April 7th, 2010 by jpfocus
(A post about how to use the Google Translate Tool to practice a language.) I recently decided to brush up on my Chinese. I always roll with laughter when I see “Learn Chinese in 7 days” programs being advertised.
Whenever you learn a language, the great limitation is vocabulary – in speaking and also in understanding. Trying to increase my own fluency, I just created the following technique for practice.
I was listening to a guided meditation in English and was trying my best to translate what I… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language school, language classes online, language school Phoenix
Posted in How to Learn a Language, Language Schools Chicago, Language schools Phoenix, foreign languages, language learning, online mandarin classes | No Comments »
April 6th, 2010 by jpfocus
How do you get back into language study after stopping for a while? Life can get in the way, and before you know it, months have elapsed without your doing any study. Shame, guilt, and grief set in. Discouragement: the great enemy! These emotions are obstacles to be dealt with.
So how do we resume study seamlessly?
The first part is mental. Remind yourself it is normal to take breaks. Even after years of not using a language, we can relearn what we had… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language schools, foreign language school, language school Chicago, language tutor online
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, foreign languages, language learning, online language classes | No Comments »
March 9th, 2010 by jpfocus
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… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language schools, foreign language school, language learning
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, foreign languages, language learning | No Comments »
March 1st, 2010 by jpfocus
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… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language school, language classes online, language school Phoenix, Language Schools Chicago, online english classes, online language classes, online spanish classes
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, Language schools Phoenix, foreign languages, language learning, language schools, online french classes, online language classes | No Comments »
February 26th, 2010 by jpfocus
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… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language school, language classes online, language school Chicago, language tutor online, languageschools chicago, online language classes
Posted in language schools, online english classes, online french classes, online italian classes, online language classes, online mandarin classes, online spanish classes | No Comments »
February 16th, 2010 by jpfocus
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… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language school, language classes online, language school Chicago, language tutor online, languageschools chicago, online language classes
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, Language schools Phoenix, foreign languages, language learning, language schools | No Comments »
February 16th, 2010 by jpfocus
We want to invite you to join us for Online Language Classes. It is probably the most convenient way of practicing a new language. It lets you have a class from home whenever it is convenient for you.
Speaking a language, hearing it, and interacting with native speakers are the vital steps that allow you to make a language yours. It is often a challenge to arrange this. Online classes make it incredibly easy. We must still learn new vocabulary and grammar to expand our knowledge, but a… Continue reading
Tags: online english classes, online french classes, online language classes, online spanish classes
Posted in online english classes, online french classes, online italian classes, online language classes, online mandarin classes, online spanish classes | No Comments »
February 6th, 2010 by jpfocus
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… Continue reading
Tags: chicago language school, language classes online, language school Chicago, language tutor online, languageschools chicago, online language classes
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, Language schools Phoenix, foreign languages, language learning | No Comments »
February 3rd, 2010 by jpfocus
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
Tags: chicago language school, language classes online, language school Chicago, language tutor online, languageschools chicago, online language classes
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, foreign languages, language learning, language schools | No Comments »
January 1st, 2010 by jpfocus
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
Tags: chicago language school, chicago language schools, language school Chicago
Posted in Language Schools Chicago, foreign languages, language schools | No Comments »
(A post about how to use the Google Translate Tool to practice a language.) I recently decided to brush up on my Chinese. I always roll with laughter when I see “Learn Chinese in 7 days” programs being advertised. 