Language Learning Series #13: Selecting A Dictionary

When learning a foreign language, it is essential that a student has access to a dictionary.  There are many types of dictionaries on the market; however, not all of these unable to effectively assists the student in his or her settings.  Therefore, it is imperative back when selecting a dictionary, you must take into account three factors in order to obtain the most effective material available.

The first consideration when selecting the dictionaries would be its size.  It is recommended that the you choose a pocket- size dictionary; this allows you to carry the book with you so that you may look up various vocabulary encountered throughout the day.  Fortunately, many dictionaries on the market come in a compact size, so procuring one is not difficult.  The only drawback in a small dictionary is the occasional absence of a rare of advanced word.  While this may never be a problem, it is a subject which should be taken into account.

Second, a dictionary must be divided into two sections: translation from the foreign language into English and vice-versa.  This allows for quick accurate reference, and enables you to advance faster in your comprehension.  Once again, most foreign language dictionaries are divided in such a method, so you will not have much trouble in this regard.

Finally, the dictionary must contain a grammar section.  This is of great value, especially in languages containing conjugations.  Be sure to scrutinize your dictionary’s grammar section; the more precise it is, the better for your studies.  Furthermore, another section worth including would be a pronunciation section.  Many languages do not have a speech pattern similar to the phonetics of English; proper pronunciation is nearly as important as vocabulary retention.  On the other hand, while a phrase section can be helpful, is not as important, unless you are travelling overseas.

In conclusion, a dictionary must be as suitable as possible for language learning.  Accessibility and content are of great importance.  Therefore, it is recommended that you take great consideration when selecting your dictionary.  

Language Learning Series #12: Numbers

Due to the common use of numbers in everyday conversation, it is imperative that the language student must become familiar with counting and digits. Fortunately, in most languages numbers seem to the follow a particular pattern.  For example, Latin, the mother of all Romantic languages, numeric vocabulary follows a particular pattern.  Although the numbers one through ten are unique, 11 through 20 are depicted only by adding the suffix to the Latin word for “ten,” “decim.”  (e.g. unus=one, duo=two, tres=three; undecim=eleven, duodecim=twelve, tredecim=thirteen, and so forth.)

With such said, how much effort should the language student place on the study of numbers?  In most conversations, the student will not come across extraordinary values.  Nevertheless, it would be best that the student memorize the digits one through twenty, and memorize the values of the ten and one hundred powers.  Thankfully, the task of memorizing numbers is quite simple; if the student devotes two to three days upon numbers and counting, the vocabulary can easily be solidified in his memory.

The best way a student can familiarize himself with numbers is through everyday activities.  When practicing numbers, the student should count objects around him; any method is beneficial, but the key is to solidify the data into one brain.  Once the student can look at a number of objects and determine the quantity in the foreign language, then he is prepared to use numbers in everyday conversation.

Language Learning Series #11: Poems and Songs

The study of a culture’s poems and songs reaps a two-fold benefit for the language student.  By taking time to appreciate a culture, you not only show respect to its people but also present yourself with an opportunity to further your studies. 

While intonation may not seem important to the English speaker, proper pronunciation of a word requires correct accentuation of its syllables.  Moreover, some languages rely on inflection to a convey particular meaning, and if you are not careful with your pronunciation, you may find yourself in an awkward situation.  For example, while “anno” in Italian means “year”, neglecting to actively stress the “n” causes the word to mean something unpleasant. 

In a similar way, through their unique construction poems and follow a pattern of rhyme, beat, or pattern utilizing stressed and unstressed syllables to fluidly convey meaning.  That being said, if you take the time to study a culture’s lingual arts, not only will you better appreciate the culture, but you will also increase your abilities.

