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LEARNING A LANGUAGE

This essay is addressed to people who are really interested in
learning a new language apart from their native tongue (professionals of all
the careers, teen-agers, children, old women and men, etc), because they
are aware of the big importance of learning another language, since it
provides many opportunities, for example if you are looking for a job, it will
be easy for you, because you have the knowledge of another language you
can get the job quickly.
The fact is that knowing another language makes the difference
among the other people and it would be a shame if you think to apply for a
job, but you dont have all of the requirements that the enterprise ask. One
of these is speak English or any other language; you will lose the
opportunity immediately; go and live abroad, communicate easily with other
people who belong to other culture (interchange customs).
The purposes of this essay are: to give information about the huge
importance of knowing a new language and explain how people can get
their goal in this case, learning a language.
Nowadays, it seems learning a new language apart from our native
tongue has a really big importance for all people of any age (from children to
old men or women). If people want to learn a new language the very first
thing to think about is Why, even though there are more questions that
comes out to the our mind quickly, like :


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Why should I learn a language?
There are many reasons to learn a foreign language, from working in
another country to discovering your roots, through intellectual curiosity,
romance, travel, and secret communication.
Which language should I learn?
Once you have decided to learn a language, you may not be quite sure
which language to choose. To some extent, your choice depends on your
reasons for learning a language. For example, if you'd like to communicate
with as many people as possible, learning such languages as Mandarin
Chinese, Spanish, French, Russian or Arabic would enable you to do so.
What materials and tools do I need to study a language?
There's a wide range of materials and tools available to help you with your
language studies, including language courses, dictionaries, grammar books,
phrasebooks, online lessons, mp3 players and electronic translators.
How can I find time to study a language?
Finding time to study a language can be quite a challenge. You may think
that you don't really have enough of it, but it's surprising how many spare
moments you have during a typical day, and how they can add up to a
useful amount of study time.




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What's the best way to study?
After choosing a language, you can start thinking about how you're going to
study it. For popular languages like French and Spanish, there's a wealth of
materials available. For lesser-studied languages, the choice can be more
limited. If courses are available in your area, it might help you to attend
them, or you may prefer to study on your own, or to have individual lessons.
Do I have to practice the pronunciation every day?
Learning the pronunciation of a language is a very important part of your
studies. It doesn't matter so much if you just want to read and/or write the
language, but if you want to speak a language well, as I'm sure you do, pay
particular attention to the pronunciation and review it regularly.
Why is important to build up a vocabulary?
Building up your vocabulary in a foreign language can take many years.
Learning words in context from written and spoken material is probably the
most effective way to do this. You could also try learning words in a more
systematic way - perhaps a certain number of words every day.
Why is important to be familiar with the grammar?
Familiarity with the grammar of a language enables you to understand it,
and also to construct your own phrases and sentences. It's not essential to
know all the grammatical terminology or to understand why words change,
as long as you're able to apply to relevant changes when necessary.


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Do I need to learn alphabets and other writing systems?
If the language you're learning is written with a different alphabet or other
type of writing system, learning it is well worth the effort. Some alphabets,
such as Cyrillic and Greek, can be learnt without too difficulty. Others, such
as Devanagari and Thai, are a more challenging.
Are you just fed up with speaking English when you on holidays?
Do you need it for a practical reason such as your studies or your job?
Or perhaps you are interested in the literature, culture, food, customs,
films or music of a different country and people know how it will help to have
knowledge of the language. Actually, there are many reasons to learn a
foreign language, from working in another country and so on. Whatever their
reasons are. Assuming many people know what and why they want to learn
a new language. The question is.
How are they going to do it?
In fact most people learn best using a variety of methods and
traditional classes, are an ideal start for many of them. Since they provide a
good structure, good support, and a good environment where people can
practice under the guidance of someone who usually has an excellent
knowledge of the language. What does it mean? It means an excellent
teacher.


