|
|
| Information |
|
|
Learning a Foreign Language: Why Should you Learn Words You Never Use in Your Mother Tongue?
Imagine a child sitting in front of a desk, his head in his hands, and mumbling various lists of words over and over. Does this child remind you of your own experience? If yes, I bet that "list of words" does not sound appealing to you. You are almost ready to swear that they do not work. Before you mortgage your part of paradise, it may be wise to make sure you are right. You can open a dictionary and begin to learn it by heart (a dictionary is no more than a list of words). There are many illustrated dictionaries that offer you the same resources as plenty of websites do by displaying colorful pictures with captions. You know that these tools exist because you have already tried to enrich your vocabulary that way. The scope of the task curbed your enthusiam. Though, it is not a bad way to learn vocabulary, it is even the best way for one person: the author of the list. Why? You are unique. Your memory is unique, not only because your memories are yours, and only yours, but also because the way you store them is yours and only yours. For a large part, memory is about association of ideas and the associations you make depend on your experience. Let's study an example to make it clear. Ask anyone to give you a word in relation with the common word "horse". You will get mare, race, chivalry or Trojan, etc, depending on the person who answers. He who answered "mare" might go on with stable, foal and even cow and other farm animals; he who said "race" would probably go on with racecourse and tote. Obviously, their experiences of life are quite different. "Chivalry" would lead to King Arthur, coat of mail and tournament while "Trojan" would meet Homer, odyssey, god and goddess. If you are a linguist, it is very likely that you associate horse to horseback, horsehair, horseman and horseplay and think that your list is easy to remember. On the contrary, if you are not interested in the Middle-Age History, the "chivalry" list will slip your mind. The more personal the links between the words, the easier the way to learn them. That is why a list works at its best for its author. The connections between the words pre-exist in the author's head. So, pave your way, prepare your own list! Gabrielle Guichard
Latest News:Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for news JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (AP via Yahoo! News) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. News Corp tightens grip on Premiere with new CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Rupert Murdoch tightened his grip on German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere by appointing News Corp executive Mark Williams as CEO in a move to get the company back on track. JCDecaux and News Corp. in talks to combine outdoor ad groups (International Herald Tribune) The News Corp. chief executive, Rupert Murdoch, has recently expressed nervousness about investments in Russia, where News Outdoor generated the bulk of its revenue last year. News Corp says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) News Corp. executive Mark Williams has taken over as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere in an interim capacity, News Corp. said after the move led to renewed takeover speculation. News Corp. says Mark Williams interim Premiere CEO (Reuters via Yahoo! News) Mark Williams, a News Corp. executive named late on Wednesday as chief executive of German pay-TV broadcaster Premiere, has taken over in an interim capacity, a News Corp. spokeswoman said on Thursday. JCDecaux in talks to buy News Corp. billboard unit (AP via Yahoo! Finance) In a deal that would create the world's largest outdoor advertising company, French conglomerate JCDecaux SA said Thursday that it is in talks to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. Weekly world news quiz (BBC News) At the end of another week, test your knowledge with our world news quiz. UPI NewsTrack Entertainment News (UPI) Kanye arrested in paparazzi scuffle ... Report: Critic smacked Ebert with binder ... Cafe Tacvba nominated for 6 Latin Grammys ... Groban to perform TV songs at Emmys ... News from United Press International. United shares climb after news debacle (UPI) CHICAGO, Sept. 11 (UPI) -- A computer program assigning dates to news stories was partly to blame for a sell-off of United Airlines stock Monday, a Google spokesman said. JCDecaux in talks for News Outdoor Group in Russia (San Francisco Chronicle) French outdoor advertising firm JCDecaux SA said Thursday it is negotiating to buy Russian rival News Outdoor Group from global media company News Corp. In a statement, the global seller of outdoor advertising said it was in exclusive talks with Rupert... Site: news - Google News Fidelity to Roll out New Home Page Providing Real-Time Financial ... - MarketWatch