Language Learning Series #10: Learn the Most Commonly Used Words

Every language is made up of thousands of words, a vast sea of vocabulary used in writing and speech.  However, a large portion of a languages’ vocabulary consists of words that are not used on an everyday basis.  Consider the English words “pariah,” “homeostasis,” and “house.”  While you may never encounter an occasion to use the first two words in your conversations, it is very likely that you shall use the latter.  Therefore, it is recommended that you should focus on vocabulary that is used most commonly in speech.  The average English speaker uses a group of one to three-thousand words in communication, it is logical to say that the same follows for the average person of a foreign dialect.  Listed below are the one-hundred most common English words, according to the The Reading Teachers Book of Lists, Third Edition: 

1. the
2. of
3. and
4. a
5. to
6. in
7. is
8. you
9. that
10. it
11. he
12. was
13. for
14. on
15. are
16. as
17. with
18. his
19. they
20. I
21. at
22. be
23. this
24. have
25. from
26. or
27. one
28. had
29. by
30. word
31. but
32. not
33. what
34. all
35. were
36. we
37. when
38. your
39. can
40. said
41. there
42. use
43. an
44. each
45. which
46. she
47. do
48. how
49. their
50. if
51. will
52. up
53. other
54. about
55. out
56. many
57. than
58. them
59. these
60. so
61. some
62. her
63. would
64. make
65. like
66. him
67. into
68. time
69. has
70. look
71. two
72. more
73. write
74. go
75. see
76. number
77. no
78. way
79. could
80. people
81. my
82. than
83. first
84. water
85. been
86. call
87. who
88. oil
89. its
90. now
91. find
92. long
93. down
94. day
95. did
96. get
97. come
98. made
99. may
100. part

(Taken from http://www.duboislc.org/EducationWatch/First100Words.html.  The full list on site lists one-thousand commonly used English words.)

While many of these words are represented in foreign languages by other means (such as through suffixes and prefixes), you may use this list as a means to start a foundation for your conversational ability.  However, if you find a list of common words in the language that you are studying, then all is for the better.

(Here are some links to lists of commonly used words in other languages:)

Spanish: http://wordsgalore.com/wordsgalore/languages/spanish/spanish1000.html

French: http://french.languagedaily.com/wordsandphrases/most-common-words (Contains audio clips of most, if not all the words)

Italian: http://italian.about.com/od/vocabulary/a/most-common-italian-words.htm (Only lists 100 words)

German: http://german.about.com/library/blwfreq01.htm

Russian: http://masterrussian.com/vocabulary/most_common_words.htm

Japanese: http://www.japanesewords.net/36/over-1000-japanese-words-list/ (around 1300 words)

Language Learning Series #9: Television

While the television presents in itself a distraction for the language student, it also provides a unique opportunity to test your visual and aural capabilities.  There are two ways you can test yourself with a television.  First, if you are not yet at a sufficient level of proficiency, you can watch a foreign channel with the subtitles on the screen.  I recommend that you do not rely on the subscript too much; first, a subscript is always delayed by the television as it transforms the actor’s speech into written words.  Furthermore, as many watchers of Japanese animations know, subtitles done by individuals often vary considerably between translators. Secondly, televisions are not intended to be effective foreign language translators.  Do not expect the television to understand of accurately translate any program.  Second, once you arrive at a level of confidence in your capabilities, you may watch a program without the subscript.  If you wish to truly test your abilities, watch a program that is unfamiliar to you; that is, if you are accustomed to news broadcasts, watch a cooking show.  Each program provides a unique set of vocabulary as well as distinctive lingual tweaks.  A news broadcaster is less likely to speak in a fast pace or refer to cultural idioms or slang while a cooking show hosted by an emphatic chef is more likely to do so. 

If you do not own a television, many foreign channels are available online.  Websites such as multilingualbooks.com provide lists of foreign television channels as well as links to their pages.  Video websites such as youtube.com or megavideo.com often provide foreign videos with subscription (often abbreviated into “sub”), although their subtitles are often brief for lack of screen space.  

#8: Newspapers and Magazines

One technique you may use for your language studies is the use of foreign magazines and newspapers.  This idea I have found to be quite useful, since it provides you with a unique method to observe the formation of the language in its advanced form. 

