Celebrate Languages
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| STUDYING A LANGUAGE, OR PLANNING TO DO SO SOON? |
| You have come to the sober realization that... |
| ...we are indeed living in the 21st century, and that... |
| . .."globalization" is a reality that impacts our lives and living (in noticeable & unnoticeable ways), and that... |
| ...our successes will depend more and more on our ability to collaborate and communicate within and across diverse cultures, and in more than just your and my language. |
| So, how should one learn a new language most efficiently and successfully? |
| KEYS TO your SUCCESS |
1. BELIEVE that you too can learn any
new language! It's about EFFORT!!!
new language! It's about EFFORT!!!
2. BELIEVE in the immense power of
your brain & your will to succeed!
your brain & your will to succeed!
3. BELIEVE that the human brain (& thus yours too)
is naturally set up for multiple languages! FACT!!!
is naturally set up for multiple languages! FACT!!!
Historically, most of humanity has had the natural ability to
communicate in more than just one language, to suitably meet
the need to communicate, collaborate with, learn from, bargain
and trade with neighbors, much like we modern humans still
do today with our neighbors.
communicate in more than just one language, to suitably meet
the need to communicate, collaborate with, learn from, bargain
and trade with neighbors, much like we modern humans still
do today with our neighbors.
Consider: in Biblical times, it was a given that people speak
multiple languages. As all people in His day, Jesus too spoke
at least THREE languages (Aramaic, Hebrew & Greek).
multiple languages. As all people in His day, Jesus too spoke
at least THREE languages (Aramaic, Hebrew & Greek).
Consider: in AFRICA, all Africans (regardless of their
socio-economic or political circumstances) still speak
MULTIPLE languages, as they have always done throughout
their history.
socio-economic or political circumstances) still speak
MULTIPLE languages, as they have always done throughout
their history.
4. COMMIT your EFFORTS and time to doing all that
which is necessary to practice and acquire the
new language!
which is necessary to practice and acquire the
new language!
5. BE resourceful, creative and adventureous in
your study & practice of the new language. Lower
your inhibitions and take necessary risks in the
new language. Remember: nothing ventured is
nothing gained!
your study & practice of the new language. Lower
your inhibitions and take necessary risks in the
new language. Remember: nothing ventured is
nothing gained!
| USE ALL resources |
In today's world, the resources available to learn any
language are as DIVERSE, DYNAMIC, INNOVATIVE
and INTERACTIVE as they are PLENTIFUL! Take
advantage of ...
THE BEST WAY OF LEARNING A LANGUAGE,
however, is to spend some time living or working in
the country where the language is spoken. Total
immersion is still the most efficient, effective and
sure way in which to learn the culture and language
you someday wish to speak fluently.
language are as DIVERSE, DYNAMIC, INNOVATIVE
and INTERACTIVE as they are PLENTIFUL! Take
advantage of ...
- friendships with Native Speakers
- printed materials: books, magazines, comics
- audio/visual and video tools
- TV broadcast / movies / DVDs
- radio: music, songs, CDs
- online: applications, tutorials, tv, music, etc.
- electronic devices, gadgets & games
- language forums, groups, clubs and parties
THE BEST WAY OF LEARNING A LANGUAGE,
however, is to spend some time living or working in
the country where the language is spoken. Total
immersion is still the most efficient, effective and
sure way in which to learn the culture and language
you someday wish to speak fluently.
If you are taking a class or a course... 1. HAVE A DREAM, realize its power, and MAKE THIS DREAM COME TRUE for you! 2. DEVELOP A GOOD ATTITUDE and MAINTAIN AN OPEN-MIND! Have a clear personal reason for learning the language. Set personal goals for what you want to learn. Leave perfectionism at the door; give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them. Take risks! 3. STUDY EVERYDAY! A foreign language course is different from any other course you take. Language learning is cumulative: that means, you cannot put it off until the weekend. Study approximately 40 min. to one hour daily if you REALLY want to succeed in learning the language. 4. BE VERY ORGANIZED, RESOURCEFUL, CREATIVE and … TAKE RISKS!! 5. MAKE TIME! If you think you “can’t” find time, then, MAKE TIME. Watch LESS TV! Research has shown: those students who are more likely to succeed, watch less TV during the week! 6. DISTRIBUTE YOUR STUDY TIME in 15- to 20-minute periods throughout the day. Focus on a different task each time: vocabulary now, grammar next, etc. Get an overview during the first 15 minutes: spend 10 minutes reviewing dialogs, 10 minutes learning new vocabulary, 10 minutes learning new grammar...so you'll at least have looked at it all. Approximately 80% of your study time should be spent in recitation or practicing OUT LOUD, not silently! 7. GET COMFORTABLE AND PARTICIPATE IN CLASS -- even if you are not well prepared. Class time is your primary opportunity for practice. Memorize, practice and learn the grammar and vocabulary outside of class in order to make the most of class time. Spend a few minutes "warming up" before each class by speaking or reading the language OUT LOUD! 8. LEARN AND KNOW ENGLISH GRAMMAR. Grammar is the skeleton of a language, its basic structure: you MUST learn it. Review a simplified English grammar text. Compare new grammatical structures in your foreign language to their English equivalents. 9. PRACTICE FOR TESTS. If the test will require you to write, then study by writing--including spelling and accents. If you will be asked to listen, then practice listening. Ask for practice questions; make up your own test questions. Over-learn: study beyond the point of recognition to mastery. 10. GET HELP IF / WHEN YOU NEED IT. Talk to your teacher. Form study groups with other students. Use tutoring services, in person, or online. Do not wait until it is too late! Act immediately! READING and WRITING a foreign language are analytical skills. You may be good at these if you are a logical person who attends to detail. Train yourself through practice to notice and remember details such as accents and gender agreement. LISTENING and SPEAKING are performance skills. You may do well at these if you are naturally gregarious. Language students often have difficulty hearing and speaking because they are anxious about making mistakes. Give yourself permission to be spontaneous and to take risks. ...and finally, have tons of fun! |
| Success is up to you! It's not "Rocket Science." You can indeed learn new languages! Millions have, and so can you! Go for it, and succeed! |
| As a trained linguist, language educator, career language learner and a fluent speaker of multiple languages, please allow me to share with you a few tried and true methods, techniques, approaches, practices and tips, used by successful language learners, and that will lead you to language learning success. |
| use resources found here on this website. |
| and/or |