Tuesday, January 16, 2007

Learn And Memorize German

Learn And Memorize German

If you want to learn the German language as a second language, you will need to go to Germany to learn the language altogether. That’s what they do back when there’s no internet, back when accessibility is difficult. Nowadays, if you want to learn the German language or even other languages for that matter, one click is all it takes.

Learning another language may take time but it would really depend also on the student. What you should really be asking is how you can learn and retain the foreign words that initially sound gibberish the first time you encounter them on the newspaper, from the radio or overheard from a foreigner down town.

Words like Guten Morgen, Guten Tag and Auf Wiederstein are common German words and you may have heard them from interesting movies or animated cartoons. But, think about this. When you overheard those German words, what picture immediately comes to mind? Is it an image of a funny looking talking creature from an animated cartoon hit? Or is it more like a picture of family singers?

As you may have observed, each memory that we have is always associated with a distinct event, character, persons and places. We may have forgotten the date when it happened but surely not the details associated with the event. This would naturally mean that we can learn instinctively whatever memory we can make out of the German words.

You can learn the German language for different purposes but the way of learning it is rooted to a single method. Linking the words to a picture is the best way to go. There are other ways too to be able to memorize a foreign language, in this case, German. We’ll make the word thumb from the English language translated to der Daumen in German as examples on how to use link words for memorization.

A lot of strangers lose their thumbs in attempting to visit the domain of the Thumb king. Try to picture the sentence and analyze how easy it is for you to remember the two words in less then two minutes. The key here is when our memory pictures out interesting scenario or characters, the mind retains distinctive details and in this case, the words thumb and der Daumen are the key points.

Visit http://learn-german-program.com/ for more information about the German language.

By: Shareen Aguilar is a writer for learn-german-program.com which has Memory Improvement Books and Memory Game Software for better German language memorization.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Wednesday, January 10, 2007

Native Immersion, Or How To Learn Spanish The Easy Way

Native Immersion, Or How To Learn Spanish The Easy Way

When it comes to studying other languages, learning Spanish is at the top of the list in the US. Estimates indicate that by the year 2015 the United States of America will be the largest Spanish speaking country in the world. As national debate continues on whether or not Spanish should become our second national language, common sense tells us that it is certainly worthwhile to become at least somewhat fluent in the second most popular language on the American continent.

On the other hand, being proficient in more than one language is quite an accomplishment. If you are interested in learning something new, but are not quite sure which language to take up, you might want to consider Spanish.

If you want to learn Spanish, there are several approaches you can consider. One of the classical ones is to take a course. Most language courses revolve around grammar and vocabulary drills which result in nothing but frustration and the feeling that 'you are not cut out to learn Spanish'. Surely not, but maybe you are reading this article because you want to learn another language and do not really want to spend long doing it. You will need to learn grammar, and vocabulary, of course, but speaking a language is the best way to learn it. Clearly, it is not possible to learn a language in two days but there are methods you can use to speed up the process.

Learning to speak Spanish can be rewarding and fun. You can really begin learning to speak Spanish within minutes. Though not everyone learns in the same way, by adapting your learning method, you can learn Spanish more easily. Immerse yourself in the beauty of Spanish culture, literature and history within the surroundings of cathedrals, plazas, convents, palaces, and churches, while learning the language from accredited institutes. Many sources on the Internet are available which allow for an in-depth learning of Spanish.

Even better, take an immersion course and live in the country where the language is spoken natively. For example, a cultural immersion language course in cosmopolitan Barcelona may be a killer idea. One of the most baffling things about learning Spanish, and any other language, is that, somewhere along the line, students realize that the Spanish they hear spoken by native speakers may or may not be the same Spanish that they had been taught at their university or high school. Here you have why it is so important the contact with the Spanish speaking people and their culture.

As most language teachers recommend once the basics are familiar, nothing beats immersion in order to gain command and fluency in the language. We are talking here about a total and absolute immersion, but even in this heaven for the person eager to acquire a second language it may take at least four years for a learner to master this language, and especially in adults, native-like pronunciation is very difficult to acquire.

Book a holiday in a Spanish speaking country. If you feel that you are losing your desire to learn to speak Spanish online, try planning a trip to a Spanish speaking country. Hispanic nations are showing strong economic growth so the potential for work opportunities in Spanish speaking countries for those learning Spanish, is increasing everyday. Which such a huge and diverse Spanish speaking world community, it's without a doubt one of the most useful languages to learn – a Spanish language course could open up many opportunities in terms of work and travel throughout the Spanish speaking world.

By: Joe Rossello
Find out a great selection of resources about Learning Spanish and Spanish Courses in Rocket Spanish The Easy Way.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Wednesday, December 13, 2006

Learn a new language, Italian, Chinese or Japanese?

Learn a new language, Italian, Chinese or Japanese? by gabriele monti

As the UK and London are growing everyday more international you might have started to realise that there is an urgent need of language skills. The government has plans to introduce foreign language classes since the early years of education. In fact by 2010 foreign language lessons will be started in the primary schools across the UK.

Because we live in a very competitive market it is now very important to speak another language. Bilingual job seekers are more likely to find employment in the short term. It is not just for the job but a second language will boost your confidence, it will improve your communication skills, it will make your holiday more interesting and it will enhance your social life.

European languages are often the most popular, French, Spanish, German and Italian are at the top of the list. But now Chinese Mandarin and Japanese are climbing to the top of the most studied languages. Chinese market is becoming everyday more interesting for investors and therefore speaking the language will enhance the chance of succeeding in this country. Japan has traditionally attracted people because of its rich and unique culture.

In the recent year Britons have also demonstrated an increased interest for the Italian language. There are several reasons for this choice. Italy has good climate and it makes a destination for those who wants to retire in the sun. There has been an increase of property hunter in Italy but not just in Tuscany, now destinations are Umbria, Apulia and Abruzzo, where property are cheap and abundant. Nowadays and there people studying Italian to improve their business. Italy's traditional sectors have always been fashion and food and other luxurious goods. If you are a designer or a clothing manufacturer or anyway related to the fashion industry Italian is the right language to learn.

Some Italian languages students just started to love Italy after the first trip to Rome or Venice and they became so mesmerised that they never wanted to leave.

Whatever your reason Italy has something for everyone.

Italian lessons in london

monti.g@gmail.com 07981 395 253 338 city road London EC1V 2PY

About the Author
Gabriele Monti is a learning consultant who privately owns a language school in London

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Wednesday, November 29, 2006

Barriers In Learning Foreign Languages

Barriers In Learning Foreign Languages

How well do you communicate with others? This is a question that could be addressed and answered on so many different levels. However, I am merely asking about how articulate you are. Whether it be English, Mandarin, German, or Spanish, how well you speak and understand your language has a serious bearing on how others see you. This is just the way it works. It all draws back to your education. These days learning foreign languages in grade school is normal. On the other hand, if I were to ask my mother if they did such a thing back in the 40s, I doubt she would say yes. Things have definitely evolved to a whole new level. This is great. So many more of us will be able to communicate this way. Language and culture barriers with be broken at last.

What is your take on learning foreign languages? Do you believe that every human being should be studying a foreign language other than their native tongue? Some folks do. In fact, when it comes to learning foreign languages, I have some experience of my own. I took Spanish 1 and 2 in high school. Then in college I took three additional Spanish courses. That's not too bad if I do say so myself. However, I was baffled at one Spanish professor's take on learning foreign languages. She was originally from Argentina, and came to the states to teach Spanish.

I think this is wonderful. However, I did not agree with her spiel about how everyone in the United States needs to learn Spanish. This is plain and simply a glib statement. She is certainly not considering all sides to this coin. What about everyone else who came from other countries to the United States. They've already had to learn English to adapt. Is it fair to tell them that they must learn Spanish as well? You try telling that to someone who already speaks fluent German, Japanese, or French. They will likely tell you "I will learn Spanish when everyone else learns my native language."

When it comes to learning foreign languages, things can get a tad tricky. Not everything is as cut and dry as some folks would like it to be. The truth is if you plan to go and live in a foreign land, you'd better learn their language first. This
is just common sense. After all, how far do you think you will progress with a language barrier?

About the Author
ResourcesOneducation.Com provides readers with the latest reviews,articles,commentaries and write-ups on all learning foreign languages, native language & related subjects.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Sunday, November 19, 2006

Learning How To Write In Chinese

Learning How To Write In Chinese

What do you need to know before you start learning Chinese?

Before you begin to learn how to read and write Chinese, there is one thing you need to know, it is a very difficult language that will take years and years of dedicated hard work. If you have not had any experience with Chinese culture and calligraphy in the past, it can be difficult sometimes.

