Language Education D2B

Learn Spanish Grammar Online

2008-11-28T11:42:00.001-08:00

By Will Brans

Learn Spanish grammar

If you want to learn Spanish grammar there are a lot of resources available to you. Many people in today's multilingual world have learned Spanish by being around friends or coworkers who are native Spanish speakers. Just like when you learned how to speak English fluently as a toddler and preschooler, you didn't really begin to learn about English grammar until you started school. Learning Spanish grammar is simply another part of learning the Spanish language. If you already know some conversational Spanish, learning Spanish grammar will help you understand why the language is structured in a certain way. Don't be surprised if the conversational Spanish you have been speaking doesn't necessarily follow the rules that you'll learn when you learn Spanish grammar. Just like most native English speakers don't use perfect grammar when speaking to our friends and family in casual conversation, neither do native Spanish speakers.

Although learning enough Spanish to have a casual conversation by taking traditional Spanish classes takes a long time, there is a lot of emphasis on learning Spanish grammar in a traditional classroom. If you think back to your high school years and the foreign language classes you took, such as Spanish, you probably remember a lot of time spent on conjugating verbs and other linguistics-based lessons. This is because the classic classroom approach to learning Spanish relies on not only teaching you how to speak the Spanish language but it helps you learn Spanish grammar and why the language is structured the way it is.

Learning Spanish grammar is helpful in a lot of ways. It helps you to not only communicate better with your Spanish-speaking friends and other native Spanish speakers, but it helps you to communicate better in a business environment. Many people are given the opportunity to advance in their careers if they can speak Spanish and have learned Spanish grammar. For example, if you work in the medical field, you may spend a lot of time speaking to patients, but you also need to communicate effectively and respectfully with the doctor. By learning Spanish grammar, you can do both of these with ease. Just like in English, there is a casual way to address someone as well as a more proper way. For example, you may greet a coworker by saying "Hey! What's up? Whatcha do this weekend?" You wouldn't speak to a doctor this way, but you can express the exact same friendly greeting by speaking more properly and with better grammar by saying "Good morning Doctor. How was your weekend?"

By learning Spanish grammar you can learn how to expand your conversational Spanish skills as well as learn how to speak effectively on a more professional level in your career.

If you need to learn Spanish fast, a Spanish grammar program may be a great option. Learn more about learning Spanish online here.

Doing an Intensive TEFL Course at Home Vs Abroad

2008-11-28T11:41:00.000-08:00

By Sharon De Hinojosa

As more and more people are deciding to get their one month TEFL certification, people have to start considering WHERE they want to get it.

Studying at home

If you study at home, you'll already have access to housing, so you don't have to worry about packing everything you own into a suitcase just yet. You'll also be familiar with the area and language, so these are two less things that you have to worry about when studying. By doing so, you can focus your undivided attention on your TEFL Course. Total costs are often lower as you don't have to pay for airfare.

Disadvantages to studying at home might be costs as often course fees for overseas course are cheaper. But this is out weighted by the fact that you don't have to pay for airfare. Also, your course tutors might not know much about the country where you want to teach.

Studying Abroad

Many people who decide to study their course abroad, pick the country that they plan on teaching in. By doing so, they are able to learn from tutors who often have experience teaching in that country. They can be given advice about where to work as well as visa requirements. Housing costs are also often cheaper abroad than at home. And lastly, studying in the country where you are planning to live might be a good way to transition into this culture.

Having to deal with language can also be a disadvantage. Studying an intensive course is stressful enough, but having to deal with not knowing where anything is, about cultural customs, or the language just adds more stress. Having to find your way around and pick up a couple of phrases in the country's language in addition to studying just adds stress. Costs might also be higher as you will have to pay for airfare.

Abroad or At Home?

There are pros and cons about studying at home or abroad. Each person is different and you'll have to weigh the options and decide which is the best for you.

Sharon de Hinojosa (naturegirl321) has lived and worked (mainly teaching English) in the US, Scotland, Spain, the Czech Republic, China, Korea, and Peru. As well as teaching short-term in Venezuela and Taiwan.

She has created The LA Job List http://www.thelajoblist.blogspot.com which lists schools, institutes and universities in 19 Latin American countries which offer English teaching positions.

Since living in Peru since August 2006, she wrote The Ultimate Peru List http://www.theultimateperulist.blogspot.com With 60 pages it's a comprehensive guide for those living in or moving to Peru.

How English As a Foreign Language Exams Affect EFL Learners and What to Do About It

2008-11-28T11:40:00.002-08:00

By Larry M. Lynch

What Affects English as a Foreign Language Learners During Exams

Lina Maria Lopez* squirmed in her seat for the fiftieth time, scratched her scalp until it was nearly raw and sighed repeatedly. A mechanical pencil in one hand and a bright red lollipop in the other, she struggled abysmally with her final exam in English as a foreign language. Only in her second semester of English, the "lights" still hadn't "clicked on" yet. Not a good university student across the board in her major, English as a foreign language was still her worst subject. She gazed around the room, at other learners' papers, at the EFL teacher and reluctantly, at her EFL test paper.

"Tap, tap, tappity, tap, tap". Luis Felipe Rodriguez* drummed on the desk, tapped his well-worn sneakers, hummed a Salsa beat and turned around to look behind him at the poster-plastered classroom wall for "inspiration". "Da, da, dada, da, da - dat, dat dada, dum." His English as a Foreign Language level two exam paper was still nearly blank. More than half the final exam allotted time had already passed. It he failed this exam too, he'd almost surely have to repeat the English level next semester. It had already taken him an extra semester just to get this far. "What time is it?" he asked the teacher. But, it really didn't matter.

The Functional Needs of the Brain

EFL teachers should know that the human brain needs three key elements to function at peak efficiency. These are: oxygen, water (fluids) and sugar (preferably from complex carbohydrates). Both immediately before and during an exam, it's not uncommon to see English as a Foreign Language learners eating chocolate, hard candy, lollipops or even packets of raw sugar. I draw the line at chewing gum, largely due to its "tendency to wind up" stuck under the desks. It's because of the brain's need for sugars that I allow "eating" of high-carbohydrate and high sugar content "foods" before, during English as a foreign language exams.

Some Causes of Cheating on English as a Foreign Language Exams

When EFL learners openly or frequently "cheat" on exams, highly probable "causes" are typically one or more of these motivation-related factors which include:

• Lack of English as a foreign language grammar and theme study

• Poor English class attendance

• Failure to understand or apply English as a foreign language skills promoted in class

• Insufficient English as a foreign language skills practice / repetition to successfully internalize the skills and materials

• Ineffectively focused teaching methods

• Deficiency in English language classroom materials

• "Chemical addiction/dependency" problems (i.e., caffeine, nicotine, etc.)

• Personal or family problems

• Not taking English as a foreign language studies seriously enough

• Poor language-learning aptitude

• Learning disabilities

• Lack of sufficient or effective English as a foreign language learning preparation resources

This is certainly but a "partial" list of the possibilities. These can affect not only English as a foreign language skills development, but the overall intrinsic and extrinsic motivation of the EFL learners.

EFL Teacher-Affective Factors

Then, of course, as English as a foreign language teachers, we often endure a multitude of additional factors which directly or indirectly impact and affect the intrinsic / extrinsic motivation of our EFL learners. How many of you, for example, are negatively impacted by:

• Large EFL learner class groups

• An excessively low number of English as a foreign language contact hours per week

• Behavioral problems on the part of your English as a foreign language learners

• Excessive administrative demands

• Lack of resources, equipment and / or materials

• Extremes of mixed ability in English language knowledge and skills among your EFL learners

• Lack of sufficient, on-going governmental, administrative, or parental support

• Personal problems of your own

Certainly, the list could go on, but you get the point, don't you?

What Can You Do, If Anything?

In upcoming article posts in this series, we'll continue to consider some possibilities which English as a foreign language teachers and EFL learners have available to address, minimize or eliminate many of the aforementioned intrinsic and extrinsic affective factors. Doing so will undoubtedly improve our EFL learners' motivation. With these incorporated into our curriculum and daily schedules, we should be able to generate some improvement and more success in our EFL classrooms and our English as a foreign language learners themselves.

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, author and speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 125 countries worldwide. Get your FREE, pdf format report on CD or via e-mail, "Creative, Dynamic Ways to Motivate and Teach English as a Foreign Language to Diverse Groups of Reluctant Learners" by requesting the title at: lynchlarrym@gmail.com

Five Tips For Choosing a Spanish Language School

2008-11-28T11:40:00.001-08:00

By Kyle W Bumpus

Many people simply can't get the idea out of their head they need a class to learn Spanish, and that's fine. Self-study simply isn't for everyone. Enrolling in a Spanish language class is something even most self-taught Spanish speakers will do eventually, if only to polish off their skills towards the end of the learning process.

Unlike studying the language at home, however, language schools are without exception an expensive proposition. There's simply no way around the need to spend hundreds if not thousands of dollars. With so much at stake, here more than anywhere else it's important to make sure you get good value for your money. Here are some guidelines to follow when you're thinking of enrolling in a Spanish language school.

It's In A Spanish-Speaking Country - Sure you could take classes in your home-town, but they wouldn't be half as effective as taking them abroad. At home, your lesson is over when you leave the classroom. Abroad, however, every interaction you have with practically anybody is part of your Spanish curriculum. Your teacher can show you how to conjugate a verb in the past tense, but only using those verbs time and time again will cement the concept in your brain and make the conjugation automatic. The benefits of being immersed in the language and culture you're studying are immeasurable. So great are these benefits that even most self-taught students will want to spend at least a few weeks abroad to polish off their skills. Booking a two-week language-school vacation is the ideal way to do that.
The Teachers Are All Native Speakers - Even if you can't afford to stu

dy a few weeks abroad, you should never, under any circumstances, take spanish lessons or enroll in a spanish class taught by a non-native speaker. Even if the non-native is an excellent speaker of the language and gifted instructor, you won't have the advantage of learning the proper accent or colloquial usages. There are so many native spanish-speaking teachers around that this shouldn't be a difficult requirement to fulfill.
Small Class Sizes - In general, the smaller the class size the better. Most reputable spanish schools around the world try to limit their group classes to a maximum of 6 students, with some being even smaller. Anything larger than 8 students, however, and it will be impossible for them to give you the individual attention you need to really learn the language. If the school offers one-on-one lessons and you don't mind the extra cost, even better.
At Least Two Hours Of Instruction Per Day - Two hours is a bare minimum here. If you're studying less than that per day, it's hardly worth the trouble of getting on a plane. The benefit you get out of your studies is directly proportional to the work you put in. If you really want to learn the language, you'll have to study. A lot.
Free Cultural Excursions - Many of the better schools provide free cultural excursions to interesting cultural landmarks around town. Sometimes, these freebies even include dance lessons, cooking lessons, or any number of fun activities related to Spanish culture. Taking advantage of these opportunities gives you even more opportunities to practice.

Follow these five tips to increase the chances of finding a good school. Nothing will ruin your trip faster than finding out you were ripped off, paying outrageous prices for subpar instruction.

Want to learn to speak Spanish but don't know which program is best? Visit learnspanishonyourown.com and check out my Spanish Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone Spanish product reviews to make an informed decision.

How Can I Learn Spanish Fast?

2008-11-28T11:39:00.000-08:00

By Jack Jimmy

If you are interested in learning Spanish you would no doubt want to know how you can learn it quickly. There are some ways to learn this language fast and this article would show you some of them.

The first way to do so is by hiring a private tutor and the reason why this method is good is because as long as you get a tutor who is certified he or she would most likely know ways for you to be able to learn this language in the shortest possible time, the only issue with this method is that hiring a private tutor can be very expensive in some places and it might not be that easy for you to be able to find a good private tutor depending on where you live.

Another good way is to go a local college and take a course in Spanish, you can let them know that you would like to learn the language as soon as possible. Some colleges might have ways you can use to fast track the learning of this language. The good thing about this method is that if you go to a good college you know that you are receiving one of the best training possible as colleges usually try to use the methods that would make it easy for you to learn this language. The not so good thing about this method is that it requires you have time to go to a college.

But if you really want to do it fast and you want to do it on your own, you can use a language learning software. Most of them just require a one time fee after which you can download it to your computer and use it whenever you want and wherever you want.

There is a good software you can use to learn Spanish fast and if you would like to find out more about this software you can do so by Clicking Here Now

You can also find out more about this software by visiting this website: http://www.rocketspanishs.com

Teaching English As a Foreign Language - A Way to Help Eliminate Stereotypes

2008-11-20T12:04:00.001-08:00

By Larry M. Lynch

The Stereotyped American in English Language Learning

What do your EFL learners think off when they hear the term "American". Unless you're an American, in all probability many images that will come to mind will not be positive ones. Other images, like the recent election of Barack Obama as America's first Black President will be the opposite.

During an introductory class in American History, an American instructor wanted to illustrate what stereotypes are and the prejudices that Swedes and other nationalities have about the United States. So first, her Swedish students were asked to, during one minute, write down what they though about when they heard "The U.S". A lot of people thought of fast food, Bush, Starbucks, CSI, FBI, NRA, fat people, and according to their teacher, Swedes also think Americans have ugly hairstyles. This according to a blog post "The Stereotyped American" by The Norrlander on her blog.

What is a Stereotype?

Webster's New World Dictionary defines stereotype as, "a fixed or conventional notion or conception, as of a person, group, idea, etc. Held by a number of people and allowing for no individuality; critical judgment of people". In other words, it's when you pre-judge people based solely on their nationality, race, religion, language, sex or other extraneous factors.

Concerning American stereotypes, it cuts both ways. Americans have stereotypes of many different language and ethnic or religious groups. Can you imagine the American stereotypes of Muslims, Arabs, Africans, Mexicans and Latin Americans, Russians, Scandinavians, East Indians, Eastern Europeans and the Chinese? Trust me, you don't want to know.

Not all Americans are bound by stereotypes, of course. But far too many are and it's distasteful either way. The phrase "Ugly American" is based in part on real behavior and real actions of real Americans. These "stereotypes" simply do not represent all of us. Do your learners watch "The Simpsons", "Weed" or even "CSI"? Not just television, but Hollywood and its movies play a dramatic role in fostering some highly unwelcomed stereotypes among English as a foreign language learners. What stereotypes are fostered by these and numerous other television programs broadcast worldwide?

"We see all kinds of "crazy" things from America on TV here (in Sweden), so that is obviously an important factor of how we see Americans. Also, we don't really like Bush here, and I think his politics also have made us distrust America", comments The Norrlander.

In an added comment on stereotyped Americans Joyce said, "Do you think the Swedes have a bad impression of Americans? I guess I would blame the media for that. I bet some countries think that we all ride horses, have gun battles in the streets and fight Indians." While Americans, of course, no longer all ride horses, there are, unfortunately, still "gun battles in the streets" if you believe American television.

Ask Your English as a Foreign Language Learners

Try this out on your English as a foreign language learners. Ask them what thoughts and images come to mind when they hear the term "Americans" or "The USA". Perhaps you'll be more than a bit surprised at their responses. Then, if YOU are an American or at least have an intimately detailed knowledge of the United States, it's history and culture, your work will be cut out for you. You are then charged with the responsibility of altering perceived stereotypes with factual input and information. As the Norrlander comments again, "It's quite intersting actually to think about how you view other people."

After all I say, a great part of foreign language learning is the culture, isn't it? So get to it then, and be sure to have some fun with it too.

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How to Choose a Spanish Learning Program

2008-11-20T12:03:00.002-08:00

By Kyle W Bumpus

With so many costly Spanish language programs out there, how do you know which are the real deal and which are a waste of cash? That's an excellent question. The Spanish program you choose has a direct impact on how well you eventually learn the language. Choose wisely and it's smooth sailing. Choose unwisely, however, and you've just wasted a nice chunk of change. Here are a few things to look out for in a good Spanish audio program.

Primarily Audio-Based - The best Spanish programs are predominantly audio-based. Some of them, such as Pimsleur, go further still and don't include a book at all. The point is, you absolutely cannot learn Spanish, or any language for that matter, without hearing it spoken. Thirty hours of audio would be an absolute minimum but the more the merrier. Programs like Pimsleur and FSI fit the bill in this arena.

Plenty Of Drills - There are no shortage of claims about magical products that can supposedly teach you the language without work, memorization, or grammar drills. If you don't want to waste your hard-earned money, ignore those claims. When learning a language, there is simply no substitute for repetitive drilling. Yes, drills can be boring but the best programs, like Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone, cleverly structure the drills to minimize the pain. A program without drills may be a lot less work, but it will inevitably be a lot less effective, as well.

Keeps Grammar In Its Place - Grammar is extremely important to eventually mastering the Spanish language, but it's not the most important thing by a long shot. The ideal Spanish learning program would teach you to speak a certain way because it just sounds correct, not by following complex grammar rules. Introducing too many grammar rules too soon has a nasty way over over-complicating things, impeding the learning process.

My two favorite Spanish learning programs share all these characteristics. The Pimsleur Spanish and FSI Spanish programs focus on drills, repetition, and oral skills more than grammar rules or written translation. If you're serious about learning the language, you won't go too far wrong with either of those fine programs.

Want to learn to speak spanish? Check out my Spanish Pimsleur and Spanish FSI reviews and make an informed decision.

Learning English Online

2008-11-20T12:03:00.001-08:00

By Amit Salkar

There are many ways in which you can learn the English language online. Learning English online is of great help especially for people who wants to go abroad for the sake of their studies or for their jobs. There are many ways in which you can study English. But the online courses which have emerged are of great help since they offer comprehensive courses. In these courses the beginner gets to know about the basics of the language and can analyze the language with the skills imparted to them by online tutorials. Therefore in recent times, most people prefer the online courses than the rest.

*Get help from tutors: The best way to study English is to take the help of tutors who teach English. They will come to your house and teach you. From some experienced people you can take help and study the language in the best way.

*Watching foreign movies (English) helps a lot: Another way in which one can grasp the language is by watching the English movies. When you see the people in the movie expressing their emotions in some foreign language then you will gradually learn that language (English here) very easily.