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If you're a first-time language learner, you know that emotional ups
and downs come with the territory. When you understand a concept or
begin to comprehend the language, you may experience feelings of
exhilaration.
However, these are often followed by moments of frustration and
discouragement, during which you might feel as if you will never master the
concepts and attain the ability to understand and communicate effectively.
Below are many possibilities that this essay show you in order to help you.
All of these possibilities will help you to mitigate potential frustration and will
increase your ability to succeed in language learning.
As you can see, there are ample opportunities to practice your
language skills, and most are free. Take advantage of them and nurture
your skills, and you will see your language proficiency grow. So there are no
excuses to learn a new language.
Here some of these possibilities like:
The first possibility is:
The Internet, as everybody knows the internet is fundamental in the life (it
is not the only one thing), and if people have the internet at home everything
is going to be easier for them. It makes possible to communicate quickly,
easily and cheaply.
A popular use of the internet is sending and receiving e-mails to or
from people, who are connected to the internet, you can download


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documents and programs in the language that people want to learn. There
is also the option of finding hundreds of websites with exercises, including
audio (to practice listening skill), even videos. What are the advantages of
this?
The greatest advantage is that they are absolutely free, you can
practice the language online; if you have some doubts about any topic,
consult online or to your teacher or someone who speaks another language.
Try searching for a few keys words and prepare to be amazed by the
results. They are going to be great; youll notice that learning a new
language is going to be easy for you. In other words, think of all the ways
you can use your current interests to learn a new language.
A second possibility comes, with a simple question:
Are you a music lover? If your answer is yes, it means that you are a music
lover, so buy some CDs of songs in the language and read the lyrics.
Dont expect to understand everything at once, just enjoy getting
used to language, maybe the first time is hard, but next opportunity you are
going to understand something more than the first one, dont desperate little
by little you are going to catch all the words that the song says. Do some
audio course every day. If you have a good course, this by itself will keep
things fresh in your mind and keep you progressing. Progress feeds on
progress. If you start to let yourself slip, it'll be harder to motivate yourself to
get back into it, especially if you need to backtrack or go back to the


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beginning. The best thing is to make it part of your daily routine, such as on
the morning commute, or during your evening walk.
Practice every day from the very beginning not once in a while.
Listening to music is a great exercise to develop the listening skill. Music is
an excellent memory aid for language learners. Hearing and learning sung
lyrics can improve vocabulary and pronunciation and can reinforce proper
use of structures.
The third possibility: Love reading?
If you love reading, you can read again and again, but in the
language that you want to learn. Today, novels are written in the language
at a very basic level, simple enough for beginners to understand, but
preferably getting more difficult as the chapters progress. Books, short
stories, comics, so on are adapted especially for all language learners.
They are available for all language levels (elementary, pre -
intermediate, intermediate, upper - intermediate). There are no excuses for
avoiding reading, but if the offerings at your local library don't satisfy your
thirst for exposure to foreign language media, there are other ways to
access foreign language magazines. After a week or two start on the
reader. One you have these three going in parallel, they will reinforce one
another. Enter new words you learn from any source into a master
vocabulary list.


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There are innumerable foreign language magazines on specialty
topics, from business to geography, from skiing to child-rearing. If you like
reading magazines, you will find advertisements for familiar products, but
perhaps displayed in an unfamiliar way. You'll see advertisements for
cultural products you've never seen before. Reading foreign language
magazines in your field of interest is an excellent way to expand your ability
to converse about something that you hold dear.
A recently research shows that reading is a highly effective way of
improving your language abilities, since it helps to increase your vocabulary.
Dont forget: building up you vocabulary in a foreign language can take
many years. Learning words in context from written and spoken material is
probably the most effective way to do this. You could also try learning words
in a more systematic way. Perhaps a certain number of words every day.
When you read you have to be familiarized with the grammar of a
language enables you understand it, and also to construct your own
phrases and sentences. Its not essential to know all the grammatical
terminology or understand why words change, as long as you are able to
apply to relevant changes when it is necessary. It is a good point that many
people have to be aware of this. As an advice dont forget to have a piece of
paper and pen when you read. If you suspect a word to have different
meanings in different contexts, look the meanings in different sources in
order to clarify your doubts, if you dont find the word in your dictionary just
put it aside. When you find an exhaustive dictionary like Websters in


