Andrew Wenger4 days ago2 minSweet-sounding non-sensicalsThere are some expressions that sound wise but are actually nonsense. The “darkest hour” is really not “just before dawn”, it’s at midnig...
Andrew WengerNov 81 minThe etymology of "posh" and the power of storiesDo you know the origin of the word "posh"? Well-read people (which is of course not the same thing as posh people) will tell you the stor...
Andrew WengerOct 273 minGood and bad, art and peopleAt one of our recent Thursdays QUILT sessions, we discussed the German film, “The Lives of Others”, which contained a line about whether ...
Andrew WengerOct 202 minSpanish nightclubs can ONLY stay open til 3am!1. Las salas de baile sólo podrían permanecer abiertas hasta las tres de la mañana 2. La barra tendría que estar inhabilitada 3. La pista de
Andrew WengerOct 171 minThe Spanish InclinationIf you are learning Spanish, you might be interested to read this by our resident poet Ian James McKenzie
Andrew WengerOct 101 minThe Chair Yoga poemSameSky Languages has acquired a resident poet! You missed a treat if you were not at last week’s Thursday QUILT – a Chair Yoga session, ...
Andrew WengerSep 302 minDo you know about the Spanish verbs: conocer and saber?These verbs can cause confusion because they both mean “to know”. However...
Andrew WengerSep 222 minWorthless, priceless or an absolute rip-off?How many of the following English money expressions do you know and use? Do you know these two Beatles’ songs? Money (That’s what I want)...
Andrew WengerSep 102 minFluency, good pronunciation or accuracy – which is the most important?There are many “plates” to “spin” when learning a language: Grammatical accuracy Range of linguistic structures Pronunciation Cultural kn...
Andrew WengerAug 194 minYour Hawaiian is better than your WelshPembrokeshire or Waimea? Wales and Hawai'i have more in common than beautiful beaches and mountain scenery... Their languages have enjoye...
Andrew WengerJun 242 minLe parking en FranceFrench words and phrases about parking Photo source: Théo Rué/Unsplash If you have landed here hoping to gain some inside tips on good (f...
Andrew WengerJun 191 minEmocionante, emocional or emocionadoThree Spanish words that can cause confusion They are all adjectives, but be careful how you use them. emocionante = exciting, in a posit...
Andrew WengerJun 151 minDrunk, pregnant or full up?Des faux amis - the false friendships between English and French words As your French host offers you yet another helping of what has bee...
Andrew WengerJun 125 minWho was Lord Baden-Powell?Should the statues of controversial historical figures be taken down?
Andrew WengerJun 83 minScientists discover distant ‘mirror image’ of Earth and Sun Image source: Samuel Raphael: Distant Galaxy (oil on canvas) Astronomers(1) have discovered a new planet, which is nothing remarkable, bu...
Andrew WengerJun 83 minNo early return for UK tourists, says Spain Photo source: Toa Heftiba/Unsplash Spain's tourism minister has poured cold water on(1) any thoughts of an early return by UK visitors to...
Andrew WengerMay 174 minIt’s official: May 2020 was UK’s sunniest month on record Photo source: Zwaddi/Unsplash According to the Met(1) Office May 2020 was the sunniest calendar month on record in the UK. There was a to...