*Story book is recommended by online English tutorials: Reading a lot of story books can help. This is because of the fact that when you are truing to read anything in a foreign language (and especially a story), then it is extremely easy to learn that language. Reading story books is also recommended by the online English tutorials.

*Recommended newspaper reading: Reading newspaper is also of great help since you get to know about the world and also your own country from the newspaper. It is much like thinking in English, a foreign language. When you start thinking in English you will learn this language very quickly.

*Exams help to understand where you stand: Give exams in English. Online courses offer this help and you can actually test your skills and the knowledge that you have obtained so long by giving the test. The online schools actually offer these tests. When you give the test then you get to know more about the language.

*Language skills are polished and sharpened: Pronunciation and language skills: when you study in an online school you get a clear idea about the language and the pronunciations. In English pronunciations are of great importance. When you study from an online school, your language skills are polished and sharpened.

Learning English - TalktoCanada.com helps you to Learn English online and experience what many other students have come to discover. It's like nothing else you have ever tried, offering live online English conversation in real time with a fully qualified tutor. Book your lesson today!!

Rocket Spanish - The Honest Review of Rocket Spanish Course

2008-11-16T12:51:00.004-08:00

By Victor Emmanuel

The best product which is unique and interesting is nothing but Rocket Spanish. This particular course has been the overwhelming choice of many would-be Spanish speakers, especially for its low price. While this may seem to be the case, this article will try to show the truth about Rocket Spanish by providing an honest opinion about whether it's worth your money and time.

When you first arrive on the Rocket Spanish product site you are presented with a pair of options. You have the option to purchase a downloadable digital version or have a physical copy shipped to your door. As of today, the physical version of Rocket Spanish is sold for $299 in addition of $49.95 for shipping. You can get a copy of digital instantly via their instant download service, and for only $99 -- 1/3 of the original price. I encourage you to get the digital version because it gives you access to the lessons instantly. Since we have understand the two choices, it's time to discuss the course itself!

If you don't have a lot of time and are trying to master a new language, you would likely choose an easy program that allows you to proceed at a speed you are comfortable with. This is a positive feature of Rocker Spanish. You will have up-to-the-minute access to games and audio lessons given step by step. I have to add that the games are a great addition. Learning Spanish becomes hands-on and exciting!

The audio lessons are presented in friendly, easy-to-understand voices, so you can follow them at ease. They are clear and succinct so you are able to understand the basics of the language right from the start. You can also download the audio lessons onto your mp3 or CD player so that you can listen to them while you are working out or just kicking back on the couch.

There are also more than five hundred pages of material. These pages contain the critical aspects of the course and though it is lengthy, it is easily understood. There is such a large quantity of material that you are able to print them out and learn them at the rate that is best for you. Pronunciation skills are often not emphasized in traditional Spanish classes but they are really highlighted here. You may find this very useful.

Other exercises and a memory game known as MegaCards are also included. Here you can practice what you've just learned before using it in the real world. The most productive way to use Rocket Spanish is to play the audio lessons, read the written materials and also do the assignments before you try to speak the language. You'll know you're getting comfortable with basic Spanish grammar and vocabulary when you no longer need to repeatedly refer to the materials.

The most effective way to learn Spanish involves immersion in a Spanish-speaking environment, but if that's possible for you, Rocket Spanish is truly the fastest and easiest alternative for you to gain command of the language for use in your everyday life. Rocket Spanish could be the answer if you are struggling with Spanish in school, need it for business, or just want to learn Spanish for pleasure.

To learn more why Rocket Spanish is by far the most comprehensive Learn Spanish Course available and thoroughly deserves its excellent reputation and value for money, go over to my Rocket Spanish Review blog.

The Different Ways to Learn English - UK

2008-11-16T12:51:00.003-08:00

By Michael Novik

Learning another language is a recognized skill and ability that many aim for. Being bilingual or multilingual has its numerous benefits not only for personal gains but also professionally.

English is one of the languages most desired by many. English has global recognition and significance so the demand for English education has increased over the recent years. Because of this great demand for high quality English education, there has also been an increase in the ways people can learn English UK in different ways. Let us take a look at each method and also see how each one has its own advantages and disadvantages.

A. Learn English UK Through a UK-Based School

Advantages: Studying English in an English or UK-based school is probably the best option for anyone who wants to become better or to be proficient in English. The environment as well as the instructors for English classes are considered top rate. Being in the UK is also an added factor because those who study English as a second language will also have a complete English environment.

Disadvantages: One disadvantage to this is that you, of course, have to be located in the UK. If you are not based in the UK, then, you have to consider board and lodging or overseas study.

B. Learn English (UK) Through the Internet

Advantages: One advantage to learning English through the internet is that you need not be literally in the UK. There are many distance learning centers which offer complete or per-level English courses to those in many countries. If you have a computer and an internet connection, then, you can conveniently acquire English education without spending much and even without leaving home. Also, you can choose many different courses without having to think of time and distance as a problem because many courses are flexible.

Disadvantages: Studying through the internet requires you to search for schools which are accredited and those which offer quality education. If you are looking for reputable online schools, then, the best advice would be to search and scout around first to look for the best online schools and the perfect English course for you.

C. Learn English UK Through Self-Study

Advantages: Any kind of self-study gives you sufficient flexibility with regards to time, materials, and even study pacing. You can advance through the different levels based on your own development. Also, self-study is always cheaper than enrolling in campus-based school or an online school.

Disadvantages: You need to have a lot of self-discipline if you want to self-study. Self-discipline to follow your schedule, to set specific time slots for studying, and to advance your English level. Also, you need to have a steady source of good materials which you can use.

Mike Novik provides how-to advice on small business and home-based work issues. He helps small businesses reach their fullest potential. His recommendation for to-day is to visit English courses UK and Learn English UK

How to Learn a Foreign Language Tips

2008-11-16T12:51:00.001-08:00

By George Sandler

While you need not put in more than 45 minutes learning the language in one session, try to accommodate all the extra time you have in your hands.

Split your study up into several small sessions. Attend classes regularly, if you want to pass the course and you are serious about the language. Evaluate your past learning regularly for your own benefit, for example check out the vocabulary. Here are some ideas to make the learning of different sections of a foreign language course simpler.

Grasping the written words: Check out only those words where no conjecture can help or whose meanings can not be surmised. Glance through the text book chapters every day taking one small section at a time.

Communicating: Do not be afraid of making mistakes, listen carefully to your classmates and speak up! You can start practicing the foreign language by talking to your self, talking to others who are in the same class or even with your pet dog or cat.

Scribbling: Know how to pen down ideas everyday till it comes naturally to you. Follow a dictation of the language and check how much of it you have written correctly.

Some Assorted helps: Develop a Good Attitude, have reasons and goals for studying the foreign language. Make sure you are fully aware of what your goals are and how to reach there.

1. If you need help get it and do not be afraid to ask questions or ask for help for fear of sounding stupid, or being embarrassed. There is nothing to feel embarrassed when you need help or have questions in your mind.

2. Get audio tapes of the language and listen to them or make you own tapes and listened to yourself in order to perfect your pronunciation. The only way you can have correct pronunciation is to listen to audio tapes of the language or record something yourself and then listen to them.

3. For building your vocabulary, try using flash cards which are made of different colors denoting genders or nouns, verbs, adjectives, etc.

4. If you study in groups you can also access help from your classmates.

Visit http://hubpages.com/hub/howto-learnspanish and learn how to speak Spanish online easy.

Spell Better by Using These Spelling Strategies

2008-11-16T12:50:00.001-08:00

By Celia Webb

Spelling English words can be challenging. Schools and businesses expect correct spelling. The better your spelling skills are, the more likely you are to do well in communicating your ideas whether you write scholarly papers, articles, or advertisements.

Apply these simple strategies to improve your spelling skills.

Use mnemonics. Mnemonics are rhymes or phrases which make memorization easier. A common spelling mnemonic is "i before e, except after c or when sounded as a as in neighbor and weigh". You can make up your own mnemonic for any word you find difficult or for remembering other spelling rules.

Say it right. Many of us get a little lazy in our everyday conversations and do not pronounce words properly. For instance, it is fairly common to drop the "g" at the end of the "-ing" suffix. So running becomes "runnin". While people will understand what you mean, if you spell the word the way you say it, you would be incorrect. Be sure you pronounce a word correctly and you are more likely to get the spelling correct as well.

Play word games. Improve your spelling skills by playing fun word games. Word searches, hangman, crosswords, Scrabble, and other word puzzles reinforce spelling skills. You can buy books which contain collections of word puzzles or search the internet on any of the games mentioned here.

Research. There are two areas you can research which will give you excellent practice material. Search the internet for "spelling lists". Download those that interest you and use them to learn how to spell new words. The other area to search is for Latin and Greek roots, prefixes, and suffixes. More words in the English language are based on these two languages than are based on Old English! Learning the Latin and Greek roots and affixes (prefixes and suffixes) will increase your spelling skills tremendously.

Know which word you are spelling. Many "spelling" errors are actually problems with selecting the correct word. Homonyms are often the culprits. Homonyms are words that are spelled differently but sound the same (homophones) or words which are spelled the same but have different meanings and different pronunciations (homographs). One of the most commonly confused group of homonyms is their, they're, and there. Spend time reviewing the most commonly misused words. Make sure you clearly understand when to use each word and what its meaning is.

You can be a better speller. Faithfully practice every day using one or more of the spelling strategies presented here. You will very quickly see your spelling is improving.

Celia Webb, President of Pilinut Press, Inc., publishers of advanced readers for children and ESL students. Check out http://www.pilinutpress.com for more free articles on developing reading-related skills, word games and puzzles, and activity sheets for the company's entertaining and educational books.

You Can Learn French in Under Three Months - A Great Tool For Traveling!

2008-11-14T11:26:00.002-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

Have you decided on learning French? If so, there are a few tips that will make things much easier for you. Here are a few of the best ones to help you make the learning process more exciting and to assist you in grasping the language much more easily.

No matter why you're thinking about picking up French, you probably feel just a little bit intimidated. Most of the students we talk to feel like the journey is impossible, and that it'll take them years to learn to speak this new language.

The good news is that this doesn't have to be the case. While many courses and schools do still use outdated methods that make learning a new language seem a lot more like a chore, there are also some great self study courses out there. They use a wider variety of methods, developed by psychologists, to help you reduce the time and effort it takes to learn a new language.

While you might be thinking about enrolling in a course at a school or hiring a tutor, remember that these might not give you the kinds of results you want. That's because most classes have too much of a focus on reading and writing, and not enough on speaking.

Since most students' biggest goal is actually speaking French, this fact can be pretty frustrating. That means that one of the best choices is finding a self study program that allows you to learn on your own, and focuses on teaching you conversational French.

Here are a few tips to make your learning experience even better.

1) Remember what your mom said and be sure to listen

It really is amazing how much information you'll pick up about another language just by listening to it. Even though you might not understand everything, there's still an enormous benefit from listening to other people talk in French. You'll understand the flow of the language much better and gradually pick up structure and new terms.

Watching French movies with subtitles in English is another smart idea. This method allows you to listen to the language while reading the meaning, and eventually absorb the French words.

In fact, one student once downloaded an entire season of a television series in French. She watched them all, and by the end had improved her skills significantly. She even picked up some interesting nuances and had a good grasp of slang.

2) Practice but don't practice too much

You've probably heard that practice makes perfect, and this is true in many situations. However, one of the big reasons that people give up on learning French is because it begins to feel boring and like a chore.

You'll need to vary how you practice, and make sure you do what's needed to keep up your levels of motivation. It's not a good idea to set a strict schedule to learn by unless that's the way you learn best. Try to include a little French every day, in some form, instead.

That allows you to engage in the language without feeling restricted by a particular schedule.

3) Vary your practice and mix things up

Remember that while you want to include some French in your daily routine, you don't want to do the same thing and bore yourself. That means you should mix up what you do and when.

Put on a television or radio show in French, do a lesson from your course, or talk with a French speaking friend or neighbor. If you read the newspaper, choose a few paragraphs and think about the best way to translate them into French.

There are many different ways to engage with this language.

Truly learning the language requires you to vary how you learn and use different parts of your brain to learn faster. You'll retain more information and pick up the language much more quickly.

That's why some online study courses have been so successful. They do a wonderful job of providing a good variety of material. That keeps students interested and helps them get the right kind of stimulation.

If you're learning French, it shouldn't have to feel like a full time job. If you go about it correctly, it can actually be exciting and fun. Find the right course of study, follow the tips here and stick with it, and you'll be speaking the language in no time.

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study French program online.

It`s a great way to learn to speak French on your own without having to pay for any expensive lessons!

The Best Way to Learn How to Speak Italian

2008-11-14T11:26:00.001-08:00

By Jack Jimmy

Italian is a language that is spoken by more than 60milion people and if you are someone who is interested In learning how to speak it you would most likely what to know what the best is to do so. The good news though is that there are several good ways to learn this language and this article would show you some of them.

The thing you need to understand is that there is really no one way which is the best way to learn how to speak this language and the reason is that why you want to learn and how much of it you want to learn is what determines what would be the best way to learn this language. For instance if you are looking to learn this language because you would soon be moving to a country where Italian is the primary language or because you need it for your job, the best way would probably be for you to go to a college to learn this language

if you are just looking to learn it because you like Italian or because you have friends or family who speak Italian and you like to be able to communicate with them, the best way would probably be to get someone who is really good in this language to teach you or you can teach yourself using a language learning software or using audio tapes which you can get online.

All in all, good ways to learn how to speak Italian include using a language learning software, going to a college to learn it or getting someone to teach you. The best way really depends on why you want to learn it and how well you want to learn it.

You can learn how to speak Italian using a software known as Rocket Italian and if you would like to find out more about it you can do so by Clicking Here Now

Tips on How to Motivate Your English Language Learners to Study ESL

2008-11-14T11:25:00.002-08:00

By Dorit Sasson

Rod Ellis defines motivation as referring to "the efforts which learners put into learning an L2 as a result of their need or desire to learn" (1995).

The two main types of motivation, intrinsic and extrinsic, can affect the learning process. Intrinsic motivation is task motivation that derives from an inherent interest in the learning tasks while extrinsic motivation refers to the external influences that affect the strength of learner's motivation such as that which comes from teachers and parents.

While some students have their own intrinsic motivation or external motivation, other students need to be motivated to learn. There are many things that you can do as a teacher in order to motivate students to learn. These strategies are based on various articles I have read below.

Students are more likely to want to learn when they appreciate the value of the classroom activities, and when they believe that they will succeed if they apply reasonable effort. Hence, "student motivation to learn is an acquired competence developed through general experiences but stimulated most directly through modeling, communication of expectations, and direct instruction or socialization by significant others - especially teachers and parents" (Brophy, p.40) When it comes to lower performing learners, teachers realize that such learners are accustomed to experiencing failure, hence, the teacher's task is to help them experience success.

Here are some strategies and tips that may motivate students and stimulate them to learn.

Provide a supportive environment and establish a trusting bond. "Motivation is the feeling nurtured primarily by the teacher in the learning situation" (Ellis, 1994). Greet your students, interact with them, indicate a personal concern about them as individuals.

Cater levels of activity to students' level - try and make sure that the learning tasks pose a reasonable challenge to the students - neither too difficult nor too easy.

Help students recognize links between effort outcome - learning is a long term plan of effort and investment.

Break down learning steps into digestable pieces.

Minimize student's performance anxiety during learning activities.

Articles on Motivating Students

Brophy, J. Synthesis of Research for Motivating Students to Learn. Educational Leadership, Oct. 1987. p.40-48. (article summary)

Ellis, R. (1994) The Study of Second Language Acquisition. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

For more tips and links on ESL and to sign-up for your FREE ebook "Taking Charge in the Classroom" visit The New Teacher Resource Center at http://www.newteacherresourcecenter.com When you do, you'll also receive a FREE bimonthly Ezine containing tips, news and information. My special report on differentiated instruction is now available at: http://tinyurl.com/5lbw4a

Dorit Sasson is an ESL instructor at CCAC Allegheny College in Pittsburgh, PA. She is the creator of the New Teacher Resource Center.

Language Translation Services - Are We Asking Too Much?

2008-11-14T11:25:00.001-08:00

By Charles Tao

A couple of days ago, a generic term of a contract peeved me while I was engaged in translating it into Chinese for there was not a counterpart in Chinese vocabulary as far as I know. Therefore I put it into the search engine of a language translation service which immediately stepped out several lexical items and I chose the closest according to the context. It is something I try not to do too much thinking if there is a valuable resource available and language translation services just play this role.

Once click the mouse to search the services or applications of language translation, one may find thousands of relative items. Baidu, Google, yahoo, etc. are big names of translation services. Chinese to English, Chinese to German, Chinese to Spanish or vice versa, you name it, they have it. The information they provide is amazing, too. One can find the original meaning of a word as well as its derivative meanings in a few seconds which just like an encyclopedia. One thing I appreciate very much is the function of prompting words. People like me, are apt to forget the complete spelling of words if they are not occasionally used. What I need is to input the beginning alphabets and select the right one. It is really helpful.

However, there is not always good news; just every coin has two side language translation services have shortcomings as well. Mostly, I enjoy the convenience and pleasure they bring to me. From a single word to a sentence, even the whole article, just waiting a few seconds, the result is appeared. It sounds amazing, right? However, when I look into the corresponding translation, it really depresses me because the translation of the whole sentence looks like a sequence of haphazard codes without logic, not to mention the translation of a paragraph.

This reminds me of the period when nearly everyone was annoyed by the 8000 words graduation thesis and its fussy format. The first step of us to do was to collect useful information through the internet. Inevitably, some of the information was written in Chinese and this was the golden opportunity of the application of language translation services. A classmate of mine even adopted the total corresponding translation without doing a little readjustment and handed it to his tutor. It would surely save time and energy for at least he didn't need to type the thesis letter by letter. Just imagine the result! He was forced to rewrite his thesis from the very beginning and had to say a lot of good words to beg his tutor to give him another chance.

