| With so many language learning methods out | | | | our native language to serve as crutch. Using the |
| there today and so many misconceptions, you | | | | native language can be a double edged sword |
| might think that learning a language is just | | | | though, if not used correctly. |
| something you cannot do. Or maybe you've | | | | The IMPORTANT stuff you WANTED to know |
| become confused and are just looking around for | | | | What you need to learn a foreign language. |
| a way to learn a foreign language. | | | | 1. A way to hear the language as it is actually |
| Learning a foreign language is a natural process. | | | | spoken. Just listening to a foreign language opens |
| When we are kids our brains are ready for any | | | | your mind to that languages sounds, intonation |
| new language but as we learn our native language | | | | and rhythm. It's what helps you develop as good |
| the brain starts to hone in on only that language. | | | | a accent as possible. |
| The brain sorts out what is important in your | | | | 2. Bits of the language to learn.The best way to |
| native language and what is not and discards | | | | learn 'bits of the language' is by comparing the |
| anything that is not your native language. This is | | | | foreign language with an English translation. |
| partly why our natural ability to just pick up | | | | 3. The ability to hear the foreign word and |
| languages by being surrounded by it fades over | | | | understand the meaning rather than hear the |
| time. This means that over time when we hear a | | | | foreign word and translate it into English and then |
| foreign language we only hear garbled sounds and | | | | understand the meaning. |
| often we 'mishear' the phonetic sounds in that | | | | When you hear a word in English you do not |
| language. With the right training we can use the | | | | translate it into anything you simply |
| skills we learned as adults to learn a foreign | | | | UNDERSTAND the meaning. You need to try to |
| language. | | | | do this in your foreign language. You need to think |
| In fact, whilst in the end children out perform | | | | directly in the foreign language. This will eliminate |
| adults in learning foreign languages. In the short | | | | using English word usages in the foreign language. |
| term adults learn languages much more rapidly | | | | We all have this ability but it will take some |
| than children do. This is because we already have | | | | practice. |