Learning A Foreign Language: The Psychological Factor

When it comes about learning a foreign language, many people wonder if they will be able to memorize enough vocabulary. But this question never occurs about their mother tongue. And yet, it was a foreign language; nevertheless, among all the questions that new parents ask, no doctor has ever heard: "Will my baby be able to learn my language?" Be honest. Do you know all the words of your mother tongue? The answer is: "no". New words, and new ways of using old words, appear every day. Twenty years ago, who would have been able to understand such a sentence: "Click here to download your digital book"? Nobody. You never stop acquiring new vocabulary and you never know how long you will be needing it. Do you still use "tomagotchi"?

When you don't know the exact name of a thing, you don't hesitate to call it "whatsit". Why do you think foreigners do otherwise? (The French word for whatsit is machin. That's a good start! You already know the word that can virtually replace any other!)

Sometimes, you have the word on the tip of your tongue... and it sticks there! But you do know this phenomenon and don't think that it is due to a bad memory. You should not give this phenomenon more importance in the language you are learning than in your mother tongue.

You need to learn only 2000 or so basic French words to be able to create any paraphrase you need. You can't avoid some work in order to learn these essential words and all the more if you want to learn quickly. Before you contemplate to buy a learn-in-a-breeze method, be sure it is right for you. It is not as wise as it is said to rely on a method based upon mnemotechnics. The first words seem very easy lo learn; so, you buy the method; and you discover quickly, though too late, that a dozen words later, it is all the more difficult to learn a new word that you have also to learn the trick to memorize it.

The next topic will be about lists of words: why they work and why they don't.
Gabrielle Guichard, a French teacher who can be reached on GabrielleGuichard.com and listened to on FrenchPodcasting.com
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The Current Importance Of Understanding Spanish

People who speak English usually tend to believe that they know the most important language, and others should speak English in order to communicate with them. However, if you ever have been in South America you will realize how important the Spanish language can be. For example if you travel to Paraguay you will find only a few people who are fluent in English. More people speak German than English in this country. In Brazil the people speak Portuguese but they understand Spanish as well as English. In Argentina most of the people speak Spanish and the well educated also a little bit of English.

Americans are no longer dealing with the sole language of English. These days there are many flavours in the states when it comes to linguistics. Certainly the most common foreign language that has stormed the U.S.A. is Spanish. In fact, Spanish has become our second language. Over the past few decades, numerous Spanish speaking individuals have made America their home. While many of them have conformed to the English language, some have stuck to their original dialect. Regardless of who speaks which in America, it's certainly beneficial to know and understand both. Yes indeed, a Spanish lesson can do everyone some good.

Have you ever had a Spanish lesson? Well, if you're young, the answer is probably yes. Most of us these days are given basic Spanish lessons in elementary school. Then later in high school we are able to take a complete course. While you do typically have the option of French, Spanish, and a list of others; many of us choose a Spanish lesson simply because it proves the most useful in this country. Back when I worked in a Chinese restaurant, I actually worked along side Hispanic men. These gentlemen did not speak English, therefore my three previous years of Spanish lessons paid off. It was both amazing and satisfying to always understand what they were discussing or chatting about. They also felt more comfortable around me due to my Spanish speaking abilities. I made some great friends.

If you are in high school or college, you're probably taking some foreign language for credits. Although it's good to get your credit hours for your degree requirements, it is also beneficial to choose a language you can actually use at some point. A Spanish lesson will aid you greatly in some parts of the U.S. After a trip to Miami last spring, I soon realized how prominent the language is becoming. Regardless of your current stage in life, you can easily take a Spanish lesson. If you jump online, you will notice a variety of websites that offer free information on Spanish and other languages. You can even take an online Spanish lesson these days. That's amazing! Free translation sites are also a great asset to take advantage of if you want to better understand Spanish or any language for that matter. With the Internet on your side, you can't go wrong.

About the Author:

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How Do I Become Fluent in a New Language?

I read the following online on a site supposedly devoted to learning fluency in a second language:

"Language is like any other skill or aptitude: some people are proficient in languages, while others are better at math, science, or music. Everyone has the potential to learn, but the fact is that some people are just more capable of learning language than others." – About.com

Trying to acquire a second language as one would try to learn math, science, or music is so predominate, so pervasive in the minds of Americans that this sort of statement is posted on a site that purports to be an authority on second language acquisition.

