Who are better in languages men or women? In my experience women, perhaps because they have more connections in their verbal centers usually pick up a language easier. However I when I meet a man that speaks a language well they speak it really well like a native. Further when I meet guys who actually [...]
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Speak a language
When living in or traveling to another country a problem with allowing yourself to be immersed in the language is that many people like to practice their English with a native English speaker. Therefore real immersion does not occur unless you are strong. You have to not be shy or intimidated nor moved [...]
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Tags: How to have natural language ability, speak a language
Internet resources and language learning
Internet resources and language learning one of my pet peeves with the internet is the amount of spam and useless junk that exist connected to language learning. The internet is the largest receptacle of recylced information in the world.
I created a site Polish grammar or love phrases. These pages required [...]
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Tags: Internet resources and language learning, languages and the internet
Reading children’s books and stories to learn a language
I believe every method to learn a language is a good method. However I have found reading children’s books a bit boring. Reading children’s books in English is interesting, because I can read one in under five minutes. However, reading children’s books in a foreign language does [...]
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On the size of a business card write down you motivation for learning a language. This can function as a mission statement for why you want learn a language. This motivation for learning a language could be even a photo or even something like a keychain with the Eiffel tower, if French is your target [...]
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Reading signs to increase vocabulary
Do you want to increase your vocabulary in a foreign language? One of the first things I notice when I go to a foreign country is the signs. Signs, signs everywhere are signs as the song goes. The first words you can recognize are the most important and closest to English. [...]
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Tags: learn vocabulary, Reading signs to increase vocabulary
Another entry for the ever-expanding category of “the brain is a very strange place” posts. A paper in PNAS suggests that what we call a color may influence how we perceive it. The image below shows a spectrum of colors that, to an English speaker, would probably all be described as “blue.” Russian speakers, however, [...]
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Tags: brain, Brain and language learning
Second language learners secret for speaking fluently
Based on empirical findings as well as my own observations, Successful English Learners (SELs) do indeed have some things in common.
First and perhaps foremost, SELs make their own opportunities by using English outside the classroom.
They try to use the English language every day. Although almost all SELs consider good [...]
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Tags: How to learn a language, second language, speak fluently
Learn another language motivation
“A second language seems strange at first. It feels awkward and unnatural. In some people, it arouses fear and hatred. So the question is: How can an ordinary monolingual person become an excellent language learner? There are two requirements. First, you have to be sure you will succeed and, second, you have [...]
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Tags: language motivation, Learn another language motivation
“I am not good with languages”-No one is and everyone is. It is about finding the techniques you like and works for you.
“I know someone who just picked up a language in a few months, just by being there”. I do not believe it, I have taught 1,000s of students and this does not happen, [...]
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