August 27, 2010
Experts say people generally learn languages in one of five ways. Which one of these do you think will work best for you?
Word-By-Word Translations. The most ancient of the bunch, this involves literally translating words from your native tongue to the target language, usually by using a dictionary. It’s not the most efficient, but it’s one people have used with mixed success (which means there were positive results) for decades.
Vocabulary-Based Language Learning. Here, language is learned by associating words with pictures and objects they represent. Some people claim this is how natural learning occurs, making it a much-employed approach in many popular language software.
Grammar-Based Language Learning. Like the previous one, this is heavily-used among language learning programs. It generally uses a vocabulary-based strategy at the start, followed by in-depth study of the target language’s grammar.
Communicative Approach. Used by most modern language schools and some advanced language software, this involves communication drills that focus on specific aspects of a language, paired with tightly-focused grammar and vocabulary lessons.
Immersion. The method of choice for free spirits, this involves jumping into the deep end with native speakers and just winging it. It’s incredibly scary and awkward, but if you stick to it, you can develop a thick face quickly. Oh yeah, and some language abilities too.
August 26, 2010
If you’re not ready to invest in a full language program and merely want to pile new foreign words on stock, a vocabulary software might be more along your lines. Rather than burdening you with grammar and other language elements, the only goal for this type of software is to help you memorize and understand individual words and phrases.
Different software titles will have different approaches to vocabulary-building, so it’s best to expose yourself to what’s out there before settling on a choice. Make sure you read about the different options on offer, learning as much as you can about each one.
Personally, I recommend looking for a vocabulary software that has these features, at a minimum:
- It should have a structured method. If there’s no structure or algorithm to the way words it helps you pick up words, you might as well just grab a dictionary and start memorizing it alphabetically. Good vocabulary software will use methods and strategies that can improve and accelerate learning.
- It should track your progress. One of the more significant reasons to use software-based learning is the easier progress-tracking it allows. This is a feature that should be on any type of learning program.
- It should integrate pronunciation practice. What good is memorizing a word if you can’t rehearse it spouting off your mouth?
- It should offer multiple test modes to ensure retention. Tons of vocabulary tests have been devised over the years and the software you use should come with several of them. It’s usually easier to gauge actual retention if you can keep it through varying types of tests.
Those four comprise the bare-basics of what we believe a good vocabulary software should have. Do note that many of the all-around language learning programs come with built-in vocabulary modules, so you may also want to explore that option. At the least, it will save you from buying another piece of software when you decide the embrace language instruction in a fuller capacity.
August 25, 2010
Language learning need not be an expensive undertaking. For one, there are tons of free resources both online and in your local libraries. Even if you choose to go the paid route (let’s face it, a lot of the free stuff is incorrigible mess), there are ways to approach it smartly in order to make your dollar go a long way.
- Shop around. Don’t buy the first foreign language training software you see. If you do and it turns out to be a dud, you’ll just end up spending more money on a new one. Instead, gather your options and evaluate them individually. Not all language materials are created equal – the more you shop around, the better fit you can find.
- Don’t be swayed by shiny things. All products promise something, some more outlandish than others. Don’t let the lofty claims fool you. Research the product to find out as much as you can about them, then compare whether the feedback matches up with the claims.
- Try before you buy. Plenty of language materials offer free trials. Some online membership sites, for instance, let you be a member for a day for $1 so you can get a taste of what they offer, while most language software comes with trial periods.
- Find a product as closely-suited to your needs as possible. The more suited a language product is to your specific requirements, the less you will need to use secondary sources as supplementary materials. That means, no added costs beyond what you already spent on your primary reference.
August 24, 2010
Different people take to language learning at different paces. Some benefit from rapid-fast lessons, while some require a slower stride to give the material time to sink in. Regardless of where you fall between those two extremes, there are many types of language material that helps you customize your studies, such that you’re always learning at a comfortable pace.
Courses that allow you to set your own pace are available both online and offline in varying forms. For online, there are dedicated websites, slideshows and video lessons that you can visit according to your schedule; offline, you’ve got audio courses, language training programs and books that serve the same purpose.
Some people understandably deride self-paced programs. After all, traditional models of language learning are all based upon having an instructor guiding students through every lesson, answering their questions and quizzing them about what they’ve learned. Until you’ve worked with one for an extended period, it’s difficult to appreciate the actual benefits it can deliver.
Truth is, good self-paced programs, such as some of the more effective language software out there, can often rival the results of more familiar learning methods, such as classroom training and private tutoring. Even better, the fact that you can set your own schedule means you’ll have an easier time integrating it in your own life.
If you want language learning to suit you, instead of the other way around, it’s really hard to argue for anything other than self-paced learning modules. And based on our experience, a good language software is the most effective of the available options.
August 18, 2010
Lazy about learning a language? While we’d rather you memorize survival phrases for use when visiting a country, we understand it may not always be possible.
Maybe, you were sent to Portugal on an impromptu errand. Perhaps, you have a memory problem and can’t remember words with more than five letters at a time. It could be you actually tried working with the best language software, but couldn’t find the mettle to stick through it in such a short schedule.
Whatever excuse you have, we’ve probably heard it before. We’ll let you judge for yourself whether yours is valid or not. The question now is: How do you survive a country without knowing a lick of the language?
- A phrasebook. Buy a phrasebook and carry it around. Make sure to choose one with well-defined chapters, so all you have to do is turn to the section on restaurants when ordering food and to the section on transportation when talking with a cab driver.
- A cheat sheet. For those who are too lazy to wade through a phrasebook, we love one-page cheat sheets. Write down the most common ones you’ll use and whip it out quickly as soon as you find the need. No need to turn pages!
- Talking translators. These dedicated single-purpose wonders are excellent for those who are even lazier than normal. Just find the phrase you want to say from the menu, push the Speak button and have it convey what you’re thinking with a perfect accent.
- iPhone apps. A new entrant into these things, this is for the laziest of the lot. Not only does it let you communicate without talking yourself, you don’t even have to carry an extra gadget to do it. Just your iPhone – the same one you use for calling and texting.
See, even the lazy have options for emergency language use. Of course, if you’d rather show some motivation, a good language software and a couple months of training should save you from all these extra hassles.
August 17, 2010
Say, you have six months to learn a new language. How much of it can you realistically learn in that time span? The answer, of course, as with many things is “it depends.”
What factors will affect how well you learn a new language?
- Previous exposure. Based on what languages you already know, a new language may be easier or harder to acquire. If your native language share the same traits as the target, then six months can be enough to leave you conversationally fluent. If not, then you should lower your expectations just a tad.
- Immersion. How easy will it be to immerse yourself in the target language? If you’re living in a country that speaks it (e.g. you’re learning Portuguese and you’re in Brazil), then your opportunities are abundant. If not, then you’re missing out on one component that can seriously force you to learn at a rapid pace.
- Primary learning material. How good of a fit your learning material is will obviously be a factor. If you learn best in an intimate setting and choose to enroll in a class with 40 students, then your chances may not be optimal. Pay for time with a private tutor or use a personal language software, however, and you’ll increase your likelihood of learning more in the six-month span.
- Time. How much time you can devote to learning and how well you use it are also important factors. The more time you can spend on any activity, after all, the more ground you can cover. More importantly, it gives you more chances for practice – a necessary component if you’d like to use the language in real-world settings.
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