Languages

Learn a Language Blog as explained by Andy Graham, a native English speaking person who now has learned Spanish and French while traveling the planet.

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Languages

About one in twenty people learn a language without work, these people normally want to teach, or they will tell you how easy it is to learn a language. If you find learning a language difficult if not impossible, than this page is for you

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	Dominican Republic is the Worst Place to Study Spanish on Planet Earth ... "I would like to nominate the Dominican Republic as having the worst form of spoken Spanish on planet earth, it really is a separate language.
	Which Language is the Most Important to Learn I Have Discovered a New Language of Great Importance ... "Learning a language takes a long time, it is commitment, it is wise to be careful and choose a language that is useful to know.
	I Made an International Traveler Faux Pas by Saying I Am Going to Mozy On Down the Road ... "I pride myself in being a World Citizen, and knowing that a sophisticated, seasoned world traveler does not use slang, or colloquial English language.
	Your Spanish Speaking Friend Wants to Learn English Point Them to Puroingles.com ... "I speak Spanish, and often locals want me to teach them English, I recommend you send friends to this page to accumulate English Vocabulary.
	Talking Dictionary of English Pronunciation - How to Learn English ... "Search for a work in the dictionary, then listen to a person say the word in English.
	Spanish Pronunciation Guide ... "Firs we need to learn how to pronounce the Spanish letters, then you will then be able to sound out words and pronounce them correctly.
	Language Translator BBtran for Smartphone on Blackberry Bold ... "I was able to use the BBTran application on a BlackBerry Bold in Togo, West Africa to assist me in speaking French to a Cote d'Ivoire women.
	Learning French By Reading Signs In Togo ... "People can learn French by reading the signs along the road, but more about recognizing than recall.
	Talk Using a Systran Translation Project ... "Two people can have a conversation by using a the Systran Translation Project part of the Systran Translation software.

My name is Andy Graham, I am a perpetual traveler, yes, I speak Spanish and French, however there was nothing easy, it was a lot of hard work.

But, it was easy to learn a language once I stopped listening to the "naturals." There are people who immediately learn languages, they are annoying to listen too. I am a "natural" at computer, I can just look at a computer and learn how it works.

How to learn a language if you are not a natural?

Language - Ways to Learn

METHODS TO LEARN A LANGUAGE (Concepts that will help you to learn)

