Showing posts with label Fastest. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Fastest. Show all posts

Sunday, August 28, 2011

What Is the Fastest Way to Learn a Language?

The US government uses it, fortune 500 companies use it, heck, even Mormon missionaries use it when learning a new language. What is this program that is so effective that people who have never spoken a language can be in it in just a few months? What is the secret that can unlock your mind and make learning any language possible?

I once asked a friend who had mastered Chinese how he did it. His response was simple: "I moved to China and wanted to eat, if I couldn't speak, I might not eat or I might hate the food, I quickly learned." This man went from knowing zero Chinese, to passing an advanced level Chinese test 6 months later! When he told me this story, he confirmed what I had long suspected. The secret to learning a language isn't fancy software, it isn't years of college or high school courses, it is complete immersion into a language!

As exciting as this realization was, I quickly found this was no easy task. Most people just don't have the time or resources to move out of their country for a year and learn a language. So what solutions are there to complete immersion?

1. Find a native speaking friend who is willing to learn with you. The benefit to this is that it is free and can be fun for you and your friend. The problem is there is a good chance you don't know anyone who speaks the language you want to learn, or, if you do, they would rather speak English with you. That being said if you know someone you should ask!

2. If you have a friend learning the same language, decide with them to only speak in that language when you are together. For example, if you are learning Spanish, only use Spanish when together. Now obviously, you will encounter words that you don't know. When you don't know a word use the English equivalent, but keep the Spanish grammar. This method can greatly increase your ability to learn a language!

3. One last option is to sign up with a website that sets you up with native speakers. If you are only looking for chatting through reading and writing I would check out livemocha.com, they are free and allow you to chat with people from around the world. The downside is that those people are often trying to learn English, so they would expect you to help them as well. If you want a good website that connects you with both native speakers and other learners check out cafespeak.com. They focus on conversation, so essentially you would be utilizing Skype to converse with someone else in their native language.

Learning a language through immersion can be fun and exciting. Try one, two, or all of these methods to quickly immerse yourself in your language of choice. Good luck!


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Wednesday, August 10, 2011

Learn Spanish In Spain, The Fastest Way To Learn Spanish

A new language can open new doors and send your life in a completely new path. The quickest way to learn is to have the need to learn. If you need to learn then you will learn much quicker. Necessity is the mother of invention after all. You will learn Spanish much quicker if you learn Spanish in Spain.

Spanish is the one of the widest spoken languages in the world. It is spoken in countries spread across the planet and is understood by over 50% of the world's population.

Living in Spain

The easiest way to learn a language is to live in the country that speaks it. The Spanish people are friendly and welcoming and Spain is a lovely country to live in. Why not join the thousands of ex-pats already living in Spain. The country has a laid back attitude, low cost of living and some of the most beautiful shore lines in the world.

Reading on the internet is one thing but living in the country is something completely different. Everything is different. Buying property, using the facilities and the language barrier are some of the things that you will need to think about and things that you will need to contend with.

The majority of ex-pats live in around the costas, mainly because they have probably visited the areas on vacation. But some of the inland areas of Spain are every bit as stunning as the shore resorts.

Learning Spanish

So you have made the decision to learn the language, but where do you start? Your ideal will be to be residing in Spain and learning from the locals. This is probably the route to fluent Spanish but you will need to be reasonably proficient before you land in sunny Spain. A good guide can help you get by but the best way is on-line, in the comfort of your own home.

The basics

Like anything in life you should start with the basics. Repeating 'hello' and 'goodbye' over and over again may seem like a joyless task, and really it is, but it isn't pointless. It will get you accustomed to the Spanish lingo. A good audio guide can be a great tool or if possible a tutor. Try to keep it fun.

Intermediate

The basics are firmly implanted in your head. It is time to move onto the next stage. Remember you need to keep everything fun and you will learn much faster. You can move onto complete sentences and phrases, a more conversational approach. You are probably ready to move to Spain and start your path to fluent Spanish. You will only really become proficient once you are forced to interact with the locals, order food off them and hang out with them.

Much like the country itself Spanish is a beautiful. It isn't as hard to learn as you imagine and you will find yourself picking it up in no time.

Learning Spanish online is the fastest way. It can be a challenge but with the right help you can get there fast!


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