Focus Language School

JP enjoying tea in China

Focus Language is  now offering online language classes.  It is probably the most convenient way of practicing a new language with an instructor. It eliminates the need to commute and allows you to have a class from home whenever it is convenient for you. Speaking a language and getting used to hearing it; as well as interacting freely with native speakers are the vitally important steps that allow you to make a language yours… Continue reading

I often hear this complaint from students learning a language: “I can’t understand anything”!  Yes, it can be frustrating when you have been studying hard. It can be discouraging and embarrassing. But do not worry: comprehension will come. Sometimes you need to hear something 12 times to hear and remember it!

I have a student from China who is learning English. She studied English for 10 years but initially could not understand much.  She had just arrived from Sichuan and was quite  frustrated.  After 6 weeks of daily practice, she is able to understand and we can now enjoy… Continue reading

We think of meditation as a spiritual practice or as a tool for reducing stress.  But what do they have to do with learning a new language?  Actually, meditation is the ability to be fully focused on whatever activity we are engaged in in the present moment.  An artist captivated by his work, or an athlete fully associated in the body and its every movement and nuance are meditating.

The antithesis of meditation is multi-tasking.  I am riding my motorcycle while  texting my friend, eating lunch and planning my afternoon meeting.  The problem with that is lack of depth… Continue reading

Twenty years ago, if you wanted to learn a language, you bought a book and a cassette series, and you looked for a teacher in your city.  With the Internet explosion of the recent years, there are treasures beyond all imaginings for the language learner.  There are organizations, schools, individuals, blogs which provide us with countless tools: podcasts, games, lessons, language exchanges, free materials etc.

What this means is that you can customize your way of learning exactly to your own specifications.  You can work alone, with others, online, at home, anywhere and any way you like.  If you… Continue reading

We normally think of efficiency, brain enhancing substances, extraordinary software and stream-lined cutting edge methods when we think of improving our learning capabilities.  There is an entirely different aspect of learning which I have encountered in my long  career as a student and a language learner: Love, Beauty and Nature.  We are so efficient, having become multi-tasking masters and super-focused planners.  We may be doing more, but are we actually becoming more accomplished?  Are we more fulfilled and happy?  I believe the answer is we are not.  Being an artist, musician, meditator and lover of nature, I have followed a… Continue reading

Learning a language is a time-consuming project. It can seem that there is always a new verb form to learn, a new vocabulary word we need to know. It is therefore important to appreciate what you have already done, the parts of the language you have already acquired. Our subconscious  learning machine builds on its own success.  It is important to let it know it is accomplishing its task satisfactorily.  Self-criticism can often lead to discouragement.  When you are learning, you know that it will take you at least a few months to get comfortable.  So take that into stride… Continue reading

Focus Language School has been in operation in Phoenix, Arizona for almost thirty years: the land of desert and eternal sun.  Winters are idyllic and summers make you curious about the fires of hell.  We have just opened our Chicago area office – in February – and the contrast is striking.  In the white beauty of the Illinois winter, you are reminded of wind and ice as forces of nature instead of the relentlessness of the Arizona Summer sun.  How does climate and weather help shape languages?  The following ideas are intuitive impressions and not the result of a scientific… Continue reading

Focus Language has come to Chicago, one of the great American cities.  We are excited to be opening a school here.  There are very active, well-developed cultural venues: one of the largest Chinatown in the US, a powerful East Indian community, and so many others.  Learning a language involves immersing yourself in the culture, breathing it in, living and dreaming it.  Chicago is a tremendous resource to our students both local and coming form out-of town.    We are now offering online classes.  It is a fantastic way to learn a language very conveniently.  Short, frequent, inexpensive classes make it… Continue reading

If you have read some of the posts I wrote about improving your comprehension through listening intensively, you are ready for the next step.  To do nothing.  That’s correct.  Nothing at all.  You actually need to listen to recordings daily for a while until your internal language machine takes over.  Have you ever used voice recognition software?  (Dragon Speaking Naturally, for example).  You actually have to train the software to recognize your own unique voice.  Until it does, it cannot type out what you speak.
This is exactly what you are doing here.  You need to hear  French or Chinese… Continue reading

If you can begin to practice your new language with native speakers, you will be able to progress faster – and have fun.  The process can also be unnerving or frustrating.  So what are the ways to make this practice time fruitful, while keeping your morale up.?
Understand that there are two kinds of natives: good natives and bad ones.  Joking aside,  only ever work with people who are helpful, patient and benevolent towards you.  You must feel inspired and hopeful at the end of the session.  Some people want to help, but they are not a good match for… Continue reading