When we daydream about travel, the first things we often visualize are icons of architecture that are inextricably linked to our sense of place. Cities are immediately connected to images—take the Eiffel Tower in Paris, Seattle’s Space Needle, and the Duomo in Florence for example. Entire countries are represented similarly: There are the windmills of Holland and the Great Pyramids of Egypt. Japan is often symbolized by an elegant, bright red gate known as the torii gate.  Before you step through these iconic gates on your next trip to Japan, learn the language to better understand ..read more

Somehow the fact that mothers either carried us in their wombs or cared for us as if they did makes just about everyone feel a loving sense of gratitude. It’s such a special bond for so many that there’s a holiday commemorating and celebrating moms in many countries.  Of course, Mother’s Day doesn’t just celebrate biological mothers: It also celebrates whoever acted as a mother figure in your life. No matter how your mom became your mother, you appreciate her dedication and want to show that on Mother’s Day and beyond. Unique and thoughtful gifts reign supreme on this annual holiday. Perh ..read more

To start any conversation on the right foot, you need the right greeting for the situation. Saying “Hey! What’s up?” to friends and family is normal, but maybe less than ideal for your boss. Likewise, a formal handshake with your mother may not be the most natural gesture. When speaking Japanese, having an understanding of etiquette and appropriate Japanese greetings is essential.  Looking to go beyond greetings? You don’t have to learn Japanese alone. From the very first bite-sized lesson, Rosetta Stone sets up an immersive environment for you to develop long-lasting language comprehensi ..read more

One of the most useful verb tenses in French is the imperfect or imparfait. It is a common verb tense used for the continuous and general past. The imperfect tense is a great tense to master to improve your conversational French. L’imparfait can be especially useful when exchanging stories with your French-speaking friends! There is no perfect translation in English, but there are a few ways we use the imperfect tense in English: I used to play soccer. I was feeling sad. It was raining all day yesterday. I was going to the store when I saw a dog. We’ll explore how to conjugate and when to us ..read more

The Japanese language is known for the complexity of its writing system. There are 46 letters in the alphabet, two ways to write the alphabet, and variations on those letters that have different pronunciations. And that’s all before you get to the thousands of kanji (漢字) adopted from the Chinese writing system! Fortunately, despite the size of the writing system, Japanese pronunciation is incredibly straightforward and consistent. This article is designed to help you understand the basics of this beautifully complex language and inspire you to take the next step on your Japanese language learn ..read more

Rome is so infamous, that for most travelers, it comes with a mental list of attractions to check off: the Colosseum, Spanish Steps, and Trevi Fountain are often the reason why people choose to travel to Rome in the first place!  When it comes to Rome’s museums though, deciding which ones will make your itinerary is much more difficult. There are over 100 museums in Rome, and each one has something truly unique to offer!  To help you whittle down the list, we’ve put together 13 options to choose from! Wander the well-trodden halls of the Vatican Museums, or try something more off-the ..read more

Rome has something for everyone, even for the kiddos that can’t quite comprehend how ancient the Colosseum is. While some aspects of the city might be difficult (Rome is not stroller friendly), there are plenty of kid-friendly locales that parents can enjoy too! Rome’s greatest hits, from ruins to city parks, are accommodating for little ones, and there’s no need to miss out on the full Rome experience. Plus, Rome is basically one big museum, so there’s plenty for kids to explore!  With so many things to do in Rome with kids, adults at the helm better can navigate a trip better by learnin ..read more

What made you decide to take the first step toward learning French? Perhaps you met someone who only speaks French, you chose a language to round out your academic schedule, or you binge-watched a show that inspired you. If you were to tell this story, you’d need to use the past tense, since it’s already happened. Consider all of the past-tense moments in the following examples:  Last summer, my friend recommended a novel set in Québec. That afternoon, I went to the local bookshop.   I spontaneously purchased a train ticket to Québec City.  I enrolled in a French class and ..read more

Learning another language is like constructing a strong and beautiful structure. Imagine developing a replica of a famous landmark with the popular interlocking bricks that everyone loves to step on. You could have an entire tub of bricks, but without the detailed instructions, your creation may be more “creative” than the sophisticated replica it was intended to be. If the bricks are the vocabulary words in this analogy, French verb tenses and grammar are the instructions.   Knowing French verb conjugation can unlock many forms of communication, but not every tense is meant for conv ..read more

Whether it’s for your morning coffee from your favorite barista or a selfless act from a loved one that you’ll never be able to repay, saying “thank you” can pack a lot of care and consideration behind two little words. Thanking someone in their native language is an act of appreciation that won’t go unnoticed. Whether you say it to a restaurant server on an international vacation, a friend or family member from another country, or anyone in between, we’ll help you learn how to say “thank you” in 25 different languages.  What do these 25 languages have in common? Rosetta Stone’s lessons c ..read more