June 30, 2010
Learning a new language is just like going to school. You’ll have to take it as seriously as possible and work your ass off studying if you want to get results.
- Establish a regular study schedule. You never see schools schedule classes on an arbitrary basis. Language acquisition, whether with a foreign language software or a traditional class, should be the same way. Getting on a routine early will help you develop a good habit – one that’s going to mean a lot to your eventual results.
- Experiment with a variety of materials. While we recommend sticking with one primary language learning material, being open to trying new things out can prove very valuable as well. Apart from your regular study schedule, set aside a couple of hours a week to researching and trying out alternative mediums for language learning.
- Find study buddies. The role of social elements in language learning can never be discounted. As powerful as modern language training has evolved, there’s still no substitute to practicing with fellow learners and growing into the language together.
- Find resources in your locale. Explore your community for resources you can take advantage of to further your acquisition of the language. They could be out there and you just haven’t looked yet.
June 29, 2010
Trying to decide on which language software to purchase? Here are the things we think you should be looking for:
- Did the reviewer learn anything from it? No matter how well-featured a language software is, if it doesn’t help the student acquire the language, then it’s not worth the trouble. All the bells and whistles aren’t worth a lick if it doesn’t get the job done.
- What modes of instruction does the software use? Does it employ interactive teaching principles? Is it primarily text-based or does it incorporate multimedia elements? Obviously, the more it has in common with your own preferred learning styles, the better it will be for your acquisition goals.
- Will it fit into your schedule? Most software-based language programs will afford you some flexibility in the scheduling department. However, it’s always best to make sure it will be able to accommodate your schedule. If it requires one hour blocks of time, for instance, your 30 minutes in the morning might not exactly work the way you’d like.
- What is its promised timeframe? Frankly, you want something that promises a realistic amount of learning within a certain time period. Too many products out there live on hype that you have to wonder what else they’re lying about. The more professional it goes about its marketing and the more plausible its promised results are, the better of a choice it’s likely going to be.
June 26, 2010
If you want to master a language with as close to the same fluency as a native speaker, then you have to think like a native speaker.
Think in the Native Language
You need to think in the native language, processing thoughts and ideas in the target vernacular. This is non-negotiable. Have you ever met a Russian native who processed thoughts in English? I didn’t think so.
Simply put, it’s very hard to accurately speak a language when you don’t think in it. Translating thoughts in your head from one language to another, say English to French, often results in Babelfish-style confusion. Okay, that may be harsh, but it’s a close approximation. Until you can think in the second language, speaking it fluently will be far from attainable.
See Things Through the Lens of the Native Culture
You need to see things through the lens of the native culture. We’ve often emphasized how important is to brush up on the history and culture of a country when you want to learn its language. That’s because many parts of a vernacular are drawn directly from how people use it in their daily lives.
While you can get pretty conversational locking yourself in a room with a software for language acquisition, you’ll never achieve fluency without digging deeper. Know the people and you’ll know their language.
June 25, 2010
Different people will naturally gravitate towards different language learning approaches, usually depending on their personalities. There’s nothing wrong with any approach – it’s simply a matter of matching the type of person you are with the strategy you are taking.
Do you like to have a system of moving from one task to another? More than likely, you’re the kind of person who find comfort in organization and structure. Your type are usually diligent and hardworking. As such, you’ll often do well in a structured language learning setting, such as a traditional class or a lesson-by-lesson language software. We suggest drawing up a plan of your learning activities early on, so that you may have something to refer to throughout your training.
Do you enjoy having many inputs at once? You’re probably the type who thrives in a multi-tasking environment. Jumping from one language study material to another doesn’t confuse you. In fact, you relish having so many things to draw upon. If you’re this way, arming yourself with a plethora of learning sources is probably in your best interest. That way, if you find the software lessons boring, you have the option of delving into the flash cards or practice videos to supplement it. You can probably use just a little bit of structure, but if you know your strengths, you’ll be fine.
Do you like chaos? If you thrive in high-pressure learning environments and fall asleep listening to lectures, then your best approach to learning is to focus on as much immersion as you can. Drag yourself to social situations where you’ll be forced to learn a language, use movies and songs as your primary inputs, and use language materials as just a way to learn the basics.
Nothing’s wrong with any of those approaches. In fact, knowing yourself gives you a distinct and notable advantage over many learners. Embrace it and live it.
June 24, 2010
Do you need a bit more practice for both writing and reading comprehension in your target language? Try this as a regular activity, to go along with your software for language training. Doing so will help you exercise both comprehension and writing “areas” of language acquisition.
- Pick a publication on a topic that you like in your target language, preferably one with varying lengths of features.
- Choose three articles from it: one short (300 to 500 words), one medium (around 800 words) and one long (1,500 words or more).
- Take those three articles and set a goal for rewriting them in your own words. Give yourself a week (or two to three weeks, if you don’t have a lot of time to devote to it on a daily basis) to finish.
- Start by reading them and creating a clear outline of each article’s content. Use the target language for the outline – this will help train you in developing thought processes in the foreign tongue.
- After the outlines are done, start converting each outline into a sentence outline. That means expanding the brief phrases and clauses that stand for each idea into full-length sentences.
- Rewrite each article in your own words, basing your write-ups completely on each outline.
June 23, 2010
I’ve met many people who have tried to learn languages in the past. Almost every one of them has had to face and overcome struggles along the way. The difference in those who actually succeeded and those that didn’t often came down to one thing: commitment.
Being committed to your language learning goals isn’t as simple as telling yourself how hard you’re willing to work at it. It represents very real dedication to the work you’re faced with. When you’re committed, you:
- Put heavy importance on your language learning sessions. Surely, a movie on TV or a drink with your officemates isn’t about to take precedence to your scheduled sessions with a language practice software if you’re committed. While you’re not about to make it more important than family or work, it should rank right up there among your primary focus.
- Take failure at face value. Failure is part of learning. Being committed means accepting that and forging on despite the challenges. Giving up isn’t in the committed learner’s vocabulary.
- Perform all needed tasks, regardless of difficulty. I’ve known many language learners who do things that they find daunting half-heartedly, whether that be seeking out interaction opportunities or long-drawn exercises that can take considerable time. Committed learners do all tasks to the best of their abilities – they know that giving half an effort doesn’t help their cause.
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