Chinese writing is very different from most other languages in the world. There are tens of thousands of characters that represent different words and you will have to memorize many of these words and learn how they are used grammatically in a sentence. It is a tall task so if you are planning on learning Chinese, be sure you are ready to invest the time required, it is not an overnight process.

The symbols used in Chinese language are very different from those in Western and Latin languages. There are relatively few patterns in the Chinese language compared to that of Spanish or English, and that is what makes it especially difficult to learn.

Unalike the French and Spanish languages, which use English letters with a few new symbols and minor changes to the American alphabet, such as accents and dots over certain vowels and other minor changes to characters, the Chinese language does not use any of the letters or shapes we are very familiar with. Hence, there is a lot of learning and memorizing that needs to be done in the initial phase of learning how to write in Chinese. Once you become more experienced with Chinese writing, you will be able to catch on quickly and learn new words and construct more complicated sentences quicker, but the first few months of memorizing symbols and how they are used in sentences can be very monotonous and tiring. This is the phase when many of those who attempt to learn Chinese, give up because of the sheer amount of work involved.

If you have a strong work ethic and are overall a hard worker that needs to learn how to write in Chinese or is just generally interested in the subject, make the attempt and be sure to stick with it and not give up right away. It is going to be very difficult to memorize the characters at first so be sure to anticipate that and remember that it will get easier once you become more familiar with the characters and how to construct proper sentences.

Check http://www.LearnEZChinese.com to learn more about Mandarin Chinese and culture

By: Catfish
Check www.LearnEZChinese.com to learn more about Mandarin Chinese and culture

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Thursday, November 16, 2006

Today's Global Economy Indicates Need For Learning Other Languages

Today's Global Economy Indicates Need For Learning Other Languages by Michael Gabrikow

In today's global world market it is often beneficial to know at least one language other than your native language. In fact, it is a bonus that will assure your marketability. The more languages you speak fluently the more demand there will be for your particular talents. This can be easily attested by recent statistics that show that Japanese learning is at an all time high in the Western world, with Japanese being one of the main economical powers of today. Consequently, English learning is at an all time high in most parts of the World, due to a combination of economical need and English (read American) "media feeding".

The good news is that today, unlike times in the past, learning a new language doesn't have to be a tedious process. It can in fact, be a great deal of fun and entertainment. Fun and games are becoming part of the tools used not only to teach foreign languages but also to enforce those instructions. Rather than learning by rote memorization or copying words from the Merriam Webster Dictionary, today's language students are playing with flash cards and amusing computer programs. Actually, it has been scientifically proven that learning a new language (actually learning anything whatsoever) through a fun process is a lot more effective and fast than if you were learning it "the hard way".

Today's classroom is virtual and will provide you with the necessary skills not only to achieve your business goals, but also the ability to speak new languages like a native with only half the work of times of old. For those learning languages for the course of their businesses, it is quite possible to find business vocabulary online in the language of choice. Can you imagine the ability to learn French from games then turn around and exchange that knowledge for an executive position or attractive promotion within your own company?

There are worlds of possibilities that open up with each new language you learn. The better you know the language the larger that world. The more languages you know, the more worlds are opened for you. In addition to helping you learn the vocabulary you will need for a business environment, these free online language-learning programs also offer a new slang glossary to help you learn some of the more colorful phrases that you may hear when putting your new skills to use.

We live in a world that is becoming smaller by the day. It only makes sense to develop the skills needed to keep up with the constantly shrinking manner of our existence. Learning new languages is one of many ways to accomplish that goal. Best of all, with one of the many free language learning programs, you will have free language lessons rather than paying for something you aren't sure you will enjoy or find beneficial.

About the Author
Increase your foreign language vocabulary at www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Tuesday, November 14, 2006

You Can Learn Other Languages No Matter What

You Can Learn Other Languages No Matter What by Douglas Bower

The other day I typed in "Language Schools" into Google and came up with a whopping 95 million hits. After popping my eyes back into my head, I wondered just how many public schools, junior colleges, and universities are offering second language learning opportunities in the United States. That must be an equally mind-boggling yet mysterious figure.

The ultimate mystery in all of this is really why, with all the opportunities to learn a second language, are so few Americans bilingual? The truth of the matter is that about 9% of Americans have a true bilingual ability. Yet, there are so many public and private schools offering second language instruction not to mention the booming business in the foreign countries offering Americans the chance of "becoming fluent" in another language.

With all of these opportunities, Americans remain at about 9% with Europeans at a 52% bilingual rate. Have you ever wondered why? I have.

For the past five years, I have been approaching my second language-learning odyssey using non-traditional approaches. I did not start with grammar first courses. You know what those are. If you took any sort of second language learning instruction in school, including Latin or Greek, you began learning the dead or live language with a grammar book.

What this effort got you, if you "stayed the course" was an ability to translate written texts. The almost universal experience of students who begin their second language learning adventure using the grammar-first method is that when they try to speak the language, or even go overseas for a year abroad, all they can utter is,

"I need to go to the bathroom and can I have a cheese sandwich, please?"

The way in which all of us, no matter our country of origin, learned how to speak our native tongue is the same way in which we must approach second language acquisition. Note I said, acquisition, and not learning the second language. There is a difference and therein lies the rub when it comes to selecting a course of study where you will first acquire a high degree of spoken fluency before learning grammar rules.

Let me go out on a limb here: If you do not approach the learning of a second language first with second language acquisition, instead of a grammar-first approach, you will not learn how to speak the language. And, is that not what we are talking about--spoken fluency?

One method accomplishes one thing while the other method gives you something you do not necessarily want. I am a long way from being able to read and discuss physics in Spanish. But, I can discuss simple news events, go to the doctor, or do most anything I need to do in Spanish. I want to grow linguistically where I will have the ability to discuss issues that are even more complex.

Right now, I am still in the child stage of Spanish acquisition and that's ok. Note carefully, however, I did not get to that stage by taking a grammar-first course. I can do what most five and six-year old native Spanish speakers can do. Trust me when I tell you this: This level of spoken fluency most Americans I know struggling to learn Spanish would kill to achieve.

So, how did I do it? I used the same method I unknowingly used learning my first language, English. I am learning Spanish using the same approach all Spanish-fluent native speakers used in learning Spanish as children.

I am engaging in second language acquisition first, and second language learning second.

The horse, language acquisition, must come before the cart, language learning.

That is what you must seek first.

About the author: http://www.zyworld.com/theolog/PlainTruth/Home.htm

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Sunday, November 12, 2006

A Better Reason To Learn Other Languages

A Better Reason To Learn Other Languages

Learning a foreign language is a popular self-learning education today. The reason behind this rising trend though doesn’t pertain to a specific basis since each person interested to learn other country’s language has a correct perspective in his own way. No one person here has the exact and correct answer in supporting an interest to why learning other languages is such a phenomenal hit nowadays.

Language learning has been proven to improve a person’s memory registry with each detail of information the mind encounters. It’s also proven to increase a person’s ability to solve math and analytical equations. Other benefits for learning a foreign language reflects on the brain’s response to how a person is able to creatively and critically think. Creativity is one big contributor to how one individual can memorize easily and by considering this factor alone; we can now clearly see that memorization and learning a different language other than our vernacular has positive effects on our memory.

Some people may have just been influenced by peers or their environment to learn a foreign language. It can be a factor of having a new member of the family from a foreign land who speaks a completely different language. How do you welcome a foreign person with a different native tongue? Of course, you should adjust to his capacity of understanding and talk to him in a way that he can understand. And how do you that? You need to learn his language.

Business can very well thrive among bilingual people. Communication gap is bridged and transactions are settled better if two parties understand each other. Not only that, the usual cultural gap we have towards another immigrant or foreigner is replaced with positive understanding of another culture.

Did you know that bilingual individuals tend to perform better compared to monolinguals? Overall, learning another language of another country helps a person perform better in assessment tests, communication skills in both English and chosen foreign language, analytical skills and creativity which exhibits mind exercise and shows better memorization abilities.

Interested to learn the Spanish language on your own? Visit this site http://learn-spanish-program.com to find out more.

By: Shareen Aguilar -
Shareen Aguilar is a writer for learn-spanish-program.com which has Memory Improvement Books and Memory Game Software.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Thursday, November 09, 2006

America's Bilingual Crisis

America's Bilingual Crisis by Douglas Bower

My wife belongs to an Internet group where there was a recent blowup over the insane expectation Americans have about foreigners who visit America's shores. You know the one: the foreign visitors should somehow, as if by magic, be instantly bilingual. This "English Only" jazz is nothing new. It is a very old hat Americans have been trying to force everyone to wear for decades. I cannot begin to tell you how this irks me.

