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naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

I don't know about you, but I get asked how to learn English. I've studied Spanish, ASL, and Chinese. Here's some things that helped me.

study at least 15 minutes, everyday

carry a notebook with you. Write down words/phrases that you hear, but don't know.

Listen to the radio, music, tv in the language you are trying to learn.

practise speaking out loud.

Find someone who speaks the language. arrange a language exchange.

When you are listening, focus on the words you know, not the ones that you don't know.

Review, review, review. Don't rush, make sure you know the material.

Don't be afraid to make mistakes.

Don't just know it, be able to say it.

Have goals and reward yourself when you reach them.

Know your reasons for studying. Is it to be able to get around in a certain country? Or are you studying to pass a test?

Anyone have anymore?

dmb · Joined: 12 Feb 2003 Posts: 8397

i recommend going to a local pub. after a couple of beers inhibitions are gone and you don't care about making mistakes

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

...and the most important bit of advice: Immerse yourself in the target language through reading!

guest of Japan · Joined: 28 Feb 2003 Posts: 1601 Location: Japan

Pay me to teach you.

Lynn · Joined: 28 Jan 2003 Posts: 696 Location: in between

My first time in Japan was as a student in a gilrs dormitory. I needed something to talk about. I quickly learned all the names and faces of the idols and pop stars. I even came to love Japanese music. I'd sit for hours listening to one song and try to write down the lyrics. I didn't really do it to "study", though. I just really wanted to sing it at karaoke. Cool

1) Karaoke
2) get a crush on a pop star and record all his TV interviews and watch it over and over until you can figure out what he is talking about
3) copy things your friends say to try to get the language rhythm down

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

Great tips everyone.

My French is not coming along at all well, mostly cos I'm just not all that motivated...I will try harder, though...

Liked the tip of having a crush on someone to learn language! Reminded me of last week, when I went to see Return of the King in French with the other half. I expressed my concern that hearing Aragorn speak in French I didn't fully understand would end my obsessive love for him. Very Happy

My boyfriend immediately offered to buy me my ticket...

Didn't work though. Mmm... Cool

Er...sorry...I'm also reading Lord of the Rings in French as it's my favourite book. Although someone disagreed with that (Roger? Was that you? Can't remember), it has in fact turned out to be the main aspect of learning French that I enjoy ( I like learning bad words too Twisted Evil

).

I read when the new Harry Potter book came out, it wasn't translated into French for about 6 months. So French kids were buying the English one and laboriously reading that. I loved that. Totally understand.

I suppose if it's something you feel strongly about or really enjoy then you obviously have more motivation to understand it and talk about it. So we should find out what our students enjoy...Hmm...does that mean I get to control the TV viewing now?? And I'm sure if I watched Return of the King another 20 times or so my French would really improve...

L

L

Roger · Joined: 19 Jan 2003 Posts: 9138

Reading LORD OF THE RINGS in French c a n be an excellent exercise; what I said in some past post was that reading a book a second time, but the second time in another language (the target language) is not utterly useful.

Laura C · Joined: 14 Oct 2003 Posts: 211 Location: Saitama

Yeah, thought it was you... Wink

Have to disagree though -- I'm finding it pretty useful in understanding things like why some phrases don't literally translate; learning common French expressions; noticing and finding out about exceptions to the rules that I wouldn't pick up in conversation until I was much more advanced...Plus I am more motivated to read it as I enjoy the story.

I am enjoying it on a literature basis also, seeing what differences there are in a text when it is translated.

Perhaps we could agree to disagree by saying that *you* don't find it particularly useful to do this, but that *I* do? You can't say something is not useful just because you personally don't find it so -- surely we all know that everyone has their own preferred methods of learning.

L

matchstick_man · Joined: 21 May 2003 Posts: 244 Location: Taiwan

I found listening to the genre of music I like and memorising the sounds helped and then asking fluent speakers what they meant. However interaction is best and most Second Language speakers don't get this. At least I didn't when I studied high school French.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

Another thing. if you are learning on your own, make sure that the book you use has tapes or CDs to listen to how to say the words correctly.

Cartoons are great to watch on tv. they speak a lot slower. winnie the pooh is my favorite

grahamb · Joined: 30 Apr 2003 Posts: 1945

Yes, Naturegirl, your English is definitely improving!
Seriously, however, there's nothing to compare with simply being in the country. You hear the language spoken in context and get plenty of practice with native speakers. On top of that, you get a big dose of necessity, which is the greatest incentive of all.

naturegirl321 · Joined: 04 May 2003 Posts: 9041 Location: home sweet home

khmerhit · Posted: Tue Jan 27, 2004 3:54 am Post subject:

that was a joke, ngirl Very Happy

Dr.J · Joined: 09 May 2003 Posts: 304 Location: usually Japan

When I'm feeling in a particularly masochisitc mood,

I record some Tv then transcribe it. Just a short news item but it can take up to an hour to put it into Japanese (what with all them squiggly characters) then figure out what it means. Really helps with listening as you have to catch every word, not just the gist.

Motivation is ultimately more important than technique.