If this statement is true, then just how did you become fluent in your native tongue? If "language is like any other skill like math, science, or music," then under which academic textbook, classroom, workbook, teacher, or school did you study to become fluent in your native language?

When spoken fluency is relegated to the level of learning just another academic subject, the one thing that can be guaranteed is that the seeker of spoken fluency is NOT going to become fluent in the target language. They will learn how to read text in the second language but they will not develop spoken fluency.

I mean, really, think about this statement for a while. If learning language were indeed like any other skill or aptitude, "some are better at it than others," then only those with the aptitude for their native language would be able to speak it.

The rest of us "language-skill-and-aptitude- challenged" schmucks would be plum out of luck.

Perhaps the main reason statements like the quote above are so adamantly believed is because the academic communities in almost every country in the world ignore the almost 40 years of research in Language Acquisition and fail to make the distinction between the Acquiring and the Learning of language. One refers to learning speech, an instinctual thing in all humans (even the deaf and blind), while the other refers to learning about the language in which one has already mastered speech.

Making the distinction between the acquiring of the language and the learning is perhaps the most important factor in determining the ultimate success or failure of the adult seeker of a new language. If one does not make this distinction and does not seek the logical methods for acquiring the target language, then what one most likely seeks are a classroom, a teacher, a textbook/workbook, and abject failure to learn more than a few lines out of dialogues. I can still recall the very first dialogue I memorized in my seventh grade German class. I cannot speak German, however.

Because I've sought methods (all home study courses) that directed me to acquiring a high degree of spoken fluency in Spanish, I can go to the Mexican doctor, discuss fairly complex issues with neighbors, go anywhere in Mexico where we live, and get along just fine in the language. Because I sought spoken fluency first, before learning about the language (grammar), I am now ready to step into a learning environment (classes) where I will learn about the language.

One comes before the other.

It does help that I live in the environment in which I can practice constantly and receive correction. You would, however, be surprised at how many monolingual English speakers live in Mexico, the total Spanish immersion environment, and yet cannot string enough words together in Spanish to form a coherent sentence. The sad tragedy is that they are forced to commit what the authors of the novel, The Ugly American, referred to as "social incest." The authors described Americans in the Foreign Service in Asia who, not required to learn the local's language, didn't learn it and, therefore, could only socialize with their fellow Americans.

Blogger Michael Dickson, in his Blog entry titled, The Movie Set, says this:

"From my direct experience, a minuscule proportion of Gringos speak passable Spanish, and without Spanish you can never, ever, know this darker and more interesting world. You stay in your Glitz Ghetto."(Source)

He's right.

If as an American expatriate, you claim "all your friends are Mexican," and you remain monolingual, this can only mean all your Mexican pals are bilingual. The world of the bilingual Mexican, often from a higher, more educated class, is but a fraction of the culture! How can you ever get past the masks and into the real, often darker and far more interesting, world of Mexico or whatever Spanish-speaking culture you love without the language? You can't.

The sad thing is the instinct to learn speech, no matter from which language is alive and well in even the oldest adult's brain. Apart from having a brain disease process going full tilt, you can learn Spanish, or any language, no matter your age or lousy disposition.
Learning a New Language Has Never Been Easier

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Spanish Talk!

Let's talk Spanish! Spain receives more than 50 million visitors from across the globe each year. With such a large volume of tourists there must be something in Spain worth visiting: so what do they come to see?

Well of course there are beaches: lots of them and good ones at that. From the westernmost point of the region of Andalusia in southern Spain right around to the northeastern Mediterranean region of Catalonia there are dozens of fine sandy beaches having something for everyone. Also within the Spanish realm are the Balearic and Canary Islands; both famous destinations for holidaymakers. The northern regions too have some stunning coastal areas and good beaches but are traditionally less frequented by those wanting a suntan (Mediterranean Spain is generally warmer).

Many of us will only ever have visited Spain for the type of beach holiday that these locations offer, but this part of the world has a great deal more to give the visitor.

There are many mountainous areas particularly suited to those who enjoy the outdoor experience. The border between Spain and France is marked by the Pyrenees. In northern Spain there are the Cantabrian Mountains and the Picos de Europa National Park. In the south there are the Sierra Morena and Sierra Nevada. These areas offer a variety of activities including walking, climbing and skiing.

