| FOREIGN LANGUAGE LEARNING: 5 MORE | | | | pronunciation and accent. |
| PRACTICAL TIPS | | | | 3. READ THE NEWSPAPER: There are |
| In my previous article we discussed the | | | | several ways to get Newspapers, |
| basics of learning foreign languages. | | | | Magazines, and Comics in foreign |
| To supplement your experience we will go | | | | languages. I mention these forms of |
| over 5 more practical language learning | | | | print media because they are the most |
| tips that you can apply easily in your | | | | conversational. They will teach you to |
| daily life. These tips to accompany | | | | speak and write like a native does in |
| your already existing foreign language | | | | their natural state, not when they are |
| learning studies. | | | | trying to speak in dramatic or |
| 1. CARRY A DICTIONARY: I know that | | | | intellectual terms. You can find these |
| sounds hard to do. I'm not talking | | | | materials at libraries, online, or for |
| about carrying Webster's collegiate | | | | languages like Spanish and Chinese often |
| dictionary that would require its own | | | | times at your local newsstand. Most of |
| backpack. You can find miniature | | | | them are free. I prefer the online |
| dictionaries that can easily fit in your | | | | sources because they are always free and |
| pocket or purse. Although it will never | | | | easy to get. You can find links to |
| be convenient this is how I learned to | | | | Newspapers in foreign languages here: |
| speak French fluently. While I was in | | | | . Comic books are great because they |
| France anytime anyone said anything I | | | | are the most conversational print |
| didn't understand I could instantly look | | | | material. You can see the people in |
| it up, and then use it in my vocabulary. | | | | action and connect with what they are |
| Also, anytime there was a French word I | | | | talking about. |
| wanted to say I could instantly look it | | | | 4. WRITE LETTERS: Even if the letter |
| up. This is so important because there | | | | is pretend write a letter about your |
| are so many times when you are out and | | | | day. This will force you to learn new |
| you want to know how to say something | | | | words and to think in the language. |
| but are unable to. Then by the time you | | | | Although you WILL make mistakes, don't |
| get home and can look it up you have | | | | worry, it is all apart of the process. |
| either forgotten the word or forgotten | | | | I look back at some of the things that I |
| altogether and you have missed out on a | | | | wrote when I was starting and wonder |
| great opportunity to you improve your | | | | what I was thinking. Even though the |
| language skills. | | | | writings are reminiscent of the |
| * One alternative that is also effective | | | | ramblings of a crazy man it helped me to |
| is to carry a pocket notebook where you | | | | refine my abilities. I can see the |
| can keep a running list of words you've | | | | progress in my writings month by month |
| learned or want to learn. | | | | they improve significantly. Don't |
| 2. WATCH MOVIES: The great thing | | | | forget to pay attention to your |
| about English movies is that everyone | | | | Conjugations. |
| wants them so that means they all get | | | | 5. THINK THE LANGUAGE: Think as much |
| dubbed into a couple of languages. This | | | | as possible in the language. When you |
| may only work for French, German, | | | | are thinking at anytime during the day |
| Spanish, Russian, Portuguese, or | | | | do it as much as possible in the foreign |
| Japanese but is still a great tool. | | | | language you are learning. Fill in the |
| Turn on the dubbing for the language | | | | blanks with your native language but |
| your want to learn and enjoy your movie. | | | | just keep thinking in the language. |
| Don't turn on the subtitles even if you | | | | This is HUGELY important. One of the |
| don't understand because you will start | | | | biggest problems when learning to speak |
| to focus only on the subtitles and not | | | | a foreign language is HABIT. If you are |
| gain anything from the experience. | | | | not used to thinking in the language how |
| Subtitles can be a good tool for | | | | will you speak. This will prepare you |
| learners who are already advanced and | | | | to be comfortable and confident when |
| want to learn the exact idiomatic | | | | confronted with the opportunity to speak |
| meanings of sayings. This is also a | | | | the language. If you make this a habit |
| great tool to increase your listening | | | | it eventually becomes natural and |
| comprehension. Start a small segment of | | | | extemporaneous. |
| the movie. Listen carefully and then | | | | Stay tuned for more articles on |
| replay it over and over until you | | | | improving your language skills in the |
| understand every word. Secondly, mimic | | | | near future. If you have questions or |
| the voices exactly in each segment. | | | | requests feel free to contact the |
| This will allow you to learn proper | | | | author. |