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October 29, 2011

How To Use Google Street View For Language Learning

They say you can learn a lot about a language from seeing the places where it is spoken.   While people probably meant actually visiting the place, you can also try a virtual tour if that’s all you can afford right now.  How?  With Google’s Street View.

Will it really help with language learning?  Personally, I’m on the fence.  On the one hand, you’re not really interacting with anyone, just looking at close-up pictures of a city.  On the other, it gives you plenty of insights into the culture of the people there and exposes you to a lot of everyday signs written in the target language.

If you’re learning a new language, I suggest giving Google Street View a try.  Set aside an hour to explore a city that speaks your target language as a native vernacular, just checking out the different things the camera managed to snap.  If you’ve been studying the language for at least a couple of months, you’ll likely recognize some words and phrases, as well as make some connections between some language element and the places.

You can also turn it into a vocabulary game.  Check out a street and look for interesting things, then search the word for them in your language software.  Chances are, you’ll end up learning a few new words along the way, all while exploring a new place without ever leaving your computer.

April 5, 2011

Technology Is Awesome: Quicktionary

Have you heard of the Quicktionary?  I just came across it today and it looks like an excellent tool for language learners who are trying to do some reading in their target language.

Basically, it’s a handheld scanner with an integrated OCR and translation software. To use it, simply aim the scanner part at the text you want to process.  It will grab the text and show it on the built-in display, which you can then choose to translate into a language you can better understand.  Supposedly, the device can read and translate in seven different languages, as well as store up to 20,000 lines of text.

Chances are, something like this will be a pain to use if you’re totally oblivious about a language.  If you have a working ability, though, you can use it to quickly scan and translate sentences you can’t understand while reading books and magazines in the foreign language.

As you’ve probably heard from many language teachers, reading materials in a target language is a great way to learn new words and phrases that you can integrate into your vocabulary.   It’s a good secondary activity to engage in on top of your regular language software  lessons.  Having a tool like the Quicktionary definitely sounds faster than having to open a dictionary every single time.

 

September 1, 2009

How To Use Your iPod For Language Learning

Everybody’s got an iPod now (or a music player of sorts).  At least, most people I know.   If you haven’t already, you should be looking at this simple gadget’s potential in helping you towards your language learning goals.

The iPod, to many language learners, is the new flashcard.  Why carry around a stack of cards with vocabulary lessons, when you can load hours upon hours of lessons from your language software and audio courses into your music player?

From filling it with songs and speeches in the language you are studying to transferring full-length lessons for on-the-road study, I can’t imagine a better, less-intrusive device for language learning.  Those so inclined can even record themselves speaking and practicing, allowing for later review – providing a priceless feedback mechanism without spending an extra cent (of course, we’re assuming you have a media player, already).

Struggling with pronunciation?  Record the right way to speak in your iPod and listen to it throughout the course of the day.  Having trouble memorizing certain phrases?  Put them in your iPod’s memory and test your retention while you’re on the road.  Bored with language learning?  Well, we can’t help you there, but listening to your favorite type of music (whether it’s rock or urban or hip-hop) recorded in the target language might help you gain a better appreciation for it, renewing your zest to learn.

July 27, 2009

Language Learning Equipment: Tools Of The Trade

As a language learner, there are various equipment you can arm yourself with in order to help make your studies easier.  While none of them will be mandatory, they can play varying importance in your overall development.

The Usual Stuff. First, there’s the usual set of study tools, such as phrasebooks, audio courses and language learning software.  You probably know about them pretty well already – we’ve discussed them in great detail here.

A Voice Recorder. I highly recommend all language learning students to use a voice recorder to aid in their language learning.  You can buy a dedicated gadget for this or use the built-in facilities in your existing gadgets (many cell phones and music players already have them).  With one, you can record yourself speaking in the language, play it back for review and find areas in which you can improve.

Language-Learning Journal. Keeping a diary of your progress is one of the most useful things you can do for your your overall training.  It’s possibly the single best way to keep a recorded account of your overall development, offering something you can easily look back on to review later.

A Pocket Dictionary Or, Better Yet, A Mobile Software Alternative. When you’re still in the process of learning a language, it pays to have a dictionary that you can look up every now and then.  We highly recommend getting a pocket dictionary, preferably the dual language type, so you can look up words that suddenly come to mind or for simply refreshing your vocabulary study on the spot.
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