Resources for Learning a Second Language

With the importance of learning a second language so clear, the question becomes one of how to do it. Luckily, the same culture that makes the skill necessary also makes it easier than any other time in history to become fluent in a new language.
 

Traditional teaching: Universities, community colleges, and several private organizations offer traditional language classes. The range to choose from may depend on the size of the institution, and they will almost always charge fees for classes and materials. The need of many people to learn a second language has turned this field into a thriving industry.

Internet: More than just Web sites, there are many Web 2.0 and social media technologies that provide language lessons, audio guides to pronunciation, feedback from native speakers and fellow students, and much more. These includes videos on YouTube and other sites; podcasts; and online messaging and chat tools such as Skype which facilitate connection and contact between students and teachers. Using these resources allows students to proceed at their own pace and within their own time frame. Best of all, most of these are free.

Immersion: The most complete immersion would be to actually move to the country, but that's not always a possibility. In most large cities, however, there are cultural centers, discussion groups, and other organizations that usually welcome the curious to join them. At first, communication may be awkward and stilted. However, with persistence and attention, the sounds and meanings of a language sink in and become internalized. This method of learning a language usually stays with a person longer, the equivalent of "muscle memory" for an athlete.

Whatever method is used, it should be clear that the importance of learning a second language is only surpassed by the many resources available to do it.

Important of learning a second language

It is difficult to over-emphasize the importance of learning a second language. The benefits are both immediate and long term, and the obstacles minimal.

What is the Importance of Learning a Second Language?

The easiest way to answer this question is to list the benefits and advantages to those who take the time to explore the language of a culture different than their own.

On a personal level, learning a second language takes people out of their imprinted mindset and exposes them to the mores and customs of an entirely different group of people. Their view of the world expands beyond blurbs on the nightly news and into a deeper understanding of how other people think.

While this can be difficult, the effort pays off in more than simply a new list of vocabulary words. Like a muscle being exercised, the brain is able to function better in terms of organization, memory, and expression. When someone has to express themselves in another language, it automatically improves their ability to express themselves in their native tongue.

In terms of community, learning a second language will also increase understanding and compassion for other cultures. This becomes a powerful tool in fighting stereotypes and bigotry. For example, a native English speaker who takes the time to learn some Spanish before traveling to Mexico will have more than simply a greater chance of understanding the street signs and menus. By making the effort to speak to people in their language, rather than assuming they should speak English, the traveler is validating the Mexican culture. The simple act of trying to express oneself in the other language shows a respect that is usually appreciated.

Pragmatically, with the advent of the global marketplace, having a second or even third language on a resumé is almost a requirement of the job-seeking professional. Especially in careers where clients may be anywhere on the globe, the ability to communicate with them in their own language increases both the quality of the relations and the ability of the business to meet their needs. Businesses recognize that a person with the ability to speak a second language fluently is a valuable asset. It also shows off the capacity of the aspiring job candidate to learn and assimilate complex systems of information, a talent that is sure to catch the attention of any human resources department.

Tips on Studying a Foreign Language

Learning another language is not easy, but most people can learn a second language IF they are willing to put in the necessary time. Here are some practical suggestions for studying effectively, overcoming anxiety, and learning the grammar and skills necessary for success in foreign language classes.
 

STUDY EVERY DAY! A foreign language course is different from any other course you take. Language learning is cumulative: you cannot put it off until the weekend. Study 1 or 2 hours for every class hour if you want an A or B.

DISTRIBUTE YOUR STUDY TIME in 15- to 30-minute periods throughout the day. Focus on a different task each time: vocabulary now, grammar next, etc. Get an overview during the first half hour: spend 10 minutes reviewing dialog, 10 minutes learning new vocabulary, 10 minutes learning new grammar...so you'll at least have looked at it all. Approximately 80% of your study time should be spent in recitation or practice, including practice in the language lab.

ATTEND AND PARTICIPATE IN EVERY CLASS--even if you are not well prepared. Class time is your best opportunity to practice. Learn the grammar and vocabulary outside of class in order to make the most of class time. Spend a few minutes "warming up" before each class by speaking or reading the language.
    

MAKE YOURSELF COMFORTABLE IN THE CLASSROOM. Get to know your classmates, so you will feel you are among friends. Visit your instructor during office hours to get acquainted: explain your goals and fears about the course to your instructor. 

LEARN GRAMMAR IF YOU DON'T ALREADY KNOW IT. Grammar is the skeleton of a language, its basic structure: you must learn it. Review a simplified English grammar text. Compare new grammatical structures in your foreign language to their English equivalents. 