Look at some of the screed my wife shared with me:

· "When I was in McAllen, I refused to speak Spanish even though I knew it. Not all do this but enough that in McAllen, the signs are in Spanish first and English second. That simply isn't right."

· "Why after 20 YEARS and a property owner no less in this (USA) country shouldn't he speak English. Another thing many of the Mexicans in this country DO know how to speak English and when it suits them they do. BUT, I've seen them make believe they don't when it doesn't suit them. Sorry that is my sore spot too. I could go on about other nationalities (in NY) that do the same thing. Parts of Queens NY the street signs and all other signs aren't in English and when you walk into a restaurant that is all locals they ALL STOP TALKING and look at you. THIS IS AMERICA FOLKS. Ya wanna be here speak the language----DON'T try and make our country something else."

After five books and countless articles in which I've hammered this point repeatedly, here are two quotes that absolutely confirm my thesis of the rampant xenophobic xenoglossophobia in America.

The forum-chat group discussion began with a question about teaching ESL and the need to speak Spanish or not, but it quickly devolved into this English-Only Rant. It was so predictable.

Americans, who have an astoundingly pathetic 9% bilingual rate compared with the rest of the world's 52%, actually think it is "good thing" not to be bilingual. They complain and whine when there are bilingual signs in stores. They speak of their utter and hateful disgust at the thought that someone speaks a language other than English. Is this not the height of xenophobic behavior?

In a recent survey in Europe, Americans were seen as an uncultured and vulgar lot. A whopping 85% of the Europeans surveyed had this opinion. Having lived in another country now for a few years, and having seen just how Americans act when they come here, I am not surprised one bit. I would have answered this survey's question in the same vein.

Let me be even more frank: This nonsense of "That simply isn't right" and "THIS IS AMERICA FOLKS. Ya wanna be here speak the language----DON'T try and make our country something else" stems truly and absolutely from the depths of fear and hatred of all things foreign.

As I wrote in my just-released book, YOU CAN LEARN SPANISH or Any Language No Matter Your Age or Disposition, this American obsession (this fascist neonationalism) with eliminating foreign languages from the face of American soil is nothing new--it is old.

There was a time in America, though hard to believe, when learning a foreign language was considered the mark of a cultured and educated person. People, even poor ones, wanted their sons and daughters to learn French. Then came the xenophobia with the two World Wars. Soon, not only were foreign language newspapers shut down but also speaking a foreign language in public was outlawed.

Americans insanely saw the mark of true patriotism was the eschewing of learning and speaking another language. Just how remarkably simpleminded and ignorant is that reasoning?

I wonder if the person from whom I got that quote, "That simply isn't right" rightly sees the consequences of that statement? On just what grounds does this person make this silly judgment of "That simply isn't right?" And here is my favorite one: "Another thing many of the Mexicans in this country DO know how to speak English and when it suits them they do."

You might be interested in knowing just how American tourists come to Mexico and shout this at the top of their lungs at waiters and hotel employees. I see this constantly in the town in which my wife and I live. They actually believe, as does this unthinking person I quoted, that Mexicans have some secret, dark, and menacing motive for not speaking English when in fact they really do.

Describing Americans as "uncultured and vulgar" is not a stretch. It is no wonder that Americans have such a hideous reputation in the rest of the world. But, in the survey I mentioned, Americans were also seen as not caring a whit what the rest of the world thinks of them. No surprise there!

You know, the members of my wife's forum-chat group can hold to their phobias and hate about Mexicans--and that is what this is about, Mexicans--and they probably will. Rarely does anything enlighten the minds of fearful and hate-driven people. So, I will end it with this:

What gives Americans the right to harshly criticize foreigners who come to America and have problems learning English when the vast majority of Americans could not string two words of a foreign language together to save their lives?

Remember the 9% bilingual rate?

How would MONOLINGUALS have a clue about how difficult it is to master a second language and develop a high degree of spoken fluency? Just how would they? And, the real kicker is this:

Americans vociferously scream this fear and hate-driven screed from the rooftops when the reality is many Americans who move to foreign countries, Mexico for one, refuse to learn Spanish!

They complain and whine that Mexicans refuse to learn English (and how could they know that Mexicans refuse anything--are Americans telepathic?), yet when Americans come to live in Mexico, they do the very thing they claim to despise in Mexicans.

One American living in San Miguel de Allende said this:

"I've lived in Mexico for thirty years and not only do I not speak Spanish, I never will."

Americans who live in Mexico, and have lived here for decades, boast they will never learn Spanish.

Just how big of a crock of hypocrisy is this?

About the Author
Doug Bower is an author of nine books and syndicated Columnist. You Can Learn Spanish or Any Language No Matter Your Age or Disposition http://www.zyworld.com/theolog/Page2.htm

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Wednesday, November 08, 2006

Learning Other Languages for Business Success

Learning Other Languages for Business Success

If you understand a language then you will understand to a large extent the culture that goes with it, and if you understand the culture you will pick up on subtleties that you might otherwise miss. In any negotiation or business relationship the more you understand about the needs and wants of the other party the more likely you are to be able to reach an advantageous outcome (for both sides). This is well recognized, but less widely taken into account is the favourable impression that speaking another language gives about you, and this is what I want to consider.

In the international business world of today the English speaker is at a disadvantage in this regard because the international language of business is English. If you are not a native English speaker the obvious language to learn is English, whereas if you are and you want to learn a new language where do you start? Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or French are just a few in no particular order which come to mind.

Naturally if you are going to learn a language for business purposes, the language you choose will depend primarily on where you do business. However, in this era of the internet, cheap flights and cheap telephone calls, it is common to establish business relationships world-wide.

It is not realistic to start learning multiple languages well, and so the interesting question is what strategies can be employed to maximise the possibility of foreign language use, with the aim of increased business success in a global market?

The answer is to learn enough of a language to be polite. The potential impact of this is rarely considered, but what impression do you have of a visitor to your country who does not speak a single word of English ? My guess is not a great one. The thought process is often ‘that’s a bit rude’ or ‘it’s not that difficult to learn hello and goodbye’.

Exactly the same thought takes place in a business relationship because initial impressions count. Nevertheless how many English speakers who are building relationships with non English speaking countries take the time to learn hello or goodbye in the language. Even fewer bother to learn a few pleasantries and use them on the phone or face to face. The person who does that will stick out from the crowd and become human. It helps build and improve a relationship.

There is no need to become fluent in all the different languages that your customers speak. It is not possible and anyway English is recognized as the international language of business, but it is useful to remember that learning enough of a language to exchange pleasantries breaks through barriers and opens doors which might otherwise remain closed.

Clever use of some words and phrases in languages other than English is going to improve your personal relationships with foreign clients. Linguata would help.

By: Frank Middleton
Frank Middleton is a freelance author and writes occasional articles for www.linguata.com a site with a practical realistic and fast approach to learning words and phrases in a foreign language, using a combination of sophisticated testing and simple games.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Tuesday, November 07, 2006

FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: 5 MORE PRACTICAL TIPS

FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: 5 MORE PRACTICAL TIPS by Aaron Kuroiwa

In my previous article we discussed the basics of learning foreign languages. To supplement your experience we will go over 5 more practical language learning tips that you can apply easily in your daily life. These tips are to assist you in your already existing foreign language learning studies.

1. CARRY A DICTIONARY: I know that sounds hard to do. I'm not talking about carrying Webster's collegiate dictionary that would require its own backpack. You can find miniature dictionaries that can easily fit in your pocket or purse. Although it will never be convenient this is how I learned to speak French fluently. While I was in France anytime anyone said anything I didn't understand I could instantly look it up, and then use it in my vocabulary. Also, anytime there was a French word I wanted to say I could instantly look it up. This is so important because there are so many times when you are out and you want to know how to say something but are unable to. Then by the time you get home and can look it up you have either forgotten the word or forgotten altogether and you have missed out on a great opportunity to you improve your language skills. * One alternative that is also effective is to carry a pocket notebook where you can keep a running list of words you've learned or want to learn.

2. WATCH MOVIES: The great thing about English movies is that everyone wants them so that means they all get dubbed into a couple of languages. This may only work for French, German, Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, or Japanese but is still a great tool. Turn on the dubbing for the language your want to learn and enjoy your movie. Don't turn on the subtitles even if you don't understand because you will start to focus only on the subtitles and not gain anything from the experience. Subtitles can be a good tool for learners who are already advanced and want to learn the exact idiomatic meanings of sayings. This is also a great tool to increase your listening comprehension. Start a small segment of the movie. Listen carefully and then replay it over and over until you understand every word. Secondly, mimic the voices exactly in each segment. This will allow you to learn proper pronunciation and accent.

