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July 4, 2011

Supplementing Your Language Learning With Authentic Material

In language learning, the term “authentic material” refers to language resources that are intended for native speakers’ consumption.   Rather than facilitate language learning, they serve other purposes, such as to inform and entertain.

What are examples of these types of resources?  Your French to English phrasebook is not an authentic material.  A novel written in French is.  Your “Learn Portuguese” CD is not authentic material, but a Portuguese pop song at the top of the Brazilian charts is.

While authentic material can be considered supplementary, it’s actually much more consequential for a lot of learners.  Using them, in a way, connects you to native speakers in a way that carefully-planned  language teaching software just isn’t able to.  You see the language used in action, the way it’s actually employed in the real world.

When consuming authentic material, you’re exposed to the most important elements of the language — the ones people use over and over.  This gives you a better idea of which language features you’ll need to master sooner, rather than later.    It’s also one of the best ways to learn a language for specialized use.  If you want to learn French for business, then a business book in French should show you how it’s used in that setting.  Same when you want to learn automotive terms (read a book about cars) or academic use (read a textbook or a school newspaper).

Filed under: Language Learning — Tags: , ,
June 8, 2011

Finding Resource Persons: Native Or Non-Native Speakers?

For most of us, finding a resource person who can help you out with language learning is all about taking what you can get.  Some people will be luckier, though, with access to more than a single possible resource person to teach them.

For those fortunate individuals, one of the decisions they’ll likely have to make is whether to get native or second language speakers as their primary resource person.  We don’t have a straight answer for this, as each of those two options will have their own pros and cons.

Hopefully, the comparisons below can help you decide:

  1. Native speakers know the right language to use at the right time.  Chances are, secondary speakers will get several things wrong (and could teach you incorrectly in the process).
  2. Native speakers can’t give you advice on learning materials and progress — learning a second language isn’t something they had to go through.  Non-native speakers, on the other hand, have likely traveled the same road you are on now and can give you tested advice, helping you work through issues the same way they did.
  3. Native speakers can provide more fluent conversation practice, although they’re more likely to let slip-ups through (they  tend to go easy).  Second-language speakers tend to be more thorough and will admonish you when they notice mistakes (since, they likely know that doing so helps you improve).
  4. Native speakers won’t know much about practice and learning materials because they never used it.  Those who learned as adults, on the other hand, will likely be able to point you towards specific resources.
Filed under: Language Learning — Tags: , ,
August 31, 2010

How To Speak More Like A Native

Talking like a native requires more than merely fixing your accent or expanding your vocabulary.  If you’ve already done work with a language teaching software on both and still find yourself unable to pass off as a local, then it’s clear you’re missing the rest of the language ensemble.

  1. Understanding local dialects.  In many countries, specific areas will have their own way of using the language.  Being aware of the differences between local dialects can help you understand people better.
  2. Addressing generation gaps.  Language addresses generation gaps.  The words a local will use when talking to senior citizens for instance, will tend to differ with the ones they employ when chatting with children.  Same goes when you’re interacting with teenagers and authority figures.  This is the type of thing you pick up from observation and experience.
  3. Learning the gestures.  Some languages rely more heavily on gestures than others.  Picking up on these gestures and being able to use them should help when interacting with locals in a more complete capacity.
  4. Picking up slang.  Colloquial usage of the language tend to be very important in casual conversations, as it helps give it color and vibrancy.    Fact is, there’s little chance you can pick up such informal parlance unless you’ve spent time among locals.
Filed under: Language Learning — Tags: ,
July 8, 2010

Five Reasons Why You Can’t Understand Native Speakers…Yet

Tried your hand a conversing with native speakers, but can’t figure out a lick of what they’re saying?  Don’t worry, it’s normal.  It usually takes much more than couple months of language lessons to get your listening skills down pay.  Why is that?

  1. Your vocabulary’s just too weak.  It’s possible that you just don’t have enough stock of a language to be able to comprehend what people are saying.  The solution is straightforward: beef up your vocabulary.
  2. They speak in an accent different than your own.  Even if you can identify words and phrases, accent can complicate the language heavily.    This is why we recommend teaching be done using the target language’s accent – doing so helps familiarize you with their speaking patterns, so you can easily recognize them in real-world situations.
  3. They bring their own cultural biases into the language.  The way native speakers use the language often bring idioms and cultural elements into play that sound perfectly natural in their local environment.   Learning more about the local culture should help you on this end.
  4. They use slang that isn’t taught in formal classes.  Slang, especially plays on words, are near impossible for non-natives to make out.   Unless you befriend locals and spend time  in their company, chances are, they’ll remain a mysterious parlance.
  5. They talk too fast.  Since they’re perfectly familiar with the language, most native speakers will plow through their speech and pronunciations patterns quickly.  Your limited time with the vernacular isn’t likely to help you much with regards to keeping up.  The solution?  Spend more time listening to native speakers, either through actual conversation, watching movies or listening to speeches.
Filed under: Language Learning — Tags: , , ,
June 26, 2010

How To Think Like A Native Speaker

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.

Filed under: Language Learning — Tags: ,

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