I do not think this phenomenon only exists in such a small sphere. Walking in the street, one can find various logos and signboards written in English while some of them make me both annoying and funny occasionally which are idiomatical Chinglish. The inaccuracy can be found in grammar, syntax, collocation, etc and the trace of copying directly from the language translation services is obvious. Of course, no one has rights to ask the others not to make mistakes. But it is the responsibility of everyone to make things which are showed to the public correctly.

Here are my guidelines to language translation services: take them just as information providers and do not let them overwhelm my own thinking. A passage or a translation is the creation of one's hardworking. I am seeking delights by writing something, in other words, it fulfills some of my pursuits in the process of writing. I do appreciate the good points that language translation services provide. Since translation is viewed as recreation, just use our own mind to decide how to compose it rather than mechanically copying.

Sana

Transhorsa translation Co.,LTD.,Shanghai
http://www.transhorsa.org
Native translation & Proofreading

Take an English Course in England, and Learn the English Way

2008-11-11T08:58:00.001-08:00

By James Ong-Fox

There are destinations all across England in which a student can travel to to attend an English Course. This article aims to help a student considering attending an English Course to choose which destination in which to learn.

England's history provides an excellent opportunity for international students attending an English course to learn and enrich their knowledge of English Culture and History. English history is truly diverse; as it consists of ruling Monarchies from across Europe, including the Romans, the Normans and the Vikings. Therefore, considering its diverse history, any international students considering attending an English Course in England will be openly welcomed as the English are accustomed to newcomers in their land. The historical landmarks within England (such as Stonehenge, Big Ben and the Tower of London) are intriguing and highly educational. For an international student attending an English Course in England, having access to such cultural and educational places it will not only improve their knowledge of the English language and culture but also assist their studies on their English Course. To have the experience of visiting these places also enables a student to discuss the place to which they went during their English Course in England.

Attending an English Course in England means an international student has the opportunity to learn and perfect their English language knowledge in the language's native environment.

England's massive tourist industry is also accommodating towards international students and provides a large range of exciting and interesting things to do for someone attending an English course. Places such as London, Salisbury and Eastbourne are known for their tourist attractions and these places are definitely great places to attend an English Course.

Last bat not least, by attending and English Course at an English School provides students with the opportunity to make new friends.

I hope this article proves useful to any students considering attending an English Course in England. I strongly recommend England as an excellent destination where a student can not only have fun but also learn whilst studying on their English Course.

3rd November 2008 James Ong-Fox

Internships in the UK, summer vacation courses, group travel programmes, language courses worldwide and work & volunteer programmes abroad.

What it Takes to Learn Basic Spanish Online

2008-11-11T08:56:00.000-08:00

By B Matheson

Thanks to major advances made in technology and Internet connection speeds we do a lot more then just send and read email over the web. There are sites popping up all over the web that will help you learn to speak a new language, play a musical instrument and even run a business.

So what does it take to learn basic Spanish over the Internet? That's the focus of this article.

Using What's out there for Free

There's a wealth of free material on the web, and if you're just looking to get the basics down you can likely do so without having to spend a buck of your own money.

First stop should be either Google video or YouTube. Both of these websites are adding new videos daily. Do a search for "Spanish lessons" or "learn Spanish". On either site you'll get several videos pop up.

I suggest using videos because this is the new medium of the web, how ever there are some audios you can use as well.

To find free audios to learn basics Spanish phrases from do a search for "learn Spanish podcasts". I've come across a few in different news letters and on podcast and audio book educational websites.

While it might take some time searching for videos and audios that are free it's worth it once you find them.

What about learning Conversational and Advanced Spanish?

If you're goal is to become conversational with a second language such as Spanish then using the free tutorials and tools available online might take some time to piece together a worth while lesson plan shall we call it.

Instead it might be worth the investment of a few bucks in a quality learn to speak Spanish software package.

These, like websites, are popping up all over the place as well. How ever it's important not to just grab any old software program that says it's going to teach you to speak Spanish.

Often times these programs are just as confusing as using the free materials available online.

Use this basic list to find a good software product to learn the basics of Spanish.

1.) Does it teach you every day phrases and important words, rather then a big vocabulary

2.) Does the program teach you pronunciation (does it offer speech recognition).

3.) Does the program go from beginner to advanced lessons

All three of the points made above are important to consider before you buy a piece of software to ensure that you're getting your money's worth.

The most important of all being that the software package teaches you everyday phrases and worth while vocabulary from the Spanish language.

To many programs and websites concentrate on teaching you hundreds of words, how ever you never learn how to piece them all together into phrases and sentences that you can speak to another native Spanish speaking individual.

For a fantastic learn to speak Spanish software package consider Tell Me More Spanish. It offers lessons from beginner to advanced, and a cutting edge speech recognition feature. Read more about it in this Tell me More Spanish review. To read about more Spanish Learning software check out our learn Spanish reviews.

10 Basic Figures of Speech - An Easy Guide

2008-11-10T12:42:00.001-08:00

By Rakesh Ramubhai Patel

The use of figure of speech in creative writing gives ideas or sentiments a unique perspective. It involves a deviation from the more commonly used form of word order or sentence construction. Writers usually employ such figures of speech embellish their composition.

This article is attempted to throw light on various figures of speech that will help you realize how you can craft your writing to meet your expectations.

1. Simile

It is a specific comparison made by means words such as "like" or "as" between two kinds of objects. "Reason is to faith as the eye to the telescope", an example of simile.

2. Metaphor

It uses a word or phrase denoting one kind of idea in place of other word or phrase in order to suggest a likeness between the two.

3. Anticlimax

It involves a series of ideas that suddenly diminish in importance at the end of a sentence or passage. It is used to bring satirical effect.

4. Antithesis

It is a juxtaposition of two words, phrases, clauses, or sentences contrasted in meaning to offer emphasis to contrasting ideas. "To err is human, to forgive divine", is a fine example of antithesis.

5. Climax

It is an arrangement of words, clauses, or sentences in the order of their significance. The least powerful comes first and the others. "It is an outrage to bind a Roman citizen; it is a crime to scourge him; it is almost parricide to kill him; but to crucify him-what shall I say of this?" This particular example rightly tells what climax means.

6. Conceit

It is an elaborate and often extravagant metaphor. It makes an analogy between totally dissimilar things. The term originally means concept or idea. Conceits were widely used in the 17th-century metaphysical poetry. In "A Valediction: Forbidding Mourning", John Donne uses it where the image of the joined arms of a pair of compasses is used to demonstrate the attachment of a pair of lovers; even when one makes s move, the two are attached closely being one.

7. Euphemism

It involves substitution of an inoffensive term or phrase for one that has coarse or sordid unpleasant associations, for instance in the use of words like "toilet" for "lavatory", and "pass away" for "die".

8. Hyperbole

It is a form of inordinate exaggeration. It means a person or thing is portrayed as being better or worse than the actual one. For example, "Dr. Jonathan drank his tea in oceans".

9. Irony

It is humorous or lightly sarcastic mode of speech. Words are used here to convey a meaning contrary to their literal meaning.

10. Personification

It involves representation of inanimate or abstract ideas as living beings. The sentence, "Necessity is the mother of invention" can help you make out this idea better.

The close study of these figures of speech will help you understand the sense of crafting your ideas and imagination in creating fine piece of literature, poetry or other mode of writing.

Rakesh Patel, a master degree holder in English literature has been serving as a lecturer for the last five years finds his efficiency in writing on various topics like English literature, education, philosophy and more.

Learn English in Three Top UK Destinations

2008-11-10T12:40:00.000-08:00

By James Ong-Fox

Every year thousands of international students travel to England to attend English Courses. For the student it can be a long and tiresome decision to find the best English Course in the best possible English School in the most suitable destination in England. With this article, we hope to make the decision simpler for international students to choose the right English Course at the best English school.

Our first recommendation is London as a place to attend an English Course. London has a mass of different English schools giving the student a huge range to choose from. One of the reasons why we recommend the capital is because it offers so many different English Courses to suit different requirements and expectations. This gives the student the opportunity to find an English Course that suits them perfectly. Attending an English Course at an English School in London provides the student with chances to visit the many awesome tourist and historical sights, enhancing the student's knowledge of English culture and also assisting the student's progress on their English Course. London is arguably the most exciting city in England, offering excellent nightlife as well as shopping experience. Therefore, when the student is not attending their English Course in London, they will have plenty of things to do in their spare time.

Our second recommendation is the seaside city of Eastbourne. It is an incredibly beautiful and calm place with a laid-back attitude and friendly faces everywhere. It offers excellent English Courses. Eastbourne's location is excellent for any student considering attending an English Course. It is within an hours train ride of both London and Brighton. An English Course in Eastbourne would definitely provide the student with a view into laid-back, British country life as well as an accessible portal into the buzz of the exciting cities.

Our final recommendation is the historical town of Salisbury. Salisbury is home to the tallest cathedral in the UK, and is also 750 years old. It is rich in English History and culture, so to attend an English Course in Salisbury in this very British place will help the student not only improve their English, but also improve their knowledge of Britain. It is also home to one of the world's oldest manmade structures: the famous Stonehenge. Not only is Salisbury home to some of the most historical sights Britain has to offer, but it is also home to some of the best English Schools providing some of the best English Courses the UK has to offer.

James Ong-Fox is an experienced worldwide traveller, currently working in TWIN GROUP marketing department, a leading company in education and training. Twin Group offers English courses in London, Eastbourne, and Salisbury, Internships in the UK, summer vacation courses, group travel programmes, language courses worldwide and work & volunteer programmes abroad.

2 Easy Ways to Learn Spanish - The Best Ways to Easily Cut Your Learning Curve in Spanish

2008-11-07T11:38:00.003-08:00

By Prescott Hardcastle

Wouldn't you like to learn the Spanish language quickly and with the least amount of hardcore studying as possible?

Learning a second language takes a lot of patience. To tackle anything new requires a healthy commitment of time and energy.

Luckily, there are some great short cuts I want to share with you to help make the learning of a foreign language both enjoyable and fun.

First, I recommend you watch films in English with Spanish subtitles. Fortunately, today's DVD's come with bonus features that include foreign language subtitles. Go to your local rental store and search in their DVD section of "World Cinema" films. Online stores such as Amazon, Blockbuster and Netflix are also fully stocked with many of these films, and at bargain prices.

Another tip is for you to do a search for "Spanish dual-language books" at Amazon. These books are extremely helpful in reviewing your knowledge of Spanish. If you are an intermediate to advanced student of the Spanish language it will help reinforce what you already have learned, it will expand your vocabulary, and open you up to the rich Latin culture.

If you are a beginner, simply select books that are at the level of a young reader. Read a passage in Spanish and then check if you have the correct understanding by then reading the English translation.

Whatever level you are at, films and books will help you develop a deeper understanding of the Spanish language and help you significantly cut your learning curve.

Want to know how to learn Spanish fast all you have to do is click here now.

Learn More From Just a Spanish Program Software Review - Reviews of Rocket Spanish

2008-11-07T11:38:00.001-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Learning a new language is the common must-haves nowadays. More important is the fact that Spanish is making its way to the queue of the most preferred language to be study. Why? Maybe because of the volume of the Spanish-speaking people. To help you communicate with these Spanish native speakers, try to equip yourself with the basic Spanish course. Spanish software such as Rocket Spanish can help you survive a Spanish conversation. You can read the reviews of Rocket Spanish for more details.

Reviews of Rocket Spanish will tell you how effective it is in teaching you on how to speak Spanish in an easy way. You will learn through the reviews of Rocket Spanish that guarantees it give that learning Spanish is really simple and easy.

What are the things that you may expect to see on the reviews of Rocket Spanish? Look at the examples below:

• Rocket Spanish has lessons that are designed to be naturally understood by someone's mind.

• You will be able not just to speak but to write and read Spanish as well.

• You will be able to learn fast because that's what Rocket Spanish is made for.

• It provides reasons why you need to learn Spanish language.

• The satisfaction of the people who have already tried this software.

Reviews of Rocket Spanish will push further to realize that it will give you a satisfactory result. Since this software is hot in the market, you won't have hard time searching for reviews of Rocket Spanish.

Best Spanish courses that you can use to learn Spanish at home reviewed. These courses come with software programs to make your learning process easier. 4 from 5 people that use these courses learn and master Spanish in less than 8 weeks.

Do you know that Spanish can be one of the hardest language to learn, if you don't have the right resources? Best Spanish at home courses reviewed. These courses even have tests of what you've learned.

Beginner's Guide For an Online Spanish Study - Beginner Learning Spanish Online

2008-11-07T11:37:00.002-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Language also means knowledge. The way you speak your mind signifies what you know and who you are. The way you deliver your message shows if you are the kind of person with sense. The power of language therefore comes vital especially under the roof of business and academic setting.

Since language exhibits a great impact, some people would want to widen their skill by learning foreign language. For a start, it will be practical for them to get acquainted first with a language that they can possibly use. One of those languages that come in handy is Spanish.

On your first step to study a language, perhaps you could do warm up via online. Beginner learning Spanish online can give you a preliminary background on what you are about to study. As a beginner learning Spanish online, you can gradually prepare your mind for a more comprehensive, yet fun lessons.

What is also good for a beginner learning Spanish online is that you can study Spanish whenever you want or whenever your mind becomes ready to be fed. You won't be pressured, therefore allowing your mind to be fully geared up before it starts to function. And to give you what you actually need as beginner learning Spanish online, software are available to be purchased. Since they are in the market, rest assured that some of them is in a complete package.

The beginner learning Spanish online must be careful in choosing the right software. Look at the reviews allotted for them so that you can fully enjoy the fun, fast, and easy way of learning Spanish.

Learn German Your Way - German Class is Optional

2008-11-07T11:37:00.001-08:00

By Max Sprechen

There are many ways to learn German. About all classes and instructional courses can only take you so far in the German language, however. The more you participate in learning German outside the class room, the more quickly and solidly will you learn how to speak German. A good German class (whether high school, college or adult class) with a good teacher can give you a solid foundation on grammar and important words. If your class isn't teaching you important basic German skills such as the present, past and future tenses of verbs and the grammatical cases of nouns, pronouns and adjectives then its not doing you very much good.

If you really want to learn how to speak German well, I recommend that you don't depend on the class as your primary means to learn German. I honestly believe that learning German is something you do on your own and you can use the German class as a tool to help you make it over difficult areas and to answer questions. I can say this from experience. I took an adult class the first month I started to learn German, but then had to quit it because I was moving. So, I kept the text book and just learned out of the book and practiced with a neighbor who was a native German. In my experience I really did not need a class at all.

Now, I'm not putting down on German classes. In my case, a year later I signed up for the Goethe Institut (a good German language institute) in Munich, Germany. I took an entrance test and placed myself in the first intermediate level - not bad, huh, for learning German a year on my own! However, I discovered that even when I was at the Geothe Institut I learned most of my German getting out around Munich, meeting people, talking with Germans. There's nothing more fun than learning German this way.

So, there are many different ways to learn how to speak German and all can be good. High School and college classes usually cover the basics, unless you are getting a masters degree. There are also excellent, but expensive institutions like the Goethe Institut, which has branches in North America and Germany. If you are determined to learn German in Germany, you may look into various German universities. Many of them have German language courses for foreigners and are inexpensive. Just a couple of the universities who offer "Deutsch als Fremdsprache" courses are the University of Freiburg and the University of Tubingen.

Making the Translator's Tough Job Easier

2008-11-07T11:36:00.000-08:00

By D Sarig

Translation is a difficult field. Translators are often required to develop an expertise in the subject matter they are translating. It is common to find translators working under tight schedules, and occasionally required to adhere to their customer's writing standard, which is at times problematic.

Translation is a process of continuous selection. The translator chooses from vocabulary alternatives and from various grammar structures, in order to find the words and syntax that best fit the source text. This has to be done while being true to the meaning and language style of the source, and at the same time create the impression that the target language text was originally written in that language.

This indeed is a complex task. It requires excellent language skills, it requires knowledge of the translated subject matter, and it requires a sense of understanding about the required style for the final material.

But there is more to it than that. More and more translators are now required to translate web pages. Unlike standard text translation, web page translation involves additional complexity. The visualization of the original web page with all of its links, add another complexity dimension to the translation challenge. A simple sentence such as "New to this service? Sign up for free", where the words "Sign up" are a link, could become a translation challenge for some languages.

The order of the elements in the sentence may vary between language, so the translator is now required to modify the HTML web design because the link may need to appear at the beginning or the end and not in the middle.

Website translation involves three disciplines: The content writer, the translator, and the web designer. This makes the translation challenge even more difficult, as it entails another level of dependency and collaboration.

New services are available, including one at lingotip.com, which provides translators the means to create multilingual content without a need for web design skills. It enables translators to receive website HTML content, and allows them to provide translation in HTML format, keeping the original visualization constraints. This mechanism creates new job opportunities for freelance translators enabling them to provide a complete translation service, including website content translation.

D. Sarig

http://www.lingotip.com - multilingual blogging and embedding & freelance translation portal.

The Importance of Foreign Language Study - Why Study a Foreign Language?

2008-11-06T13:06:00.001-08:00

By Stephanie Tekrider

With so many people throughout the world able to speak English, it's easy to understand why some might question the importance of foreign language study for native English speakers. I spent a few years living in Japan and many of my Japanese friends would express jealousy over the fact that I grew up speaking such a "useful language".

Still, there are many reasons why English speakers should consider studying a foreign language:

1. Your job prospects. The world is becoming increasingly smaller, as the internet allows people to connect from anywhere in the world. Speaking a foreign language can help y ou to get a job with a company that does business outside of English-speaking countries. You may even be given the opportunity to live abroad.

2. It fosters cultural understanding. When you study a foreign language, you don't just learn the language. You learn about a country's people, culture, and traditions. Understanding the differences between your own and another's culture is a great way to foster a more cooperative spirit.

