Tag Archives: World

The Road to Omligot: Language apps that work

March 13, 2016 TravelGypSea Leave a comment

In the last couple weeks I have been fortunate to line up a future job in ESL after I graduate. The problem? It’s in Iceland, and I know nearly NOTHING in Icelandic. This doesn’t stop me though. Before moving to Japan I only knew “konichiwa” and “arigato” (which to this day only rolls through my mind to the tune of ‘domo arigato mr. Roboto’.) Otherwise my Japanese skill was limited to ordering from a sushi menu. How then, you may ask, did I survive going solo to foreign lands, and living for the better part of a year? In addition to embracing the adventure, I learned.

About a week before flying to Tokyo, I pushed myself to learn to count to ten, say ‘yes’ and ‘no’, and the rest I would have to figure out later. After settling in to my town to teach I enrolled in free language lessons in the community centre, and was “fully emersed”.

Now, seeing the benefit of having more than a week to prepare, I have downloaded some free language learning apps to review. I will be trying to learn Icelandic, though if an app doesn’t have it, Ill give French a go.

1. DuoLingo

Pros: COMPLETELY FREE! Offers the main popular languages (German, Spanish,more challenging etc.) and even Klingon is “Hatching”. (Yes my Trekkies, you too will be able snarl with proper grammar.) When signing up for the app, you can connect to your friends from social media and challenge each other in your progress, and you can log in on their website, or the app and continue your progress. DuoLingo will send you “reminders” to do your daily lesson and stay on your streak, and you can link your language ability to your linkedin profile. Additionally, it is set up like a came, where you earn “Lingots” by completing lessons to buy a one day ‘streak freeze’, outfits for the cartoon owl, and bonus lessons (eg. how to flirt, or idioms).

Cons: limited selection of languages available. While it does help with the ability to remember vocabulary, the voice recording is not sensitive enough to tell if your pronunciation is ok, and if you fall out of your “daily streak”, you don’t feel as motivated to start again. All work has to be done online.

Languages:

(for English speakers available on app) Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Dutch, Irish, Danish, Swedish, Turkish, Esperanto, Norwegian, Ukrainian, Russian, Polish, Welsh.

Overall ****

2. Memrise

Pros: Tracks daily progress, and lessons can be downloaded for offline learning, and the language list is extensive. As an archaeologist, I really like that it has ancient and dead languages, and there is even ASL for me to practice my signing. Pneumonic devices are suggested, and there is an emphasis on sight words. It’s a very easy program to figure out. Hints and tips for remembering words have been provided by fellow users, and give tricks for figuring out the pronunciation, which make the app feel more like a community.

Con: If you don’t do well with sight words this may be tough, as you have to remember how to spell them a short time after seeing them. The free edition has plenty of free modules to learn the basics of a language, and to get progress tracking and unlimited access to all modules you would need to subscribe. (Though its not necessary.)

Languages:

English, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Chinese, Portuguese (Brazil), Russian, Spanish, Afrikaans, Akan-Twi, Albanian, American Sign Language, Ancient Greek, Anglo-Saxon, Arabic, Armenian, +about 80 more. Has dead languages and 3 types of sign language. Creek was the only First Nation language that I saw, But I was impressed with the variety.

Overall ****

3. uTalk

Pros: Vast majority of the languages needed for traveling. (136 including variations in the same language. eg. Portuguese for Portugal vs Brazil, or US English vs UK English.) It is set up similarly to Rosetta Stone, though much cheaper.

Cons: The first module is free for all languages, then you need to purchase a module that goes beyond the “starter pack”. The starter pack just gives you a taste of the language, (“Hello”,”Goodbye”, “Help!”) though it is good to see if you want to continue on that language.

Languages: 117 common languages.

Overall: ***

4. FluentU

Pros: language learning in increments by ability. Uses video which is good for audio visual learners. Songs and videos can be downloaded to play offline.

Cons: Limited languages available.

Languages: Chinese, Spanish, English, French, German, Japanese

Overall: ***

5. Babbel

Pros: Downloadable for offline use. Uses learned language in a conversational setting.

Cons: After the initial “starter” lesson, you have to subscribe to access further lessons. The microphone for speech recognition is quick and you need to have a rhythm or you may miss it recording.

Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Italian, Portuguese, Swedish, Polish, Dutch, Indonesian, Turkish, Danish, Norwegian, Russian

Overall: ***

Adventures of a 'Gypsea', Gap Year Ideas, Podcast, Travel Apps

New TravelGypSea podcast!