3. READ THE NEWSPAPER: There are several ways to get Newspapers, Magazines, and Comics in foreign languages. I mention these forms of print media because they are the most conversational. They will teach you to speak and write like a native does in their natural state, not when they are trying to speak in dramatic or intellectual terms. You can find these materials at libraries, online, or for languages like Spanish and Chinese often times at your local newsstand. Most of them are free. I prefer the online sources because they are always free and easy to get. You can find links to Newspapers in foreign languages here: http://www.letutor.com/resources . Comic books are great because they are the most conversational print material. You can see the people in action and connect with what they are talking about.

4. WRITE LETTERS: Even if the letter is pretend write a letter about your day. This will force you to learn new words and to think in the language. Although you WILL make mistakes, don't worry, it is all apart of the process. I look back at some of the things that I wrote when I was starting and wonder what I was thinking. Even though the writings are reminiscent of the ramblings of a crazy man it helped me to refine my abilities. I can see the progress in my writings month by month they improve significantly. Don't forget to pay attention to your Conjugations.

5. THINK THE LANGUAGE: Think as much as possible in the language. When you are thinking at anytime during the day do it as much as possible in the foreign language you are learning. Fill in the blanks with your native language but just keep thinking in the language. This is HUGELY important. One of the biggest problems when learning to speak a foreign language is HABIT. If you are not used to thinking in the language how will you speak. This will prepare you to be comfortable and confident when confronted with the opportunity to speak the language. If you make this a habit it eventually becomes natural and extemporaneous.

Stay tuned for more articles on improving your language skills in the near future. If you have questions or requests feel free to contact the author.

About the Author
About the Author: Aaron Kuroiwa is the Director of Le Tutor language services a language education provider to individuals and businesses. Le Tutor strives to make language learning effective and accessible to everyone. You can contact the author at: Aaron@letutor.com or visit his company website at: http://www.letutor.com.

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Monday, November 06, 2006

Learning Other Languages for Business Success

Learning Other Languages for Business Success

If you understand a language then you will understand to a large extent the culture that goes with it, and if you understand the culture you will pick up on subtleties that you might otherwise miss. In any negotiation or business relationship the more you understand about the needs and wants of the other party the more likely you are to be able to reach an advantageous outcome (for both sides). This is well recognized, but less widely taken into account is the favourable impression that speaking another language gives about you, and this is what I want to consider.

In the international business world of today the English speaker is at a disadvantage in this regard because the international language of business is English. If you are not a native English speaker the obvious language to learn is English, whereas if you are and you want to learn a new language where do you start? Spanish, Chinese, Japanese, Russian or French are just a few in no particular order which come to mind.

Naturally if you are going to learn a language for business purposes, the language you choose will depend primarily on where you do business. However, in this era of the internet, cheap flights and cheap telephone calls, it is common to establish business relationships world-wide.

It is not realistic to start learning multiple languages well, and so the interesting question is what strategies can be employed to maximise the possibility of foreign language use, with the aim of increased business success in a global market?

The answer is to learn enough of a language to be polite. The potential impact of this is rarely considered, but what impression do you have of a visitor to your country who does not speak a single word of English ? My guess is not a great one. The thought process is often ‘that’s a bit rude’ or ‘it’s not that difficult to learn hello and goodbye’.

Exactly the same thought takes place in a business relationship because initial impressions count. Nevertheless how many English speakers who are building relationships with non English speaking countries take the time to learn hello or goodbye in the language. Even fewer bother to learn a few pleasantries and use them on the phone or face to face. The person who does that will stick out from the crowd and become human. It helps build and improve a relationship.

There is no need to become fluent in all the different languages that your customers speak. It is not possible and anyway English is recognized as the international language of business, but it is useful to remember that learning enough of a language to exchange pleasantries breaks through barriers and opens doors which might otherwise remain closed.

Clever use of some words and phrases in languages other than English is going to improve your personal relationships with foreign clients. Linguata would help.

By: Frank Middleton
Frank Middleton is a freelance author and writes occasional articles for www.linguata.com a site with a practical realistic and fast approach to learning words and phrases in a foreign language, using a combination of sophisticated testing and simple games.

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Sunday, November 05, 2006

Spanish Translation Software: Reach more, Expand more

Spanish Translation Software: Reach more, Expand more by KarenForce

Spanish is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. In fact, Spanish is spoken by almost 400 million people in 21 different countries. While it is the official language of Spain and many Latin American countries, Spanish is understood across the world. Therefore, whether it's business, social welfare or any other pursuit, Spanish holds the potential of taking your communication across the world.

In the compressed global world of today, when communication has gained the status of all importance, you can hardly afford to ignore such a sizable segment of world population. This is part of the reason why companies and websites offering translation services have multiplied like never before. But the services of companies or human translators might prove to be too expensive if you have frequent and recurrent need for Spanish translations.

Websites that offer free translating service, on the other hand, are appropriate for short and non-elaborate translations. In fact these websites are ideal to learn new words in a different language or supplement other modes of translation.

So what choice do you have if you need Spanish translation on a day to day basis? As would be the case if you receive business queries in and corporate communications Spanish; or you have a website which receives significant amount of Spanish-speaking visitors; or you are a student who needs to understand Spanish documents. In all these cases you will require a mode of translation which is easy, hassle free and totally affordable.

This is where Spanish translation software comes in. Translation software is not only of the easiest and affordable ways of language translation, it is also one of the most efficient ones. The software works 24/7 and has the lowest costs per translation.

What can Spanish translation software do for you?

* Convert any text into a foreign language
* Translates e-mail message to/from a foreign language
* Translates letters, reports, and memos in a foreign language
* Translates training manuals and employee handbooks in a foreign language
* Perfect tool for converting web pages, Excel files, Microsoft Word and Power Point presentations and PDF files.

Truly Versatile

No matter what your requirements are, so long as it is Spanish translation, there is software that perfectly suits your needs. Spanish translation software is unparalleled when it comes to translating web pages, faxes, e-mail, spreadsheets, correspondence, business documents and letters too. It is also remarkably easy to use. You can work with the software inside Microsoft Office. All you have to do is open the document, choose the language and click the translate button. The document is translated to the preferred language almost instantly.

Highly accurate and fast too The software translators work within fraction of seconds and can be trained for high levels of accuracy. Generally, translation software can deliver high levels of "gisting" which means that the document may not be 100% accurately translated but you can make out what it is all about and spend little time editing and proofing. That is why training the software is one of the crucial determinants which differentiate a good from average software.

The speed of the software can be judged from the fact that it can translate a 250 word document in 30 minutes.

Getting around Spanish dialects

If you are looking for Spanish translation software, you will also have to get the issues related to Spanish dialects clarified. There are numerous dialects in Spanish, such as Mexican Spanish, Cuban Spanish, Puerto Rican Spanish and Latin American Spanish. There are also other dialects as Andalusian, Murcian, Aragonese, Navarrese, Leonese, and Canary Islands Spanish.

However the one dialect that is mostly used by Spanish translation software is Castillian Spanish, otherwise known as Neutral Spanish. This is the dialect that all official communication are created in, books, movies and radio programs are also created in this dialect. If you choose good translation software, you can train it to recognize different words from other dialects by building your own customized dictionaries and by building translation memory etc. Need a Mexican Spanish Translation? Just create an additional dictionary of those specific terms to localize the document.

karen Force makes it easy and provides a Spanish Translation Software which converts any text into an foreign language. To recieve the free part minicourse visit the Spanish translation softwarewebsite.

About the Author
The author is a translation specialist at Translation Software 4u. Translation Software 4u is trusted by people from world over for Spanish translation software offering software which combines affordability with accuracy; their products are well distinguished from hundreds of other software on offer.

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Saturday, November 04, 2006

The Pros and Cons of Teaching Abroad

The Pros and Cons of Teaching Abroad by Justin Burch

As it has been said, teaching abroad isn't for everybody. Each program you will encounter will require some prerequisites and the proper attitude, but will offer unique challenges and personal incentives to the right individual. Here is an impartial analysis of opportunities confronting both sides of the arguments you need to consider before deciding to teach abroad.