3. You can travel more easily. While it's true that people of many different countries speak at least basic English, this isn't always the case. Speaking the language when you visit a foreign country makes for a much better experience. Even if a person does speak English, you'll find that you get better service and help when you try to speak the native language.

4. You can make new friends. Speaking more than one language means that you are able to interact with a broader range of people. You can use the internet to find "email friends", connecting with people across the globe. You can also find homestay or cultural exchange programs that allow you to directly experience another culture or share yours with someone different.

5. You'll exercise your brain. Whether young or old, everyone's brain needs a good workout now and then. Learning a foreign language can help you work on a variety of different skills-listening, speaking, reading, and writing. This easily increases your brainpower and makes you a smarter person overall.

6. You can learn discipline. Foreign language study often requires a high level of discipline if you want to do it right. You can easily take these skills and transfer them to any number of projects.

Studying a foreign language takes patience and hard work, but you can succeed. Click here to learn about improving your study skills.

Speak Spanish Online - The Best Way to Easily Learn Conversational Spanish at Home

2008-11-06T13:05:00.006-08:00

By Prescott Hardcastle

Spanish is one the most widely spoken languages in the world and one of the world's fastest growing languages, as well. It is not surprising that a lot of people would like to learn it.

Thankfully the Internet is a phenomenal tool that you can take advantage of to learn to speak Spanish like a native speaker.

Although good textbooks and live instruction were useful in the past, I have found that the process of mastering the Spanish language can be accelerated by enrolling in a good online Spanish course that takes advantage of modern technology.

Learning any language takes time and nowadays people are opting out of driving to weekly Spanish classes given how busy schedules are getting today. That's one reason for choosing to learn online.

The other reason, and this was huge for me, was that I wanted a lot of one-on-one practice with conversational Spanish. And surprisingly, this can be accomplished with voice recognition software that is built into the very best online courses available today.

With a headset and microphone, these courses are now equipped to recognize and correct your pronunciation. Simply speak into your computer microphone and watch your "score" on the screen change as you self-correct your pronunciation.

Online courses for learning Spanish that include this feature stand out above all the others. So, look for a course with a rich variety of course content, packed with features, and one that works on your conversational skills. Mastering language theory is not good if you are weak in the spoken word of the language! And certainly, look for one that is competitive priced.

Grasping the spoken word can be the most difficult part of learning the language. But the best course I have found makes this incredibly fun and was very useful for improving my conversational Spanish as well as my overall Spanish skills.

I am here to tell you that you can find a lot of quality courses online, but in terms of value for you money; there are only one or two excellent ones that rise to the very top!

If you are ready to find the best way to Speak Spanish Online all you have to do is Click Here.

A Useless Guide of Conversation

2008-11-06T13:05:00.005-08:00

By Pierre Alexander

Pragmatic linguists J.L. Austin and J.R. Searle published in the late seventies / early eighties a couple of studies introducing the Speech Act theory, which basically says that the act of speaking isn't neutral and cannot be analyzed without a close regard to the context. "To speak is to do" is their common motto.

Speaking then not only leads to action (like when you tell me to piss off, and so I leave) but is an action in itself (like when a judge declares the trial "open", which indeed starts the trial).

A Danish student of that time, whose minds were disturbed by a sentimental break-up and the sudden discovery of his being Danish, fell in love with this theory. He spent hours and hours by the seashore of Helsingor, smoking dope and drinking liquor, trying to find out how to put it into practice. Soothed by the winds of the Nordic bay, he eventually came up with the idea of a multilingual conversation guide linking words with action, and providing the reader with a linguistic answer to every single situation of communication.

Here are some quotes of his (unfinished) book:

"Imagine yourself in an automatic laundery in Poland waiting in front of a washing machine. Someone comes and asks you whether the machine is reliable. You're not sure about that, but you don't want the guy to take alarm on too fragile ground. Then just say: mniej wiecej"

"You're in Japan in a swimming pool and you realize that your swimsuit is too short and all the girls laugh when you go pass them. You want to apologize to them but in the same time make them see the good side of it since that made them look at you. Then simply say: Gomen nasai, Kega shimashiya"

"Your apartment is being robbed in Istanbul while you're in bed, and you want the burglars to spare your life and leave behind the bud vase you sister offered you when you were 17. Go for: Seni seviyor ozluyorum (Prononciation: seni seviYOR euzlUyoroum)"

The list is of course endless, but the most tragic part of it is that the guy is still standing by the seashore, a pen in hand, waiting for some gentle soul to put an end to his misery.

Pierre Alexander

Speak German Well by Using Certain Tricks to Learning German

2008-11-06T13:05:00.003-08:00

By Max Sprechen

I started out at point zero learning German. I was a "newbie" beginner in the German language and at some point along the way I noticed that I could speak and read some German. When I look back I can see what I did right and did wrong. The day, six years ago, I bought a German-only dictionary and stopped using my English-German dictionary was the day my knowledge of German skyrocketed. For a while, I would have to constantly have that dictionary with me to be able to complete a story or newspaper article in German (The dictionary really got worn out). Now I just look at the dictionary on the shelf collecting dust. Of course I still use it occasionally, but I don't need it to read through a German newspaper or book. When I'm finished reading something, then I may look up a word or two.

Using a German-only dictionary is one of many tricks to learning German - but that is for more advanced German linguists. If you are starting out in German, then its important to just get the feel for the language and how to speak German. Find some German text and read a few paragraphs or pages out loud, preferably to your teacher, or someone else who knows German. It doesn't matter if you understand the words, this practice will just help you get used to feeling and hearing the language.

Learning to speak German works like osmosis. When you learn German each and every day the German will start to sink in. So, try not to miss a day. Another great trick is just to get English out of your mind. When you learn nouns and verbs don't start thinking "Hmmm, what does this mean in English". Let English be English and German be German. There are some things I say in German which I don't even know how to say in English.

So when learning to speak German, think like a German and don't be in a rush to learn it all too quickly. I hope these inside tips and tricks to learning German will give you a little boost to your German language skills. These tricks come from my real experience and helped me discover that learning German did not have to be a difficult undertaking.

The best part about learning German is that the process can be a fun and adventurous experience. When you are learning German you can experience a very wonderful and rich culture and you'll realize that this culture has had a strong influence on a large part of the world. Many of the children's fairy tales we grew up with have German origins. Classical music composers such as Mozart, Wagner and Bach were German. Of course, I don't have to mention the German auto industry or German food, wines and beer. Now with the age of the internet, learning German is not reduced to sitting in a stale classroom. Internet courses, such as Quick-Basic-German.info, make learning German quick, fun and easy. Then, once you have nailed down the basics of German, I recommend you do what I did and go spend a few weeks or months in a German-speaking country and start enjoying all the richness and beauty of everything German. Herzlichen Glückwunsch beim Deutschlernen!

Reading German - A Great Way to Learn Effective German

2008-11-06T13:05:00.001-08:00

By Max Sprechen

Reading German is one of the most effective ways to learn German. Without reading German you will not go very far. So I hope reading is one of your favorite pastimes. Reading German will be a constant process throughout the German learning process. To constantly increase your German language skills you will need to read German in all levels - beginner, intermediate and advanced. Reading German is so effective, because it will help you to understand German words, which in turn will improve your ability to hear and speak German.

But don't fret too much about all this reading you have to do. Fortunately, the choice of the reading material is entirely up to you. I would only like to suggest that your material for reading German be your favorite topic, your favorite interest. When you read on your favorite interests, reading German can become a pleasure you look forward to. For instance, I like politics and history, so I may choose articles on German political parties or Frederick the Great for my German reading. Also, as soon as you can, use a German-only dictionary. Learning the definition of words in German, not your mother tongue, will help you German language skills to take-off!

Reading German can also help beginners really move out of the gate. I recommend easy reading for beginners. If you try reading material over your head it can lead to frustration and giving up on German and we don't won't that. I can tell you what my reading was when I was a beginner. I read children's books and fairy-tales - that's right. The grammar and vocabulary is easy - you got to walk before you can run. I have to tell you about one of the stories I read, because it was so enjoyable. It is called Krabat by Otfried Preußler and was an enchanting and wonderful story. It was the 1972 German children's book prize winner and you can still find it on Amazon. (By the way, ignore the poorly-translated English title, its very inaccurate!)

There are some imperatives in the process of learning German and one of those is reading German. You just can't skimp on it. Its on the top of the list of important ways to learn effective German. When I started to learn German, it seemed like a difficult language that I wasn't getting the hang of too well. Then I decided to get some things to read in German and a whole new world opened up to me. That's when I got going.

Basic German Skills for the Best Way to Learn German

2008-11-06T13:04:00.002-08:00

By Max Sprechen

Getting down the basic German skills is the best way to learn German. I've been learning German for 20 years now and to me the basic German skills are:

Knowing nouns

the definite article for each noun - whether its der, die or das
the plural form of the noun

knowing verbs

how to conjugate them
their past and future forms

knowing the grammar - German sentences behave differently from English sentences and you have to get used to putting verbs at the end of sentences, capitalizing nouns, etc.

One of the most important basic German skills is to understand that nouns and pronouns change, depending on how they are used in a sentence. Its somewhat similar in English:

He gave me the book
I gave him the hammer

"He" and "I" became "him" and "me" when they received the action of the verb. These are the nominative and dative cases, respectively. In these sentences, the book and the hammer are in the accusative cases. Here are these same sentences in German:

Er gab mir das Buch
Ich gab ihm den Hammer

You will notice that the pronouns and definite articles change in the different cases. "Ich" and "er" in the nominative are "mir" and "ihm" in the dative.

If you are learning basic German skills, try to get down these basic areas. If they seem difficult at first, just take your time, look up how to conjugate different German verbs and especially research what it means for words to be in the nominative, accusative, dative and genitive cases. This is something you must know to progress to higher German skills.

I have discovered since I started learning German that understanding these basic German skills always comes in handy. Even 20 years later I still come across some difficult sentences and the best way to understand them is to break them down into their basic, separate components. Nailing down these basic German skills is the best way to learn German because you will fall back on them time and again as you continue to learn German.

Want to Learn French the Fast Way? Here's How Learning French Can Be Made Easy!

2008-11-06T13:04:00.001-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

Learning French, or any other foreign language, can be a tough job if you're an adult. As a child a new language is much easier to learn. Even high school French classes are easier! That is because as an adult learning is comparatively difficult because adults tend to compare a new language to languages they already know or speak. Therefore, the complexity level of one is not equal to the other. On the other hand, children learn by the sponge method, where they simply absorb everything that is being taught.

Our language abilities tend to slow down a little as we grow older. It's always easier, therefore, to pick up a language in school rather than later in life. One of the main reasons for this is that adults we tend to question why the language works in a particular way, why the structure of the words are not similar to the structure of our native tongue. It's easy to get annoyed by conventional language programs, since you'll need to put in a lot of hard work and progress will be slow.

There's no need to get discouraged. Everybody can pick up a language no matter how old they are. It's all a matter of finding a reliable that guides you through the language at your own pace.

Here are a few tips that will make your French lessons smooth, fun and easy to learn. The basics of learning effective French in a relatively short time are:

Practice makes perfect:

AT the risk of sounding cliché, practice makes it perfect! Though we all know it, it's difficult to gather enough time for regular practice out of our busy schedules. But it needs to be done. Practicing whatever you've learnt is essential. The best way is to gather people who you could practice French with. Put up notices in your neighbourhood and get acquainted with people who know the language. You could also try Alliance Françoise. And if you get a chance to go to France, what could be better?

Passive listening:

Listening to French, even if you don't understand it is a good method to recognize words and increase your vocabulary. Start listening to French music or audiobooks on your way to work, while doing household jobs or exercising.

Vary your practice:

Try doing different things on different days of the week. That'll keep you interested and the coursework won't be monotonous!

Don't Skip a day:

The golden rule of learning French or any other language is o keep at it daily. Practicing daily has better efficacy than even the very best method of language training. Daily classes help you pick up the language quickly.

Try online programs:

If you don't like the local French language program or find it difficult to fit classes intro your daily routine, or if French classes are simply unavailable locally, you could always try online programs. There are a number of how to learn French classes on the web nowadays where you get a thorough training. Find one that suits your needs. It's also the best bet if you want to be in touch with the language regularly and at your own time and pace.

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study French program online. It`s a great way to learn French online on your own without having to pay for any expensive lessons!

Spanish - Future American Language

2008-11-06T13:03:00.000-08:00

By Anthony Hendriks

Is Spanish destined to replace English in the United States? To even discuss this subject is treason for many Americans. The fact is that it may be a distinct possibility in our future. The Spanish speaking community has more than doubled in America in the past ten years.

Children of Spanish speaking parents learn two languages. Often, Spanish is all that is spoken at home. Many older Hispanics have no desire to learn English and continue to speak Spanish exclusively. They shop at Spanish markets, eat out at Spanish restaurants, and watch Spanish television. Many Americans do not realize that there is a Spanish language revolution taking place in America. The Hispanic community is the fastest growing segment of our population. Immigration is a very hot subject all across America.

The exclusive use of the Spanish language over English is often at the root of these discussions. Most Americans do not understand why the Hispanic community does not encourage the use of the English language. It is serving to divide much of America. The Spanish language is quickly becoming one of the most popular languages in the world. There are over 330 million Spanish speaking people in the world. This number grows every year. This growth means it is very important for American companies to have Spanish speakers on the pay roll.

It has never been more important for companies to be able to market their products in Spanish. Learning Spanish is very important for anyone who is in sales and service. The ability to market in Spanish can often mean the difference in profit or loss. Spanish may not replace English in the United States, but it is definitely not going anywhere. It is growing in its popularity around the world. Now is the time to learn to speak Spanish.

For more on the Spanish language, language trivia and reviews of the best Spanish learning software on the market go to http://www.yourlanguagelearn.com/

How Hard is it to Pick Up a Second Language?

2008-11-05T14:38:00.004-08:00

By Samantha Asher

If you can learn a language and speak it fluently within six months of studying one or two hours a day, you must have an amazing mind and a knack for languages. Most people can't learn a language that quickly. Still, some people can pick up a language faster and more easily than others.

How will I know if I can pick up a language quickly or if it will be hard for me? The easiest way to find out is to start studying, but there are ways to give you a hint as to how it will go for you. How did you learn in school? Did you pick things up quickly or did you constantly find yourself struggling to learn? If you struggled in grade school, there is a big possibility that language learning won't come easy for you, but this doesn't mean it will be impossible for you. You learned English, right? If you are reading this, it means you can learn a language, it just might take a little longer than others. Even if you had trouble in school, how you do with languages has more to do with how you learn.

What kind of learner are you? Are you a visual learner or do you prefer reading or listening to a lecture? If you are good at all kinds of learning, you will have no problem picking up a second language. If you are mostly a visual learner, you will do well with visual programs such as software programs. If you prefer lecture and listening, you will do better with an audio program. Do you prefer reading and seeing the written word? Read and translate books in your target language.

Ideally, you will use all of these types of learning tools to ensure you build all parts of a language including listening, reading, wreaking, writing, and comprehension. Use them all but focus more effort on the ones you do well with to get the most enjoyment and quickest results out of your language learning effort.

If you want to know how to start learning a second language, go to LearningaSecondLanguage.info for more information.

3 Basics Techniques to Help You Learn a Language

2008-11-05T14:38:00.003-08:00

By Nate Portney

As a baby we are born knowing no languages. None. People always forget that they had to learn their home tongue just like they will have to if they want to learn any other. It's not a subconscious skill we are born with I'm afraid. We learned it off our parents, their friends, school and maybe even the TV, OK definitely the TV. This is a good thing though, it proves that it's not so hard to learn a language, you have done it before why can't you do it again? Learning another language is one of the most popular wishes people have. We try, we get bored or we laugh too much at the man with the funny mustache, yes we've all done it but learning a second language can be one of the most exciting, fulfilling and useful skills anyone could have. Translators are always in demand!

So what's next? Where do we start? How do we get started?

Step one is choosing your language. This is a massive step. Most people know what language they want to learn even starting. You will probably have an affinity towards a certain language or culture and that'll be what you want to learn. Great. Bare that in mind, but remember, some languages ARE more useful than others. Chinese for example would be incredibly useful to know the way the world is going. Spanish is always great as a great deal of countries speak it.

Step number two, selecting the write book. Selecting the write book to learn your language can be a massive challenge. It's all too easy to get caught up in the excitement of it all and just pick the first that comes to hand. Don't judge them all by their covers! We all do it but a cover with a picture of a sexy Italian lady (or man) means nothing I'm afraid. The best way to get a better idea on what book will suit you and your learning style is to get some reviews. Now this doesn't mean, go ask your friends what book they found most useful. We need quantitative data. Where do we get this? Online of course! A great start is to visit a store online and read as many reviews left by people as possible, only then can you make your choice. Remember, book comparison websites are going to be the cheapest place for you to find whichever book you finally decide on.

Step number three. Go to a night class. I know the thought of going back to school probably makes you feel feint but a night class is different. Immersing yourself in that language is always the best way to learn it. Everyone has a friend who learnt how to speak Spanish in a few months whilst living there don't they? Exactly. Going to a night class is the next best thing. All these people will have the same goal and unlike school they are all here to help each other. Night classes also regularly organise visits to your chosen country, usually a few times a year so there are always benefits. Much more fun than just sitting in your damp, dark study by yourself!

Above all else remember that learning a second language is supposed to be fun. The key to learning it really is enjoying yourself. If you find yourself annoyed, angry or grumpy whilst trying to learn just forget it for the night. Remember what you love about the country, whether that requires a visit to the local opera or some sushi that's a small price to pay. You'll soon be back on the right road.

Need to know which language books actually work?

Visit http://www.Gauchotexts.com and compare all of our Italian, Spanish, French, German, Chinese, Japanese and many more text books at the cheapest prices online.

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German Language Structure - A Good Reason Why to Learn German

2008-11-05T14:38:00.001-08:00

By Max Sprechen

Ok, learning German my not be super easy, but it is not near as hard as some people think. The German Language has gotten a bad rap and some people bypass it for other languages like French or Spanish. But I'd like to impel upon those who are thinking of taking on a second language some good reasoning as to why learn German.

