibasi
  • Catalan – Feliç any nou

Happy New Year everyone!

Word for the Travel Wise (12/22/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

It doesn’t surprise me a whole lot that About.com also has a word of the day feature for foreign languages, but what was does surprise is how long it took me to stumble upon their cool little lessons. After thumbing through some of the archives I decided to borrow this word from their teachings to pass on to you guys here. Go check out their feature.

Today’s word is an Italian word used in Italy:

mondo – world, humanity, mankind

Seeing how popular the language is there isn’t much difficulty finding learning resources on the web. I’m a little unsure about what’s going on with this June29 site, but they have three very simple lessons to get your learning motors going. You might find the BBC your one stop shop in handling your needs. Dictionaries, lessons, audio, and slang are all included. Distance learning is always recommended in my book. Check out some of these programs abroad where you can study in various cities across the country and even Lugano, Switzerland. A few links to study abroad are as follows: Amerispan, World Link Education, and ILUSS. Head over to this Italian Book Store for suggested text.

Past Italian words: qualcosa, dov’é, congratulazioni, un riccone/una riccona, sono strafelice, sono al verde

Word for the Travel Wise (11/26/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

I’m going to continue riding on the idea that many of you went shopping this weekend and had a grand old time doing so. Perhaps some of you are overseas and found many good gifts to wrap and ship back home. I don’t know what your story is, but if you’re broke and out of cash then this phrase may also be for you…

Today’s word is an Italian word used in Italy:

sono al verde – I’m in the green. I’m broke.

Seeing how popular the language is there isn’t much difficulty finding learning resources on the web. I’m a little unsure about what’s going on with this June29 site, but they have three very simple lessons to get your learning motors going. You might find the BBC your one stop shop in handling your needs. Dictionaries, lessons, audio, and slang are all included. Distance learning is always recommended in my book. Check out some of these programs abroad where you can study in various cities across the country and even Lugano, Switzerland. A few links to study abroad are as follows: Amerispan, World Link Education, and ILUSS. Head over to this Italian Book Store for suggested text.

Past Italian words: qualcosa, dov’é, congratulazioni, un riccone/una riccona, sono strafelice

Word for the Travel Wise (10/19/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

I just spent some more time looking over the BBC online language courses and was playing around with the Italian guides thinking these are really awesome free tools. I’ve referenced them in several of the word features and I can’t describe how great they are. If you’re serious about learning a second or third language I urge you to start with their programs and see how far you can go with them before hiring a private tutor or anything.

Today’s word is an Italian word used in Italy:

sono strafelice – very, very, happy

Seeing how popular the language is there isn’t much difficulty finding learning resources on the web. I’m a little unsure about what’s going on with this June29 site, but they have three very simple lessons to get your learning motors going. You might find the BBC your one stop shop in handling your needs. Dictionaries, lessons, audio, and slang are all included. Distance learning is always recommended in my book. Check out some of these programs abroad where you can study in various cities across the country and even Lugano, Switzerland. A few links to study abroad are as follows: Amerispan, World Link Education, and ILUSS. Head over to this Italian Book Store for suggested text.

Past Italian words: qualcosa, dov’é, congratulazioni, un riccone/una riccona

Word for the Travel Wise (09/12/06)

by Adrienne Wilson on

Some tour packages make me chuckle. Like who combines these things? Was there some poll asking whether visitors to Italy would be interested in fierce, high-speed, hot-red Ferrari rides through Rome to their mineral bath? There had to have been because they’ve got this thing called the Red Wellness Tour. On this two day, one night tour you’re given the opportunity to drive up to three different Ferrari’s and to receive spa treatments. I could see somebody’s red-hot mama stepping out of one of the rides (you know the Devil Wears Prada type) tossing her furs from her shoulders and soaking herself in a nice warm bath. When she’s through off into her Ferrari at the speed of light! Too cute.

Today’s word is an Italian word used in Italy:

un riccone / una riccona – A rich man/woman. Usually used in a derogatory way, giving the idea of rich and arrogant.

Seeing how popular the language is there isn’t much difficulty finding learning resources on the web. I’m a little unsure about what’s going on with this June29 site, but they have three very simple lessons to get your learning motors going. You might find the BBC your one stop shop in handling your needs. Dictionaries, lessons, audio, and slang are all included. Distance learning is always recommended in my book. Check out some of these programs abroad where you can study in various cities across the country and even Lugano, Switzerland. A few links to study abroad are as follows: Amerispan, World Link Education, and ILUSS. Head over to this Italian Book Store for suggested text.

Past Italian words: qualcosa, dov’é, congratulazioni