Beyond the opportunities for those able to teach within specialized disciplines, there is an incredible demand for TEFL (Teaching English as a Foreign Language) or ESL (English as a Second Language) teachers in non-English speaking nations. This demand coupled with job placement opportunities offered by TEFL certificate programs and school groups makes finding a foreign teaching job easier than you think. On the other hand, you must consider that many of the fulltime teaching jobs require Bachelor's degrees and TEFL certificates are a must if you are serious about making a career of teaching in foreign countries. The qualifications will obviously depend upon the employer, but a college degree and relevant experience will help you land the right job for you.

Most exciting for some when considering teaching abroad is the opportunity to educate one's self. Being able to live in foreign country, learn the language, study the culture firsthand and travel on days off is something that many dream of, but few are able to realize. You will be exposed to new food, music and customs but still have e-mail to relay your astonishing experiences back home. Yet, if you have difficulty leaving the comforts of your home or can't live without a particular American item, this sense of awe could easily become an unbearable sense of culture shock. You must also realize that teaching is a fulltime job that requires incredible patience and commitment. While most positions don't represent permanent employment, they also aren't vacations. Though the right surroundings can make your experience worthwhile, you shouldn't select your travel location based on sightseeing aspirations.

Considering the financial aspect, it is possible to earn more than enough money to live comfortably and travel during free time while teaching abroad. The income will obviously be contingent upon many factors, including the location of the school and your qualifications. When deciding where to study abroad, you must first consider your destination's cost of living. Calculate your expected personal expenses, both here and abroad. Then, see if any programs cover the cost of housing, insurance and utilities while teaching. The difficulty here lies in the fact that it may be difficult in some situations to pay any of your bills back home with a modest salary. Also, as most of these positions are temporary they lack the job security and advancement possibilities one might have at home.

One thing taken for granted by many before teaching abroad is the possibility to meet and interact with interesting people unlike anyone at home. You will develop lasting friendships and important professional relationships while teaching everyone from young children to corporate executives. Many teachers take great pride in the fact that their students stay in contact years after returning home.
Despite this fact, you may also experience a distinct sense of isolation while teaching abroad. This detachment from the known world allows many to focus wholeheartedly on teaching while forgetting previous worries; the experience can easily be eye-opening and enriching if the proper motivation exists. When necessary, many teachers even like the added challenge of developing their own curriculum with limited supplies or English language materials. But there will come days when you will simply want to go home. Based on where you are teaching, you may find yourself surrounded by poverty or difficult political circumstances, struggling to adapt to the foreign language and culture. Maybe you will lose patience with your students or find the program to be boring and repetitive. At times like these, you must remember that most teaching opportunities require a contract and if you choose to abandon your requirements, you might never find a similar job again.
In summation, the most important thing to realize when considering teaching abroad is that one person's pro may be another's con. Everyone's experience will be unique, as each opportunity requires special skills and returns different rewards. If you find the right position for yourself, firm commitment and motivation may easily overcome many of the cons mentioned here.

About the Author
This article was written by Justin Burch. Justin writes selcet pieces about teaching abroad for TIEonline.

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Friday, November 03, 2006

Different Styles of Learning Other Languages

Different Styles of Learning Other Languages

We shall discuss the most popular styles of learning which should be selected by foreign language learners according to their abilities and preferences. These styles are: language analyzing and research; language detailed cramming; language imitation; vital conversations with native speakers involvement; language vocabulary cramming; language difficulties conquering and language remembering.

Language analyzing and research is very long-term learning process which consumes much thinking and reading. For example, language analyzers may concentrate on comparing their native language with the language learnt to define the similarities and differences. They would make numerous tables and schemes to demonstrate their research and analysis. Next, they would start learning language from similar or different points comparing with native language. The only advantage of this style is that you see the other language in the root which helps you comprehend foreign language as the whole and integral system.

Language crammers would never speak aloud because they concentrate on grammar tiny details and differences, such as prepositions, pronunciation etc. But they would never have a chance to demonstrate their brilliant knowledge of such tiny details because they would always be afraid of being ashamed in their imperfect knowledge of grammar or something else. The only advantage of this style is that you should learn how to use language correctly.
Language imitators are learners who would not prefer sitting at routine and boring study. They try to find foreign language fun and easy. The most popular way of language imitative learning is repeating foreign phrases and sentences simply without thinking. It is the easiest way of learning: you just turn on your tape recorder and repeat what foreign speakers are talking about. The only advantage of this style is that you are involved in foreign environment subconsciously and would not lose yourself even if you did not understand anything you hear.

Vital conversations are very effective way to remember new vocabulary. Moreover, you can choose the vocabulary which would be most useful for you and remember just needful words. Usually vital learners would find native speakers and make them friends in order to communicate with them in areas of their interest. You will learn foreign vocabulary very quickly. Such active learners would never be ashamed in their lack of knowledge. However, there is a little possibility to learn language correctly.

Foreign vocabulary crammers adore making lists of unknown words and remember them all the time. They use various word games and concentrate on vocabulary so that they would forget about grammar. Moreover, they would never start speaking – the more words they learn the less confidence in language comprehension they would have. The only advantage of this style is that you can perceive the language vocabulary even much better than native speakers do!

Language conquers would be eager to divide their learning into different tasks they have to perform. They would find various difficulties in foreign language and rush to conquer the difficulties. They view learning foreign language as the war game where you should find your enemy and fight it. Playing games are very useful as it makes learning process funny. However, you would lose the priorities.

Language remembers would strive to remember foreign language from their childhood and schooling. Their style of learning is ‘I knew this some time ago, let me remember it.’ The good question to be asked to them is: Are you confident you remember correct things?

All of the styles mentioned above have their own unique advantages and the foreign language perfect learner should combine all of them to be proud of his knowledge of foreign language.

By: Sharon White
The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White has many years of a vast experience in Essay Writing and custom essays writing consulting. Get free samples of essays and courseworks and buy essays .


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Wednesday, November 01, 2006

Internet Trips That Perfect Your Foreign Language

Internet Trips That Perfect Your Foreign Language by Michael Gabrikow

It has been stated on numerous occasions and in most specialty books and courses that the best way to learn and to build up foreign language skills is to live in an environment where other languages are constantly present. The most obvious choice would be to visit or even move in a country that speaks that particular language but this often involves great costs and requires that you sacrifice a hefty amount of time for the trip (staying there for 2-3 days won't help too much, obviously). However, there is an alternative that can get you surrounded by the language you're learning without involving the costs and time requirements of actually visiting a foreign country: the so called "Internet Trips".

Internet trips will have you surfing the Internet for a learning location that is completely covered with the foreign language of choice. Using your favorite search engine, you could type in a common phrase in that language and click through the various sites resulted, in search of one that has some interesting information to read, view or listen to. If possible, try looking for a site that is completely built in that language, with as little English as possible. You need to feel "abroad" on this site, so it needs to be as foreign as possible in what regards its content.

Forums are also a great place to arrange an e-trip on. It doesn't really matter what the forum's subject is, as long as everyone or most of the participants in the discussions on are speakers of the language you're learning. Getting involved in the discussions, or even simply reading what others have to say about a subject will boost your vocabulary and general knowledge of that language. However, please note that it's a common fact for forum users to use slang, grammatically incorrect expressions or even common spelling mistakes.

The third option is to visit a "live chat" channel using one of the various programs designed for this purpose, or programs that offer live chat channels as an addition to their real purpose. Amongst such programs, we can include the IRC, DC and all of their variations. Visiting such channels gives you a chance to dynamically engage in conversations with native speakers of the language you're learning, but the same hindrance as in the above mentioned forum case remains: grammar and spelling are often sacrificed in favor of faster typing or simply commodity on these channels. Not to mention that sometimes the chat can get overly trivial for no reason, so you might be building on the wrong side of the vocabulary :).

This said, I wish you a safe journey. If you're after a more focused location for the language learning subject, you can skim through the numerous sites offering such services. If you find the language you're learning amongst those covered by these sites, try combining them with the above mentioned methods to get a better overall experience of your trip :).

About the Author
Increase your foreign language vocabulary at http://www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Monday, October 30, 2006

Learning Other Languages To Create A Bilingual Household

Learning Other Languages To Create A Bilingual Household by Michael Gabrikow

Learning a new language as a family can be a wonderful and rewarding thing to do, especially if you have small children at home. For them, learning at smaller ages will be much easier than learning later in life. It will also be more rewarding for you, as a family to be able to have that extra cultural exposure that another language makes available to you. Most children will grow up learning both languages naturally, at the same time if they are used constantly near him. However, if you want to speed up the process or make it more effective, there are several techniques that you can try out.

