Language Museum Blog

I’ve presented here the main ways people tend to learn a new language, but modern technology will always come up with more. You could meet a native speaker on Skype and chat with them for example, or try this video-learning site.

From my own experiences of learning languages, I would say that a combination of all the above methods is perhaps best. I know that without deadlines and a place to be I would not make the effort, so a class is probably my best fit. However, when I’m travelling I like short and simple podcasts so I can revise and practice on the way and whilst in-country. In the end though, it’s all about trial and error and finding the right method(s) that are right for your style of learning. For a list of free language products, try this as a guide.

So, having weighed up the various pros and cons, considered how much time and money you have to commit, and how tech-savvy you are, it’s time to get out there and start learning!

I once took a course in Esperanto by correspondence. Back in the days before email was widespread, it was a time-consuming process to send letters back and forth, and I soon lost interest.

Receiving a hand-written letter in the mail was lovely though, and the words of encouragement and tidbits of personal information helped me feel connected to both the tutor and the language. It’s a great way to learn at your own pace, and good for improving both reading and writing skills.

However, the lack of instant feedback can be frustrating, and you need to be dedicated. With set deadlines for certain pieces of work, you will need to be motivated to put aside the time to meet these. It’s all too easy to leave the work until the last minute, but by doing this you’re not maximising your chances of success!

For more detailed information on correspondence or distance learning, take a look at this article.

Learning from a book has a similar advantage to the podcast, in that it’s very portable. Unlike the podcast though, it’s more suitable for those wishing to improve their writing and reading skills, as there is generally no spoken element apart from practicing aloud to yourself.

Although learning from a book is a flexible method – you can learn when and where you like – there is no one to ask questions of if you are struggling. Also, the book cannot correct you if you are making mistakes! Books are generally well-structured, and you can move at your own pace. If you feel you’ve mastered a section, you can quickly move on to the next.

In addition, the initial price of the book is the only cost you’re likely to bear. It’s worth doing some research before buying though, to make sure the book is the correct one for your level and what kind of skills you want to get out of it. Online book store sites often have user reviews, and this site has some reviews for a handful of languages.

Cheryl from Manchester has been learning Russian:

I’ve found my book really useful for learning the Cyrillic alphabet and can now read Russian to quite a good level. I put aside time each week to go through the next chapter, although it’s hard to stick to it sometimes as I have to say no to dinner or going out with my friends. It hasn’t really helped me with speaking skills though, so I’m trying to find someone who speaks Russian to converse with, like a language exchange. (Ambien)

Completely immersing yourself in a new language by going to a country where it is spoken is a very brave choice. Perhaps it’s not for complete beginners, but it’s definitely a great way to force yourself to improve quickly – when eating depends on your ability to ask for food, you will soon find words!

However, complete immersion can be overwhelming. Being unfamiliar with your surroundings as well as unable to communicate can lead to loneliness and culture shock. You may find the language you hear to be different from that you learned in a previous class, with slang words you may not have heard before. As much as you research the place you’re going to, your first few days are going to be a learning experience.

The positive side of immersion is the chance to get to know the culture and history of the country, alongside the language. You’ll (hopefully) meet new lifelong friends who you can continue to converse with after you’ve left. You get to try new things you may never have thought of, and it will also look great to future employers, showing both initiative and a willingness to accept challenges.

A major consideration of the language immersion route though, is the cost. Apart from the initial expenses of getting to your chosen country, there’s the day to day living costs and perhaps additional classes to help the transition. There are some grants and scholarships available, and language schools abroad will also be able to advise you on costs and what you can expect. This interview with an immersion school director is a good start, as well as these frequently asked questions (although they’re specifically about learning Spanish, they can be applied to all languages).

Milton from Travellers Rest moved to France on a semester abroad part of his MBA:

When I arrived in France, it was overwhelming! It’s pretty nerve racking when you not only have to deal with a new language but new customs as well. A trip to the supermarket became an ordeal – I ate oranges, bread and cheese for two weeks! I would come home exhausted every day from having to work through the simplest tasks in a new language. Eventually, however, things that you are forced to do every day become second nature and really contribute to your learning. For instance, on the way home from my school, there was a bakery that I stopped in every day. I came to know the owner and we would talk and she would tell me about the different foods and make recommendations. This not only helped my language skills, but my cultural knowledge as well. Now, I can’t wait to go back!

Learning via a podcast is modern technology’s version of a language tape or CD. Advantages include portable learning – you can listen to a podcast whenever or wherever you like – and the range of podcasts available, a lot of them free.

This range has a downside, however. One of the great things about podcasts is that anyone with the right equipment can make one. But it’s also the big pitfall as the quality is not guaranteed.

You also need the ability to download and play the podcasts, which means investing in an MP3 player and some time at a computer. If you’re not tech-savvy, this could be a problem.

Another consideration is the need to actively listen. It’s too easy to put on headphones, hit play and drift off listening to the soothing tones of that lovely-sounding Frenchman. But you’re not going to learn by osmosis! So it may be beneficial to keep a notebook to go with the podcast and jot down times of sections you would like to go over again, as well as notes on what you understand and don’t.

Some good basic language podcasts for travellers can be found here. They’re free, and also include the script of the podcast in English although unfortunately only available for iPods at the moment. For listings of podcasts for various languages, check out this site.