The Kingdom of Spain has a very interesting history which has resulted in many sites of archeological importance. Throughout Spain, but particularly in the southern regions, there are many fine examples of Moorish architecture as a result of the Arabic conquest of Spain between the 8th - 15th centuries. Good examples of Moorish building styles can be found in Seville (the Giralda) and Cordoba (the Mezquita). Without doubt though, the best and most lauded Arabic remains are located in Granada (the Alhambra).

Spain is a country comprised of a number of diverse regional cultures. There are 17 regions, known as the Autonomous Communities, which have varying degrees of self government.

Did you know that Spain has four officially recognized languages which are distinct from each other? Alongside Castillian Spanish, the Basque, Catalan and Galician languages all have co-official status. Most of the other regions also have dialects of Spanish, though the users of such forms will tell you they are languages in their own right! Added to this, every region in Spain has its own set of customs, traditions and gastronomical fare all of which they are fiercely proud of.

The Spanish contribution to the world of arts includes many important figures. In terms of the visual arts Pablo Picasso, Salvador Dalí and Joan Miró are perhaps the more famous contemporary names. Their works, along with those of other masters, can be found in the various major art galleries throughout Spain: the Prado, Reina Sofia and Thyssen Bornemisza Museums (Madrid), the Guggenheim Museum (Bilbao) and Museu Nacional d'Art de Catalunya (Barcelona) house many important examples from all periods.

Perhaps the best reasons to visit Spain are the people themselves. No matter which region you visit, you will generally be welcomed with opened arms. If you can make the effort to learn a few words and phrases in Spanish, people will warm to you even more.

So the next time you’re heading Spain wards, it would be well worth considering a venture inland from the particular coastal area in which you are planning to stay. If you want to experience some of the more culturally important areas, why not book a stay in one of the major Spanish cities to experience a different type of Spanish holiday?

Article Source: http://www.kokkada.com


Franko Paul writes for a number of Spain related websites and weblogs, including: Talk Spanish Spanish Verbs

Attitude - Is 80%, Skill And Effort Are 20%!

A: Accountable: answerable, responsible, and dependable. The first thing you need to decide is your attitude about your own personal business. Are you going to except your director to do everything for you, initiate all contact, motivate and inspire to work every single day, sell all your product, carry you up and out of bed and to the meetings? Ha! And then blame her if it doesn't work the way you wanted it to? OR are you going to be personally responsible for your own business. Can she depend on you to meet her half way? Does she know that you are a serious businesswoman and reliable? Make the decision today that this is YOUR biz. It is up to you whether or not you will be successful. We are here to support you, but the decision is yours. If you think you can, you can. If you think you can't, you're right.

T: Thankful: be grateful for, thankful for, pleased about, welcome, understand. You need to know all the reasons WHY you are excited about becoming successful in your own MK business. Is it financial freedom, personal growth, loving to work with women, learning great skills, becoming a leader, stability for your family, having fun, extra money? Whatever the BENEFIT is for you in your life, the more you focus on that, the more it will come true. Your thoughts are a magnet. Whatever you think about, positive or negative, will manifest in your life whether you like it or not. So, be careful to deliberately always stay in an attitude of gratitude! I want to challenge you to get a Gratitude Journal and write down each day at least 3 things you are most grateful for your MK business, about your life, and how MK enriches your life.

T: Timeline: Someday is not a day of the week! You have to decide what your long term and short-term goals are. Then, stick to them to the absolute best of your ability. I sat down and wrote out my goals very clearly when I started my MK business, and I gave them to my director! Can you imagine! I have only had 2-3 people submit their goals in writing to me, and every single one of them has achieved them! My goals were: 1. to sell $1,000 in my first week. Well, I only sold $700, but I thought that was pretty good anyway. If I hadn't set the goals, I wouldn't have achieved 70% of it. my 2nd goal was to become a director within one year and earn my Cadillac. Well, I beat that one by becoming a director in under 6 months and earning my Cadillac in 9 months. You guys, I would never have achieved those things, especially on rainy days, if I had not written them down, made the decision, and given them to my director (and husband) to make myself accountable!