PRACTICE FOR TESTS by doing what you will have to do on the test. If the test will require you to write, then study by writing--including spelling and accents. If you will be asked to listen, then practice listening. Ask for practice questions; make up your own test questions. Invent variations on patterns and forms. Over-learn: study beyond the point of recognition to mastery.
 

DEVELOP A GOOD ATTITUDE. Have a clear personal reason for taking the class. Set personal goals for what you want to learn. Leave perfectionism at the door; give yourself permission to make mistakes and learn from them.
 

GET HELP IF YOU NEED IT. Talk with your teacher. Form study groups among class members. Use tutoring services. Don't wait!

READING and WRITING a foreign language are analytical skills. You may be good at these if you are a logical person who attends to detail. Train yourself through practice to notice and remember details such as accents and gender agreement.

READING SKILLS TIPS:
First, read the vocabulary list for the assignment. Next, read the questions about the reading. Then read all the way through a new passage two or three times, guessing at meaning from context. Avoid word-by-word translation. It is a waste of time!

Isolate new vocabulary and study it separately. DON'T write between the lines! Make flash cards. Carry them with you and recite them several times during the day at odd moments. Overlearn them until they are automatic.

Isolate new grammatical forms and study them separately. Write the pattern on a flash card and memorize it. Write out and label a model sentence. When you encounter the form while reading, pause and recite the pattern to recognize the form.

WRITING SKILLS TIPS:
Pay attention to detail: notice accents, order of letters, etc. Compare letter-by-letter different forms (singular, plural, gender, etc.). Write out conjugations of verbs, declensions of pro-nouns, etc., and check your endings. Memorize irregular verbs.

To master spelling, have a friend dictate 10 words to you. Write them out and immediately have your friend spell them correctly aloud while you look carefully and point at each letter. Repeat until you get all the words right.
    

Write (in your own simple foreign vocabulary words) a story you have just read.


LISTENING and SPEAKING are performance skills. You may do well at these if you are naturally outgoing. Students in foreign language classes often have difficulty hearing and speaking because they are anxious about making mistakes. It's OK to make mistakes! Have fun trying to speak!

LISTENING SKILLS TIPS:
Frequent the language lab. Read the exercises in your book first; then listen and read together; then listen without looking at the print. Say aloud/write what you hear.

Participate silently in class when others are called on to speak. Focus on the task; don't worry about how you'll do.

If you feel nervous, relax yourself physically by taking a couple of slow, deep breaths. When called on, pause, relax, and give yourself time to respond.

    Listen while a friend dictates to you and write what you hear. Check for accuracy.
    Practice: join language clubs, watch foreign TV, listen to foreign radio.


SPEAKING SKILLS TIPS:
Study out loud! Mimic the sounds of the language. Don't mumble. Although most people feel embarrassed making strange sounds, the language will soon feel more familiar to you.

When called on in class, say something, even it it's wrong: you'll learn from it. If you need a moment to think, repeat the question. If you don't know the answer, say in your foreign language, "I don't know" or "help!"

Practice with a foreign student who wants your help to learn English or with another class member.

Why I should learn a language

Below there are several reason why you should learn a language

Learning a foreign language takes time and dedication. The reasons below may help to convince you to take the plunge, if such persuasion is needed. Some reasons are practical, some aspirational, some intellectual and others sentimental, but whatever your reasons, having a clear idea of why you're learning a language can help to motivate you in your studies.

    Kolik jazyků znáš, tolikrát jsi člověkem.
    You live a new life for every new language you speak.
    If you know only one language, you live only once.
    (Czech proverb)

Emigration

When you move to a different country or region, learning the local language will help you to communicate and integrate with the local community. Even if many of the locals speak your language, for example if your L1 is English and you move to the Netherlands, it's still worth your while learning the local language. Doing so will demonstrate your interest in and commitment to the new country.
Family and friends

If your partner, in-laws, relatives or friends speak a different language, learning that language will help you to communicate with them. It will also give you a better understanding of their culture and way of thinking.
Work

If your work involves regular contact with speakers of foreign languages, being able to talk to them in their own languages will help you to communicate with them. It may also help you to make sales and to negotiate and secure contracts. Knowledge of foreign languages may also increase your chances of finding a new job, getting a promotion or a transfer overseas, or of going on foreign business trips.

