International Pen Friends
Becoming friends with international pen friends is a great way to expand one's cultural horizons and to meet new people. Modern technology has created numerous opportunities for individuals from different parts of the world to communicate with one another via internet networks and email. Signing up with such a site is relatively simple. The hardest part may be deciding which of the many sites to choose. Perhaps the best thing to do is to take the time to visit and browse several sites. Once a choice is made, the visitor signs up for the service by creating a user name, password, and profile. The profile may request such information as the person's gender, age, occupation, and hobbies. This information is used by other members to find people with similar interests or of a specific age range. Similarly, the new member can find potential international pen friends by conducting searches using these same criteria. Additionally, the member can often search by language, country, and sometimes even by city.
In choosing a pen pal service, individuals should be sure that certain security measures are in place. The service may give members a dedicated email address so that their individual email addresses aren't made public. Chat rooms, message boards, and forums may be part of the service and these can be excellent opportunities for making new friends and learning more about other languages and cultures. Some services may have applications that help members communicate with international pen friends. For example, the site may have features that assist with translating. Several languages use alphabetical characters with accents or other diacritical marks. A site may have features that will insert these characters for users who do not have keyboards with these types of keys. Using the correct alphabetical characters will help members learn the correct spelling and punctuation for foreign words and phrases.
Teachers can find international pen friends for their students as a fun way to learn about different countries and their cultures and customs. Some sites cater to educators by offering special programs for classrooms. For example, a fifth-grade class in the United States may begin exchanging emails with kids of the same age in a class in Italy or the Philippines. The students can share information about their schools, sports, favorite foods, and how different holidays are celebrated. This kind of cultural exchange is much more fun than reading a textbook and certainly will enhance the students' interest and learning. The teachers of the classrooms may even send packages to one another with small gifts for the students that represent the different countries. This is also an opportunity for the class to learn common words and phrases in the native language of the students' international pen friends. Some sites may have suggested games and activities that the teachers can use to help the students get acquainted with their new faraway buddies. The benefits of this type of learning experience go far beyond the fifth-grade classroom.
Scripture tells us that languages came from God. Long ago, "the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech" and the people of that time decided to "build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Displeased with their hubris, "the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 11:1, 4, 8-9a). Over the millennia since then, languages continue to evolve, grow, and even fade away. Establishing friendships with international pen friends can help individuals see the similarities and differences that English has with other languages. Often, learning another language can even increase one's understanding of English grammar.
The better pen pal community sites will provide tips for communicating with new friends from other countries. For example, it's suggested that international pen friends write to each other in a combination of both the native language and the other person's language. This way, the friends aren't limited to the vocabulary they may already have learned in the other language. More interesting letters or emails can be exchanged. Additionally, the friends can translate for each other. For example, one friend can send a message in the non-native language and ask the other person to translate it into English and send it back. The first person can see how closely his intended message matches the English translation. The friends can provide feedback for each other this way which will help them both improve vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The email exchanges are also a great way to learn about another culture's idioms and slang. Even people who aren't interested in becoming fluent in a foreign language can benefit from joining an international pen friends community. Anyone who is planning a trip to another country might want to search for a pen pal from the area that he or she will be visiting. This is a fun way to get firsthand and up-to-date information about the weather, special events, must-see attractions, the food, and the culture. Whatever one's reasons for seeking friends from faraway places, a great place to begin are the websites the provide these connections.
In choosing a pen pal service, individuals should be sure that certain security measures are in place. The service may give members a dedicated email address so that their individual email addresses aren't made public. Chat rooms, message boards, and forums may be part of the service and these can be excellent opportunities for making new friends and learning more about other languages and cultures. Some services may have applications that help members communicate with international pen friends. For example, the site may have features that assist with translating. Several languages use alphabetical characters with accents or other diacritical marks. A site may have features that will insert these characters for users who do not have keyboards with these types of keys. Using the correct alphabetical characters will help members learn the correct spelling and punctuation for foreign words and phrases.
Teachers can find international pen friends for their students as a fun way to learn about different countries and their cultures and customs. Some sites cater to educators by offering special programs for classrooms. For example, a fifth-grade class in the United States may begin exchanging emails with kids of the same age in a class in Italy or the Philippines. The students can share information about their schools, sports, favorite foods, and how different holidays are celebrated. This kind of cultural exchange is much more fun than reading a textbook and certainly will enhance the students' interest and learning. The teachers of the classrooms may even send packages to one another with small gifts for the students that represent the different countries. This is also an opportunity for the class to learn common words and phrases in the native language of the students' international pen friends. Some sites may have suggested games and activities that the teachers can use to help the students get acquainted with their new faraway buddies. The benefits of this type of learning experience go far beyond the fifth-grade classroom.
Scripture tells us that languages came from God. Long ago, "the whole earth was of one language, and of one speech" and the people of that time decided to "build us a city and a tower, whose top may reach unto heaven; and let us make us a name, lest we be scattered abroad upon the face of the whole earth." Displeased with their hubris, "the Lord scattered them abroad from thence upon the face of all the earth: and they left off to build the city. Therefore is the name of it called Babel; because the Lord did there confound the language of all the earth: and from thence did the Lord scatter them abroad upon the face of all the earth" (Genesis 11:1, 4, 8-9a). Over the millennia since then, languages continue to evolve, grow, and even fade away. Establishing friendships with international pen friends can help individuals see the similarities and differences that English has with other languages. Often, learning another language can even increase one's understanding of English grammar.
The better pen pal community sites will provide tips for communicating with new friends from other countries. For example, it's suggested that international pen friends write to each other in a combination of both the native language and the other person's language. This way, the friends aren't limited to the vocabulary they may already have learned in the other language. More interesting letters or emails can be exchanged. Additionally, the friends can translate for each other. For example, one friend can send a message in the non-native language and ask the other person to translate it into English and send it back. The first person can see how closely his intended message matches the English translation. The friends can provide feedback for each other this way which will help them both improve vocabulary, spelling, punctuation, and grammar. The email exchanges are also a great way to learn about another culture's idioms and slang. Even people who aren't interested in becoming fluent in a foreign language can benefit from joining an international pen friends community. Anyone who is planning a trip to another country might want to search for a pen pal from the area that he or she will be visiting. This is a fun way to get firsthand and up-to-date information about the weather, special events, must-see attractions, the food, and the culture. Whatever one's reasons for seeking friends from faraway places, a great place to begin are the websites the provide these connections.
International Pen Friends
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