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English look them up. Keep your list updated and be proud when you write a
new word in it; it will motivate you to look for new words. If no new word
appears for weeks, no matter how difficult are the texts that you read. You
probably know more than 90% of the words that are currently used in your
language. Give yourself a break and move to the next language and on this
way you are going to be a multilingual man or woman.
Remember. The most you read, the better you speak.
Take every opportunity you can to use your language maybe chatting
with another language learner or ordering a meal in a local restaurant, for
example you and your family or maybe friends decide to go an ethnic
restaurant is not only a place to enjoy some traditional cuisine, but it's also a
place to connect with native speakers and find out what related events are
going on in your region.
Also take responsibility for your own learning, if you dont want to learn a
language, you wont. Seek out the words and phrases that you need to
understand your listening and reading, dont 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 to someone when you feel like it. Write
a poem, a letter or an e-mail when you feel like it.
A teacher cant teach you to become fluent, but you can learn to
become fluent if you want to. As we all know these days we lead busy lives
and learning a new language takes time, but you will have more success if


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you study regularly, so try to establish a routine. It doesnt matter if you have
problems at first time. Becoming fluent in a language will take years,
however learning to get it takes a lot less.
Many people start learning a language and give up: Im too old they
always say. Children do learn languages more quickly than adults, but a
research has shown that we can learn a language at any age. And learning
is good for the health of your brain too. Also people worry about the
mistakes they may make when learning. Relax and laugh about your
mistakes and youre much less likely to make them again.
Learning a new language, at any age is never easy. But with some
work and dedication we will make progress. And we will be amazed by the
positive reaction of some people when you say just a few words in their own
language.
Learning languages is one of the chief pleasures of the life. It
provides both intellectual stimulus and social adventure. If you've never
studied a foreign language before, or only studied one in high school (which
is worse), you might be surprised at the fun and satisfaction you can
achieve with a little study. When you roll out one of your phrases and make
someone's face light up, you'll understand this.
Otherwise, if you are lucky enough to meet people who speak your
target language regularly, being on a trip or because you live in a multi-
ethnic city, then you can probably have them help you to learn much more


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about your language. The basis is in the right attitude, and the exercise is
very pleasurable. Many people have used it over and over in 4 languages
and in many countries and it works really well, and is rewarding at the same
time. Here are some advices:
Speak to people and smile and be open-minded about having them
correct your pronunciation or grammar. Show that you are genuinely happy
that they correct you.

Master perfectly (I mean dominate the language and the pronunciation) the
few phrases that make most of small talk: greetings, presentation of self,
how and why you learn their language, where you come from, etc....

Talk to people gently, looking at them in the eyes (eye contact) and
listening to what they say. If they are a bit rude you have maybe a chance to
make them helpful for the rest of your days. It is a really good option to
practice the language with a native speaker.

If someone answers you in English or in another language when you
spoke in your target language in the first place, don't go on in the target
language as if nothing happened. The other person is making efforts to be
helpful by talking to you in English, or just want to show off its skills, so if
you want him to help you with your target language, you have to
acknowledge the fact that he speaks English, congratulate him for his


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English and then explain that you came here to practice this beautiful
language that is your target language.

When you hear a word you don't understand, wait for the speaker to
finish his phrase and then raise your hand with a smile and say Excuse me
Sir but I did not understand the word XXX ? What does it mean? Would you
write it down for me? , preferably in your target language. Of course a
beginner cannot do that because people would not have enough time to
teach him everything. But still they will almost always be willing to help for a
few words.

A little a day is better than a lot occasionally. Everyone says this, but it's
true because that's how our brains work. Even on a day when you're too
tired, busy, or stressed, try and find five minutes to review some notes or
read a paragraph or two.