The German language is a structured and straight-forward language with mostly inflexible rules so its not like English where words can sound the same and be spelled differently or be spelled the same and sound differently. I'm just so glad I did not have to learn English as a second language, its really a lot harder than German to learn. The German words may look long and scary, but you just have to break them down as two or more different words combined together.

Once you get the hang of the German language, you start to enjoy and appreciate its uniqueness (especially compared to English). With German, its a lot easier to get a thought or meaning across with fewer words. I enjoy German when speaking in the "should have", or "could have" sense. The German language also has the "he would have had to have done something" sense, which is a little awkward in the English language,but easier in German. I guess that is why German is called the language of thinkers and poets. So don't let German scare you - it really plays by a nicely written rule book and for the most part sticks closely to it. There are not that many irregular verbs. The grammar, nouns and verbs behave according to a standard structure - you learn the German grammar and just a handful of words and you've pretty much got the German language down. Then all you need to do is build your vocabulary.

Well, I hope you now have decided to give German a shot. If you ask Why Learn German, there are many other factors to consider. But German is certainly a mainstream European language and as the German speaking countries in central Europe continue to grow, the German language will continue to grow.

3 Top Reasons to Study Spanish

2008-11-05T14:37:00.006-08:00

By M. A. Black

Reasons to study Spanish are many and varied. Learning Spanish can bring untold joy into your life.You will be able to enjoy holidays more, enjoy Spanish TV shows, and even make new friends. In this article I will show you the 3 top reasons to study Spanish. Take these on board, and you will see why you need to start learning Spanish straight away.

1. Improve job prospects

One of the top reasons to study Spanish is to improve your job chances. With the job market becoming ever more competitive, employers are looking at different ways to distinguish between candidates. And one of the most common ways they do this now is to see if you can speak another language. Most languages help but in America now, Spanish is the language which employers value the most.

2. Improve how you learn other subjects

When you study Spanish, your brain has to think in a different way. This doesn't just mean you have to learn new words; no, it means you have to learn to think differently. This develops parts of your brain which were not being used at all before. Once you have developed this, your brain will tap into, and make use of, it when you're trying to learn other subjects. This new style of learning will allow your brain to solve problems in a different way. This is one of the reasons to study Spanish which many people overlook, but it is one of the most beneficial.

3. Improve chances of succeeding in business

There are more than 45 million Hispanic people in America today - and this is growing everyday. For a lot of these people, English is their second language. This means that, if you're in business, although you can talk to them in English, they will be much more receptive to you if you talk to them in Spanish. This is due to the basic fact that at times people need to be 'persuaded' to buy something, or they just don't understand what you're trying to sell. If you know Spanish you will have a head-start on a lot of your rivals.

So, there you have 3 top Reasons To Study Spanish. By learning Spanish you will improve job prospects, improve how you learn other subjects and you will increase your chances of succeeding in business. Click Here to see how you can start learning today, and become conversational in 8 weeks.

3 Easy Ways to Learn Spanish - Start Today

2008-11-05T14:37:00.005-08:00

By M. A. Black

Easy ways to learn anything are always welcome. This is even more true when it comes to learning a language. There are many skills needed when wanting to learn anything, but there are some which are more important when trying to learn Spanish than most other subjects. In this article, I will show you the 3 tips which will help you learn Spanish much quicker.

1. Join a local language learning group

When learning anything, there are moments when you get a bit down. That's when you need motivation. By joining a local group, you will find so many others in the same boat as you. This will make sure that you don't stop halfway through.

Also, aside from the motivational factor, having others to speak to will actually physically help you; it will enable you to practise all the theory you have learnt. And as anyone who has learnt any language will tell you, practice is vital in grasping a new language quickly.

2. Watch Spanish TV and radio

There are many easy ways, but most people don't see this as one of them. If only people understood how to do it. What you need to do is switch the TV or radio on, and let it run in the background as you do other things. What this will do is that it will allow your brain to take in Spanish words at a more natural speed. At first this will seem very fast to you, but over time, it will 'slow down'. Once you recognise words, you will find it less boring to sit there and, for example, watch a Spanish film.

3. Language learning software

This really is 1 of the easy ways; it is almost a cheat, but it works. Gone are the days of thick, 300 page books which made you want to watch paint dry. Now language learning is much more fun and interactive. This has come about mainly due to the popularity of language learning software.

These software packages are not only more fun, but in the long-term they are actually cheaper too. They make you want to learn, meaning you don't start only to stop after a few weeks, wasting all that time and money. Another great benefit is that they offer flexibility which is so important these days. This means you can study when you want, and where you want - yes, that means you can study in the comfort of your own bedroom.

Language learning can be - and should be - great fun, but we need to see progress to remain motivated. This is why it's so important to learn in a way that is easy for you, and also in a way that produces quick results. So, follow any of these 3 tips and you will have a greater chance of success. Ideally, you will follow all 3. Click Here, to see how you can start learning today, and become converstaional in 8 weeks. Just Get Started - and stick with it

If You Want to Learn Spanish, Here's How You Can Learn Spanish Fast

2008-11-05T14:37:00.003-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

When trying to learn the Spanish language, a good self study program or classroom based instruction is important - but there are some other tips which can help you to learn Spanish at a much faster rate. Keep reading for some hints on mastering Spanish.

Subtitles

Turn on Spanish language subtitles when watching English language movies. You can read along with the subtitles as you watch and learn the meanings of Spanish words as you enjoy some of your favorite films! This is a fun and easy way to pick up many Spanish words.

Kids' Books

You can pick up a lot of the basics of a new language by reading children's books. In fact, you can read more advanced material as well if you are already familiar with the book - try picking up Spanish translations of books you have read- when you know the book, you'll have an easy time learning the Spanish words and phrases.

Watching TV shows in Spanish can help you to learn the language quickly. Telenovelas (similar to soap operas) are great for hearing Spanish spoken clearly and with good diction.

Comic Strips

Spanish language comic strips in newspapers and on the web can help you to learn Spanish, particularly idioms which you wouldn't learn from a textbook. Furthermore, the short format makes them easy to follow (and fun to read).

3x5 Cards

You can make your own flash cards by carrying index cards with you and writing down unfamiliar Spanish words and phrases when you come across them. Look up the meanings later and write them down on the cards - you'll have made a great learning tool.

Remember High School?

Many people already took some Spanish in school or a related language. You can draw upon this basis to help you learn Spanish fluently. If you have some background in French or Italian, you'll have a leg up on grammar, word order and conjugation. However, keep in mind that pronunciation will differ - but this experience will be valuable as you learn the Spanish language.

Talk With Native Speakers

If you happen to live in a city with a large Spanish speaking population, it will be easy to find native speakers to converse with. There is nothing better than practicing with a native speaker to build your language skills. Even if you don't have native speakers in your area to talk with, you can practice with members of a local Spanish club or even students learning the language.

Practice Every Day

There is no substitute for daily practice when learning Spanish. Regular practice will make learning Spanish a quicker and easier task. Vary your study routine to keep things interesting and make learning fun.

Using these tips will make learning Spanish fun and easy. You should use these tips in conjunction with a self study course or classroom instruction which has a track record of success and mixes up teaching techniques to keep you interested. A lot of people give up on learning Spanish because of a dull instructional routine. Choose fun, interactive instruction which can keep you interested and you'll master Spanish in no time.

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study Spanish program online. It's a great way to learn spanish fast on your own without having to pay for any expensive lessons!

The Reasons Why You Should Learn Italian

2008-11-05T14:37:00.001-08:00

By Kenneth Leong

Italian is a very popular language in New Zealand, which is curious, because not many people speak Italian outside of Italy. Here we explore the key reasons why you should consider learning Italian.

Italian is one of Europe's leading languages, with roughly as many mother-tongue speakers on the continent as English and French.

Young Kiwis can go and work in Italy for one year under a working holiday scheme. A knowledge of the Italian language would obviously make a huge difference to anyone's job prospects.

Italy is probably the greatest magnet for anyone interested in the history of western art and civilisation; it's like a vast cultural treasure house. Even a limited knowledge of the language helps to introduce some of the works of art.

Three cities in Italy are of paramount interest: Rome as the capital of the ancient empire and the heart of the Catholic church; Florence as the cradle of the Renaissance; and Venice as a unique and unforgettable link between eastern and western European styles.

Italy has made huge contributions to scientific progress, with Leonardo and Galileo being just two of the most obvious names.

Since the time of Boccaccio and Dante, Italian writing has been at the forefront of European literature.

Italy was the home of opera, and many of the world's greatest works were composed in Italian; even today, Italian is the international language of music.

Italian food has achieved worldwide fame, and nearly all of us could name a good few Italian dishes and culinary expressions.

Italy has long been synonymous with fashion, elegance and design; go and see for yourself!

Italian cinema has long had a worldwide reputation, as have many directors and film stars.

Italy is not just "culture": the modern country has one of Europe's largest economies. And Italian cities are not just museum pieces: they are full of vitality and energy, which nearly everyone finds infectious.

The Italian landscape is incredibly varied, ranging from alpine to mediterranean, and the picturesque villages and small towns give it tremendous character.

Kenneth Leong is Director of Euroasia, New Zealand's premier provider of foreign language and cross cultural training programmes. Language courses offered include Spanish, French, German, Italian, Chinese, Japanese and Korean.

Find out more about learning Italian with Euroasia. To enrol for a Italian course, check out the Italian timetable on the Euroasia website at: http://www.euroasia.co.nz

Tips on How to Learn Italian Fast

2008-11-05T14:36:00.002-08:00

By Justin Grant

At some point in our lives we have been around or overheard people talking Italian and wanted to understand what they were saying. Hopefully you won't have to wonder anymore. Once you have read this article, you will at least have a basic understanding of some of the common words and phrases and give you a boost to learn fast Italian.

If you are new to the language or have some basic understanding of some of the words, it does not really make a difference. Italian is not one of the toughest languages to learn out there, but it is the most fun.

Have you ever seen how children learn to speak? They mimic and act out the sounds and actions they hear and see everyday, and use them by association. You must go back to the "grass roots' level again if you want to learn Italian, or any other language for that matter.

To get you on course for quick learning, these are just some of the everyday words and phrases that the Italians use in conversation. Once you have a firm hold on these words, you will be greeting your family and friends in Italian in no time!

If you are ever in the situation where you meet someone from Italy, buon giorno (pronounced bwon jornoh) is the most commonly accepted greeting. If you happen to be greeting a friend or close relative, ciao can be used (pronounced chow).

A word of caution with this. If you ever get the chance to go to Italy, rather use buon giorno to greet someone that you do not know. It shows a bit more respect.

Now that you have the greetings mastered, let's take a look at saying goodbye. Buon giorno and ciao can also be used to say goodbye. Buon giorno can be used as more of a conversational goodbye. For example, leaving the market or shops, or at the end of a business transaction. Ciao, like using it for the greeting, must only be used for people close to you (if you feel more comfortable, don't use ciao all together). You might want to stick to the more commonly used word to say goodbye, and that is arrivederci (pronounced ah ree ve dher chee).

Lastly, one more useful phrase to learn is mi scusi (pronounced me scoo zee). It could be used to ask someone for general directions or even if they know English.

Getting to know these greetings will definitely enhance your ability to grasp the language and learn fast Italian.

If you enjoyed learning some of these basic greetings and would like some more information on Italian and some other good languages, please go to http://onlinelanguagetraining.wordpress.com

Is Rocket Spanish Good?

2008-11-05T14:36:00.001-08:00

By Joseph Shalita

When deciding to learn Spanish, there are several online options available, one of which is Rocket Spanish. The main question is if it is any good, and how does it compare with other options. In order to answer that, you must sit down and evaluate what your language learning goals actually are.

If you think that you will be able to speak Spanish is a week just buy buying a computer program, well that may not be very realistic. You can however achieve a decent conversational level fairly quickly, at least enough to order out in a restaurant or basic friendly conversation.

One factor to keep in mind with this is how much do you want to spend, or with some programs, invest in your Spanish education. Programs can run up to several hundred dollars, with private classes running into the thousands. The thing to realize is that just because a program may be expensive, it does not mean that it will be the right program for you.

A good example of this is Rocket Spanish. This program is geared toward those of you who are more audio orientated. Rosetta Stone is more visual in nature. With Rocket Spanish, you will be working with audio files which are either downloaded to your computer, or listened to through their website. There are also volumes of written material that comes along with these files. One advantage is that you can listen to your lessons in the car or even download them to your Ipod. With Rosetta Stone, you must use it on your computer. Both programs are great, it just depends on how you work best.

One advantage to Rocket Spanish is the price. It runs about one hundred dollars, which is a far cry to the two hundred to five hundred dollar price tag of Rosetta Stone. Because of this, it is a very good entry level product that should get you speaking Spanish fairly quickly.

Some of the things that you will learn are how to introduce yourself, ordering in restaurants, and generally getting around on your vacation to Spain or Mexico.

One other thing about this program, and this is very important, is that it is fun to use. There is nothing worse than working with a program that is more boring than watching the grass grow. Unfortunately, there are lots of those out there. Of course, the only way you will learn Spanish is by using these programs and working hard. the program can not learn for you. As stated earlier, the trick is to use something that will keep you interested over the long period so you can learn. Rocket Spanish will fit that bill nicely, and will not break the bank. That is a great combination.

Joseph Shalita is the owner and editor of Spanish Learning Review a website that helps you evaluate the best way to learn Spanish online where you can find helpful articles and reviews of the most poular online Spanish learning programs such as Rocket Spanish available today.

How I Learned French and You Can Too

2008-11-05T14:35:00.001-08:00

By Jean Dewitt

Have you ever wanted to learn another language? How about the French language? I myself LOVE the French language and have since I was a teenager. I can vividly remember taking French in High School. It was one of the few classes that I really thrilled in. Unfortunately I didn't continue the pursuit when I left school, so I lost a great deal of what I learned. Still, the love of the language stayed with me.

One day while in church our Pastor asked for a raising of hands as to how many wanted to travel. Lots of hands shot up in the air. In fact, the majority of the congregation had that desire. The Pastor then asked how many had a desire to visit France. That narrowed down the numbers, but still many hands were raised. Then he asked the $10 question, "How many of you have saved even $1 towards going to France?" Not one person raised their hand. Thus he concluded and made his point that wishing and dreaming IS NOT PLANNING.

I gave that little illustration a lot of thought over the next few days. It really caught my mental attention. I started to think about how many things I wanted to do or have, but hadn't put any thought or planning into. Eventually my mind went to the French language and I thought, 'That's it! I'm going to set myself to the task."

I went and bought a French book for beginners. I set up a plan for myself as to how I would approach my self-education. I was determined to look at it as if I was in college being held accountable to do my homework and studies. I bought myself a basic French/English dictionary by Larousse. I practiced, practiced, practiced and put in a minimum of thirty minutes each day, six days a week. In short, I devoted myself to the pursuit!

Over the course of time I'd hit walls, where I'd feel like I knew nothing and had such a long ways to go, but then I'd go through another burst of throwing myself headlong into it. I had to chill sometimes about my learning curve and give myself a break. It's just that I wanted so badly to be fluent, and I knew that I wasn't there yet. But I didn't want to mess up the journey, so I had to give myself pep-talks and remind myself of just how far I'd come. I may not have climbed the mountain, but I'd traversed many a hill!

I spent the first two years of my self-study in beginner's books and CDs. I learned a lot, there's no doubt about that, but I also wasted some time, effort, and money along the way through lack of knowledge and good book recommendations.

So far I've put in six years of consistent and constant devotion to learning French. I don't regret a single moment that I've invested. It's made my life richer in so many ways, not the least of which is that I have a friend in Calais, France who emails me regularly and encourages me. We've been friends now for almost two years and we only email each other in French. I'm sure it's one of the reasons that my French has improved so dramatically. Six years ago I struggled with reading French, now I understand about 70% of what I read. I can only imagine how exciting it will be when I can understand 100%!

If you've dreamed about learning French then this is my advice: Stop dreaming and start learning! You won't regret it.

I'm a writer of inspiration that can bring about determination! What I mean by that is that I try to write what I call "life messages." Because I believe that words can transform your world and even frame your world. Through poetry, essays, articles, and ebooks you can broaden your horizons and discover new vistas within yourself that you didn't know were there. At http://gloryjean.com you'll find a variety of writings with the above ideas as the cornerstone. You'll also find an ebook titled "How I Learned French and You Can Too." Don't forget: You're one-of-a-kind, so go forth and place your fingerprint upon the world!

For ESL Learners - Five Questions and Answers About Canada's Remembrance Day

2008-11-05T14:34:00.000-08:00

By Jane Wangersky

Canada, like many countries, has a national holiday on November 11th. The Canadian holiday is called Remembrance Day. If you come from another country, you may have questions about it. Here are some answers.

What does this holiday celebrate? It honors Canadians who have died in all the country's wars. This grew out of an earlier holiday, Armistice Day, which celebrated the end of World War I. (An armistice is an agreement to stop fighting.)
Is there a long weekend? Only if the 11th falls on a Monday or Friday! The date is the anniversary of the end of the First World War. This has meaning for many Canadians, and they don't want the holiday moved. However, schools and many workplaces close on Remembrance Day. (If you need to buy something, you will probably be able to find an open store.)
What are the red flowers everyone wears? They're artificial poppies. During World War I, a Canadian army doctor, John McCrae, wrote a poem about poppies growing in a military cemetery. The poem, "In Flanders Fields",became well known. The poppy became a symbol of remembering the war dead. You can get a poppy by donation at many public places just before Remembrance Day.
What happens on Remembrance Day? In many towns, there is a ceremony. At 11:00 in the morning, when the armistice was signed, everyone is silent for two minutes. After that, a bagpiper may play a lament (music for the dead). In Ottawa, the Governor General puts a wreath on the tomb of the Unknown Soldier. For the past few years, people at the Ottawa ceremony have taken off their poppies and put them on the tomb.
Is it just like U.S. Veterans Day? It's on the same date, but Remembrance Day is more about honoring the war dead. Veterans Day honors living veterans - the U.S. has another holiday, Memorial Day, to honor its war dead. Still, Canadian veterans and soldiers are an important part of Remembrance Day.