Immersion: To be in a place where there is absolutely nobody that speaks your language, and the value of your native language is zero.
Pain: You have to go to place where you feel inadequate, and you do not understand, the brain corrects and learns.
Confusion principal: Read paper, market, search for things, write letters, the brain operates better and more like a child when semi-overstimultated, this is part of immersion.
Interaction principal: You must have a reason to talk, and the best way to learn another language is to teach your native language.
Subjected to principal: If you are subjected to a sign, or newspaper you will learn.
Rote memory: Write out word 20 time, saying, speaking, listening
Emotions principal: The more emotions involved in learning a word, the more likely we will learn.
Associations principal: The more associations we have with the word the better. The more memories.
Memories: Write down all words at the moment you experience and try to associate the memory with the word.
Write down principal: Write down every word you learn, where, when, so you have an association.
Subtitles principal: Watch a lot of TV with sub-titles and read as you watch.
Girlfriend, Boyfriend. Love will definitely make you learn
Communication in writing: Write emails to friends in their language.
Write book: Pretend you are writing a book to teach a person how to learn LANGUAGE, when you are done the book will have so many ways you learn, that you will have taught yourself.
Carry principal: Carry a pen, paper, and dictionary at all times.
Avoid: Any place where everyone goes to learn LANGUAGE. i.e. Antigua Guatemala there is too much English.
Grouping principal: Group words by category. i.e. all the words related to cleaning your clothes.
Signs principal: Read all the signs along the road, the more times you see them, the more you will learn.
Hearing principal: listening to people, helps you learn the sounds, the methods, etc.
Grammar Principal: Learn grammar from English speaker, so they can explain.
English teacher: Learn grammar to start
LANGUAGE only teacher: After you know the grammar, switch to a LANGUAGE teacher.
Pay money principal: people that pay a lot of money, feel obligation to learn.
Talk Fast principal: Try to talk as fast as possible so you so not translate in your head.
Go to Country Principle: It is easier to learn in the country the language is spoken, then outside.
Buy principal: To buy something everyday. Makes you interact.
Common areas. Sit in the common areas of hotels, or houses. Do not hide in your room.
Notes principals: Take all your notes in LANGUAGE.
Touch principal: Touch everything, and say the word in LANGUAGE you wish to learn.
Translation principal: Help translate menus, signs for hotels.
Permission principal: Give your friends permission to correct you.
Collect problems principal: Make a list of problems, when close to a bilingual person, have them explain. You need to find a person that speaks your language, and the language you wish to learn.
Throw away principal: Throw away all books, and materials you have to read in your native language.
Corrections principal: Write letter, etc, and than have a person correct them for you. You will see your errors.
Errors principals: The more errors you make, the more you will learn. To error is good.
Native words: Never use a word from your native language, intermixed with the language you wish to learn.
Music: Listen to music in the language you wish to learn.
Job principal: A job will make you learn quickly
Labels: label all your stuff in the language to learn.
Talk to yourself principal: Talk to yourself out loud in language to learn.
Suffix, Prefix: Study all the endings and beginnings.
Phrase book: use various dictionaries, etc, because you will get bored with one.
Boredom principal: Change routines constantly, so you learn new words.
Parallel Book: Have language on one side, and English on the other, there are Gideon Bibles that are written this way.
Exchange, where I talk for one hour (LANGUAGE), and the other person talks for one hour (English)
Software: Load programs into your computer, and choose a different language.
Teach: Teach you native language, and you will learn theirs.
Card Principal: Put words on cards, and have the translation on the back. Review
Opposites: Put all the word together that are opposites. Example: Yes / No White / Black Go / Stop
Arguments: Get in discussions where you will argue. The words you learn will be remembered.
Collect Principal: Collect in a tablet, or computer all the words you have learned. Call them the words you OWN.
Coffee Club Jumping - Go from one group of people to another all day. Stop and learn their basic conversations.
Want to teach principal. Find only people that want to teach you the language. Avoid the ones that make jokes or work against you.
Small dictionary Principle. Always have a dictionary on your body, mabye in your pocket or fanny pack.
Frustration Principle. The more you feel frustrated the more you are learning.
Sleeping dictionary. Get a girlfriend or boyfriend and sleep with them. This person must only speak one language.
Make Flash Cards - Do not buy, you make them, the process of making them will help you learn.
Dictionary Phrase Principal. Learn the phrase in the language. "What is this?" and all the people around you will become a dictionary.
Please write it down principal. Learn "Please write it down."
Translate Please Phrase: - Learn "Please translate.." and "into X language" - Need to say their language.
CD ROM: Listen to words on CD ROM or DVD
Natural Learners Problem: Avoid these people. There are people that are naturals, they learn quickly, they do not study, they are annoying quick. Normally they will travel to a country where they are good at the language. The do not help you learn because they do not understand why they learned or how. They can be very helpful in vocabulary.
Recall versus Recognition, there is a huge difference between being able to recognize the word, and to recall it on demand.

FINDING TEACHERS - I have learned two language, the best teacher for the first 500-1000 words is a person who speak English and knows the other language. After you are conversational and can ask questions in the new language, then switch to a native speaker.

Finding FREE not Paid Teachers or Help

Speak English and whoever replies in English can be your teacher.
Put a sign up on wall to do a language exhange.

HOW TO KNOW WHEN YOU ARE FOOLING YOURSELF, AND YOU REALLY DO NOT CARE TO LEARN.

You do not buy a dictionary.
You do not own a Grammar Book
You always find a person to translate.
You are corrected on your pronunciation, and you do not change
All your friends speak your native language.
You instantly find a girlfriend or boyfriend in a country that speaks your language.

HOW TO KNOW THE PEOPLE YOUR ARE WITH ARE WORKING AGAINST YOU.

1. They make jokes with friends, and not with you
2. They tell you the wrong word.
3. They refuse to read the word in the dictionary for you.
4. They want to learn your language, but will not help you learn theirs.

PRONUNCIATION HINTS