As many of us know from experience, trying to communicate effectively with someone who speaks another language can be frustrating at best. It depends on the language the two of you are speaking as to how much of a challenge this can be; if you speak only English and are trying to converse with someone who only speaks Japanese, you can imagine how difficult it is. Learning another language is perhaps one of the most rewarding things you can do, and whether you want to be able to communicate more effectively, travel to another country, or improve your mental capabilities, there are several advantages. Starting young makes the process or learning another language easier, although you are never too old to learn.
Mental Development
The progress that people can make when learning another language at an early age is phenomenal. Linguists and development psychologists are all in agreement that the best time for learning a new set of vocabulary and grammar is when your body and mind is still developing. What a five year old child can learn in one year may take an adult more than five years to learn. This is due to the fact that parts of the brain that deal with memory and speech grow fastest when a child is between four to ten years old, but once a child becomes a teenager, the rate of growth slows down before stopping altogether. The ability of a child to absorb new things can be compared to the way new storage units can accommodate new information, because they are still growing. Since not everyone is a child, the question becomes how can adults who have mature brains learn new languages?
Immerse Yourself
Learning another language is a lot harder than learning a new skill like how to fix a car, mending clothes or building sand castle. This is because different parts of your mind are involved in the process of listening and speaking. Instead of just calling up words that you intend to speak, your mind needs to replace your understanding of grammar and vocabulary alike if you are to construct a sentence in the new language. The best thing for you to do when you want to efficiently learn how to speak a foreign language is to visit the nation where the tongue is the primary language spoken by the residents. This will make it possible for your brain to adapt and start thinking in that language because you will be exposed to that tongue for the most part of the day. Learning another language is most effective when you converse, read road signs and watch television shows in that language, as opposed to just studying the language for less than two hours a day.
Aim For Ok, Not Great
Trying to learn a foreign language perfectly is unrealistic and you should accept that there is no such thing as the perfect translation. Instead, start to think about how to effectively and clearly make your point. many people fail or find it difficult to learn a new language effectively, because they strive for perfection, not realizing that such a thing is just about impossible. Never get frustrated when you cannot find the perfect word or phrase; you should be happy that you are able to carry on a simple conversation in another language.
Search the Web
While academic study, textbooks and classrooms can be very handy in helping a person learn another language, the world wide web is without a doubt the greatest resource available for people who wish to learn something new without having to leave their homes. The internet can help you to connect to people living in different parts of the world, find language-specific forums and meetings, communicate via video chat and write posts among other resources that can help you to practice with like-minded people. When you want to travel abroad, you can search the internet using your preferred search engine for activities to engage in, or places to stay that will require you to utilize your newly acquired language skills, and get better at communicating in that language.
Mental Development
The progress that people can make when learning another language at an early age is phenomenal. Linguists and development psychologists are all in agreement that the best time for learning a new set of vocabulary and grammar is when your body and mind is still developing. What a five year old child can learn in one year may take an adult more than five years to learn. This is due to the fact that parts of the brain that deal with memory and speech grow fastest when a child is between four to ten years old, but once a child becomes a teenager, the rate of growth slows down before stopping altogether. The ability of a child to absorb new things can be compared to the way new storage units can accommodate new information, because they are still growing. Since not everyone is a child, the question becomes how can adults who have mature brains learn new languages?
Immerse Yourself
Learning another language is a lot harder than learning a new skill like how to fix a car, mending clothes or building sand castle. This is because different parts of your mind are involved in the process of listening and speaking. Instead of just calling up words that you intend to speak, your mind needs to replace your understanding of grammar and vocabulary alike if you are to construct a sentence in the new language. The best thing for you to do when you want to efficiently learn how to speak a foreign language is to visit the nation where the tongue is the primary language spoken by the residents. This will make it possible for your brain to adapt and start thinking in that language because you will be exposed to that tongue for the most part of the day. Learning another language is most effective when you converse, read road signs and watch television shows in that language, as opposed to just studying the language for less than two hours a day.
Aim For Ok, Not Great
Trying to learn a foreign language perfectly is unrealistic and you should accept that there is no such thing as the perfect translation. Instead, start to think about how to effectively and clearly make your point. many people fail or find it difficult to learn a new language effectively, because they strive for perfection, not realizing that such a thing is just about impossible. Never get frustrated when you cannot find the perfect word or phrase; you should be happy that you are able to carry on a simple conversation in another language.
Search the Web
While academic study, textbooks and classrooms can be very handy in helping a person learn another language, the world wide web is without a doubt the greatest resource available for people who wish to learn something new without having to leave their homes. The internet can help you to connect to people living in different parts of the world, find language-specific forums and meetings, communicate via video chat and write posts among other resources that can help you to practice with like-minded people. When you want to travel abroad, you can search the internet using your preferred search engine for activities to engage in, or places to stay that will require you to utilize your newly acquired language skills, and get better at communicating in that language.
About the Author:
Daniel White is an expert in world languages and travel for several years, who is sharing is experience, reviews and knowledge through is own website blog. if you want to know extra about it, you can go at is languages website. if you want get extra info and reviews about studying languages from around the world, you can go go at is studying languages reviews, videos and articles pages.
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