Keep fit. They say that when you're fit and exercising regularly, your brain
works better and you learn more efficiently. I don't know if this is really true,
but it does feel true. Thanks to the magic of portable audio devices, many
people found a way to combine the two, and they reinforced one another;
they wanted to exercise to have a fit brain to learn, and I learned while
exercising.

Keep it fun. If one particular part of the regimen annoys or bores you, de-
emphasize it unless you really need to achieve maximum fluency for a


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journey or business meeting. If you're learning as a hobby or in your spare
time, motivation will be the most important factor in making progress.

Getting help now, here's the best part of all. In today's wired society, you
have absolutely no excuse for not making friends with a speaker of the
language you're learning. None. There are many sites out there where you
can meet pen pals in other countries; look around. In particular. It's
specifically designed to help find you a friend who speaks your chosen
language natively, and is trying to learn your native language themselves.
Once you find someone, try and exchange correspondence with them
regularly. Composing your own sentences is very good practice and it will
help you learn the words you will need to talk about yourself anyway.

Technological advances can do even better than that. Using any of the
main instant messaging clients, or third-party software such as Skype (again
recommended) and a cheap microphone you can talk in real time with your
friend just like on the telephone, and for free. Do it! This technology even
works over a dial-up connection. But the world is becoming surprisingly
wired these days.

Do a grammar lesson every few days. Initially, it's best to do a few quickly
because the early lessons will teach you some really important
fundamentals. After that, it's good to just keep plugging away at it slowly.
Take notes for review.


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Fortunately there are much more advices to learn a language that this
article shows you in order to help to achieve your goal.
The best thing is to...
Go on the trip alone, so you won't be tempted to speak your mother tongue
all the time.
Live in a family with no other foreign student, so you will have to speak your
target language for the most basic things, and you will hear it all day long.
Get one-to-one lessons with a smart, sympathetic and competent native
speaker. Group course are no good and you will need much more time. Bad
teachers do exist, and are well worth avoided. Some people teach a
language which is not their mother tongue; they may be a necessary evil in
your country, but they are definitely not in your target country.
Speak only in your target language, even with your con-nationals
acquaintances.
Read the local newspapers listen to the local radio, watch the national TV.
Try to find some books in your target language about some topic you love,
and then read them slowly, writing down on flash cards the words you don't
know.
Get interested in the local culture.
Try to make local friends and avoid the company of your co-nationals.
Always try to make a perfect pronunciation.
Never be satisfied with being understood, but strive to speak as well as a
local.


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If there are several versions of a document (a guide) in different language,
make a point to always take the version in your target language.
Always carry a deck of blank flash cards and write down all the words you
don't understand. If you're a beginner, then limit yourself to the most useful
words.
Make a point of never going to bed before you have translated all the day's
flash cards (some you won't be able on your own, leave them aside and ask
your teacher). Then sleep a night on the new flash cards, and review them
all one time the next day.
Try to find out the most common expressions and fashionable words. That
will give charm to your speaking.
















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CONCLUSIONS


1. Learning a language is one of the chief pleasures of life. It provides both
intellectual stimulus and social adventure.

2. Nowadays, it seems learning a language has a bog importance in
everywhere.

3. Around all over the world learning a language makes the difference among
the other people, so you must study another language apart from your
native tongue.















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GLOSSARY

1.- ABROAD: /~|O:o/
Adjective (after verb), Adverb: In or to a foreign country or countries:
e.g.
He's currently abroad on business.
We always go abroad in the summer.

2. - ACQUAINTANCES: /~kecIv.t~vto/
Noun(C): A person that you have met but who is not a close friend.
e.g.
He is just a business acquaintance.
Claire has a wide circle of friends and acquaintances.

3. - ATTAIN: /~tcIv/
Verb (T) FORMAL: To reach or succeed in getting something; to achieve.
e.g.
He has attained the highest grade in his music exams.
We need to identify the best ways of attaining our objectives.
India attained independence in 1947, after decades of struggle.

