September 30, 2010
Looking for language learning resources that won’t require you to fly out of the country or drive five hours to get to? Turn on the computer and get online. Here are some ideas about what kinds of services to look for.
- Free resources. The internet is a treasure trove of language resources, from discussion-rich blogs to full tutorials to video examples of a language in action. While it will be difficult to get structured language lessons out of free websites alone, they are teeming with quick lessons and secondary materials you may find useful.
- Membership websites. There are some language membership sites that work much like online versions of formal language classes, complete with structured lessons, practice exercises and tests. These can serve as a primary language learning material, with a built-in community to bond and exchange ideas with. The caveat? Most of them come with recurring monthly payments.
- Language teaching software. So far, I haven’t come across any really good, free language learning software, so prepare to fork out some cash for one. Good news is, most language software are based on one-time download (or installation CD) fees, as opposed to the recurring payments you’ll have to make with traditional language classes and subscription-based membership services.
September 29, 2010
In almost every language, there are default phrases used to do certain things. When you pick up a phone in an office, for instance, there are usually set ways that people answer; when you answer a knock on a door, you typically respond in specific ways; when you greet someone on their birthday, same thing.
These language rituals allow picking up a working knowledge of a language easier. Instead of focusing on individual words and joining them together to form sentences, you can simply observe others saying them and emulate it. In doing so, you learn canned phrases that effectively get social interactions going.
In some circles, they call this practice “chunking.” That is, instead of focusing the study on vocabulary words and how to use them to form sentences, learners pick up the language via lexical chunks – phrases and sentences that carry a set meaning in proper contexts.
Some language learning programs have already adopted this approach to learning, especially when looking to gain facility in specific contexts. When learning business-speak in a foreign language, for instance, memorizing 100 words from a dictionary and learning how to use these to form sentences might help. However, memorizing 100 canned business responses for specific contexts will probably help better.
As of now, language experts continue to debate the merits of chunking and whether it truly is a better approach for learners. Like all methods, of course, it has its pros and cons. Do realize, though, that it’s very effective, especially with the right learning tools at hand.
September 28, 2010
Not all language learning software are the same. Just as there are good language programs, there are bad ones, too. The trick is identifying when you’ve got a lemon and not wasting any more time on them.
- Read reviews. The internet is a place teeming with people’s reviews on endless varieties of products, language software included. That means, you will find plenty of notes from fellow learners about any title you’re considering buying. Make sure you read other people’s opinions and take them into account.
- Realistic promises. A language software that promises fluency in three months sounds exciting. If they can’t back it up with genuine evidence, however, it’s likely false advertising. When you read a sales pitch, think of it as persuasive essay – look for the evidence and reasoning behind the claims. If there are none, forget it.
- Bad suit. Some programs are just a bad suit for your particular learning preferences. They may not necessarily bad, but they don’t work well for you. If you find yourself with one of these, try to get a refund immediately. In case that’s not available, then learn from the mistake and take more time considering the next language material you pay for. If something doesn’t work, don’t force it – your time is more valuable than that.
September 25, 2010
Keep your language learning simple. Why? Because the more you complicate it, the harder it usually becomes.
Language learning used to be simple when we were kids. All you had to do was listen to what the adults were saying, make inferences about what they meant and mimic them. No complicated grammar and no overly-elaborate constructions. We treated it as simple, so we learnt it the same way: in a simple manner.
If you’re at a point where you’re struggling in your language training, you might want to pull back and simplify your approach. Forget all the different theories; instead, just start learning new words and practice using them. Do away with complicated yardsticks you may use to measure how well you’re doing, choosing to gauge your improvement by how many new words you learn to speak.
When you study with your language software program, forget about grammar and mechanics. Instead, focus on content. If any explanation eludes you, let it be. Keep things as simple as possible: just learn the word and try to use it in proper context.
Find interesting things to learn from, like songs and movies. They’re the perfect antidote to boredom. Because of the creative angle, they tend to be easier to commit to memory, too.
September 23, 2010
Don’t have a lot of money to spend on language software? That’s fine. Most of the better language programs out there does border on the high end of expenses, so being wary of spending too much is what a smart person would do.
The good news is, there are options for people who want to temper their spending when it comes to language learning solutions.
- Buy educational versions. If you’re a student at a high school or university, you should be eligible for college versions of software. Some language software may be available with accompanying student versions and they’re considerably cheaper than full-featured releases.
- Buy from eBay. You may be able to purchase sealed copies of older language software titles from eBay and other online auction sites. Since these are usually old stocks from retailers (or copies people bought but never used) that they’re just trying to get rid of, you should be able to get them for much lower prices. Because language software remains relevant after many years, they should be perfectly suitable for your own learning efforts.
- Use free resources. In case you really can’t find an option at your current budget, then look towards free resources to find your ground in the new language. While not ideal, they are helpful and could tide you over until such time you can afford a pricier solution.
September 22, 2010
When trying to ascertain how well you’re doing in your language acquisition goals, it makes sense to measure yourself. Problem is, fluency is an ability that’s difficult to measure. What exactly do you use as a yardstick?
- Tests. Take all tests available on your language training program. While far from perfect, it is a good gauge about whether you’ve properly absorbed lessons.
- Interactions. How much smoother are your interactions now, compared to one week ago? How about one month ago?
- Feedback. Ask people who would know, such as your teacher or primary resource person, how well you’re doing. Again, this is far from an ideal measuring stick, but it’s a great way to learn how far you’ve gone.
- Vocabulary. For me, the best way to measure your fluency is to count how many words you know. The more of the language you can use, the better you should be able to communicate. According to some studies, gaining facility for 1,000 words in a language should allow you to interact positively in 80% of situations, making it an extremely good gauge for quantifying language ability.
Older Posts » |