Jane Wangersky is an ESL teacher and author. To get a reading for your ESL class right now, visit her site, The ESL Dollar Store.

Should You Learn a Foreign Language?

2008-11-04T12:56:00.003-08:00

By Samantha Asher

Learning a foreign language takes a lot of hard work and a bit of a time commitment, especially if you want to become fluent. If you just want to learn a few words for your trip to Italy, it might not be that big of a deal, but if you want to be fluent in Italian, that's a different story.

Should you learn a foreign language? That depends on why you want to learn it. If you want to learn a foreign language for your career, you should probably start studying, especially if it's required for your job. If knowing a second language could help you get a job, it would be a good idea to start learning as well.

Are you a lover of languages? For some, that is good enough reason to start studying, but for others it is not so easy. Some people have trouble learning and some just have trouble with languages. If you ever took a language in high school, you probably new a few students that just could never grasp Spanish or French pronunciation. Other people just have a lot of trouble remembering the vocabulary words.

If you have trouble learning a language, should you decide not to learn one? That's entirely up to you, but if you really love foreign languages and have always dreamed of speaking one, or two, or more, you shouldn't let a little learning trouble stop you. You will have to put in a little more effort than a natural learner, but it will make knowing that language that much more special to you. Don't let a few troubles stop you.

Do you want to learn a language because your parents or your spouse thinks you should? You should never study a second language unless you really want to. Unless you are moving abroad and are going to be living with native speakers of another language in which you must learn the language to get by, don't learn any language you don’t want to know. Studying a foreign language is a big time commitment and will take many years to master, depending on how much and how hard you study. If someone is pushing you to learn a second language because they think it will be good for you or are sure you'll like it, just dismiss them. Decide for yourself if you will really like it. You can even give it a try, and if it's not for you, don't go on. Learning a language should be fun, don't let the fun be sucked out of it.

If you want more information on the importance of foreign language study, go to LearnLotsofLanguages.com for more information.

Teaching Conversational English - Commonsense Tips

2008-11-04T12:56:00.001-08:00

By Rowan Pita

There are over 508 million learners of English wanting to learn how to speak naturally. With online learning and the ability to connect live with native speakers, there will be many opportunities for you to teach English from home. It is important however, to sharpen your teaching skills so that your students keep coming back to you. The following commonsense tips will help you lay a solid foundation for the way you approach conversational English.

Pace

We speak very fast when we naturally converse. To a learner, it can sound like noise, a machine gun, a rumbling train or a squeaky wheelbarrow.

Slow down the pace.

Tone

Be careful not to sound like you are teaching them A-B-C with a tone that sounds like you are speaking to a two year old. Nothing turns a learner off more than being treated like a small child.

Maintain a natural, friendly tone.

Grammar

We use a lot of incomplete sentences that are grammatically incorrect but sound natural. Please don't worry can become no worries. We break grammar rules when speaking. It ain't my fault rather than, It is not my fault. Second language learners can only learn this through speaking and listening to native speakers.

Speak as though you were conversing with a native speaker.

Elision

We omit sounds such as a vowel, consonant or whole syllables. I have got to go becomes I gotta go. We do this because it is easier to say but it is more difficult for a language learner to hear and understand. They will only learn this through practice.

Model natural English as much as possible.

Idioms

We put words together that don't make literal sense. They are difficult for a learner to understand or translate. What's up will make a learner look up rather than reply, Nothing much. Don't try and explain what idioms mean. Second language learners will learn through repetition of the context and situation. Don't try and explain or translate idioms.

Rowan Pita (MA Applied Linguistics) is CEO of http://www.samespeak.com

Samespeak is an innovative and easy online platform that allows non language teachers to coach a student from another country to speak natural English and earn money online. It's a great way to earn good money from home, in your own time for something you do naturally - talk! All coaching lessons and instructions are provided free of charge.

Scrutinize Your Online Spanish Learning Medium - How to Learn Spanish Language

2008-11-04T12:55:00.006-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Spanish language is one of the languages that are being widely used in the world today. No wonder why Spanish is one of the available languages being offered by various language schools. Learning Spanish anyway will not just accessorize your image but can also feed your mind with additional sophistication. You will not be alone because a good number of people worldwide know how to speak Spanish.

Online or classroom learning are the two typical methods for you on how to learn Spanish language. Yet, the former is more appealing to the aspiring language learners because of the convenience it could give them. Obviously, online method on how to learn Spanish language is more manageable. You are free to study on your desired time and day, making you more at ease when studying, thus you can give your best shot to absorb the lessons.

Although you have your personal share on how to learn Spanish language, the online medium, (i.e. software) that you are using also has to play its part. The way that the lessons are written, together with the included activities that make the lesson attractive is significant to give the learner a reason to study. Not only that, the learner (or you) must find the lesson easy to understand for a fast learning procedure.

The method on how to learn Spanish language is vital. It is the key for an easy and effective learning. It is the secret for your satisfaction on how to learn Spanish language.

Guide For an Aspiring Spanish Language Speaker - Spanish Course Reviews

2008-11-04T12:55:00.005-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Perhaps no one has ever thought that technology would come to its existence. It just so happens that it booms and keeps on developing in a fast pace. Computer and internet are among the dynamic product of technology wherein almost anything can be done. Acquiring supplemental education is equally possible with the internet's ability. From the numerous kinds of learning available online, learning language skill comes efficient, too.

Thanks to the power of computer and internet because anyone can have an easy access of learning a language. You for instance, can find myriad software that teaches you a language. Since Spanish is one of the widely used languages either in business or in a simple situation, studying it may possibly come to your mind. Have some Spanish course reviews for a start.

To give you preliminary Spanish course reviews, let us just take a little glimpse of one of the best software that can help with your Spanish journey. Spanish course reviews can give us a background about the Rocket Spanish.

Spanish course reviews on Rocket Spanish will tell you how effective it can be in teaching you the language through the various vocabulary games, practical conversation, and other related stuff that will turn learning into a fun activity.

Spanish course reviews on Rocket Spanish will also lead you to the Learn Spanish Like Crazy software, where in you will be able to listen first to a certain Spanish lesson and afterwards, you will carefully repeat what you have heard. This is advisable for those who easily learn through listening.

You may want to consider this kind of review as you plan to continue learning the Spanish language,

A Good Spanish Learning Software Review Reveals Its Quality - Rocket Spanish Course Review

2008-11-04T12:55:00.003-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Language skill has always been present in academic class. But nowadays, learning language becomes available in a special language school, too. Moreover, enhancing a person's ability to speak foreign language does not escape the seizing hand of technology because anyone can learn a foreign language via online. Either in a classroom setting or in an online learning, both methods can easily reach your mind's language region.

Online language training is now being preferred by most people because of the convenience of studying at home. That can be a good reason why software, not only in this language area but in other categories as well, is rampant. Perhaps, some review regarding software can help us figure out its quality.

If you are into Spanish learning, the Rocket Spanish course review may help you to realize that you already have what you need right under your nose. It is fast, easy, fun, and convenient to use to make you a Spanish language savvy. And also, it is considered as today's best Spanish learning software.

Rocket Spanish course review is placing itself in the online market not just to be sold but to assure its users a software that will satisfy the quality and standards they are looking for. The Rocket Spanish course review can provide you with significant insights that will let you decide that Rocket Spanish holds what you need,

If you are on a charity work on a Spanish-speaking country or simply want to have an easy conversation with a Spanish friend, read the Rocket Spanish course review and find out how this software can work for you. Take time to read Rocket Spanish course review and for sure you will also take time in considering to give it a try.

EFL Teachers - How Many Useful English Language Words Do You Know That Begin With "X"?

2008-11-04T12:55:00.001-08:00

By Larry M. Lynch

English as a Foreign Language Teachers

What, no dictionary? Tsk, tsk! No matter though, we'll press on. At a recent book fair, I asked an EFL "learner",

"How many words can you name with "M"?

This was in response to his bragging that his English was "so good". He stumbled badly, but couldn't come up with even ten vocabulary when pressed, and "M" is hardly a difficult letter. Frustrated, he then shot back at me,

"How many English words can you come up with that begin with "X"?

An "X" is a very difficult letter in English in fact. Nonetheless I whipped off a string of X-words for him. He and his entourage quietly slunk away. So, how many could YOU have named?

To help broaden your lexical insight a bit, let's go through a short string of useful vocabulary in English that does indeed begin with "X".

"Are there really ANY?" you might ask.

Of course there are, oh ye of little faith. Just feast your mind on this luscious latitude of lexical learning:

Xanadu - a beautiful, mythical place

Xeno-currency - foreign currency circulating or in use in outside its country

Xenogamy - transfer of pollen from one plant to another

Xenon - a colorless, odorless, highly unreactive gaseous element; atomic element no. 54

Xenophobe - a person who is fearful of strangers or foreigners

Xerox - photocopying trademark, process of creating a photocopy

x-mas - informal abbreviation for Christmas

x-rated - media version containing explicit sex

x-ray - a high-energy photo with a wavelength of from .05 angstroms to 100 angstroms

xylene - flammable hydrocarbon contained in wood and coal tar

xylophone - a musical percussion instrument consisting of two rows of mounted wooden or metal bars of graduating length that produce different tones

xyster - a surgical instrument used for scraping bones

A Quick, Dynamic Vocabulary Game

Why not try out a quick vocabulary game with your English as a foreign language learners?

One mine seem to like is to give members of two (or more) teams from ten seconds to one minute to name five or ten words starting with a letter of the alphabet you choose. For example, you have thirty seconds to name or write down as many words as you can that begin with the letter "Q". No peeking now!

Be honest: how many did you get?

Prof. Larry M. Lynch is an EFL Teacher Trainer, Intellectual Development Specialist, prolific writer, expert author and public speaker. He has written ESP, foreign language learning, English language teaching texts and hundreds of articles used in more than 120 countries. Get your FREE E-book, "If You Want to Teach English Abroad, Here's What You Need to Know" and English language teaching and learning information at: http://bettereflteacher.blogspot.com Need a blogger or copywriter to promote your school, institution, service or business or an experienced writer and vibrant SEO content for your website, blog or newsletter? Contact the author at the above blog address for more information.

Why Should New Zealanders Learn French

2008-11-04T12:54:00.006-08:00

By Kenneth Leong

French is a very popular language in New Zealand, and has been for some time. Here are some reasons why you should consider learning French:

Together with English and Spanish, French is one of the most international of European languages, spoken in all the continents of the world.

French was for centuries the international language of diplomacy and culture; it's still important in those fields.

The French-speaking world has contributed an enormous number of great artists, writers, philosophers and scientists.

France has a large economy with a huge international presence.

Young Kiwis can go and work in France, Belgium or Canada for one year under a working holiday scheme. A knowledge of French would obviously make a huge difference to anyone's job prospects.

France itself has an incredible variety of scenery, from the rugged Atlantic coast, to the beautiful central valleys, to the Alps, to the Mediterranean landscapes of the south. It offers great opportunities for outdoor activities.

French cities are active, busy places, where there is always a lot going on. They have a unique café culture, and there are great opportunities for cinema, theatre, eating out and clubbing.

French cuisine is world-renowned, and French is still the international language of cooking, so at least a smattering of the French language is useful for chefs and food enthusiasts.

If France seems a long way off, New Caledonia and French Polynesia are more accessible holiday destinations. And they are very French! Even a limited knowledge of the French language can enrich and enliven your tropical holiday.

Much like speakers of English, French speakers tend not to be very enthusiastic about speaking other languages, so in France, for example, there is no guarantee you will find someone prepared to speak to you in English!

Find out more about learning French with Euroasia. To enrol for a French course, check out the French timetable on the Euroasia website at: http://www.euroasia.co.nz

Why Should a New Zealander Learn German?

2008-11-04T12:54:00.005-08:00

By Kenneth Leong

German has traditionally been a very popular language in New Zealand. German is the main language of Germany and Austria. It is also spoken in: Switzerland (most of the country), Luxemburg, in small pockets in countries neighbouring Germany or Austria (Belgium, Italy etc.), Namibia; and widely spoken in eastern Europe and the Balkans as a second language

The number of mother-tongue speakers worldwide total about 110,000,000.

Here are some key reasons why New Zealanders should consider learning German.

German is the most widely-spoken first language in the European Union.

Germany has the largest economy in the EU, and is an industrial giant on the world stage. Companies and organisations from Siemens to Carl Zeiss, BMW and the Deutsche Bank have formidable reputations world-wide.

German technology and know-how are widely respected around the world, and organisational skills are immediately apparent when one visits any of the German-speaking countries.

New Zealand has to engage more with the German-speaking world if it is to establish a stronger base for its exports in Europe.

Young Kiwis can go and work in Germany for one year under a working holiday scheme. A knowledge of the German language would obviously help enormously on this particular OE!

Some of the big cities such as Berlin are among the liveliest in Europe, with an enormous range of events throughout the year, many of them geared to the younger population.

Young people in Germany seem to be on the same kind of wavelength as young Kiwis; they usually get on well.

The Germans and the Swiss come to New Zealand in large numbers; and usually love it!

Germans are usually very environmentally aware, and are often innovators in green issues.

Germany has a rich cultural heritage, and has made huge contributions to world literature, painting, music and philosophy.

The German-speaking world has produced thinkers whose ideas have changed the way people look at the world: from Luther to Marx, to Einstein and to Freud.

People are often surprised by the beauty of the German countryside, with its dense forests and deep valleys, also by the charms of its many historical towns and villages. Austria and Switzerland have wonderful mountain landscapes. And with extensive hiking trails, all three countries are a tramper's paradise!

Find out more about learning German with Euroasia. To enrol for a German course, check out the German timetable on the Euroasia website at: http://www.euroasia.co.nz

Does the Long Tail Work For ESL?

2008-11-04T12:54:00.003-08:00

By Jack Olender

It was in 2004 that Chris Anderson coined the phrase The Long Tail, which contrary to some people's expectations has nothing to do with the dog's anatomy. Actually, it is an entirely new economic model for the media and entertainment industries. In a nutshell, the Long Tail theory claims that infinite online 'shelf space' and relatively easy access to potential users make it economically feasible to provide content for niche interest groups. This, in turn, should result in a growing demand for niche content. After reading Mr. Anderson's book, I asked myself a question: Does this long tail theory work for ESL? Do we - English language teachers - get more varied resources satisfying the needs of niche learning groups?

As a teacher of English with over 20-year experience, who would like to provide his students with the most engaging learning materials, I am continually surfing the net for new resources that I can use in my lessons. Why am I looking for resources on the Internet instead of sticking to a coursebook? After all, don't we have a great choice of coursebooks? Well, the problem is I really respect my students, - mostly adults - and I don't find most coursebooks suitable because they are either boring, childish or outdated. Actually, most of them perfectly combine all these three characteristics. Although, we could find some good examples, such as Innovations series published by Thomson Heilne or Oxford's English File series, the rest of what's on offer in bookstores is rather disappointing for adult learners.

The past decade has seen a boom of online services for teachers of English; some of them are free, other charge users fees. Some of them give advice on different issues related to teaching foreign languages, other list job offers for teachers, and most of them, if not all, provide worksheets. However, the quality of what is available online varies a lot. A lot of them repeat the mistake of appealing to the lowest common denominator, have patronizing content, or have such horrible graphics that would put my students off learning instead of encouraging them in their efforts. Hence the idea for a website which would put a long tail theory to the test on the ESL ground. I wanted to create an online service where ESL teachers could find current, niche topics, controversial opinions, taboo subjects, and colloquial vocabulary. A few years of hard work and now I know that a long tail works for ESL English-4U - ESL Lesson Plans is used by thousands of ESL teachers all over the world, it lists hundreds of worksheets on such niche subjects as: vanity sizing, shopping on Sundays, queuing, 2008 presidential elections in the USA. The topics are engaging because they do relate to students' lives, they are current - these are the topics that your students probably discuss around the water cooler.

I hope that the long tail of ESL resources will grow longer and longer. I strongly believe that the Internet will dramatically change the way we teach and the resources we use. I think we need more materials for niche purposes: Learners are different, so are their interests, so should be the resources we use. The Internet could make it possible to adjust our teaching to individual needs of our learners.

Jack Olender - chief editor of http://www.english-4u.com

The Advantages of Professional Translation Services

2008-11-04T12:54:00.001-08:00

By Irina Tischenko

There are million people around the globe each speaking thousands of different languages. To enable good communication between people translation plays a key role. There are few thousands of professional translation agencies out there providing high quality services. There are number of benefits in using agency over freelancers.

• The right translation service is the key to expand your business globally. If you are running a MNC, whether it is a large or small you will be dealing with customers from different geological regions speaking different languages. Some of your customers may know only very few or a single language (their native language). You can't expect your customer to understand your language; you have to adapt their language which you may not know. In this situation, translation agencies can help you to grow your business all over the world breaking down the language barriers.

• Apart from agency there are individuals who are providing similar services. It is always preferable to choose translation agency instead of individual because the work done by agencies will be always more professional and perfect than the individual. The main reason being, it affects the reputation of the agency if their work doesn't meet the quality criteria of the client. Moreover, they will not be able to get new customers. Hence, you can fully trust an agency rather than an individual.

• Some organizations recruit people for their needs. It is a good decision to recruit people exclusively for your work only if your translation needs are very large or if you will be requiring the translation service more frequently. Usually, any organization doesn't require that much similar work. Hence, it is always cheap and best to use the translation service of any professional translation agency. It saves both the money and the time required.

• Expertise matters the most. One of the major benefits of utilizing the professional translation service is the expertise. The translation agencies focus only on translation hence, they expertise in that field. No matter how hard you try you can't achieve the quality offered by these professional translation agencies. Since, translation is their business they have a large customer base and will have lot of experience in this field and would have worked on projects similar to the one that you require. Hence, you can absolutely trust an experienced agency.