Obtaining foreign articles is much easier than you may think.  While newspapers and magazine subscriptions in a second language may be in sufficient supply in some places, most language students do not have access to hard copies of such material.  Fortunately, the technological world which we live in allows the individual the ability to obtain enormous amounts of information, especially on the internet.  Simply use a search engine such as www.google.com or www.yahoo.com, and search for websites in the language you desire.  One adaption of this technique I have found to be quite helpful in my own studies is www.wikipedia.com.  Wikipedia contains content in many different languages.  Since the website is an encyclopedia, I can search for content on a particular subject; this enables me to read about subjects I am already familiar with, thus allowing better comprehension.

Newspapers and magazines allow for a unique outlook on a foreign language.  By utilizing this technique, you may observe advanced concepts, sentence structures, and the use of common vocabulary.  This information enables you to recognize patterns encountered in everyday speech as well as grammatical subjects upon which you need to focus your attention.

Language Learning Series #7: Learning Word Sets

One method you can increase your vocabulary is through the use of word sets.  By focusing your attention on certain words of similar nature, you can boost your word retention in a short period.  I tend to use flashcards or notepads to organize word lists, and each method has its advantages and drawbacks.  In short, flashcards can be dealt and organized in a custom manner, giving variety to one’s study session.  However, it quickly becomes difficult to carry sets as they increase in number.  For this reason I tend to either use small sets of no more than fifteen cards or a notepad when in public. It should be noted that while a notepad is not as versatile a studying tool as a deck of flashcards, it can be used to quickly memorize patterned word sets, such as numbers, days of the week, and months of the year.  In fact, when studying such lists, I find it easier to memorize all the vocabulary at once by memorizing the list as a whole.

Language Learning Series #6: Cell phones and Laptops

This technique is out of the ordinary, yet it allows you to interact with your studied language on a frequent basis.  By adjusting the options of your cell phone or laptop, you can have the interface portrayed in a foreign language.  For example, on my cell phone (a flip phone by Motorola) I can configure the phone to portray text in either English or Spanish.  In the case of a laptop, my laptop, (a Windows Inspiron) allows its Windows Live Programs to be translated into a large selection of languages.  Furthermore, the keyboard interface and display options can be adjusted to Spanish. 

However, the audacity of this technique can easily become a problem.  If you are still a novice language student or require frequent access to your laptop, I do not recommend changing your interface until you have strong confidence in your ability.  Second, this technique will not work for the more exotic languages.  As I mentioned before, my cell phone only supports two languages, and I am limited in my display options on my laptop.  Therefore, this technique can only help students of particular languages.

Language Learning Series #5: Sticky Notes and Other Reminders

This language learning tip will definitely improve your vocabulary retention, if you can get away with it!  As mentioned in Language Learning Series #19, there are one to three-thousand commonly used words in any language.  These words usually come in the form of linking words such as prepositions and conjunctions, but a fair portion of these words are the names of common objects. 

Therefore, if you are able to memorize the names of all the common objects in your home, it is likely that you shall have a sizable list of mastered nouns that are frequently utilized in conversation.  One method of achieving this is through the use of sticky notes.  Simply put, write the word for each common household object on a sticky note, and place each note on its corresponding object.  This way, whenever you interact with the object, you shall see the note and be reminded of its foreign name.  However, this method of learning may cause your friends to question your sanity or drive your parents or spouse insane. 

Although the sticky note method is a reliable means of learning common vocabulary, here is another method.  Take a notebook and go about your house listing all the objects that you see.  Look up the foreign name for each object, and write its equivalent beside its English counterpart.  Carry your notebook with you (you should be already, as mentioned in the post “Learning with a Notebook,”) and whenever you interact with an object, look up its foreign name.  This method works the same as the sticky note method without the mess and misfortune of the former.

