Florence, Italy August 10, 2007 –
Do you want to learn a new foreign language?
Would you like to study it abroad?
It has been proved that cultural immersion is the fastest and most effective way to learn a new foreign language. To study a language in her corresponding Mother tongue country is the only way to learn speaking it fluently, while having the opportunity to learn deeply about different cultures and creating interesting connections with different people who have similar viewpoints and interests.
In addition, the learning of a language may appear difficult when trying by yourself in a classroom or at home, but it can be a fun, memorable and exciting experience if lived abroad.
But, sometimes to find the right and useful information is not so easy: it could be a hard work to find the school able to suit your personal needs, cause there are several language institutes displaced all over Europe.
Learn Languages Abroad is a full website selecting and gathering complete information on how and where to study the language and culture you have choosen to get in touch with.
You can choose to study, Italian in Italy, French in France, German in Austria, Spanish in Spain or Russian in Russia, by just having a look at the schools we have carefully selected for you.
We provide high quality institutes (certified by national and world wide organizations such as ASILS, SOUFFLE, AEEA and CAMPUS AUSTRIA) that directly give American University credits while helping you find an accomodation during your permanence abroad. We offer you top standards of language tuition combined with attractive leisure programmes and a wide choice of accomodation . We provide schools from several cities in Europe and Russia while giving the possibility to look among different programs, which include also intensive language programs and summer programs to any level (from beginner to advanced) and for students of any age.
We provide information about language courses in France, Spain, Italy, Austria and Russia. All featured schools organize courses all around year about different topics: from cultural to professional courses.
Each school has several solutions for accomodation and for your free time!
Study a language in the country where it is spoken is the best and fastest way to really learn and understand it, and Europe is a small cultural niche where people have the possibility to interact with a large variety of cultures and traditions, sometimes really different one another. It is an exciting, interesting and different way to increase oneself knowledge and experience.
New pricelist and dates for courses are available on Learn Languages Abroad.
Browse our pages today, choose a destination and ask us a brochure for free.
For more information contact us at:
marketing@learn-languages-abroad.co.uk
www.learn-languages-abroad.co.uk/
By: Learn Languages Abroad
Posts Tagged ‘Language Courses’
Learn a Foreign Language by Experiencing it Abroad
October 11th, 2009Foreign Language Learning Resources – Which is Right for You? Part 2 – Audio Programs
September 20th, 2009By now, most people are familiar with audio books. In fact, in the internet age, a tremendous proliferation of audio books and learning tools has spearheaded a number of very successful ventures, including online free libraries as well as companies like Audible. A variety of courses are available on CD, as well as through downloadable content (mp3 or Audible). There is even a unique device called “Playaway” marketed on a standalone player.
Where it Succeeds
When done correctly, audio only programs are the most versatile and can be the best option for the adult learner. The one factor you cannot beat is convenience. Wasted time, driving to and from work, the store, etc… can become a rewarding experience with these audio programs. I have personally converted all of my CD audio programs purchased over the years to mp3 format for easier use in the car (it’s easier to hit pause on an mp3 player to think about your response). Best of all, audio programs, by their nature, require native language instruction. Native language cues and explanations are critical to the success of adult students.
Where it Fails
All language courses benefit from accompanying written material, regardless of platform (audio, computer, immersion, etc…). While most audio programs include a small booklet with some basic dictionary style translations or common phrases, there are a relative few that include more than that (save the Living Language series). Once you get into the program, you will want to see how the language looks on paper – that’s a guarantee. Access to the written material will help you progress much more swiftly. This is an added expense, and finding the proper companion books is not an easy task.
Additionally, audio language courses vary tremendously in quality – of both the audio quality itself, and the actual lesson content. I have run across at least two programs where the audio quality was not of sufficient fidelity to help anyone learn anything (one of the programs turned out to be defective; the other was just cheaply produced). Unfortunately, without a good number of reviews of specific products, it can be difficult to make the correct decision, so be sure to check review sites before making any purchase.
As with any course, the content of the lesson is paramount. With cheaply produced audio courses, all you get is a person reading a word or phrase with a translation – over and over again. This continues with little backtracking to previously learned material. These are the types of programs to avoid at all costs. Courses increase in quality from there on up, to include almost classroom style presentations. Pimsleur products are an excellent example of a top quality, classroom style course. Other issues with content revolve around irrelevant material. “See Jane Run”, etc… will get you nowhere on vacation. Carefully choose programs that include relevant phrases and situations that you may actually encounter!
Finally, there can be issues with the pace of the lessons. Some courses present the material too fast (it’s never a problem if the pace is slower). If the material is presented to quickly, you will be reaching for the pause button far too often, which impedes your progress.
In Summary
I love this format as a first introduction to a foreign language. The convenience factor is unmatched, and the task of learning a foreign language is well suited to it. But you have to be very careful in choosing the best program. Some audio programs are absolutely terrible, and some are outstanding. Keep a sharp eye on the reviews at various websites. Additionally, you must select at least one dictionary or phrase book to go with your program, if one is not provided. Be on the lookout for part three, where I will explore the best way to select a companion book, or books to compliment your audio or immersion course.
For more great information on foreign language resources for English speakers visit www.foreignlanguageresource.com. Be sure to check out my Visual Link Spanish resource while your there!
By: Chris Katheman