• Native people are the best for translation services. Most of the well established agencies have branches all over the world in different countries. They usually recruit native people with good knowledge of the local language and English or any other language that the agency deals with to make sure that they offer high quality work. Moreover translation agency recruits people from diversified fields such as medical, legal, scientific or technical subject just to mention few areas of expertise. Apart from recruiting talented people for their work, translation agency provide them good training and may conduct some tests to check the quality of their work.

These are only some of the major benefits of using translation agency for your translation needs. You will experience the full power of professional translation services once you try them.

For professional translation and interpreter services for your business trips please visit http://www.word2word.co.uk

Sourcing a Trustworthy Translation and Interpretation Service Provider

2008-11-04T12:53:00.004-08:00

By Irina Tischenko

Today translation became one of the basic requirements for establishing your business globally. Your business can't reach the end customers worldwide if you are going to use your local language or the international language. You should customize your product or service in the local language of the region where you market in order to reach all your potential customers. For this reason you should outsource to any professional translation service provider it may be either agency or an individual, but you should make sure that they and their work is reliable else it will have long lasting devastating effect on your business. This article explains how you can outsource your work to a reliable service provider.

• The basic criterion of a reliable translation service provider is trust. The translation agency or the individual whom you hire to perform your task should be fully trustworthy, that too if it is a legal document or any other confidential data. The translator may disclose such information for money or any other advantage. Alternatively you may request the translation service provider to sign up a Non - Disclosure Agreement, if the work is worth that much.

• Money plays a key role in determining quality. There are thousands of service providers out there; you can find translation service providers in a varied range of budget. You can select the one which suits your budget, selecting a very cheap translation service provider may risk your business because the provider may be a newbie and may not know the seriousness of the work but there are chances where he may be an expert just now entering the business, so in order to capture the market he may offer the service for cheap rate. On the other hand very expensive provider doesn't mean excellent quality because there is an upper limit for quality. So, wisely select the translation agency that will suit your budget and at the same time not very cheap.

• Experience can help you to determine the reliability. You can use the experience of the translation service provider as a tool to measure the reliability of the service provider. The more the experience, higher the reliability. Since, the translation agency had dealt with many similar translation projects in the past they can do your work with high degree of accuracy and perfection. Apart from the blind experience you should also look what is their customer's feedback about their work.

• Native translators are more reliable than the equally ranked translators. The job done by professional translation agency would be very clear and perfect in most cases but in some rare cases the translation not only deals with just the literal meaning of the text. The translation service provider should understand the context in which the word is spoken and should discover the actual intention of the phrase. Just translating the word from source language to target language with literal meaning will not produce correct meaning. So, as far as possible you should hire translation agency which employ native people for the translation work.

The above guidelines can help you to recruit the apt professional translation service provider for your task. Use these guidelines wisely and you will find perfect agency for your need.

For professional translation and interpreter services for your business trips please visit http://www.word2word.co.uk

The Whole Word Approach

2008-11-04T12:53:00.003-08:00

By Cherry Pua

In a Whole Language approach, children's exposure to the written language is through reading books aloud or sharing words of favourite songs. The focus is on the whole word and not so much on individual letter sounds, because individual words can convey meaning for the child.

In the whole language approach, the words that we identify by their very appearance are called sight words. We know them just by looking at them. Having a huge stock of these words in our memory bank makes reading a breeze, thus, we avoid the inconvenience of having to stop and sound out each word we encounter.

Learning to read sight words would make children familiar with their function as distinct components of language, so that when they speak, they do so with flow and ease, without pausing at every sound.

Although there are words prescribed by experts as sight words, it is still important to consider your own child's preferences and interests. Teach one word at a time. Choose words that have special importance, something that will stimulate and excite your child to recognize. Most teachers and parents start with the child's name and members of the family. Move on to those things that play a significant role in his life: a pet, a favorite toy, things found in his bedroom or playroom.

Learning to read words sparks your child's word recognition ability. However, just as he learns most words through conversations, so will he learn to read most words independently through the course of his reading. Unknown words to him become meaningful when he brings his knowledge of the content and language to the page. So he needs plenty of exposure to the conversation of sentences, songs and stories for this to occur. Let your child read 1-3 words every week. Let him focus on the shape of these words. Remember that the idea is to make your child read the words as a whole. This way, every time the child encounters these words, he will breeze through them without struggling with phonics. This makes the reading experience as easy as possible.

For a list of 300 high frequency words found in 65% of print, log on to http://www.geniuschilddevelopment.com

Cherry Pua-Africa is the author of stories such as The True Story of Humpty Dumpty that was recognized and awarded by Japan SV Association, The Culture Cat Series used by Cambridge Informatics throughout its franchise network and the Story Ring. She is also the producer of the educator's favorite storytelling CDs entitled The Story Ring and Never Ending Rhythm and Rhymes. She is currently the Managing Director of Never Ending Story, a Singapore-based education consultancy firm providing training and coaching service to educators and school business managers and developing high impact school programmes. Cherry is also a director of ACT English in Thailand and has managed several kindergartens and speech and drama centres. To date, Cherry's clients include Cambridge Child Development Centres (Informatics Singapore), ACTs of life Singapore, Singapore Repertory's Little Theatre Company, Singapore Asian Civilisations Museum, Total Child Centre Malaysia, Kinder Minds Philippines, etc. She has given high impact workshops at the National Storytelling Network in the USA, International Reading Association, Southeast Asian Education Ministers Organization, Chitrlada Royal School in Bangkok, SEGI College in Malaysia and so on.

For more information or to ask any questions pertaining to Raising Genius at home, log on to http://www.geniuschilddevelopment.com

Do You Speak Klingon?

2008-11-04T12:53:00.001-08:00

By Anthony Hendriks

Throughout history there have been hundreds of made up languages. These languages were often made up in order for individuals to communicate privately in the presence of other people. These made up languages were used to keep their conversations private. There are many made up languages that were used in this manner.

Many of us made up languages when we were kids in order to talk around the adults without them knowing what we were saying. This was great fun and would often drive the adults crazy. Other made up languages came out of Hollywood. One such language is Klingon.

This language was created during the long running Star Trek TV show. Most people do not realize the language was first created by "Scotty" for the Star Trek: The Motion Picture movie. "Scotty" was the engineer on the show. Klingons had always spoken English before this. He created a few words and basic sounds. The language was fully developed into a fully-fledged language after the movie by Marc Okrand.

Star Trek fans have kept this language alive and it is spoken by fans around the world. Many languages around the world have slowly died. The writer of the Lord of the Rings, Tolkien understood this and tried through his writing to help people understand how language is important.

He created several languages for the cultures portrayed in his books. The elves, for example, had their own distinct language. Language is important and we need to understand and try and preserve as many as we can. When they die they take history with them.

So the next time you hear someone speaking in Klingon don't laugh. We should all encourage the expanse of language in our world. We should never let a language die.

Did any of our current languages start out as 'made up' languages? For example, is Spanish a 'made up' language? Well, who knows. If so, it certainly has caught on.

Roj (Peace in Klingon)

Want to see more language 'trivia'? Or are you interested in learning Spanish? For more information and Spanish language software reviews come on over to http://www.YourLanguageLearn.com

Turkish Phrases - How to Learn Them Fast

2008-11-03T12:53:00.003-08:00

By Nick Clawson

After moving to Turkey I realized I did not even know how to say, "How are you?" If I wanted to survive I had to move fast to learn some Turkish Phrases. The two methods I used to learn Turkish my first few challenging weeks there were listening and imitating.

Listening

You would be surprised how many people try to learn the basics of a language by reading something from a book or on the Internet. The fact is, when you were a baby you did not learn to speak your native language after you could read! You heard it over and over for a long time before any words came out of your mouth. And when words did come, you did not have to spend a lot of time analyzing what you were saying!

In the same way, you will learn Turkish phrases fastest by just listening to a phrase over and over until it sinks in. To do that you will need a good set of recordings, of which there are many available. I have the advantage of living in Turkey and hearing Turkish spoken all around me. But I still record spoken Turkish from time to time for listening and learning.

You will be tempted to listen to the recordings as you drive to work or when you are doing something else. That's fine and it will be helpful for you. But the best way to make the phrases stick in your brain is to actually act out the phrase as you hear it! For example, when the recording says, "Hello, my name is..." You can pretend to shake someone's hand. When the recording says, "I would like to order two kebabs," you can turn and act like you are talking to a waiter. The more actions you can perform the more the phrase will stick with you.

Imitating

After those Turkish phrases are drilled into your brain through listening and acting you will start to move into the imitation stage. Just because you are familiar with the sounds does not mean your mouth will cooperate with you in pronouncing them! Don't get discouraged! It is possible! Actually, Turkish is not a very difficult language to speak. There are only a few vowels used in Turkish which we don't use in English.

My little two-year-old, Anna, is a great example of a language imitator. She hears a Turkish word or phrase and she says it right back. She doesn't worry about how funny it sounds in English, because she doesn't know very much English! If you have the same approach as Anna you will learn Turkish quickly. Imitate the sounds you hear.

This whole process really does not take very long. You can listen to a phrase a number of times and imitate it with actions in a couple minutes. The key is to review. You will think you have a phrase memorized but then when you need it it isn't there. If you review the phrases a few days in a row you will be ready to speak Turkish like a pro!

Nick Clawson
An avid learner of Turkish phrases.
Learn more about Turkish phrases and my adventures learning them at my website: http://www.turkishphrases.org

5 Easy Ways to Learn French Fast and For Free

2008-11-03T12:53:00.001-08:00

By Rachel Neill

If you want some easy ways to learn French fast, simply apply these 5 fun techniques and take all of the agony and frustration from learning a language quickly.

#1 Like movies? This is an incredibly effective way to learn French fast while rapidly increasing your understanding of conversational French, and there's a couple of easy ways you can do it. With Satellite and cable tv, stations are available in a whole range of languages, see if you can find a French speaking station and a program at a particular time of the day that you can watch. You might struggle with how fast the speech seems at first but don't worry, even though you don't understand it it's sinking in and you can leave it on in the background while you do other stuff. If you don't have any French channels, head down to your video store and rent some French movies you can watch with English subtitles or if you already have a collection of dvds watch one with the French subtitles on, this trick is dynamite and you'll find yourself suddenly able to understand written French in no time!

#2 Make friends with a French speaker, with the accessibility of the internet this couldn't be easier. Sign up to a couple of social networking sites and explain you'd like to make French speaking friends and you can chat to them online. Hang out in cafes, libraries, malls where you know there's the possibility of French speakers around. Strike up conversation with French waiters, shop attendants, bartenders, if this seems intimidating simply say something like 'bonjour' or 'merci', it'll be noticed straight away because you're making the effort and they'll be happy to chat. Even offer time swapping...English conversation in exchange for French, if they're struggling with their English they'll bite your hand off.

#3 Music, be adventurous and browse the world music section of a music store, better still, check out amazon online, they let you listen to stuff before you buy and also help by recommending what they think you might like. Tune into French radio and get used to playing it in the background.

#4 French newspapers and magazines are sold in almost every major city, when you pass a news stand or book store look to see if they have the type of newspaper or magazine you like in French. 'Le Monde' is a mainstream newspaper sold worldwide, there are also a lot of glossy magazines like 'Marie Claire' etc in French, and even though you won't understand everything you'll be able to follow the general story with your own knowledge of what's going on in the world.

#5 Get a French boyfriend or girlfriend. This a guaranteed way to pick up French quicker than you can say 'frogs legs', and the fastest way I ever learnt a language!

Adopting one or more of these techniques daily will guarantee to rocket your French beyond all expectations. A Bientot!

Rachel Neill

For Free information on how to learn french fast and recommendations for french music and dvd's please visit my site:
http://www.squidoo.com/FluentFrench

What is the Most Difficult Grammatical Aspect of Learning Spanish?

2008-11-03T12:52:00.000-08:00

By Kyle W Bumpus

For most native-English Speakers, the most difficult grammatical aspect of Spanish to learn by far is the verb system. As a romance language, Spanish inherited a complex and nuanced verb system from its parent Romance language, Latin, that just doesn't exist in English. While English verbs do change with person (he/she, they, etc) and time (past, present, future), they usually don't do so nearly as much as their Spanish equivalents. But that's just the start

Preterite Vs Imperfect

While English speakers mostly stick to the simple past tense when describing past events, Spanish has two common past tenses which are not interchangeable. You must learn to differentiate between the Preterite and Imperfect tenses on-the-fly, often using both in the same sentence. While their respective usages are fairly obvious 90% of the time once you get used to the system (imperfect for continuing or background action, preterite for one-time events, etc), the remaining 10% of cases can be maddening.

The Subjunctive Mood

Closely following the Preterite vs Imperfect conundrum is the subjunctive mood. In fact, the subjunctive is even more difficult to many Spanish learners. In essense, the subjunctive mood differentiates between actions you know for a fact happened (He drove the car) and those you are not so sure happened (I don't think he drove the car). In English, the verb "to drive" takes the same form regardless of the mood: "drove". But in Spanish, the verb form would differ to explicitly convey the idea. Just as with the preterite and imperfect tenses above, you will soon get the hang of the subjunctive and 90% of the cases will be obvious to you. The remaining 10% will probably elude you for years but thankfully these cases rarely come up in conversation.

Visit Learn Spanish On Your Own for a comprehensive beginners Spanish guide, and free Spanish grammar lessons to help you on your way to bilingualism.

How You Can Learn From an Audio English Course

2008-11-02T10:50:00.003-08:00

By Warren Wong

You can learn a great deal about how to speak the English language by taking an audio English course. Such courses are free online and allow you to study at your own pace and at home. You do need to have an Internet connection as well as the Macromedia Flash Player installed on your computer. If you don't have this player installed, you can download it free through the site you use for learning English online.

The basic courses in English through an audio course start off with simple topics such as making introductions and formal and informal greetings. These topics prepare you for what you should say when you first meet an English speaking person. It will also take you through topics such as how to pronounce names, how to have a conversation about your family, your occupation and your favourite things to do.

In each part of an audio course, you listen to a conversation. You also have the option of reading the script of the passage on the computer screen. This is advisable when you first start so that you can read along with the speaker. Since the speaker s native tongue is English you do get the correct pronunciation of the words. There is a difference in the ways the words are pronounced in Britain and in the US, so you can look for the correct audio course for the country that you intend to visit or work in so that you do learn how to pronounce the words according to the customs of the country, but this is not a necessity.

After you listen to the passage, which you can do as many times as you wish, then the exercises on that passage consist of multiple choice questions designed to tell you how well you understood the passage. These include such questions as where the speakers are when they speak and what responses they give to certain questions. After you finish the exercises, you can receive immediate feedback in the form of a grade.

It is quite common to make mistakes in answering the questions at any time during the audio course and you should accept this as a normal part of learning. Think back to your own school days when you were learning your own language. It is highly unlikely that you got all the answers correct every time and the same thing applies to learning English.

Once you feel comfortable that you understand the concept of each lesson in the audio course, you can move on to the next one. However, there is another way in which you can learn from taking such a course online. You can use it to improve your own pronunciation of English words. You may be able to recognize them when you hear them and understand what they mean, but are you able to read the passage so that you can be understood as well? You should try reading the passages on the screen, record yourself while doing so and then listen to your own speech to compare it with that of the native speaker in the course. This will tell you how well you are progressing in this area.

For a great audio English course as well as information on preposition of place, indirect questions and other aspects of English grammar, visit http://www.1-Language.com

Online Spanish Learning Comes Fun and Easy - How to Learn Spanish the Easy Way

2008-11-02T10:50:00.001-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Aside from English, other languages, particularly the European languages are also being prioritized by some nations for reasons such as for business, professional, or even for simple academic purposes. Among the Europe languages that people fall in love with is Spanish. Maybe because enough percentage of the European countries speak this language aside from their native ones.

Some of the people would prefer to learn Spanish either because they need it or simply want it. But perhaps, they are looking forward on how to learn Spanish the easy way. Learning a language seems not to be so easy. Just the mere sight of the myriad vocabulary words up to the sentence pattern seems to scare people.

Due to that reason, some language institutions have developed something on how to learn Spanish the easy way to encourage people to learn and love the language. Some of them are maintaining a non-classroom ambiance as not to pressure the student's mind to forcefully absorb the Spanish lesson. Learning must come naturally.

Even if the students are willing to study Spanish, they still want to know how to learn Spanish the easy way because of their busy schedule. Besides, learning a language is just secondary option for them. Therefore, there should be a method that would capture the students on how to learn Spanish the easy way so that they could also place this among their top priorities.

Learning via computer will give them information on how to learn Spanish the easy way and obviously, it can give them an efficient and fun time to learn.

Fast and Easy Spanish Software Hunting

2008-11-02T10:49:00.006-08:00

By Peter O'Reilly

Going to school is the traditional way of learning. Yet, either pedagogy or andagogy learning wish to perceive learning in a more exciting way. Students sometimes feel the stressful way of learning that is why most of them are looking for a fast and easy way of acquiring knowledge. There must be something that drives them to continue studying.

So now, methods have been invented to make learning a fun activity. Learning even comes online for more convenience. Studying foreign language is one of the common skills being learned by some people via online. In line with this, people are seeking on how to learn Spanish fast and easy as Spanish is one of the preferred languages to be honed by many.

Software on how to learn Spanish fast and easy is becoming rampant. Of course almost all of them are claiming to be the best, so it is up to you which one suits your Spanish needs. But to help you choose the proper software, make sure that there are some proofs that is far from being too good to be true that explain the effectiveness of the software

The software that guarantees on how to learn Spanish fast and easy must offer you a not-so-serious method of learning. Besides, you will be able to do good if you enjoy what you are doing. Plus, things that show you how to learn Spanish fast and easy must contain a strategy that will help you to easily understand the lessons.

As you try to start looking for this software on how to learn Spanish fast and easy and fun, scrutinize the things that you think is necessary for you and worthy of your money.

