Kelsey Lechner

Did you know that Japan has been a multi-ethnic country since its inception? If your response is “no,” you’re not alone. Apart from the Yamato (the dominant ethnic group in Japan, often just known as “the Japanese”), there are three other indigenous ethnic groups in Japan: the Ainu, the Bonin (also known as the Obeikei), and the Ryukyu (also known as the Okinawans). In this article, I’d like to share with you more about the Ainu people, whom I have had a deep interest in since my university d...

The Swahili language is in the Bantu language family, spoken in central and southern Africa, and it is also heavily influenced by Arabic.
For this reason, there are many aspects that are often challenging for speakers of other languages to learn.
However, Swahili isn’t as difficult as you may think! Here are some of the most common challenges beginners face and how to overcome them.
A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at l...

It’s a simple, albeit controversial, concept: Irreversibly rocky marriages may end in divorce, and nowadays, more than ever before. However, in Japan, there is a growing trend of even happy couples ending their relationships–but only after one of them dies. What is this phenomenon of divorce after death, and what has caused its surge in popularity?
First, let me explain what I mean by “divorce after death,” called 死後離婚 (shigo rikon) in Japanese. This may go by other terms, such as “posthumous...

Are you interested in getting a job or an internship at a Japanese NGO? While there are a lot of similarities with NGO work in other countries, there are also aspects that are very Japanese. I worked for one year at a human rights NGO in Tokyo and am here to share my experience with you, from how I got the job to what it was like working there.

First things first: To sound fluent in Japanese, you’ll need to master Japanese sentence structure. Now, a language like Japanese might seem really difficult at first (especially to English speakers!), but don’t worry – it’s a very logical language!
And I should know – I’ve been learning Japanese since I was an early teenager, lived in Japan for several years for study and work, and have passed N1 Japanese. I remember what it was like to start studying the language, and also tutor beginners r...

The inverted Spanish question mark (¿) is undoubtedly one of the most unique aspects of the Spanish language. In fact, Spanish is the only major language that uses the upside-down question mark!
So why is it used? I wondered just this when I began learning Spanish, but now I have grown to love it! Let me tell you why.
Here’s me in Spain, ready to ask questions!
Expand your horizons and learn a new language with our 90-Day Personalized Language Course. Backed by research, our coaching will get...

You may have heard of Japan’s so-called “penis” festivals (yes, plural) – the most famous being the Kanamara Matsuri, visitable easily from Tokyo. But what are these actually about?
Attending festivals (祭り, matsuri) is a great way to use your Japanese language skills and participate in the culture. I visited two during my years living in Japan: the Kanamara Matsuri in Greater Tokyo and Honen Matsuri in Greater Nagoya. In this article, I’m going to tell you all about these two festivals, what ...

If you are interested in learning Bengali, then you’ll certainly want to learn the alphabet.
It might seem difficult at first, but don’t worry!
Bengali is a phonetic alphabet and maybe easier than you think. The best part? If you can read Bengali letters, you can read almost anything.
A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find...

The US Supreme Court’s overturning of Roe v. Wade in June has turned the spotlight on reproductive and women’s rights worldwide. Under Roe v. Wade, access to abortion was a constitutional right in the US, even if only in theory. Since the draft of the decision was leaked in May, protests across the US erupted around women’s autonomy over their own bodies. The majority of Americans support at least some access to abortion. However, now with Roe v. Wade overturned, women in large swaths of the ...

Nothing will make you sound more like a Brit than using British slang or British accent words!
As an American living in London, I’ve come across a lot of British slang words. Some British slang I knew growing up (thanks, Harry Potter), but I was surprised about how much I had to learn since I’ve been here.
Just like British dialects of the English language, British slang can vary region by region and even by subgroup, such as class. Of course, I can’t cover everything, and some of these phras...

The Bengalis are one of the largest ethnic groups in South Asia and also in the world. So who are the Bengali people and where are they from? Let me walk you through a little bit about this fascinating group of people and their cultures.
A note from the Fluent in 3 Months team before we get started: You can chat away with a native speaker for at least 15 minutes with the "Fluent in 3 Months" method. All it takes is 90 days. Tap this link to find out more.
Table of contents
What Do Bengalis Sp...

Ever wonder how to tell the time in Spanish? This is super important because Spanish-speaking cultures often operate on very different schedules than the rest of the world – think taking a long siesta over lunch break and dinner starting at 9 or 10 pm!
So make no assumptions about time in Spanish-speaking countries. Before you do anything, make sure you clearly understand what time things happent. Luckily, I’m here to help you as both your language and cultural guide.
In this article, I’ll te...

I’ve always felt like saying “beautiful” in another language expresses the feeling even better.
A lot of words in English mean “beautiful”. You can tell someone they’re cute, pretty, elegant, handsome… So many synonyms for the same word, and new ones popping up and fading out all the time (like “looking fly” or “on fleek” as examples).
Yet, I don’t know about you, but I get a bit bored using the same words all the time. That’s part of the appeal of learning so many languages. You can learn ho...

Are you interested in volunteering for animals in Japan? Volunteering at animal shelters is one of the most heartbreaking yet rewarding activities I have taken part in. I am a massive dog lover, and I first volunteered at an animal shelter when I was about 10 years old. During my last year in college, I walked dogs at the local animal shelter every week and helped at a grassroots shelter in Japan. When I lived in rural Tanzania for a year, I quickly became friends with two stray dogs near whe...

If you want to spice up your Korean, learning some Korean proverbs will do the trick!
In every culture, proverbs play a significant role in conveying age-old wisdom, encapsulating life lessons, and reflecting the collective experiences of the people. Korean proverbs, or 속담 (sokdam), are no exception; they offer us a window into Korean thought, ethics, and traditions.
Korean proverbs often reflect the communal values, resilience, respect towards elders and nature, and the philosophical outlook...