October 25, 2009
Still struggling with your language learning? If you’ve patiently worked through the lessons and exercises in your language acquisition software, filling your brain with more things may not be what you need to do.
Take a short break out of your room and immerse yourself around capable speakers of the language. While a real-world setting is ideal, watching a foreign movie might also do. Don’t just sit idly through it, though, and watch the language performance.
Observe the mouth movements of native speakers. How do they enunciate words? Forget about how you sound for the meantime, repeating sentences and phrases using the same mouth movements instead. For many people, the intonation and rhythm could follow from this alone.
Slow down your speech. Trying to speak too fast is the bane of many language learners. Heck, it’s the problem of the majority of people who are uncomfortable conversing in a vernacular. As a quick solution, try slowing down your speech, especially when you’re interacting with those native to the tongue. You might get majority of things wrong, but slowing down lets your listener process your words in their entirety.
Feel it. When you speak in English, you tend to feel what you’re saying. That’s because your words are more than just grunts strung together – they mean something. Do the same with your target language and you just might turn up better results.
October 24, 2009
If you’ve seen some of the early language learning materials, from books to software, you’ll usually notice something very telling – they were based on traditional studies, like secondary school Math and Science. Problem is, language learning is usually very different from conventional classroom subjects, making it a largely ineffective way of acquiring a vernacular.
Acquisition Versus Learning
Truth is, picking up a language is very different from learning other things. If you hang out with native French speakers for an extended period, you are very likely to imbibe some elements of the language almost by default. You can hang out with Mathematicians all day, on the other hand, yet pick up very little from their mastery of numbers.
Language is acquired, wherein conventional “school skills” like Math and Science are learned. As such, the best way to teach them are not necessarily the same (and, in fact, are likely very different).
Grading And Prerequisities
Traditional subjects are huge on prerequisites. You can’t study integrals until you get Algebra 101 out of the way. Language learning isn’t something that “flows” in such a tight sequence. Sure, it might be helpful to learn some things before others. Yet, you can skip entire concepts and still do fine.
It’s also incredibly difficult to put a score on language learning. The traditional way of measuring progress – such as counting errors – cannot be applied in the same strict manner. In fact, the more errors students commit as a result of experimenting with language constructs is usually a sign of progress, rather than failure.
October 23, 2009
There are plenty of opportunities to study languages online. Some of them are paid, though many are free. If you want, in fact, you can drown in the amount of information available. So why we do we even bother to encourage people to use an offline language learning software?
Because dedicated desktop-based tools, in our experience, simply work better.
Language-learning blogs. Blogs geared towards language learners are usually meant to be used as an additional resource, rather than a primary way to get information. If you are already attending classes or studying with a product, the unstructured, quick-and-dirty approach of blogs could prove helpful as an extra source of specific details. Don’t count on using them to learn from scratch, though.
Social sites. Language learning sites based on social media is an interesting concept. While I reserve my doubts about its effectiveness (it’s still new), the idea is novel. Basically, you learn by “socializing” with others, such as engaging in group exercises that you can do over the web. Personally, I’d rather go with the tried and true route of software-based instruction, though. Situations like this with too much input usually ends up destroying the pot (not to mention, seeing a lot of spam).
Sites with dedicated lessons. Some sites are filled with actual language lessons, similar to what you may find in books and software. While they may foster similar quality as some offline products (especially if they were based upon it), we still recommend going desktop-based for one reason: you’re not tied to the web for your lessons. In the case of a language software, all you need is a PC to get started. With online sources, too many things can hinder your learning, including internet problems, problems with the site and other similar occurrences.
October 22, 2009
When it comes to picking a language software, finding the best isn’t all that easy. For the most part, the most qualified ones will depend largely on your situation.
First, a few things to avoid. Don’t be swayed by pretty packaging. How good a box looks has nothing to do with how helpful the contents are. Also, keep away from online-based tools – there are enough good client-based language software available. What’s going to happen to your learning schedule if your connection suddenly goes out for a couple of days?
What do you plan to use the language for?
That’s the first question you need to ask. Do you need it for business correspondences? Try to find a software that’s geared towards professional use in industry. Do you want to develop general facility in speaking and understanding the language? Look for a software that mimics immersion, rather than one that’s based on more traditional lessons. Need to pass a grammar test? Avoid fancy software and go for more conventional ones based on traditional learning methods.
How much are you willing to invest?
Good software, like most everything else, will cost you. Not to worry, though. Most language learning titles are priced affordably, especially when compared to investing in a private lesson. There are free options as well, if you’re less inclined to paying for materials. If you’re serious about learning, however, don’t hesitate to spend the necessary amount.
October 21, 2009
When you’re communicating for business purposes, being a professional isn’t optional. That holds true whether you’re interacting with English-speaking colleagues or with those whose English proficiency are at a less than optimal level.
Of course, projecting an air of professionalism is not as easy when you’re conversing in a foreign tongue. Regardless, you should do everything within your power to bring a professional tone to your interactions. For instance, you can:
- Learn the basics of professional business communication in the language. Many foreign language software specifically target business communicators. You may not be able to completely grasp the nuances of a vernacular, especially one that’s industry-specific, but knowing how to show tact and respect can go a long way.
- If you hold correspondences in written form, such as email, have someone knowledgeable proofread it. Use a language checking software, if necessary.
- Know the local customs. Do they expect calls to be returned promptly? Is it acceptable to put it off for a day? Get acquainted with how they conduct business and arrange to be able to fulfill those expectations.
When you communicate in a professional manner, it fosters an image that reflects both on you and your organization. That’s true whether that picture paints you in a good or bad light.
October 20, 2009
According to one independent study, 55 hours of work with a language learning software creates results that is equivalent to one semester of dedicated language studies. It means that one hour a day of studying right from the comfort of your home successfully mimics an entire four to five months work in a classroom.
How can language software accomplish this? Most language tools have benefited from years upon years of development and refinement. Since the medium is a tightly-controlled, measurable system, it’s actually an easier facility to improve than classroom lessons, which bring inaccurate human factors into the picture.
Some of the best software-based language titles use systems that can mimic immersion, making the learning feel almost as natural as picking up your native tongue. Dispensing of in-depth grammar and translation issues, they approach the process the same way you would back when your brain was imbibing its first taste of English. Some classes may claim to be able to do the same, but none of them actually fosters the proven track record that the best language learning software can boast of.
Of course, this form of learning does have its detractors. Trust me, though, when I say that there’s probably no more cost-effective system out there than a good language software. Unlike books, videos and tapes, it’s interactive, getting you involved as part of the system. Added to the fact that it’s infinitely more convenient than going to class and it becomes difficult to argue against it.
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