MORE RESOURCES: Site: Yahoo! News Search Results for language Indian regional politician withdraws language stir (AP via Yahoo! Singapore News) A regional politician withdrew a campaign Thursday to disrupt movie screenings of India's best known Bollywood family, ending a language spat that saw a premiere of an Amitabh Bachchan movie canceled and a film theater trashed by right-wing activists. Language Web site offers survival kits, other free materials to deploying troops (Fort Leavenworth Lamp) PRESIDIO OF MONTEREY, Calif. - The Defense Language Institute Foreign Language Center activated its new Language Materials Distribution System Web site July 1, making available hundreds of language survival kits and other materials free of charge to deploying service members. ONLY NATIONAL LANGUAGE FOR KL SIGNS (Bernama via Yahoo! Malaysia News) KUALA LUMPUR, Sept 11 (Bernama) -- Kuala Lumpur City Hall (DBKL) will only allow the use of the national language for road signs in the city. Bollywood legend seeks to defuse wife's language row (AFP via Yahoo! News) Bollywood legend Amitabh Bachchan on Wednesday sought to defuse a simmering language row involving his wife, Jaya, insisting that neither he nor his family would ever insult Marathi speakers. LPGA players address language rule (San Jose Mercury News) South Korea's Se Ri Pak defended the LPGA Tour in the wake of its short-lived plan to suspend players who don't speak English well enough to satisfy sponsors, saying Wednesday that learning the language can benefit rising international stars. Language barrier slows invasion probe (Hamilton Spectator) Hamilton police have called in Vietnamese language interpreters to help unravel what happened during an apparent home invasion yesterday morning. Police say four adults and two children were in a home on Barton Street West at Crooks Street when an altercation erupted around 5 a.m. Watch your language! LPGA veterans defend new policy (Calgary Sun) MOBILE, Ala. -- South Korea's Se Ri Pak defended the LPGA Tour in the wake of its short-lived plan to suspend players who don't speak English well enough to satisfy sponsors, saying yesterday learning the language can benefit rising international stars. Chinese language center draws crowds (People's Daily) People from other parts of the world always are fascinated by China's 5,000 year old cultural tradition. At the Paralympics Village in Beijing, the Chinese Language Center has proven one of the hotspots. The Chinese Language Center has three sections. The middle section is known as the Learn-it-Quickly Zone. It is the most popular among foreigners. With the aid of specially designed computer ... Spanish language magazine aims at professionals (The Sacramento Bee) Tatiana Bedoya celebrated her 33rd birthday last week by officially launching Vixta, a new Spanish-language magazine for greater Sacramento's Latino community. Tatiana Bedoya French-language film fest announces lineup (The North Bay Nugget) The Centre culturel Les Compagnons des francs loisirs will feature a range of movies during its sixth annual French-language film festival. The festival, held in [...] Site: language - Google News Cadence Introduces Industry's First Family of MIPI Standard ... - MarketWatch
|
|
|
|
RELATED ARTICLES
How Ronzoni Italian Foods Helped My Dad Learn English My dad likes to say, he was made in Italy, but born in Brooklyn New York. You see his parents left Palermo, Sicily in February 1955 and sailed by boat to America. 7 Words Americans Should Stop Using Until Further Investigation Relationship: Here is a word that is used to qualify, justify and honey coat just about every nefarious, sleazy or reprehensible union between almost anybody and anything. Recently on an edition of the Jerry Springer show a guest was about to be interviewed who was getting it on with a very close relative. Learn Italian for Free Italian is one of the most widespread languages in the world, and speaking it can give you a tremendous sense of accomplishment, an edge in your career, and even a stronger bond with your ancestors if you are of Italian descent. There are many ways you can learn Italian, including textbooks, tapes, CDs, software, group classes or private lessons, but there are also ways you can begin or continue your studies of the Italian language entirely for FREE!1. Teaching English in Greece - What Do You Need to Know? The employment situation can be quite uncertain for newcomers to Greece and