Wendy from Nottingham has been following a Spanish podcast in preparation for her upcoming trip to South America:

It was difficult to find a suitable podcast as I wanted a Latin American Spanish one rather than a European one. Once I found this though, my skills have definitely improved! It’s great for speaking and listening practice, but I’m using a book also as I’d like to be able to recognise and read some of the basics also.

Being back in a classroom may recall horrible memories of learning Latin or French by rote at school, but it’s a great all-round approach to a new language. A good teacher will cover all the skills you require – reading, speaking, writing and listening.

In addition to this, there is instant feedback on pronunciation and what you are doing wrong (and right!). Plus, you know when and where you will be learning each week, so the time is already set aside for you to do so. There is also the opportunity to become friendly with your classmates and converse outside of the class.

However, those who don’t feel comfortable in a group setting and speaking aloud in front of others may find the class setting overwhelming. A class also has to adapt to the various levels of ability within it, so a faster learner may feel held back whilst a slower learner may feel too rushed. There is the option of one-to-one classes, which may speed up improvement and make the student more comfortable. However, the cost of classes also has to be considered.

There is the cost of the classes themselves, but also any texts you may need, and the travel to and from the school. In addition, you need to find a class at a time that will be convenient and fit in with your other commitments.

Rob from Sheffield has been taking classes in German:

After finding out that I’d been accepted into a student exchange program in Germany, I figured I’d better learn enough of the language to get by. The Language Museum classes fit around my uni schedule, and I learned as much about the culture as I did about how to speak German. I’m now in the third week of the programme, and am even relaxed enough to have organised my first date!

(Note: learning a language does not guarantee you a date!)

Next time… the podcast.

Over the next few posts I’ll be taking a look at different ways of learning a language – from a classroom setting to using modern technology such as podcasts .

Whilst by no means a definitive list of pros and cons of each method, it’s a good starting point for those considering committing to a new language.

Before considering each method, it’s worthwhile putting some thought into what you want to get out of the course – conversational skills to be able to converse with family members? A few words to take you through a foreign holiday? An understanding of business speak to aid in work transactions?

Your reason for learning will of course impact on which method(s) you choose and how much you can commit.

First up – the class.

Recently in Los Angeles County, the county supervisor decided to proclaim a No Cussing Week.

This follows on from the success of McKay Hatch, a 14 year old who started a “No Cussing Club” at his middle school a couple of years ago – he’s even appeared on “Dr. Phil”. As someone who swears reasonably frequently and with some pleasure, I was amazed at this, along with a quick search that revealed there’s an organisation called the “Cuss Control Academy“, whose two stated purposes are:

1. To increase awareness of the negative impact bad language has on society and on individuals who swear too frequently or inappropriately.

2. To help individuals and groups eliminate or reduce their use of profanity, vulgarity and offensive slang.

The organisation has even printed a book to out those who wish to rid themselves of their foul mouth. Personally, I disagree with their purposes. I think most adults have enough control to know that cussing has a time and a place, and the idea that it’s somehow responsible for the destruction of the moral fabric of society is perhaps a little farfetched.

Luckily for those in LA County though, the supervisor’s spokesman says No Cussing Week “[Is] not enforceable. It’s like Breast Cancer Awareness Week. We want to remind people about their choice of words. Use different language — be kind; be civil.”

And that I think we can all agree with.

OK, so this probably isn’t a question that comes to mind a lot, if ever. A dictionary is there to look up a spelling or check a definition – where the spelling or definition comes from, and who wrote it, is not usually a cause of concern.

However, I’ve been reading an article that mentioned the Oxford Corpus, a language project at Oxford University in England that provides the basis for the Oxford English Dictionary (OED), one of the most influential and authoritative texts on the English language. But what is the Corpus?

A corpus is a collection of texts of written (or spoken) language presented in electronic form. It provides the evidence of how language is used in real situations, from which lexicographers can write accurate and meaningful dictionary entries. The Oxford English Corpus is at the heart of dictionary-making in Oxford in the 21st century and ensures that we can track and record the very latest developments in language today. By analysing the corpus and using special software, we can see words in context and find out how new words and senses are emerging, as well as spotting other trends in usage, spelling, world English, and so on.

The corpus currently contains over 2 billion words (as of Spring 2006), and draws them from all over the English speaking world, not just the UK. Two billion seems like a huge amount, but they note that the count is not 2 billion different words – the word ‘the’ on its own makes up about 100 million entries.

From these two billion words the OED is compiled, with the last comprehensive dictionary published in 1989. This second edition ran to twenty volumes with supplements printed in the 1990’s. Since 1990, the dictionary researchers have been working on reviewing the whole dictionary rather than just adding to it – no word yet on when the final version will be published.

Feeling a little overwhelmed by all those words? Well, the OED compact contains a mere 145,000 words, phrases and definitions.

(Source: www.oed.com)

Former US President George Bush is well known for his gaffes, but as it turns out, he may actually be helping kids “read good” after all.

The Guardian reports that his derided No Child Left Behind (NCLB) law may actually be helping children whose primary language is not English.

Education experts say that for English language learners in particular, the law has had some benefits. Because NCLB requires such students to be tracked as a subgroup, educators now weigh more seriously what is working, what is not working, and what could work with ELLs.

Read the rest of the article here.