I: Inspire: Get inspired, ladies! Anyone can go out there and plug away the hours of their days at a mediocre job that they do not enjoy just to pay the bills. But we are not robots! We are women with passion, feelings, emotions, dreams, unlimited potential, unbounded success, and powerful desires. Ya'll, women want what they don't have. So, you need to show each woman you meet what inspires you about Mary Kay the company and/ or Mary Kay Ash the lady. Tell them why you are excited about your business. They are parched and thirsty for inspiration anywhere! Give it to them, sell the sizzle, talk about the updated and fabulous products, the amazing career, the millionaires you personally know in MK. That is new they have not heard that would wake up any robot out there!

T: Think/ Visualize: Get up each day and think about, I mean really concentrate on where your want to be in your MK business. Get into the feeling place of it, even if it seems silly, and see yourself waking up to 100 online customers doing unexpected $100 re-orders every day. What a great surprise! You are selling $3,000 per month and pocketing $1,500 cash per month every month! OR, let's say you wake up and don't have to go to a job ever again! You can now, make your own schedule, work you MK business, have lunch appointments, make phone calls, take half days, go on spur of the moment vacations, earn free cars, receive gorgeous 5 carat diamond rings, and take first class, 5 star vacations with your hubby every year on MK. Think about, visualize, focus on your dreams so often that you can taste it!

U: Urgency: Get a sense of urgency. No one is going to follow a parked car! You have got to look like, feel like, act like you are on a mission. Women will pick up on your energy and want to find out why you are so excited, motivated, and what is so urgent and important in your life. It's because you know you are getting somewhere fast. Those poor women in corporate America are getting nowhere very very slowly.

D: Determined: Ladies, I will make this one short and sweet. You get determined that no matter what happens, if you have to overcome a few obstacles, despite whatever learning experiences you need to go through, you are 100% determined that you will never ever ever give up!

E: Expect Excellence: You have got to be in such a place that the achievement of your dreams is your only option. There is no such think as failure, only learning experiences. You deserve success; it is your 1 and only option. If you can't see any other results but success, then it's yours!

Ellen Farquharson's Accolades Senior Sales Director, Ellen Farquharson, started her Mary Kay career in April of 2001. She became a director in the minimum time and was the #1 Dean's List in her debuting class Nationwide, receiving a beautiful blue topaz Dean's List ring. She has earned 4 company cars in her Mary Kay career, 2 of which are the beautiful Pink Cadillac, for which she takes $900 a month to drive her brand new silver CLK Mercedes. Ellen has been in the Queen's Court of Sharing every year of her business, once in the top 20, once in the top 5, and most recently as Queen of Sharing for 2006 Sapphire Seminar- for which she won a gorgeous 3 carat Bee pin, a 5 carat Pink Tourmaline ring surrounded by 2 carats of diamonds, and she has also earned 4 beautiful bumblebee pins. Ellen has been in the Circle of Excellence 3 times, once in the $450,000 circle. Her highest paycheck has been in excess of $17,000 for ONE month. She is so proud to have such powerful offspring directors in her area, and is on a mission to grow her area to 30 Directors immediately. Her passion is emp

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How to Learn Spanish - Beginner Tips

If you are like millions of other Americans, you only have 1 language. However, in this day and age, it is highly important that you learn to speak 2 or even 3 or more languages! Spanish is probably one of the most important languages to learn in this world. Why do you want to speak Spanish? How well do you want to speak it?

The Reasons why you may want to Learn Spanish
There may be numerous reasons why you may want to start learning Spanish, that includes: getting a better grade in class, learning to speak with distant relatives, Spanish speaking neighbors, friends, or acquaintances. There are literally an unlimited reasons why you may want to learn Spanish, and there an unlimited number of reasons why you should start learning how to speak Spanish.

How Well Do You Want To Speak It?
How well do you want to start speaking or writing Spanish? Do you want to be just functional because you’re going to a Spanish speaking city. Or do you want to be completely fluent? Whatever your reason is, it is important to start A.S.A.P.

The Best way to learn Spanish
The best way to learn Spanish is by fully immersing yourself in the culture. In order to do this, you must prepare yourself for this full immersion. You can prepare yourself by taking online courses, listening to Spanish audio cd’s or cassettes. You will have to be an adequately functional Spanish speaker before you can try and keep up with the fast pace.
Do you want to learn Spanish Online?
Are you looking for easy lessons to teach you spanish quickly?

Read Free Here: Rocket Fast Spanish Lessons For Beginners

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Spanish Learning Ressources

Spanish Learning Ressources