therefore many people choose to try teaching English as a foreign language, on a full or part-time basis. It can bring in a good income whether it is your preferred career choice, or you wish to do it short-term until another career choice pans out. Uncommon Facts / Rules of English Language English is an international language. It has so many grammar rules and each rule with many exceptions. Learning a Foreign Language: the Ventriloquists Lesson The main feature you have to master, in order to call yourself a ventriloquist, is to speak without moving your lips. It is not that difficult. Preschool Spanish Why an EarlyAGE 2nd Language?Research indicates that from ages 1 through 8 is the best time to introduce a new language to a child. If the 2nd language is introduced early in life children will learn it faster and retain it longer. Teaching Reading to English Language Learners There is an increasing amount of English language learners represented in our schools for whom a unique approach to developing literacy is necessary. The development of literacy by English language learners (ELLs) includes all of the challenges implicit for English speaking children literacy attainments, and is additionally compounded by a diversity of linguistic, cognitive and academic variables. Learning a Foreign Language: Learn from the Blind In a previous article, you read that to establih your own lists was the best way to learn vocabulary as fast as possible. Let's study what an effective list looks like. Learning a Foreign Language: Why Should you Learn Words You Never Use in Your Mother Tongue? Imagine a child sitting in front of a desk, his head in his hands, and mumbling various lists of words over and over. Does this child remind you of your own experience? If yes, I bet that "list of words" does not sound appealing to you. Speaking Spanish To Increase Mind Power Our "mind power" is largely in the way we use our words, and limited by our vocabulary. Words, and the concepts they express, are different in each language, and there are differing common expressions. Teaching English in Mexico: A Decent Living? What's more disappointing than a person who makes a promise he can't keep? A person who makes a promise that is a lie. Many promises to make a "decent living" teaching English in Mexico are just that-a lie. Bridging the Language Gap Using Bilingual Picture Books There are more than 39 million Hispanics live in the United States making it the fifth largest Spanish-speaking nation in the world. It is estimated that within five years, only Mexico will have more Spanish-speakers than the U. Online IELTS Preparation - Why Does It Make Sense? Because IELTS is a difficult test. While most agree that IELTS is a reasonable test, it is generally regarded as one of the most challenging tests of its type. Learn Italian in Italy You can combine your love of the Italian language with an unforgettable experience in the country where the language is spoken by studying Italian in Italy! Hands-down, the best way to learn a foreign language is to live, work, or study in a native speaking environment. Studying Italian in Italy is the best possible experience you can have to learn the language. How To Learn Spanish Quickly and Easily Spanish is a very useful language to learn as it is the world's second most popular language.Outside of the popular coastal tourist resorts a basic knowledge of Spanish is invaluable. Show Me the Bunny: Language Acquisition Some children are really funny about experimenting with speech. Nonetheless, the first intelligible words bring such a feeling of elation to a parent. Japanese Kanji Learning: Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery (Part 2) In Japanese Kanji Learning: Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery Part 1, we looked at mnemonic methods devised by James Heisig and Kenneth Henshall to speed-up kanji acquisition. We saw how their techniques activate the imagination by assigning different meanings individual elements of each kanji. Japanese Kanji Learning: Short-Cuts to Rapid Mastery (Part 1) What? Kanji can be learned quickly? This seems an impossible dream to many students of Japanese who come from a non-kanji language culture. Even hiragana and katakana seem impossibly hard to the average beginner, so remembering kanji, with all their intricate strokes and multiple readings, can appear to be beyond the abilities of the human mind. Learning a Foreign Language: the Psychological Factor When it comes about learning a foreign language, many people wonder if they will be able to memorize enough vocabulary. But this question never occurs about their mother tongue.
|
| Home | Site Map | Resource Links |