August 31, 2015 TravelGypSea Leave a comment

Hey everyone,

Its been way too long since I have had the chance to sit down to write, so I’m going to try something very new… A podcast. I have never done them am excited for this idea, since Im going to get other travelers I know to help with the making of it. This will be a weekly thing, where I pull in old info from past blogs, new info that could potentially be a new blog, and things that I just saw floating around the internet.

This week is Episode 1- General travel, where Natalie and I will be talking about some ideas for an upcoming trip. She has never solo traveled before and wanted some info for how to get started.

Podcast: Travelgypsea › Embed Code — Podbean

travelgypsea.wordpress.com

https://izi.travel/en/app

http://www.myisic.com

https://www.gapyear.com

12 hour itineraries, Adventures of a 'Gypsea', Gap Year Ideas

12 hour Tokyo

March 1, 2015 TravelGypSea Leave a comment

Tokyo, where the future comes from. If it is cartoonish or technological, obscure modern fashion or traditional culture, you can find it in Tokyo. But what if your time to explore Tokyo is limited? what can you see/do that will result in the full Tokyo experience?

1. Tokyo tower

The red Eiffel-tower-looking structure in the heart of the city is a must, day or night. During the daylight hours you can take an elevator to the primary viewing platform which can see out over all of Tokyo (and on a good day, see Mt. Fuji). for an extra 700 yen (adult price) you can go up to the highest viewing platform.

Im not sure if you can take the elevator down, (im sure you can if you have a disability,) but I decided to put my young legs to work. Did you know that there are 600 stairs to come down from the main viewing platform. You need to go through the two layers of the 3 story platform, which house cafes and souvenir shops, and down a zigzagging red tunnel of stairs.

In the daytime, the tower is noticed soaring 333 meters (1,092 ft) above the surrounding buildings, and when coming from the JR train station or Dimon subway station, it can be seen accenting an old temple and gate that welcome you to the tower park area. At night, the tower is lit up like a constant firework, seen throughout most of the city.

2. The Hie Shrine

This underrated shrine doesn’t make it to a lot of guide books, and even many of my Japanese teachers hadn’t heard of it. about a thirty minute walk from Tokyo tower, the Hie shrine sits atop a hill in the middle of the city. The main gate and temple, which are ornately decorated and worth a visit themselves, block from view a photographers dream. The shrine, which cosists of many consecutive shrines that turn a stairway into a tunnel, was surprisingly not crowded. It is hard to that that “perfect picture” though, as many people do stick their head in on the opposite side of the tunnel to get a photo themselves. communication here is pretty universal, with waving to the other person then stepping out of the line of sight, and taking turns.

3. Tokyo Sky Tree

So you were impressed with Tokyo tower, but feel that you werent high enough? well then, there is the Tokyo Sky tree, which is 634 meters (2080 ft) tall and towers over even the tallest office buildings in Tokyo. To go to the viewing platform is 2,000 yen (~20 usd).

4 . Asakusa Temple/Senso-ji

Fairly close to the sky tree is the Asakusa temple, or Senso-ji, which is the temple for the Buddhist goddess of mercy.

5. Capsule Hotel

You’re in Tokyo for 12 hours. Maybe you are spending the night, maybe you want some place to crash between flights. Try out the futuristic Capsule hotels. Sorry ladies, there are very few that cater to women, since the idea started as a cheap accommodation for businessmen traveling into Tokyo. With it being the 21st centery and all, but the number that have sections for women are growing.

6. The owl restaurant

This I haven’t been to personally, but was made aware of by a friend who had traveled in to Tokyo for a weekend of fun and exploration. The owl restaurant requires that you sign up ahead of time for a one hour time ut where you get to hang out with an owl. It opens at 10 and spots fill up fast.

Adventures of a 'Gypsea', Gap Year Ideas, Videos

Episode MMXV: Return of the Gypsy

January 25, 2015 TravelGypSea Leave a comment

With a month left before I journey back to the land down under, my busy schedule hasn’t allowed for much video editing. So here it is: TravelGypsea’s Japan, Episode 2. Im doing this one a bit different with an article to narrate, and instead of photos, a video to accompany.

