Archive for the ‘learn languages online’ Category

Vocabulary is the King and Grammar is the Queen

Friday, April 16th, 2010

Vocabulary is absolutely vital. If you need to say “elevator” or “clown suit”, there is no substitute. This means that learning vocab is a huge priority when you are learning a language. So now you’ve learned 3000 words! But what do you do with them? This is the magical field of syntax and grammar. You have all the parts for an automobile. Grammar teaches you how to assemble the car and then how to drive. Here is a way of putting them together usefully.

Once you have learned some basic vocabulary and grammar, you can begin the task of beginning to express yourself.  I find that using translation exercises really develops this capacity. I know! Many language acquisition… Continue reading

Using Audacity with your Recordings

Thursday, April 8th, 2010

They speak too fast!I can’t understand anything! Does that sound familiar? When we begin to communicate with natives in a new language, it is often what we experience: they are speaking so fast that our heads spin! Even though we know the vocabulary and the grammar, it all goes by like a race car in the night.  What can we do about this? Slow them down, of course.

When you are actually talking to a live person, ask them to slow down. It will definitely help if they are able to. What about with your recordings? There is a great free audio tool called Audacity that can slow down any recording on your computer in 1 minute … Continue reading

A Quick History of a Linguistic Journey

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

My linguistic journeys always begin because I fall in love with the sounds and the culture of a new language.

I started studying foreign languages in France at the age of ten.  My parents expected me to begin learning English and Latin at that time.  I resisted but had no choice in the matter. “Sigh”.  Two years later, German was added to the list.  When I moved to the US at the age of thirteen, I immediately realized the importance of knowing English and quickly became fluent. (How else could I join a rock group?) I began to study Spanish in High School as well.  In college I added Italian to the list.

Then came my true love… Continue reading

Playing with Language

Sunday, February 21st, 2010

Although it is important to be serious about learning a foreign language, the ability to play and enjoy the process is equally vital. I have been a lover of languages for most of my life.  I teach French, English, Spanish, Mandarin, Italian, Hindi and Punjabi, but I have also studied German, Latin, Arabic and Urdu. As you see, I have studied many languages through the years, but two common themes have emerged in my own success.  The first is a deep and lasting desire and motivation to master each of the languages I have studied.  The second is that I love to play as I learn.  So when you begin, first play with the new sound system.  Imitate, mimic, copy the… Continue reading