Language Learning Series #4: Flashcards

Using flashcards as a means to memorize vocabulary is a common method used by language students worldwide.  In this article, you will learn tips on how to set up, organize, and use your flashcard decks:

• In my experience, the best resource for flashcard construction are 3x5 inch index cards due to their durability and size, for when using smaller sized cards or regular paper, I found it difficult to keep my decks undamaged, while the smaller space made it difficult to write longer words legibly. 
• When organizing flashcards, using different colored markers to differentiate between the parts of speech, (i.e. nouns, adjectives, verbs, etc.,) makes learning and organizing words easier.  Moreover, marking each card to a particular set, (I add an abbreviated title in the upper right corner of my cards,) makes it easier to sort large numbers of cards.
• Flashcards primarily utilize the visual learning method; that is, when a student sees a card, he must associate the meaning of a foreign word through recognition of its written form.  To enhance the learning process, I recommend saying the word out loud, (or silently if in public).  In this manner, the auditory learning system is activation as well.
• Flashcards are useless when left alone.  My rule of thumb is to carry a set with me at all times, focusing on ten to fifteen words; this way, I should have at the least a fair knowledge of the words by the day’s end.  On the following day, I then test myself to see if I recall the word’s meanings, and those I don’t remember I continue to carry in my “daily deck”.

Language Learning Series #3: Activate Your Brain

Language learning can be divided into three types: visual learning, auditory learning, and physical learning.  Normally, any form of studying method falls into one of these three types.  However, as shown in Colin Rose’s Accelerated Learning Action Guide, a student can retain information easily when presented in two or all of the three modes of learning.  How is this possible?  I cannot give a precise medical explanation, but the strengthened retention occurs due to the activation of different areas of the brain which focus upon certain aspects.  By generating more than one area of the brain, the multiple neural connections that are created make it possible for an enhanced memory.

How can you apply this to language learning?  I hope to cover this in more detail in my upcoming ebook, but I shall give an example with flashcards for your benefit.  When using your flashcards, try to utilize all three areas of learning: visual, aural, and physical.  For example, when you look at a flashcard, you are using the visual learning system.  After looking at the word, say it out loud; this way you use the aural system.  Finally, try to use the word in a sentence; the sentence can be either hybrid (see http://polyglotdatabase.com/?p=280 for an explanation of hybrid speaking) or entirely in the language studied.  This will activate the physical system.  While this may seem tedious, I can guarantee it will bring better results to your studies.

Language Learning Techniques Series #2: “Hybrid Thinking”

Full mastery of any skill or knowledge requires practice on a daily basis; languages are no exception.  Fortunately, our primary language has been in training since birth, but the same cannot be said for foreign languages.  Complete lingual ability often requires years of effort, but if you hone your skills each day on a constant basis mastery may be achieved in a shorter time.  However, how can you use your time to its maximum ability?  Here is a technique you can utilize for optimum performance:

First, use every second of your time with a technique I dub, “hybrid thinking.”  Throughout the day, try to think (and speak, if you wish) in a compilation of both your primary language and the language you are studying.  I prefer to slowly add vocabulary and grammatical rules as a come across them in my studies.  While this can be tedious at times, such a technique better reinforces common vocabulary and provides an emphasis on thought process in an alien tongue.  Furthermore, this technique can be emphasized by carrying a pocket dictionary and notepad to look up and record the new vocabulary you encounter throughout the day.

While the hybrid thinking is not a method which produces quick results, it provides a constant reinforcement, thus solidifying your language skills for more realistic conversations.

Language Learning Techniques Series #1: Learn Through Skype

 

One unique language learning technique is through Skype.  Skype, an online video chat tool created in 2003, allows for long distance conversations between persons through the use of web cameras.  For the language student, this produces a unique opportunity; through the use of this software, a language student may contact instructors for live lessons as well as interact with fellow language students.

To obtain Skype, you should head to this website, and download Skype for free: http://www.skype.com/intl/en/home/.  Afterwards, join Mixxer, a free website for languages exchanges via Skype: http://www.language-exchanges.org/.

Mixxer allows for both personal chats with fellow language students as well as group lectures.  To chat personally, you need only search through the list of active users, and find those who are studying your desired language.  Groups, however, allow for teachers to organize their students.  A teacher may or may not allow you access to their student list, but if you do, you will have better access to professional instruction as well as a more unified community of language students.