For example, there are many online programs that can assist you with learning a new language for yourself as well as making the process fun through the use of games for the entire family. In addition to the ability or need to memorize words, you will find that these online programs will actually teach you to analyze and choose the correct words in the first place. This is done through the use of flash cards, matching games, word scrambles, and tons of other games that make the learning process seem much less like learning and much more like fun.

If you are having fun learning something, chances are that your children will wish to learn as well. Keep reminding them how fun it will be to travel to the land of the language and speak like a native or go out to dinner in a new town and pretend to be foreign by only speaking to each other in the language you've learned. Not to mention the fun they will have on the school bus when no one else really understands what they are saying.

Raising a bilingual family in today's world has many benefits that go far beyond knowing a second language. In addition to the languages learned you are increasing their ability to learn more languages, as each subsequent language is easier to learn. While at a young age, children may have a tendency to mix languages or switch back and forth that is something that will occur less frequently in time.

The process of creating a bilingual household also requires a considerable amount more effort on the part of the parents. Not only are you learning a new language and committing to learning it well enough to teach to your children and speak on a regular basis, but you are also committing your child to another language as well. This can be confusing to him or her at times and overwhelming at others. Be careful that you don't overload them, which may cause them to stop speaking all together and that you are patient with them offering support and kind words when needed. This is one of the greatest gifts you can give your children and they will understand that in time.

About the Author
Increase your foreign language vocabulary at http://www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Friday, October 27, 2006

Techniques for Teaching Other Languages

Techniques for Teaching Other Languages
By: Sharon White

This does not mean we should start study language when we are adults, however adults are much easier to motivate and interest in language learning. At the same time children have fresh memory, quick comprehension abilities and more free time to study language effectively.

Thus, there is the question: at what age should the language be taught best?
Language should be taught at any age, but teaching techniques much vary depending on learners age. Teaching language for younger pupils should not focus on future motivation, such as importance of foreign language for jobs and careers and better salaries. Children are not interested in their future, they enjoy their present. Thus, it would be useful to introduce children the language’s country and its culture. Here the comparison lessons would be perfect way to interest the children. Such lessons are very helpful to give children much new vocabulary which can be remembered easily during the lesson. For example, Christmas vocabulary can be easily introduced through the lesson where the teacher compares how Christmas is celebrated in England and children’s native country. It is better to perform comparison lesson by questioning children about their Christmas traditions while talking about English Christmas. Ask children to sing the songs or declare the poems they usually hear at Christmas, then give them English songs and poems to compare. If children find some differences in songs and poems, try to explain these differences by different cultural and historical background of England and children’s native country. The more children are taught about foreign country the more they are interested in learning it because some time later they will be able to visit it!

Teaching adults varies greatly as adults have strong motivation and clear goals of learning foreign language. Most often they start learning foreign language because they need it for their career or business needs (travel, foreign partners etc.) Thus, they want to learn language easily and quickly as they do not have much free time. Adult teaching should focus on tips of how to comprehend the language themselves. While teaching adults foreign language teachers should spend a few minutes by explaining how to learn vocabulary, comprehend grammar and practice new information. The effect would be better if adult learners could teach language to themselves. Here the teacher should be an advisor and an assistant rather than a teacher. If you are able to give your adult students learning tips in order to use them for foreign language learning you will definitely be proud of your students in a future.

The article was produced by the writer of masterpapers.com. Sharon White is a senior writer and writers consultant at term papers. Get some useful tips for thesis and buy term papers .

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Tuesday, October 24, 2006

Early Childhood Is Best for Learning Other Languages

Early Childhood Is Best for Learning Other Languages by Michael Gabrikow

We all know the importance of play in early childhood and research shows that childhood is the best time to learn new languages. For this reason alone, the Internet has a great deal to offer young children developing foreign language skills. By using flashcards and matching games, children are able to build their vocabulary skills and memorize words according to the picture they belong to. Children love to play games and education can go hand in hand with the games they play. This is indeed a great combination of factors that can lead to a solid foundation for a child's language learning skills.

You cannot simply learn basic language concepts - learning to read is an added bonus. By reading recreationally in another language you are building, perhaps the greatest skills in that language and fostering a love of reading at the same time. The best of all worlds really as so much gets lost in the translation of great literature. Reading in and of itself is a great vocabulary builder in any language. As you come across a word you don't know the meaning of, look it up in the dictionary. You've just improved your vocabulary without even going to too much effort. Even if you can't be bothered to look up its exact meaning, you will be able to deduce it from the context on most occasions. This is even more important to children, who will form up a solid vocabulary early on (they'll improve their native language vocabulary at the same time as they improve the foreign language one).

You can find free online courses in many different languages. While these courses are meant to be used along with formal language lessons, they are still a great source of knowledge and education about other languages. I highly encourage you to take it one step further though and actually study the culture of the people whose language you are learning. It is so much more interesting when you can put faces to the words you are hearing.

Childhood is by far the best time to learn a foreign language. By teaching and encouraging your child about other languages and cultures you are opening the doors of the world of learning and understanding to them. Take care that you make the process fun and game like so they will wish to continue their language studies and perhaps some day surpass the lessons you are able to provide them with. If you can give your child one gift a love of learning is the best gift you can offer. Foster it early and promote it often. Your child should be successful in every endeavor with these early lessons.
About the Author

Increase your foreign language vocabulary at http://www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Monday, October 23, 2006

Special Techniques for Studying Other Languages

Special Techniques for Studying Other Languages by Kathy Steinemann

Studying for an exam can be a nail-biting ordeal. However, foreign languages require a slightly different approach than many other subjects. Here are some tips that will help you score higher on your next test. Many of the tips can be applied to other fields of study as well.

* Prepare Well in Advance *

Don't procrastinate until the night before a test to crack open your notes and textbooks. Careful preparation can save last-minute anxiety and pressure.

Even if you have a good command of English sentence structure and rules, you should purchase a comprehensive grammar textbook. An excellent knowledge of your own language will make any foreign tongue easier to learn.

Whether you find it on the internet or in a library, make sure that you have access to some foreign language prose. Short stories in parallel translation are an excellent choice. Spend a few minutes every day reading. Be sure to say each word aloud or whisper the words as you speak. This will reinforce foreign language speech patterns.

Familiarize yourself with the pronunciation and syllable emphasis of unknown words. To accomplish this, you *must* have a high-quality foreign language dictionary.

Whenever you encounter unfamiliar lesson material, skim through it and make mental note of new grammatical concepts and vocabulary. Then go through it again, slowly and comprehensively.

Prepare your written assignments as soon as you receive them. The time interval between preparation and due date will allow you to reflect on what you have done, making corrections and revisions, and thereby receiving a higher mark.

If you are experiencing difficulty with specific words or phrases, develop a mental-image jogger. For example, if you cannot remember that the German word for 'crow' (die Krähe) is feminine, think of a big black crow with large red lips and curly blonde hair. The more outrageous the image, the more likely you will be to remember the material.

Try preparing your own self-quizzes. The entire process is educational, and will quickly reinforce your learning.

Save every piece of paper handed out in class. What seems inconsequential at first may later prove to be of great value.

* Capitalize on Empty Time *

How much time do you spend watching television? Every hour of North American TV contains about 20 minutes of commercials. Don't raid the fridge or daydream during commercial breaks - study! Amazingly, your brain will correlate these sandwiched breaks with material you are watching on the tube, and your learning will progress - even during the 40 minutes per hour of viewing time.

If you spend more than a few minutes every day on bus or subway commutes, be sure to take along some study notes. Even in 'standing room only' you can often accomplish a few minutes of effective studying with a clipboard and a few pages of vocabulary printouts.

* Forget the Last-Minute Rush *

Ensure that your notes are *always* up-to-date. Spending a few minutes daily hitting the books is much more effective than last-minute cramming. Not only will you be less stressed, but the knowledge is more likely to remain with you over the long term.

Reviewing notes just before bedtime works well. Your brain is adept at collating, correlating, and filing while you sleep.

* 24 Hours Before the Examination *

The night before your exam, go to bed on time and get a good sleep. If you have some information rolling around in your head that is likely to keep you awake, jot it down and review it the following morning.

Just before you write your exam, eat a light meal that has a good combination of carbohydrates (for immediate brain glucose) and protein (for delayed glucose release). Try something like a whole-grain bagel with ham accompanied by a piece of fresh fruit. Go easy on the coffee and soda. A full bladder during an exam can be uncomfortable and extremely distracting. (Don't forget to use the restroom before sitting down at your desk!)

* Get organized - right now - and you will be rewarded with higher marks on your next quiz or test.

