HILLS INDEPENDENT HILLS 130 April 2026 | Page 12

And now for a little me time

MONTHLY CHALLENGE

Learn another language by Lorna Gordon

Many people in our diverse communities speak more than one language, but if your one and only language is English, or you want to stretch your language capabilities, a great way to challenge yourself it to learn a new language.

Learning a new language is one of the most rewarding personal goals you can set. It’ s more than just memorising words and grammar rules, it’ s about opening a door to new cultures, perspectives, and ways of thinking. It can feel strange when you first try and pronounce new words and phrases, but when you start to grow in confidence, you can build these into communication skills in your chosen language. At the beginning there are unfamiliar sounds, tricky pronunciations, and sentence structures that don’ t always make sense. But that’ s exactly where the value of any challenge lies, pushing through those difficulties teaches patience and persistence.

One of the greatest benefits of learning a new language is the way it strengthens your brain. Studies have shown that language learning can improve memory, problem solving skills, and even multitasking abilities. It encourages you to think differently and builds new pathways in your brain.

Another important part of the challenge is stepping outside your comfort zone. Speaking in a new language can feel intimidating, especially at first. You might worry about having a bad accent, pronouncing words wrong or using the

PODCASTS

The Girl Next Door Podcast

by Lorna Gordon

With everything that’ s going on in the world at the moment, there is something comforting about sitting with your friends, having a cuppa and just chatting about the mundane things in your lives that seem to take up most of our days.

That’ s what The Girl Next Door Podcast is like. Hosts Kelsey and Erica used to live beside each other, which is where the name of the podcast comes from, and they bring you regular discussions about every day life that makes you feel like you are sitting with your best friends.

They will draw you in with their warm personalities and keep you listening with down to earth episodes that are very relatable. They have some topics that they come back to, like their regular wrong word entirely, but mistakes are an essential part of learning. Embracing this mindset helps build confidence not just in language learning, but in other areas of life as well.

In today’ s connected world, learning a new language is more accessible than ever. Apps, online courses, podcasts, and videos make it easy to practise daily, even with a busy schedule. The key is consistency. Spending just 10 to 15 minutes a day can make a significant difference over time. Setting small, achievable goals such as learning five new words a day or practising speaking once a week can help you stay on track and avoid burnout.

Challenging yourself to learn a new language is an investment in your personal growth. It requires dedication, but the rewards are far-reaching. Whether you dream of travelling, connecting with new people, or simply expanding your skills, learning a language is a challenge that can truly change the way you interact with the world.

Learning a new language can open up so many possibilities.

bookshelf episodes where they discuss what they are reading and also what their kids are enjoying reading too.

They discus school and parenting, cooking and meal planning, organising, money management and some fun things like their Annual Airing of Grievances or their Fall extravaganza. They manage to make every day things interesting and you’ ll be surprised at how much you relate to them.

It’ s the perfect podcast to enjoy when you get a magic half an hour to yourself so grab a drink and a snack, get comfortable and be ready to listen to your new comfort podcast.

GIVEAWAY

MONSTROUS THEATRE, NEIL GOODING PRODUCTIONS AND SHALOM COLLECTIVE PRESENT THE AUSTRALIAN PREMIERE of

THE HAPPIEST MAN ON EARTH

A NEW PLAY BY MARK ST. GERMAIN

ADAPTED FROM THE MEMOIR OF THE SAME NAME BY EDDIE JAKU

Written by Mark St. Germain- Starring Anton Berezin Directed by Therèsa Borg

SYDNEY OPERA HOUSE | 12 – 17 MAY 2026

Following acclaimed seasons and rave reviews across North American and the UK, Mark St Germain’ s theatrical adaptation of The Happiest Man on Earth will have its Australian premiere at the Sydney Opera House playing from 11 to 17 May 2026. This deeply moving production brings Anton Berezin to the stage to tell the extraordinary true story of Holocaust survivor Eddie Jaku OAM, as adapted from his international bestselling memoir of the same name.

Eddie’ s remarkable story now returns home to Sydney- the city where he found refuge, rebuilt his life, and made the remarkable choice to embrace happiness after unimaginable trauma and loss.

Born Abraham Jakubowicz in Germany in 1920, Eddie Jaku’ s life was irrevocably altered on 9 November 1938, Kristallnacht, when he was brutally beaten, arrested, and imprisoned for being Jewish. During World War II, he survived imprisonment in Buchenwald and Auschwitz,

endured a death march, escaped, and was eventually rescued by Allied soldiers in 1945.

The Nazis took everything from Eddie- his family, his friends, and his country- but they did not take his spirit. Eddie went on to dedicate his life to sharing his story, educating future generations, and championing kindness, tolerance, and compassion.“ Happiness … is a choice.”- Eddie Jaku

The Playhouse, Sydney Opera House Season: Tuesday 12 to Sunday 17 May Performances: Tues 12.30pm & 6.30pm; Wed 12.30pm & 7pm; Thu 7pm Fri 6pm & 8.30pm; Sat & Sun 2pm, 5.30pm & 8pm Prices: $ 42.90- $ 119.90 Bookings: sydneyoperahouse. com

We are giving away 9 double passes to see The Happiest Man on Earth. To enter send an email to info @ hdinews. com. au telling us why you would like to see the show.

Put Happiest Man on Earth in the subject line and leave your name, address and phone number.

All winners will be notified via email or phone.

12 ISSUE 130 // APRIL 2026 theindependentmagazine. com. au THE HILLS INDEPENDENT