Many English-speaking business people don't bother to learn other languages because they believe that most of the people they do business with in foreign countries can speak English, and if they don't speak English, interpreters can be used. The lack of foreign language knowledge puts the English speakers at a disadvantage. In meetings, for example, the people on the other side can discuss things amongst themselves in their own language without the English speakers understanding, and using interpreters slows everything down. In any socialising after the meetings, the locals will probably feel more comfortable using their own language rather than English.

Study or research

You may find that information about subjects you're interested in is published mainly in a foreign language. Learning that language will give you access to the material and enable you to communicate with fellow students and researchers in the field.

    Language is the archives of history.
    (Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Travel

Many English speakers seem to believe that wherever you go on holiday you can get by speaking English, so there's no point in learning any other languages. If people don't understand you all you have to do is speak slowly and turn up the volume. You can more or less get away with this, as long as you stick to popular tourist resorts and hotels where you can usually find someone who speaks English. However, if you want to venture beyond such places, to get to know the locals, to read signs, menus, etc, knowing the local language is necessary.

    Americans who travel abroad for the first time are often shocked to discover that, despite all the progress that has been made in the last 30 years, many foreign people still speak in foreign languages.
    (Dave Barry)

A basic ability in a foreign language will help you to 'get by', i.e. to order food and drink, find your way around, buy tickets, etc. If you have a more advanced knowledge of the language, you can have real conversations with the people you meet, which can be very interesting and will add a new dimension to your holiday.

    Die Grenzen meiner Sprache bedeuten die Grenzen meiner Welt.
    The limits of my language are the limits of my universe.
    (Ludwig Wittgenstein)

Studying abroad

If you plan to study at a foreign university, college or school, you'll need a good knowledge of the local language, unless the course you want to study is taught through the medium of your L1. Your institution will probably provide preparatory courses to improve your language skills and continuing support throughout your main course.

Secret communication

If you and some of your relatives, friends or colleagues speak a language that few people understand, you can talk freely in public without fear of anyone eavesdropping, and/or you can keep any written material secret. Speakers of such Native American languages as Navajo, Choctaw and Cheyenne served as radio operators, know as Code Talkers, to keep communications secret during both World Wars. Welsh speakers played a similar role during the Bosnian War.

Required course

You may be required to study a particular language at school, college or university.
Getting in touch with your roots

If your family spoke a particular language in the past you might want to learn it and possibly teach it to your children. It could also be useful if you are research your family tree and some of the documents you find are written in a language foreign to you.

Revitalising or reviving your language

If you speak an endangered language, or your parents or grandparents do/did, learning that language and passing it on to your children could help to revitalise or revive it.

Culture

Maybe you're interested in the literature, poetry, films, TV programs, music or some other aspect of the culture of people who speak a particular language and want to learn their language in order to gain a better understanding of their culture.

Most people in the world are multilingual, and everybody could be; no one is rigorously excluded from another's language community except through lack of time and effort. Different languages protect and nourish the growth of different cultures, where different pathways of human knowledge can be discovered. They certainly make life richer for those who know more than one of them.(Nicholas Ostler, Empires of the Word)

Religion

Missionaries and other religious types learn languages in order to spread their message. In fact, missionairies have played a major role in documenting languages and devising writing systems for many of them. Others learn the language(s) in which the scriptures/holy books of their religion were originally written to gain a better understanding of them. For example, Christians might learn Hebrew, Aramaic and Biblical Greek; Muslims might learn Classical Arabic, and Buddhists might learn Sanskrit.

Food

Perhaps you enjoy the food and/or drink of a particular country or region and make regular trips there, or the recipe books you want to use are only available in a foreign language

Linguistic interest

Maybe you're interested in linguistic aspects of a particular language and decide to learn it in order to understand them better.

Challenging yourself

Maybe you enjoy the challenge of learning foreign languages or of learning a particularly difficult language.
Sounds/looks good to me

Perhaps you just like the sound of a particular language when it's spoken or sung. Or you find the written form of a language attractive. If you like singing, learning songs in other languages can be interesting, challenging and enjoyable.

One language is never enough!

If like me you're a bit of a linguaphile / glossophile / linguaholic or whatever you call someone who is fascinated by languages and enjoys learning them, then one language is never enough.

    If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head.
    If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart.
    (Nelson Mandela)

Learn a Foreign Language

Tips for learning foreign language

1) Spend the time!

