 |
Brief Guide to How to Go About Learning Languages |
Learning a language shouldn't be difficult. Infants do it without trying - and appear to enjoy the process. Language-learning seems to get more difficult with age, but that's partly because we close off our natural ability to absorb language. Also our expectations increase: we seem to want to be able to go from first steps to mastery in a matter of weeks - rather than the eight or more years that it takes a child to learn its first language.
Seeking mastery and perfection will only lead to frustration. There are countless stages along the path to mastery, each of which is a valid goal in itself. So first and foremost you should ask yourself:
|
| Examine your intentions |
Here are some reasons why you might want to learn another language; each requires a slightly different approach and level of commitment:
|
| Holiday languages |
| All you may want to do is 'get by' when on holiday: to shop, find your way, know what's on a menu, and to show willing (virtually all nations love you to make some effort with their language). You can get by in a foreign language with remarkably little. All you need is a knowledge of the standard greetings, please and thank-you, directions, numbers, colours, and other basic vocabulary. You can then speak a kind of pidgin or market language - the traditional basis of trade between two language communities. If you say: 'We leave tomorrow. I pay now. How much three tickets?' it may not sound elegant, but it is easily enough understood. You can pick up this level of language from phrase books, from the introductions to languages at the back of guidebooks, and from websites (see for example www.word2word.com). They are a good start. You can take it one step further by buying basic language courses specially designed for holiday travel. These are often accompanied by tapes or CDs, which will introduce you to how the language sounds, and get you practising pronunciation. Online courses offer text and audio help simultaneously (see for example www.bbc.co.uk/languages). Remember: when you're on holiday, don't be shy! Have a bash - even if you know only a few basic phrases. Making mistakes is all part of language-learning. Just making the effort is usually warmly appreciated. |
| Teach yourself |
| You can take your language skills to the next level with teach-yourself courses. Again, these usually consist of a mixture of written material accompanied by tapes or CDs, or online courses. Courses are also available on DVD and CD-ROM. Look out also for TV language courses; these can be excellent for creating the context in which the language is spoken. Taking on a course is quite a commitment, so it is vital to choose one that suits you. Be warned: some courses are not well constructed and as dry as dust. You want a course that you can enjoy, and which is the right level for you, otherwise your enthusiasm will wane and your expensive box-set will sit on a shelf gathering dust (the fate of so many language courses!) Ask your friends if they have any recommendations, or check reviews on the Internet. And remember, because you pay more, it doesn't mean you'll necessarily get better quality. |
| Attending courses |
|
Language learning requires application. You've got to work at it: it doesn't happen by osmosis! One of the key advantages of attending classroom-based language courses (for instance at adult education centres) is the enforced discipline. Sign up, and you'll feel under obligation to turn up at the appointed time, regularly - and to do the homework that is necessary to keep up. Classmates also provide healthy competition. And, of course, you will have the advantage of a teacher who can guide you, give you feedback, answer your questions, help you with pronunciation, and so on. Equivalents are also available online, this is never quite the same as the real classroom experience.
Again: be careful to choose the course that is appropriate for you, and delivers the right level and content. A massive range of courses is available, from intermediate and advanced courses for travellers, to specialist language courses for people working in law, communications, medicine and so on. |
| Immersion |
|
Courses, CDs and TV language-teaching programmes will all help you to progress. But you can also gain a lot by casual encounters with your chosen language, through magazines and newspapers, foreign-language films, and TV network programmes. Look for material that relates to subjects that intrigue you: pop music, celebrities, sport, whatever.
If you can find a radio station that broadcasts in your language, put it on when you're in the kitchen or driving a car. Or look for radio stations online. You probably won't understand everything, but don't worry: you'll get an ear for the accent and the rhythms of the language, and for the kind of common exchanges and phrases that oil the wheels of conversation. Best of all, of course: spend as much time as possible in a country where your chosen language is spoken. Your absorption of vocabulary, grammar and phrases will increase exponentially just through daily experience - through meeting people, getting about, listening to announcements, looking at advertisements, even reading the backs of cereal packets! |
| Accents |
| Work hard at getting the accent right. Too often one comes across people who have learnt all the grammar and vocabulary needed to speak excellent English - but their accent makes them almost unintelligible. Acquiring a good accent requires a mixture of careful listening and practice, but perhaps also a bit of play-acting. Every language has its favoured part of the mouth and throat, and you have to adopt this, even if it feels quite different to English. In other words, act the accent. A good way to start is to imagine native-speakers of the language you are trying to learn, and think of the kind of heavy accent with which they might try to speak English. Try imitating that: this will show you their favoured part of the mouth and throat. Now try speaking their own language in the same style. |
| Frustration |
|
In language learning, you will constantly come up against the limits of your language abilities: your failure to enter into a proper conversation beyond market-language; that compliment you wanted to pay, but just could not find the words; the witty quip that you could not produce; the punch line that went wrong. You want to be fluent - bilingual even!
Think of this frustration in a positive light: it is annoying, but it is also the goad that will keep you working at improving your skills. And remember also that we are rarely as fluent and eloquent as we would like, even in our own language. |
| Comments, copyright and linking |
|
Comments on this brief guide would be welcome. Also, please let us know if you do put in a link to this guide from your website and we will try to reciprocate with a link from us to your site.
Copyright: these pages are protected by copyright and reproduction of this material is strictly prohibited. Copyright belongs to Giant Games Limited, owner of the briefguides.co.uk and onlineshopping.co.uk websites. © 1997-2006 Giant Games Limited, but you are welcome to have a link to this webpage. |