At the end of last year my Japanese class that I have been taking arranged a small Christmas party and had a Christmas lunch of Mexican food for me on Christmas morning. At the Christmas party, many more students who attend the Thursday night class came. The girls from Singapore serenaded us with carols, and some of the ladies dawned their Hawaiian dresses for a hula which then taught to us. (Yes, I did ware a big poofy-skirt and lei. It was wonderful.)

About a week later, I had the opportunity to go to Nagano for a couple days to ski and see the snow monkeys. (I wrote a previous blog on the adventure.)

Last week my Japanese sensei’s surprised me again with arranging for a tea ceremony master/teacher to come in and perform a tea ceremony for us. Not only did I learn how the ceremony is conducted, but she taught me how to do it!

My adventures have continued with a wonderful photographic tour with a good friend and her little brother who both speak English. We went to two temples around the Takasaki area, and a wonderful lake. The recent snow that had detoured people from the outdoor sights created some breathtaking views and a magical photographers playground.

Like my facebook page for more photos and updates! http://www.facebook.com/kikilathropphotography

Adventures of a 'Gypsea'

Tomioka Silk Mill; The UNESCO world heritage site

August 27, 2014 TravelGypSea Leave a comment

(Written for The Heritage Travels)

Tomioka Silk Mill, the latest UNESCO world heritage site in Japan, sits along the river in the south of Tomioka. When I sit at my desk, I can see the tall chimney from my window and with summer break, why not? It was only a few blocks away.

I loaded up my bike basket with my camera and a bottle of water, and rode in the direction of the mill. I could tell when I reached it, since the crowds became impassable. On my first pass the line to get in was building, and for lack of bike parking, I rushed to store the bike nearby and join the cue. The small admission fee (500 Yen for adults, 250 Yen for university and high school students, 100 yen elementary and junior high students, and 1 child/disability with 1 accompanying free,) goes to the preservation and restoration of the buildings.

Constructed in 1871, the long buildings still house some of the equipment, and displays some of the machinery that was lesser used. While free Japanese tours are offered hourly, a self guided audio tour in English can be accessed via smart phone, using the QR code provided at the entrance. (Other languages offered include; Japanese, Italian, Chinese and Korean.) They also provide English maps upon entry, with the quarky historical facts such as the delayed employment to initially run the mill because there were French workers and their red wine was mistaken for blood. (I wouldn’t want to work with people who drink blood either.)

The mill had shut down in 1987 after being in Operation for 115 years. With the loss of work in the area, Tomioka went from a factory town, to a sleepy mountain town until 2005, when the buildings were designated as a National Historic site, which increased the tourism in the area, giving the town new life. Two years later in 2007 the site was picked up by UNESCO as a world heritage site.

Written by Kiki Lathrop

Kiki is a writer, photographer and archaeologist from Colorado. Growing up on a sailboat in the Caribbean, she was introduced to different cultures early, and it fueled her passion to experience the world first hand. Over a year has passed since she set out a solo female traveler, only to discover that we in the travel community are never alone. You can read up on her stories and adventures at her website.

Please check out Kiki’s website, travelgypsea.wordpress.com, for more inspirational and educational posts!

Adventures of a 'Gypsea', Gap Year Ideas

Rapunzel has nothing on me; Mission to see the floating lanterns

July 13, 2014 TravelGypSea Leave a comment

I had been searching through Pintrest when I saw the picture of dozens of water-bound floating lanterns set adrift by people in rowboats during one of Japans floating lantern festivals. Naturally my curiosity took hold and I set out into the depths of the internet to find where these types of festivals are normally held. As the fates had aligned, there was a festival being held the night before I was to start training in Tokyo. It was their annual festival, and my travel karma came through, landing me in the same city, at the same time, as this festival.

The work accommodation that I had moved into had me housing with 5 men from various parts of America and UK, whom I presented the idea of going to see the lanterns to. As we all seem to be adventurers in our own right, we set off into the heart of Tokyo in search of the floating lanterns.

One long train ride later, we arrive at central station at Tokyos’ busiest time day. We made it to the palace just around sunset, arriving to the ceremony just after it started. Then dozens of rectangular lanterns were adrift down the palace moat, accompanied by what can only be described as color-changing orbs about the size of a beach ball. The participants and spectators ranged from fellow tourists to women and men in Kimonos and enjoying the cool summer night air.

After taking our share of photos, we ventured across the street, and shuffled our way through the hoards of people to indulge in the festivals food and drink.