About the Author
More helpful language advice: http://www.a-language-guide.com/ can be found at A Language Guide, as well as German-English short stories in parallel translation: http://www.a-language-guide.com/german-short-stories/ - or check this page: http://www.triple1.com/free-articles.htm for links to more free articles and content for your website.

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Sunday, October 22, 2006

Learning Other Languages Key In Higher Education

Learning Other Languages Key In Higher Education by Michael Gabrikow

Learning a new language can be frightening, exciting, fun, and unfortunately sometimes boring. Taking free language lessons makes the boring part of that equation obsolete by using games, flash cards, and word scrambles in order to help you memorize words and learn vocabulary. It's not that hard to prove that if you're learning something by having fun, you will assimilate a lot more information (in this case grammar, spelling, vocabulary, etc) than if you would simply learn it "the hard way".

Having fun while learning is a great way to build your marketability, not only in the career world but also the collegiate world. You will qualify for far more study abroad programs if you can speak the language of the land you will be visiting for a semester or summer term of your educational experience. Taking free language lessons online through many of the great language learning programs available can also help you brush up on your vocabulary and memorize words by having you play educational games and use flashcards. This is better than taking a new course in a language simply to improve your existing skills or walking around with a dictionary handy at all times.

In addition to study abroad programs, language skills are necessary for entrance into many graduate school programs. Some programs, even require fluency in not one, but two foreign languages. The good news is that once you've learned one new language, learning another language is easier. If the two languages share a common lexical foundation (such as Slavic, Latin, Anglo-Saxon languages) then it will be even easier to "jump" from one of them to the other. The even better news is that with these free online programs you can learn as many new languages as you would like.

If you are planning to take your LSAT online, free practice tests can be found here as well as. You can also find bilingual legal dictionaries on CD format if you know where to look. This will help those who are learning English as a second language and hope to attend law school as well as those who simply need to learn American laws for the sake of legal work they are doing in other countries.

For the sake of education, learning a foreign language is becoming less of an option and more of a requirement. In addition to learning about other languages and cultures during the course of studying new languages, you also learn a great deal more about your own language and culture as well as how the world views you, often by default. There are very few things you can learn that will have as great of an impact on your life as a new language.

About the Author
Increase your foreign language vocabulary at http://www.InternetPolyglot.com by playing online games. The site contains thousands of lessons in different languages from English, Spanish, French, Russian to Hindi, Turkish, Ukrainian and many others.

You Can Learn Other Languages - Click here to see just how easy it is with this system.

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Friday, October 20, 2006

Other Languages and How We Learn Them

Other Languages and How We Learn Them by Sharon White

All people can obtain additional languages; however, there should be desire to acquire the language and the opportunity to use it for real communicative purposes. In this essay, I will try to discuss second language acquisition theories: compare and contrast L1 and L2 acquisition, introduce some key points, such as internal factors which include innatism/universal grammar, internal theories, to be specific I will discuss them in Krashen's acquisition, monitor, input, affective filter ways. Additional, as a language learner I will describe my own beliefs about language leaning.

First of all, research on language acquisition can be divided into first and second language learning settings. Language is not a mental phenomenon, it is behavior. Like other forms of human behavior, it is learnt by a process of habit-formation, in which the main components are. Activities require mature thought processes which stimulate and motivate adult minds Adults generally need patience and repetition to solidify new language concepts or skills. For myself learning, I enjoy materials that relate to my personal experiences and interests, and also tend to have a lot on my minds and limited time to practice English outside the classroom. Second language acquisition is a theoretical and experimental field of study which, like first language acquisition studies, seeks to understand the phenomenon of language development, in this case the acquisition of second languages. More recently, studies have shown that there are similarities and differences between first and second language learning. Often, our increased knowledge of first language acquisition has served as a backcloth for perceiving and understanding new facts about second language learning. In addition, first language learning is most relevant to child development while second language learning pertains primarily to adult learning, although most general theories of language learning apply to both. While it is not clear whether different psychological processes are involved in first and second language learning, there are differences in the way children and adults learn and this has important implications. Theories of adult learning and literacy are more likely to provide an appropriate framework for second language learning compared to those concerned with child development. It seems obvious that the advantage for adults is that having developed all the skills necessary to learn a language, such as understanding semantic relations and grammatical sensitivity develop with age. Especially in the areas of vocabulary and language structure, adults are actually better language learners than children. Older learners have more highly developed cognitive systems, are able to make higher order associations and generalizations, and can integrate new language input with their already substantial learning experience.

Secondly, this is a brief description of Krashen's widely known and well accepted theory of second language acquisition. Krashen's theory of second language acquisition consists of five main hypotheses: Acquisition-Learning, Monitor, Natural Order, Input, and Affective Filter.

The Acquisition-Learning distinction is the most basic of all the hypotheses in Krashen's theory. According to Krashen there are two ways to develop knowledge of second language: "Acquisition" and "Learning". Acquisition is the product of a subconscious process very similar to the process children undergo when they acquire their first language. It requires meaningful interaction in natural communication where the focus is on meaning. "Learning" is the product of formal instruction and it comprises a conscious process which results in conscious knowledge about the language, for example knowledge of grammar rules.

The Monitor hypothesis is focus on the relationship between acquisition and learning and defines the role of grammar. According to Krashen, the acquisition system is the utterance initiator, while the learning system performs the role of the "monitor" or the "editor". The "monitor" acts in a planning, editing and correcting function when three specific conditions are met which means the second language learner has sufficient time at learners focuses on form or thinks about correctness, and they knows the rule.

The Input hypothesis is Krashen's attempt to explain how the learner acquires a second language. So, the Input hypothesis is only concerned with "acquisition", not "learning". According to this hypothesis, the learner improves and progresses along the "natural order" when learners receive second language "input" that is one step beyond learners' current stage of linguistic competence.

Finally, the Affective Filter hypothesis, that a number of 'affective variables' play a facilitative, but non-causal, role in second language acquisition. These factors include: motivation, self-confidence and anxiety. Krashen claims that learners with high motivation, self-confidence, a good self-image, and a low level of anxiety are better in second language acquisition. Low motivation, low self-esteem, and debilitating anxiety can combine to 'raise' the affective filter and form a 'mental block' that prevents comprehensible input from being used for acquisition. In other words, when the filter is 'up' it impedes language acquisition. On the other hand, positive affect is necessary, but not sufficient on its own, for acquisition to take place.

Moreover, Universal grammar is a theory of linguistics postulating that all languages have underlying principles of grammar. These underlying principles are said to be innate to all human beings. Studies show that the order in which a language is learned by children in terms of syntax and morphemes, for example is highly similar in many cases between L1 and L2, that in fact the so called errors that a child makes in learning English as a second language are similar to those of a child learning English as L1. In fact, even if the UG hypothesis is correct for L1leanrning, there are still a number of logical possibilities concerning its role in L2 learning.

1. No access hypothesis: UG is not involved in L2 acquisition, it based on age, and L2 learners have to resort to more general problem-solving skill.

2. Full access hypothesis: UG is accessed directly in L2 acquisition, and L1 and L2 acquisition are basically similar processes, the differences observed being due to the difference in cognitive maturity and in the needs of the learner.

3. Indirect access hypothesis: UG is not directly involved in L2 acquisition, but it is indirectly accessed via the L1. Therefore, there will be just one instantiation of UG which will be available to the L2 learner, with the parameters already fixed to the settings which apply in the L1.

4. Partial access hypothesis: some aspects of UG are still available and others not, for examples, principles might still available, but some parameter settings might not.

Furthermore, the Natural Order hypothesis is based on research findings which suggested that the acquisition of grammatical structures follows a 'natural order' which is predictable. For a given language, some grammatical structures tend to be acquired early while others late. This order seemed to be independent of the learners' age, L1 background, conditions of exposure, and although the agreement between individual acquirers was not always 100% in the studies, there were statistically significant similarities that reinforced the existence of a Natural Order of language acquisition. Krashen however points out that the implication of the natural order hypothesis should be based on the order found in the studies. In fact, he rejects grammatical sequencing when the goal is language acquisition.

Second language acquisition has more theories, acquisition order and developmental sequences: silent period, formulaic speech, natural order of acquisition, sequence of acquisition to formal instruction and error analysis. I do as the way I have learned. From my learning experience, error analysis is an interested acquisition in second language. Analysis did not seem to be borne out in practice. I was finding out in the classroom that constructions that were different in pairs of languages were not necessarily difficult, and that constructions that were similar in two languages were not necessarily easy either. Moreover, difficulty sometimes occurred in one direction in one direction but not the other .For example: the placement of unstressed object pronouns in English and Chinese differs: whereas English says I like them very much, Chinese says I very much like them. This was the origin of error analysis of mine. However, error encourages my language learning. In my opinion, developmental sequence is one of the most important acquisitions in second language.