4. - BACKTRACK: /|{k.t{k/
Verb (I): To go back along a path you have just followed.
e.g.
We went the wrong way and had to backtrack

5. - CHALLENGE: /tE{.IvoZ/


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Noun (C or U): The situation of being faced with something needing great
mental or physical effort in order to be done successfully and which
therefore tests a person's ability.
e.g.
Finding a solution to this problem is one of the greatest challenges
faced by scientists today.
You know me - I like a challenge.
It's going to be a difficult job but I'm sure she'll rise to the challenge.

6. - CHILD REARING: /tEoIoI~.IN/
Noun (U): The practice of looking after children until they are old enough
to look after themselves.
e.g.
Why shouldnt a woman have a job after years of child rearing?

7. - DECK: /ock/
Noun (C): (ALSO pack) MAINLY US: A set of cards used for playing card
games
e.g.
A new deck of cards.

8. - ENABLE: /IvcI.|=/
Verb (T): To make someone able to do something, or to make something
possible.
e.g.
Computerization should enable us to cut production costs by half.

9. - EXHILARATION: /I,I.~cI.E~v/


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Noun (U): Excitement and happiness.
e.g.
The exhilaration of performing on stage.

10. - FAMILIAR: /|~I.i.~/
Adjective: Easy to recognize because of being seen, met, heard, etc.
before.
e.g.
There were one or two familiar faces (= people I knew).
The house looked strangely familiar, though she knew she'd never
been
there before.
The street was familiar to me.

11. - HUGE: /qu:oZ/
Adjective: Extremely large in size or amount.
e.g.
They live in a huge house.
The costs involved in building a spacecraft are huge.
A huge number of people attended.
His last three films have all been huge successes

12. - MITIGATE: /It.I.cIt/
Verb (T) FORMAL: To make something less harmful, unpleasant or bad.
e.g.
It is unclear how to mitigate the effects of tourism on the Island.

13. - NURTURE: /v3:.tE~/


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Verb (T) FORMAL: To help a plan or a person to develop and be
successful.
e.g.
As a record company director, his job is to nurture young talent.

14. - PEN PAL:
Noun (C) (UK pen friend): Someone you exchange letters with as a
hobby but whom you usually have not met.
e.g.
I've got a pen pal in Australia.

15. - PHRASEBOOK: /|cI,.|Yk/
Noun (C): A small book containing helpful groups of sentences and words
in a particular foreign language, intended for use by travelers.
e.g.
A Spanish phrasebook

16. - RANGE: /cIvoZ/
Noun (C): A set of similar things
e.g.
I offered her a range of options.
There is a wide/whole range of opinions on this issue.

17. - SPARE: /otc/
Adjective: If something is spare, it is available to use because it is extra.
e.g.
A spare key/tyre


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Spare sheets and blankets
Have you got a spare pen?
We've got a spare room if you want to stay overnight with us.
Could I have a word with you when you've got a spare
moment/minute?

18. - STRIVE: /otoI=/
Verb (I): To try very hard to do something or to make something happen,
especially for a long time or against difficulties.
e.g.
Mr Roe has kindled expectations that he must now strive to
live up to.
In her writing she strove for a balance between innovation and
familiar prose forms.


19. - WEALTH: /ecT/
Noun (S): A large amount of something good.
e.g.
Jim has a wealth of teaching experience.
Russia has a wealth of coal and timber.

20. - WIDE: /eoIo/
Adjective: Describes something that includes a large amount or many
different types of thing, or that covers a large range or area.
e.g.
They sell a wide range of skin-care products.
She has a wide experience of teaching, in many different schools.
The Green Party no longer enjoys wide support (= the support of
many people).


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BIBLIOGRAPHY
OXFORD Advanced Learners dictionary.
FACE2FACE (Upper - Intermediate)
REDSON, Chris.
TIMS, Nicholas.
CAMBRIDGE UNIVERSITY PRESS (First published 2006)


LINKOGRAPHY
www.google.com (Friday, 6
th
of May)
www.learningenglish.org (Friday, 13
th
of May)
www.wikipedia.com (Sunday,22
th
of May)
www.learningenglish.be. (Monday 23
th
of May)