Linguistic Keys: the Special Access That Comes with Language Learning
You are holding a large ring of keys. Some are big and clunky—ancient-looking, or at least antique. Others are rusty or turning green, but clearly a bit more modern. Then…
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A journey to Tangier.
International travel has felt like a pipe dream for quite some time. But all of that is beginning to change. Despite some significant hurdles, it is becoming more realistic to…
Linguistic Keys: Unlocking Today’s German World.
Last time we looked at how language skills can help us understand the past by giving us access to German-language philosophers, sports stars and figures from music history. This time,…
Your Mouth is a Musical Instrument
When we think about other languages, the way they sound is one of the first things that comes to mind. How do you sound when you speak English? How do…
Linguistic Keys: Unlocking the Future with German
So far we’ve looked at how German language skills can unlock the past and present. Using our linguistic keyring, we’ve opened all sorts of doors and portals. But now it’s…
Back To Our Roots: The East Melbourne Language Centre Time Machine
If you’ve been inside the East Melbourne Language Centre, you’ll know it’s a grand old building with many nooks and crannies. Everyone knows the front room full of language books,…
Put an album on: long listens for language learning
The benefits of music for language learning are well established. Listening to foreign language songs helps with vocabulary and syntax, while singing along improves pronunciation. However, it might not be…
Tips for boosting your German language learning during lockdown
In these strange times, it can be difficult to keep ourselves entertained – rocketing sales of baking ingredients, trampolines, and craft supplies are proof of that. Language learning apps have…
Learning Languages with Virtual Travel
Learning Languages with Virtual Travel Many of us learn languages because we love travelling overseas, or travel to other countries so that we can practice our hard-won skills that we…
Learning Languages Online through Film: What’s on at MIFF 68½
Learning Languages Online through Film: What’s on at MIFF 68½ For Melbourne cinephiles and many of our fellow students at the East Melbourne Language Centre, MIFF is the film festival…
10 quirks to know before visiting Germany
Have your sights set on Germany? Great! This European country is a beautiful destination for rolling mountains, lush green forests, and some pretty great locals. However, there may be a…
Why learning a language is good for you
There are numerous dimensions which learning a second language opens you up to. Although some people restrict themselves to their native language due to some mystical interventions and misconceptions, it…
Christmas Party
The sun is shining, it is 21°C outside and a gentle breeze is moving the leaves of the palm trees. Children are playing in the park, adults are enjoying wine,…
Meet our new volunteers Stephanie and Ann-Sophie!
With languages, you are at home anywhere. – Edmund de Waal It has been just about three weeks, since our new German volunteers Stephanie and Ann-Sophie left their homes in…
Interview mit Grace – German language learner
Why are you learning German? I started learning German because my boyfriend’s family are from Germany and he speaks German at home. Naturally, I wanted to have some sort of…
Reasons to learn a new language
Why would you start learning a new language and how would you decide which new language that would be? These are two questions I asked one of our new students…
Why on earth would you want to study German at uni?
When new students come to the East Melbourne and German Language Centre, we often ask them why they are learning a new language. Not to test them but just because…
Christmas Party at the East Melbourne Language Centre
“Let it snow, let it snow, let it snow” The snow is falling, there is a fire in the fireplace which warms the house, the family is sitting on the…
East Melbourne Language Centre: Making a movie
“That’s a warp!” I was told that’s what people say when they finish a movie or a big project, and that’s what we just did! But, honestly, before we were…
German Cinema Melbourne
A dark room, a huge screen, comfortable seats, rising tension, delicious popcorn and an amazing movie, who doesn’t love the cinema?! I love it and even more if the movies…
Awful German Language
The other day I came across this book called “The Awful German Language” by Mark Twain. As I had just been contemplating whether to start learning German in Melbourne, I…
German, French, Spanish, Arabic, Italian and Russian at the East Melbourne Language Centre
What happens when language teachers from different backgrounds come together in Melbourne for a training course. First, there was a great session about phonetics in German by Maria. She is…
Language Course Melbourne
What is the easiest language to learn for an English speaker? Many students want to enrol into a language course in Melbourne but can’t decide which language to learn. I…