To sum up, the evidences show that second language learners use creative strategies which are not dissimilar from those used by first language learners. It is true that children appear to acquire a second language faster than adults, but many adults have attained a high level of fluency in a foreign language. These studies indicate that attaining a working ability to communicate in a new language may actually be easier and more rapid for the adult than for the child. As an adult language learner, I believe that adults are not too old to learn a second language well and second language acquisition theories are helping me to improve my L2 knowledge.

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Thursday, October 19, 2006

Improve your vacation with 100 foreign language words

Improve your vacation with 100 foreign language words

By: Frank Middleton

It is often said that English speakers don’t learn other languages, and it is difficult to deny that there is a fair degree of truth in this.

However, let’s be fair, often it is not necessary because ‘everyone speaks English’ or wants to practice it. Equally, if you speak English and you want to learn another language it is not obvious which should you choose. Spanish, Chinese, French ? You can’t learn everything and so whatever country you visit there will be the inevitable temptation to speak in English.

But even if it is not essential to learn another language, and you are put off because everyone speaks English anyway, you can learn some simple words and phrases with a simple change of mindset. It is always useful, people are more friendly when you make an effort, and it does become easier to see less touristy sites.

Decide to learn one hundred words and phrases in total before you travel.

The intention of learning only maybe one hundred foreign words and phrases is not the traditional approach to language learning which has much more emphasis on becoming ‘good’ at languages. But times change and we change with them. Cheap global travel means that it is quite usual to visit multiple countries with multiple languages spoken. It is quite possible that you are not going to visit the same country the year after year. This means that you can’t possibly attain a high level of competence for each language spoken in all the countries you visit, but you can definitely learn one hundred words. Why not have a goal of learning one hundred words and a few phrases whenever you visit a country with a different language spoken?

Cheap flights allow us to travel more widely, and give us more opportunities to dabble with languages. Learning a foreign language well is difficult and time consuming but learning a few simple words is not, and it is amazing how far you can get with please, thank you, yes, no etc. It is far easier to start learning a language than to attain conversational ability and there is a fast rate of progress when only learning a few words.

If you decide to set yourself this achievable goal you will get more out of your holiday wherever you visit. To see the truth in this you just have to consider how you view of a visitor to your country who doesn’t even know how to say please and thank-you in English. Are you impressed ? Is it any different when English speakers travel abroad. Not really. Linguata would help.

Frank Middleton is a freelance author and writes occasional articles for www.linguata.com a site with a practical realistic and fast approach to learning words and phrases in a foreign language, using a combination of sophisticated testing and simple games.

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Wednesday, October 04, 2006

Why Should I Learn Other Languages?

Why Should I Learn Other Languages?

By: Kathy Steinemann

More and more software programs, electronic devices, and websites devoted to foreign languages are being developed daily. Why all the excitement? Why would YOU want to learn a foreign language?

Job Advancement - Get the Competitive Edge

Many large corporations and government agencies have positions requiring a second language. In a country like Canada, which is officially bilingual, someone who knows both French and English will have better employment prospects.

Travel

Travel to a foreign country can be exciting - and also very exasperating if you can't understand the local speech. Many North Americans are somewhat egocentric in this regard, expecting to find English spoken no matter where they are. Although this is sometimes true in larger cities, don't expect to find English-speakers in small communities.

Relatives

The world is a melting pot of cultures and languages. You probably have living relatives in other countries with whom you could communicate more effectively if you took the effort to learn at least a few words.

Genealogy Research

Some of your ancestors probably spoke a different language. If you plan to search old genealogical records, you will be more successful with at least a basic understanding of your ancestors' language(s).

Understanding Your Own Language

Johann Wolfgang von Goethe once said, 'Wer fremde Sprachen nicht kennt, weiß nichts von seiner eigenen.' or 'Those who don't know foreign languages know nothing of their own.' Learning a foreign language will give you a much better understanding of English. Your knowledge of English grammar, vocabulary, verb tenses, and sentence construction will improve when you tackle another language.

Self-Actualization and Challenge

If you've already been everywhere and done everything - perhaps it's time to tackle something new. What could be more challenging and rewarding than immersing yourself in another language?

Opera, Poetry, and Prose Appreciation

Artistic works written in a different language often cannot be fully appreciated when translated into English. This is especially obvious when listening to poetry. If poetry is translated into English with a preserved rhyming scheme, the meaning of the poetry is almost always altered. Being able to listen to the original language - with its subtle tones and nuances - will lend to a greater appreciation of the artist.

Culture Appreciation

One can only truly comprehend a foreign culture if the language is also understood. Exactly what is 'Bratwurst' or 'Calvados'? And what about foreign films? Wouldn't you like to be able to watch something with subtitles - and skip reading them?

Invigorate the Brain

Adults benefit from the brain stimulation produced by language training. Seniors who tackle a foreign language show improved brain function over a period of time. Students who learn foreign languages as children score better on academic tests. There is also evidence to suggest that they may be more creative and resourceful when faced with solving complex tasks.

Learning Teaches You How to Learn

The self discipline and study habits acquired through successful acquisition of a foreign language can be applied to many other aspects of your life.

Studying Abroad

What better way to learn about a country's culture than to study there? This requires an excellent command of the local language.

Communicate With Someone Secretly in Public

Imagine chatting in public with a friend about something private, knowing that only your friend understands!

Make Online Penpals and Friends

The internet is transforming our world into an intimate global village where you can chat via e-mail, forums, live chat sessions, and audio/video feeds.

Impress a Date?

In closing - male or female - you will make points with your bilingual date by learning a few important words. If your date doesn't speak a foreign language, he or she will be impressed by the enchanting allure of intimate expressions in one of the 'romance' languages.

So - what are you waiting for? Get learning!

Kathy Steinemann is a webmaster who writes for: * 111 Travel Directory * 1000 Tips 4 Trips * A-Language-Guide

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Tuesday, October 03, 2006

Learn To Speak Other Languages - Top 15 Reasons To Learn Spanish Now

Learn To Speak Spanish - Top 15 Reasons To Start Now by Ferenc Szorcsik

If you want to get on in today's world, speaking just English is not enough anymore. It really pays of to speak another language. Reasons to learn it can be practical, intellectual, aspirational or even sentimental, but it clearly helps to have a clear idea of why you are learning.

Below you can find 15 reasons to learn Spanish. Pick your own ones.

1) To speak with more than 500 million people worldwide and over 40 million in the USA who speak Spanish. It is the second most widely spoken language in the world.

2) To enjoy ALL the channels on your cable TV :)

3) To say hello (hola) to your neighbor. Nowadays you can find Spanish-speaking people throughout the United States, not just in the Mexican border states.

4) To order a meal in a real Mexican restaurant with no help.

5) To be able to communicate with your Spanish-speaking co-workers.

6) To secure your job. Bilingual people have more career choices. If you happen to work in the healthcare industry or in education your career opportunities will expand significantly. And of course, it looks great on a resume.

7) To enjoy traveling in Spain, Mexico, Cuba, Chile, Argentina, Colombia, Venezuela, Peru, Ecuador, Dominican Republic, El Salvador, Honduras, Guatemala, Costa Rica, Uruguay, Puerto Rico, Panama, etc. Traveling these countries speaking English only is possible, but speaking Spanish opens up new doors and let's you experience new things.

8) Because learning Spanish is fun! You can experience new music, food, movies, & much much more.

9) To make new friends among people who don't speak English.

10) Spanish is one of the easiest foreign languages to learn. Much of its vocabulary is similar to English's. Moreover, it gives you a solid base to learn other Latin-based languages such as French and Italian.

11) To be able to enjoy one of the warmest and richest culture on earth, the Latino culture.

12) To develop your creativity - language stimulates your imagination. Every language has its own expressions and ideas that other languages simply don't have.

13) To help you improve your thinking skills. Speaking another language means seeing the world in another way too.

14) To help others around you who may not speak English.

15) Last but not least, to age more slowly. Studies show that by learning a new language you can halt the age-related decline in your mental functions.
Learning Spanish is fun, brings you new experiences and new friends, so the sooner you start, the better... go ahead!
About the Author

Ferenc Szorcsik has been studying languages since he was 7. Besides English, he speaks French, Hungarian and Serb fluently. Based on this knowledge, he founded www.LanguageCourseReview.com where you will find the reviews of the best Spanish Language Softwares only. Visit the site and take the free trials!

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