Posts Tagged ‘Learning A Foreign Language’

Why is Spanish Such a Hard Language to Learn

December 23rd, 2009

Spanish is like any other languages apart from the few special facts about the language which makes it identical like other languages. Spanish language is not particularly a hard language to learn, it has it’s set of difficulties which is faced to learn any new language. English is actually more difficult to learn than Spanish. Spanish and English have many words in common and some even sound similar, so it’s very easy for an English speaking person to learn it.

It’s just that it’s more difficult for an adult to learn a foreign language than a child. Our schools really should teach it throughout a person’s school years. Some very smart people have trouble learning a foreign language, while some of lower intelligence do extremely well.

Languages other than Spanish like English which is a Germanic language, however German isn’t especially easy for English speakers to master because there are so many different conjugations. Even more than in Spanish. Chinese is one of the most difficult languages for English speakers to learn because the structure is completely different. In English we spell things phonetically using a 26 character alphabet. Chinese uses thousands of characters, and is not phonetic. Spanish isn’t that hard to learn if you have a basis in Latin or some other of the Romance languages like French or Italian.

Sometimes you can get another language because of it’s similarities to one you already speak for example if you’re German you might have a good chance of learning English as English has it’s roots in German.

One basic problem faced by people in learning Spanish is not the writing skills which is easy to attain the Spanish grammar being easy but conversational skills is tough in Spanish because of it’s vast vocabulary and accent. One thing to remember about the Spanish language, is that not all Spanish speakers use the same accent. I originally learned Latin-American

Spanish, and one of my teachers spoke with the Castilian accent. I could not understand much of what she said. The grammar is very close to English grammar and the words are usually written phonetically. It shares a large common ground with English, French, Italian, Portuguese, German. . . etc. so it’s easy to learn for people of Latin/Germanic language descent.

The easiest way to learn a language is to study a short time every day, as opposed to a long time every once in a while.

There was a time when the capability of learning a new language was completely based on the person’s genetic ability.

Things have changed drastically with technology, now it is possible to learn and adapt a new language like Spanish in 3-4 months . I have listed few habits that you can develop to learn Spanish quickly , Watch the news in Spanish. This is a good exercise because you will always have a context. Watch the film as you listen to the story. You can read the subtitles and

listen at the same time. When you hear people speaking in Spanish try to understand what they are saying to each other.

. Be fearless. When you are in a setting in which you can use your Spanish just do it. Most Spanish-speakers are glad to help and happy you are trying. In order to learn and master the language, you will need to practice and immerse yourself in the language and understand the culture.

How to Learn New Language

December 20th, 2009

There are a number of ways to learn new language. Depending on personal learning style, you will be able to take grasp of a foreign language in no time. Although most experts believe that it’s in the crucial ages of 3 – 8 that most people are able to take on a new language that is separate from the first one they have learned, it’s never too late for anyone who would like to be able to understand a foreign dialect of their choice. There are however some pointers that you need to keep in mind to make this possible. Do you still remember your grammar lessons in school? Do your remember finding the subject matter a breeze or do you end up getting bored? As some people are innately inclined to easily understand sentence construction and tenses, most people actually find the subject hard, in some cases even in the language that they naturally speak. It’s one thing to be able to know how to use a language, but to break it down into patterns and rules brings to it a completely different focus. Grammar is important so that we can all develop the correct way to formulate sentences in our minds before we express it orally and in paper. This is especially important in learning a foreign language that has a number of meanings for just one word because a simple misuse can easily change the real meaning of the message you are trying to express. Unfortunately, most languages cannot be straightforwardly translated word for word because you first need to consider the different grammatical rules that apply. This is the theoretical aspect of language learning. As for the practical aspect of language learning, some people would rather focus on the conversational level when they learn new language because it is what’s practically being used in everyday life. This is also the easiest learning style because, if for example you migrate to another country. In this situation, in order to cope with the new environment, your brain will be forced to assimilate into the new style of communication. Thanks to the brain’s innate ability to naturally adapt to new styles of speech and language, you will find that constantly talking to people who speak a different language will make it easier for you to learn new words and have a wider vocabulary. In learning a new language, the process starts with developing your vocabulary by knowing what certain words mean, then developing them into phrases then once you get a hang of that, You can then start constructing short simple sentences on your own. With enough practical knowledge you will be able to construct complex structures in no time. But in order to fully have an understanding of the new language, it’s important that you put into practice what you learn from study. Without one or the other, your effort to learn new language will only be put to vain as nothing can become of theory without practice and vise versa. Luckily, many language programs have already been developed in order to give you training on both aspects. By using a program that is grounded on the basis of theory and practice combined, you will find that taking on a new language will be as easy as a walk in the park.

Learn French Fluently in Less Than 8 Weeks and Exercise Your Brain

December 18th, 2009

In today’s competitive world, it is not a surprise to see the marketplace inundated with self-improvement products. But did you know that learning a foreign language, such as French, is one of the most overlooked means to improve oneself in North America. And the interesting thing about this is that learning a language has so many benefits that it boggles the mind as to how we fail to see the obvious. We all have our reasons to learn French online but why not remind you of the obvious and the not so obvious reasons so that you can improve yourself by learning French and go beyond the workplace to enrich your life experiences and join our global community.

The first “obvious” is that second language learning is more of a cognitive than linguistic activity. Research shows that children who learn French, or any foreign language, out perform their non-foreign language-learning peers in verbal skills and in problem solving activities such as math. It also increases a child’s critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of mind. Most of the people that speak more than one language, have acquired fluency from childhood. And haven’t you noticed that their pronunciation is native-like pronunciation and intonation? But anyone, regardless of his or her age, can learn a language such as French and improve their cognitive skills because we all know that the single-most determining factors in achieving fluency in are desire and drive.

The second “obvious” is that learning French opens the doors to a new culture and hence new experiences. Yes, you can get a promotion or an increase in income if you speak French, not to mention, the admiration of your peers, friends and family. If you learn to speak French fluently, you will have the freedom to travel abroad and not feel imprisoned or alienated by your inability to communicate with the native French speakers. In this way you will be breaking the stereotype of a typical Anglophone tourist in Paris, for example, and be a welcomed citizen of the world.

The last “obvious” is not so obvious. Recent studies suggest that individuals who speak more that one language have a lower incidence of senility compared to individuals who speak only one language. Also one of the preventive measures for Alzheimer’s is mental stimulation. What better way to exercise your brain than to learn French online at your convenience and on your own terms?

In whatever way you are improving yourself, whether it is mind, body or soul you will reap the benefits. So on your way to Yoga class or while you are going for a run or a walk with your dog, you can also learn French fast if you remember to bring your iPod with you and exercise your brain. It will not only be your brain that benefits but the whole YOU and your life experiences. Do not forget the obvious. Learn to speak French fluently. Exercise your brain and change your life.