By far the most important factor is how much time you are immersed in the language. The more time you spend with the language, the faster you will learn. This means listening, reading, writing, speaking, and studying words and phrases. This does not mean sitting in class looking out the window, nor listening to other students who do not speak well, nor getting explanations in your own language about how the language works. This means spending time enjoyably connected to the language you are learning.

2) Listen and read every day!

Listen wherever you are on your MP3 player. Read what you are listening to. Listen to and read things that you like, things that you can mostly understand, or even partly understand. If you keep listening and reading you will get used to the language. One hour of listening or reading is more effective than many hours of class time.

3) Focus on words and phrases!

Build up your vocabulary, you’ll need lots. Start to notice words and how they come together as phrases. Learn these words and phrases through your listening and reading. Read online, using online dictionaries, and make your own vocabulary lists for review. Soon you will run into your new words and phrases elsewhere. Gradually you will be able to use them. Do not worry about how accurately you speak until you have accumulated a plenty of words through listening and reading.

4) Take responsibility for your own learning!

If you do not want to learn the language, you won’t. If you do want to learn the language, take control. Choose content of interest, that you want to listen to and read. Seek out the words and phrases that you need to understand your listening and reading. Do not wait for someone else to show you the language, nor to tell you what to do. Discover the language by yourself, like a child growing up. Talk when you feel like it. Write when you feel like it. A teacher cannot teach you to become fluent, but you can learn to become fluent if you want to.

5) Relax and enjoy yourself!
Do not worry about what you cannot remember, or cannot yet understand, or cannot yet say. It does not matter. You are learning and improving. The language will gradually become clearer in your brain, but this will happen on a schedule that you cannot control. So sit back and enjoy. Just make sure you spend enough time with the language. That is the greatest guarantee of success.

Steve Kaufmann is a former Canadian diplomat, who has had his own company in the international trade of forest products for over 20 years. Steve founded The Linguist Institute Ltd. in 2002 to develop a new approach to language learning using the web. The new LingQ system for learning multiple languages is now available in Beta. Steve speaks nine languages fluently and is currently learning Russian using LingQ. Steve maintains a blog on language learning.

History Of Language

It is a known fact that all animals commute with each other through language and body gestures. But it's only the humans who have developed a system of communication amongst themselves.

Since ancient times the language is changing continuously and still we have new words / lexicons in the modern language itself.

There is no strong evidence about the origin of language but according to researches there is a conclusion that languages came into existence from 3000 B.C. Initially the language was adopted by nomads of Eastern Europe and West Asia and during 2000 B.C. Indo-European languages begin to stretch across Europe, Atlantic Coast & Mediterranean regions. Another language which did come into prominence during this era was Semitic language which found its origin in tribal clans of Arabia.

Today the English is the primary language of North and South America, Australia and New Zealand though we have about 5000 languages in operation (1/3 are just from African subcontinent)

Though the languages in its initial stages were not subject to race but subsequently it followed a pattern and now we could map a particular race with particular languages. Like Persian was the language of Persia (now Iran), Arabic became the prime language of the Arabs, Mandarin for the Chinese and Devnagri for Hindus etc.

So there is separate history associated with respective language but here in this article we would discuss the history of one of the prime language - English language.

English language originates from West Germanic Language (which too originally evolved from Anglo Frisian dialects, German Settlers & Roman troops in major parts of England, Germany & Netherland). The German tribes who ultimately give rise to English language interacted with Roman Empire as a result they borrowed some words from the Latin also so sometimes English language is termed as "Borrowed language".

There are 3 classifications of English:

Old English - Native language for England. Derived from Anglo-Saxon.

Middle English - Came into existence around 1066 A.D. Derived from Anglo-Norman.

Modern English - Language came into prominence since 15th Century. Blend of Greek & Latin words.

Though we are amidst of modern English language but still there are several other regional and tribal languages which are on continuous evolution and improvement.

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Language Imperialism

Power and the will to dominate pervade everything, our hearts, our minds, our consciousness and even our language. It is probably safe to say that those who dominate usually do this through the medium of language. As we all know, the most powerful country on the Earth is undoubtedly the United States of America and the most influential language in the world is of course English, American English. But does this correlate with the actual statistics? It might be useful to take a look at a breakdown of the world’s top native languages i.e. those with the greatest number of native speakers (various sources):

    1. Mandarin 700 million

    2. English  355 million

    3. Spanish 350 million

    4. Hindi  337 million

    5. Portuguese 203 million

    6. Bengali 196 million

    7. Russian 145 million

    8. Japanese 128 million

    9. German 101 million

Unsurprisingly, Mandarin Chinese comes top with both Hindi and Bengali being in powerful positions (Poland is 24th on the list). However, does this tell us anything about linguistic imperialism? It is only when we begin to look at the number of second-language speakers do we see the correlations between power and language appear:

    1. English  1.5 billion

    2. Russian  110 million

    3. Spanish  70 million

    4. German  60 million

    5. French  60 million

English is leaps and bounds ahead of all the other languages. Obviously, for translators and linguists these are important figures and tell us a great deal about the most influential languages in the world.

It is safe to say that English is the language of diplomacy, business and science. From this point of view, those who possess the know-how that is English will be able to share in the opportunities this world language gives. With this in mind, we may be able to foresee the future focal points of the global economy. Time for more statistics - let us look at the number of English language speakers in non-native English states:

    1. India  100 million

    2. Nigeria  43 million

    3. Philippines 37 million

Perhaps it will be India (and the Indian sub-continent) that will lead the way in the years to come. With this vital skill in their hands (and mouths) the need for language-training and translation is negated. The same, of course, cannot be said of China which experts believe to be the new up and coming power. However, without this communicative ease – possessed by countries such as India, Pakistan, Nigeria, the Philippines, Zimbabwe and Singapore – can the manpower of China also match the manpower and linguistic know-how of these nations?

Culture Hidding In Language

It is said that Japanese is an isolated language. In the past it has refused to mix up with other languages, just like the Japanese people did (Japan was closed off to the world from 1639 to 1853).

Obviously, the language represents our culture. Because of this, Japanese people are said to be conservative, just like their language. Today I’d like to talk about languages and culture.

Japanese contains various phrases concerning the seasons, climate and nature. As we were originally agricultural people, the climate has always been important to us. For instance, there are over 10 different ways to describe rain in the different seasons and we have a wide choice of words when describing wind. Another linguistic example of this climate use involves Haiku. Haiku is a fixed verse form of seventeen syllables arranged in a five-seven-five pattern. A feature of Haiku is the inclusion of a "season word," referring to an animal, plant, event or custom of the season. The importance of seasons and climate has been inherited from the past; it has blended into the language. It’s the same for other languages too. We can easily find out what people are interested in by looking at the language they speak. Mongolian has a huge amount of vocabulary concerning animals, whereas French is the best for describing food in detail.

Apart from the language, and this is more of a cultural thing, many Japanese national holidays are related to seasons or climate: Spring Equinox Day (March), Greenery Day (April), the day of the sea (July), Autumnal Equinox Day (September) etc. In contrast, I have heard that national holidays in the US are more related to people: Martin Luther King Jr's Birthday (January), Washington's Birthday (February) and Christmas Day (December) for example.

One more thing…if you want to be polite, Japanese is the best choice for you. I found this out while translating English into Japanese, especially it seems, when it comes to refusing offers or cancelling something (in formal situations). It really represents our culture. One line of English is equivalent to three lines of Japanese. And this includes saying sorry twice and in two different ways. We don’t often just say “No”, but write it indirectly. One might become impatient, but that’s the way things work in Japan.

By the way, talking about Japanese and how unique it is: it doesn’t have any clear language ancestors, it has no connection with other languages, it’s written in 3 kinds of characters, most Kanji words have at least 2 different pronunciations, there are lots of homonyms, it can be written vertically etc….. In many cases, it’s Kanji which keeps people away from learning Japanese. It’s hard even for us! That’s why a Kanji test is included in the entrance exams for university and even for jobs. Don’t worry; you are not the only one! We don’t understand it either! Kanji is not just a pain in the neck though. Take a look at the illustrious linguistic history it has, what each radical means, how the meaning changes according to conjugational ending in Hiragana added to Kanji. It’s deep and interesting.

The Relationship between Language and Culture

It is generally agreed that language and culture are closely related. Language can be viewed as a verbal expression of culture. It is used to maintain and convey culture and cultural ties. Language provides us with many of the categories we use for expression of our thoughts, so it is therefore natural to assume that our thinking is influenced by the language which we use. The values and customs in the country we grow up in shape the way in which we think to a certain extent.

Cultures hiding in languages, examines the link between Japanese language and culture. An Insight into Korean Culture through the Korean Language discusses how Korean culture influences the language.

Languages spoken in Ireland, focuses on the status of the Irish language nowadays and how it has changed over time. In our big world every minute is a lesson looks at intercultural communication and examines how it can affect interactions between people from countries and backgrounds.