How to Learn Spanish With Free Spanish Lessons

2008-11-02T10:49:00.005-08:00

By Peter Foremski

Trying to learn Spanish can be fun as well as also frustrating for some of us. The approach you take depends I think on your personal mindset. If you are open to the idea of learning Spanish and have a genuine interest in trying to learn then I'm sure you will find it an easier path to follow than someone who is convinced at the outset that it's too difficult to do.

Today, with so many different ways of learning Spanish available to the newcomer I'm sure there's one method or technique out there that will suit your own style of learning Spanish. Not everyone should immediately think that its like going back to school and studying textbooks and grammar.

Although grammar has its place in any language there's a time and place for everything. Learning can be done at home or as part of a group within the confines of a classroom, within somewhere like a language academy or as a group taught by a private tutor. Again, personal preferences prevail and I personally found studying Spanish at home requires a certain level of self discipline as it was all too easy to not do it and watch TV or go out.

If you go out to Spanish language classes which I have also done then you are mixing with like minded people which is often fun and supportive. The downside is that if there are students who are quicker at learning Spanish then you could be left behind as the class moves on to the next stage. Also if the classes are big then the teacher simply does not have enough time to devote to you as an individual. This could explain why many language students drop out of courses half way through as they simply give up.

But then the internet came along and seemed like an excellent medium in which to learn Spanish. This technology has given us websites galore which offer Spanish courses using a myriad of avenues like downloads to our mp3 players, conversation via internet chat and the list goes on. In an effort to entice new or interested learners of Spanish there are many sites that offer free Spanish lessons as a taster before you commit to any purchase.

It's an excellent way of trying it out and forming an opinion on whether the Spanish course will suit your learning style and in comparing prices, as some are not cheap. So go ahead and sign up for some of these free offers as you have nothing to lose except a bit of time and hopefully you will be on your way to speaking Spanish in no time.

Peter Foremski is an avid, long time on-and-of student of the Spanish language. Check his site for the best and latest Spanish courses with free trials http://www.learningspanishcourses.com

You Can Learn Spanish in Under Three Months - A Great Tool For Traveling!

2008-11-02T10:49:00.003-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

Spanish is one of the world's fastest growing languages and is a phenomenal tool to have up your sleeve. Problem is, can you learn Spanish fast? Today we look at how anyone can learn Spanish quickly and be speaking the language in under three months.

Here are some helpful hints to facilitate the process of learning Spanish. While you'll still need to have a good textbook, classroom instruction or online course, these steps can speed along the process of mastering the Spanish language.

Subtitles

Watch DVDs of English language movies with the Spanish subtitles turned on. Read along and you'll eventually start to learn Spanish words as you watch movies! This is a simple and fun way to build your Spanish vocabulary.

Kids' Books

Reading children's books is Spanish is another great way to learn the language. These can either be very simple books or ones which you are already familiar with in English - consider picking up a Spanish translation of a favored book; when you already know the book, figuring out the meaning of the Spanish words will be far easier.

Television and radio programs in Spanish are valuable tools for picking up the language as well. Telenovelas (similar to soap operas) are great ways to hear Spanish spoken clearly.

Comic Strips

Reading Spanish language comic strips (available both online and in newspapers) are a great way to learn the language - you'll get to see idiomatic Spanish you'd never learn from a textbook and the format makes them easy to follow.

3x5 Cards

You can use these cards to create your own flash cards. Carry some with you and when you find words or phrases you are unfamiliar with, write them down and learn the meanings later. You can then add these to your flash cards and have a great learning tool.

Remember High School?

A lot of us took some Spanish in high school or college or perhaps a related Romance language such as French or Italian. These provide you with a good basis to build on, since you'll have learned a bit about grammar and verb conjugation. If you know some Italian or French you will already have something of a handle on word order within sentences, but keep in mind that pronunciation will be significantly different.

Talk With Native Speakers

If you live in an area with a large Spanish speaking population (for instance, Texas, California, Florida or larger cities like Chicago and New York), you'll have an easy time meeting native speakers to practice your skills with. However, even if you don't have a lot of native speakers to converse with in your area, get in contact with a Spanish club or students from a Spanish class.

Practice Every Day

Daily practice will quickly help to build your Spanish language skills. The more you work on your skills, the quicker and easier you will master Spanish. Mix up your study routine to keep things interesting.

By using these tips, you'll make learning to speak Spanish much quicker and more fun. You should also choose a self-study or classroom Spanish course which has a proven track record and uses a variety of teaching techniques. Many people give up on learning a new language due to burning out on a dull routine. However, there are fun and interactive methods now available which can have you speaking Spanish quickly.

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study Spanish program online. It's a great way to learn Spanish fast on your own without having to rely on a tutor or expensive lessons!

Learn French in Under Three Months - The Secret to Learning French Quickly

2008-11-02T10:49:00.001-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

Learning French seems impossible to some people, but we're to break that myth. Learning French isn't hard - today we show you how to become fluent quickly and have fun at the same time.

No doubt learning French can be more difficult as an adult, when compared to a child or a high school student. This is largely because as you grow up your means of learning undergo a distinct change. If a grown up is learning a language he or she will learn it by comparing it to the language they already know. A child on the other hand, just takes in whatever he is taught and as and when he is taught.

As an adult you will want to know and understand the logic and reasoning behind each and every utterance. You would want to know why something is said the way it is said. And being in a traditional classroom language-learning mode might be frustrating to say the least. As we grow in age, our abilities to pick up a new language become weakened, than say compared to when we were in school.

But this does not mean that as an adult you can't learn the French language. The French language is fluid and exciting and you can pick it up easily, no matter how old you are. You just need to find a course which suits your specific needs and can be worked into your daily schedule. In recent years great and significant developments have been made in the area of language education.

All you need to do is to keep certain things in mind, which can make your French learning experience enjoyable and fun.

Practice, Practice, Practice!

Practice as much as you can: If you want to learn to speak French fluently, you need to practice it as often as possible. One thing you can do is put up notices in your work place or in your locality to find people who would be interested in practicing French with you. Or you can join Alliance Françoise. You can join classes with a friend, and you can practice both inside and outside class.

Listen!

One useful way to learn French is passively listening to it. Even though you might not be able to comprehend all that you listen to will still get familiar with pronunciation and usage of words. You can also listen to French music tapes while commuting from one place to another. To keep you occupied and entertained while also helping you learn.

Varying Your Practice

Work out a schedule for the whole week. Do different things everyday. With monotony, you might get bored quickly and loose interest in Learning French.

Do it everyday

If you are seeking to become fluent in French language you have to practice it everyday. You might or might not have the best method but you will learn quickly if you practice the daily.

Take help from the Internet

There is a possibility that you might not be able to find regular classes that can be fitted into your work schedule or something similar. But if you are still determined about learning the language you can use help of the Internet. There are a lot of good courses online that you can make use of. Look around, find something that suits your purpose and practice daily. You will see that you start speaking French, fluently, soon.

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study French program online. It`s a great way to learn French online on your own without having to pay for expensive lessons!

Learn and Master French the Fast Way - Five Tips to Jump-Start Your Learning!

2008-11-02T10:48:00.006-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

Learning French as an adult isn't the same as learning it as a child, or even taking high school French classes. That's because, over time, the way we learn tends to change a little. Most adults learn a language by comparing it to the language they already speak. This is in contrast to the "sponge" method that children use - they just soak up a language.

Older learners who are taking French for the first time want to know why things are said the way they are, and may be frustrated by the experience in many conventional language programs. After all, we all want to learn quickly and easily. Our language abilities slow down a little as we age, so you might find it harder to pick up a language now than you did when you were in school.

Don't be discouraged - it's entirely possible to learn the French language as an adult. No matter how old you are, from eighteen to eighty, you can pick up this exciting language. The key is to find a reliable course that lets you learn the language at your leisure. It's impressive to see the improvements that have been made in language education.

A few tips will help you pick it up more easily. Here are some basics to help you learn French as efficiently as possible, and to make it an enjoyable experience.

Practice Makes Perfect

We've all heard it before, but it's a lot harder to actually get around to practicing our French as often as we should. Using the French we've learned is the best way to keep it fresh in our minds. Consider putting up notices to find people interested in speaking the language with you, or join the Alliance Francaise. Find neighbors and others in your community who speak French. Of course, if you get a chance to go to France, that's the perfect place to practice!

Passive Listening

You can absorb French by listening to it, even if you don't understand everything that's said. During your commute, listen to French music or even books on tape. You can also do this while you're doing chores or getting your exercise. Soon, you'll start to understand and recognize words.

Vary Your Practice

If you do the same thing every day, you'll get bored quickly. Instead, try different things on different days. That can help you learn French more quickly and easily.

Don't Skip A Day

Daily practice of any language makes it stick in your memory more effectively. That's as true for French as it is for any other language. Use some of the many practice techniques out there. It's more important to practice daily than it is to have the best method.

Try Online Programs

If you aren't able to take French classes locally, or don't like their methods, there are a number of excellent online courses that provide good study programs and will help you learn French quickly. Investigate them to improve your French - soon you'll speak it fluently!

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study French program online. It`s a great way to learn to speak French on your own without having to pay for any expensive lessons!

How Can I Learn Spanish Quickly? The Easy Way to Speak Spanish Fast!

2008-11-02T10:48:00.005-08:00

By Lynn Halladay

If you're looking for a few simple ways to make learning Spanish a lot easier, these tips will help you. Of course, you'll need to have a good Spanish class, text, or online learning program to make full use of them. However, they can do a lot to speed up your ability to master the Spanish language.

Subtitles

Watch English-language movies with the Spanish subtitles on. You'll slowly absorb the Spanish words and their meaning while watching your favorite films! This is an inexpensive and fun multi-media technique.

Kids' Books

Favorite kids' books in other languages are also a great choice. These don't have to be simple, either. If you love Harry Potter, consider picking up a Spanish translation. You already know the story, and puzzling out the words is a lot easier.

Spanish and Latin American television and radio shows can be invaluable, too. One of the best choices is the type of show referred to as a novela - these are like American soap operas, and allow you to hear the language spoken with clarity and good diction.

Comic Strips

Spanish language comic strips online and in newspapers make a great source, too. They expose you to idioms you might not see in a textbook, and they're relatively easy to understand.

3x5 Cards

These are flash cards, but not the usual pre-packaged type. Instead, carry these cards and write down new words that you encounter throughout the day. Find out what they mean and add them to your existing flash cards or other learning methods. This is also great for phrases you run into frequently.

Remember High School?

Many of us took a little high school or college Spanish or a related foreign language. They are a good base to build on, since you've already been exposed to the idea of conjugation and grammar. Those who have already learned French or Italian will have a head start on word order, but might have a little more trouble when it comes to pronunciation.

Talk With Native Speakers

People living in areas like Texas, California and Florida will have the best options when it comes to finding people who speak Spanish natively. However, there's a good chance you can find someone to talk to no matter where you live. If you can't find anyone who speaks the language as their first tongue, see if you can practice with students from a local college or a local Spanish club.

Practice Every Day

Practice makes perfect, but it's far more effective if you practice daily. The more often you work on your Spanish, the better chance you have of learning it quickly and easily. You don't have to get stuck in the same daily "learning" routine either - mix it up to keep it interesting!

These tips will give you a great headstart in speaking Spanish quickly. Be sure that you choose a self-study Spanish course that uses a wide variety of teaching methods and that has a proven track record. The biggest reason people give up on learning a language is because the learning material they use is dry, routine and uses dated teaching methods. Nowadays there are some incredible courses that use techniques that are fun, interactive and proven to help you learn the language much faster than traditional methods.

Best of luck and if you have any questions let me know!

Click Here to learn how to start a free trial of the top-ranked self-study Spanish program online. It`s a great way to learn to speak Spanish on your own without having to pay for any expensive lessons!

Understanding the Concept of Indirect Questions

2008-11-02T10:48:00.003-08:00

By Jessica Spinner

There are several ways of asking a question in English and this sometimes poses a problem for those learning English as a second language. You can ask a direct question, such as that do you want? which is easy enough to understand. Indirect questions, on the other hand, use other words to ask the question and may even seem like two questions in one. The reason that some people have difficulty with this concept is that the word order in the sentence is the same as if you were making an affirmative statement. Some examples of such questions are:

- Can you tell me how to do this?

- I wonder what she is doing.

The direct questions for both of these would be:

- How do I do this?

- What is she doing?

There are rules for making questions indirect according to the verb you use. If you are using the verbs do, did or does, you leave out these words in the indirect question. In this way the direct question then do you arrive becomes an you tell when you arrive? If you use a form of the verb to do in asking the question you would not be using correct English grammar in some cases. If you ask a question about when the flight is supposed to arrive for example, you would not say a ould you tell me when the flight does arrive? Instead you would say a an you tell me when the flight arrives?

In questions that require a yes or no answer, you use the words for there in asking the question indirectly. For example if you want to ask someone if they have seen your dog, you would ask a could you tell me if you have seen a small black dog?

When you take an online course to help you learn English this concept is fully covered in the course. However, it is not something that you have to be concerned about early in the course as it is part of the more advanced upper intermediate course. By this time you will have a good command of the English language making it easier for you to grasp the instructional part of the lesson.

Basically, this way of asking a question is very formal and polite. It begins with a polite expression and the subject and verb are not inverted as they are in a direct question. You will learn that some of these questions are not questions as such and are more like statements.

When you feel that you do understand the instruction, you can move on to the grammar exercises and finally the quiz on this lesson. If you make mistakes, you can review the instruction and redo the exercises and quiz until you are sure you have a complete grasp of this manner of asking questions in English. You can then listen to many different passages to find examples of how the speaker uses this form of questioning and look for them in the material that you read in English.

For more information on indirect questions,preposition of place and other aspects of English grammar visit http://www.1-Language.com the best place to learn English online.

Prepositions of Place Are an Easy Concept in English

2008-11-02T10:48:00.001-08:00

By Jessica Spinner

Learning how to use and determine prepositions of place in a sentence is one of the starting lessons in taking English courses online. The dialogues used to introduce the lesson all consist of short conversations in which you also learn how to ask for and give directions in English. At the end of the dialogue, you will also see a list of key English vocabulary that you will learn in this lesson. As you listen to the introductory dialogue, you can also read the words on the computer screen so that you understand what the speaker is saying.

In this beginning lesson, you will receive a basic introduction to the use of prepositions in the English language. The most commonly used prepositions to denote place are:

- on

- in

- under

- next to

- in front of

- at

- beside

-between

These words show where something is in relation to another object or person. When you learn this concept in an online course there are also pictures to show you the meaning of the words, such as the word under placed beneath an object.

The instruction then focuses on specific place prepositions so that you know when you should use each one. In for example, is always used to show that a person or object is enclosed within something, such as the desks are in the classroom. It can also be used to denote geographical locations, such as saying that you live in a particular city or that a city is in a certain country.

In always refers to the surface. If you say the book is on the table this means that the book is laid on the surface of the table. It on the other hand refers to a particular point or place, such as it a meeting? These two prepositions often cause the most problems for students of English as a second language because they are so similar in meaning, yet they are used differently in sentences.

The exercises you complete as part of this lesson involve choosing the correct preposition to complete a sentence. They focus on the words mainly because these are the tricky ones. Once you understand what the prepositions mean you can easily use them in sentences and understand their meaning when you hear or read them.

Another part of the grammar exercises involves sentences in which the words are not placed in the correct order. You are required to write the sentences in the proper order and to insert the capital letters and punctuation where they are needed. This type of exercise will not only give you practice in using place prepositions, but will review what you have learned in earlier lessons. This is also a way for you to have fun while you are learning English. When you feel comfortable that you do understand the concept, you can take the quiz on the lesson to see how well you do. Don't get disappointed if you make a mistake because making mistakes is an important part of learning.

For more information on prepositions of place as well as an extensive audio English course, visit http://www.1-Language.com the best place to learn English online.

Learning English Online is Free and Enjoyable

2008-11-02T10:47:00.006-08:00

By Jessica Spinner

With the convenience and the technology of the Internet, when you want to learn to speak, read and write English you no longer have to take regular classes or travel to an English speaking country to do so. You can stay at home and take English online and study at you own pace without paying the costly tuition and other expenses that would otherwise be involved. The courses are designed to be very comprehensive and include listening passages, reading materials and games in addition to instruction, grammar exercises and quizzes.

The beginning course consists of lessons on:

- subject pronouns

- asking questions

- using the negative in sentences

- contractions

- prepositions of place

- nouns

- articles

- pronouns

- singular and plural

As you take this course, you will also have access to an instructor if you need any help other than that provided in the lessons. You are able to communicate with others taking the same course and these may be people in another country, which gives you a chance to make new friends online. In this way you are able to communicate in English to enhance your learning. You also have a study buddy with whom you can learn from and with each other.

The main focus on learning English is to learn the spelling rules, which include where and when to use capital letters, the different forms of punctuation and how to add suffixes and prefixes. The use of double consonants in English is different than in other languages because there are no double letters in the English language alphabet. You will learn which letters must be doubled when you add endings onto words. such as added ing to hit? hitting.

The next sections on the online English course will take you further into your learning with easy introductory lessons to a wide variety of concepts. Each of these lessons starts with a dialogue based on the concept that you can listen to and read along with the printed version of the dialogue. The lesson also contains key vocabulary words that will increase your level of English vocabulary.

For students English as a second language, when they first start the course they find it slow going because they have to try to translate the English words into their native language. For this reason, they have access to a dictionary in which they can look up English words and find what that word is in just about any language, including Chinese and Korean.

There is also an audio course offered online in which you listen to short passages at first and answer comprehension questions to make sure you understand what the passage is about. These start off with very simple topics and gradually increase in length and the complexity of the topic.

In order to attend college or university in English speaking countries or to immigrate to take a job, you do have to show that you are proficient in the language by taking a test in the basic skills required in speaking, reading, writing and listening. This type of course will prepare you to take this test and give you study tips as well as tips to help you write the required essay.

If you are interested in learning English online you should visit http://www.1-Language.com - This will teach you everything from prepositions of place to indirect questions and more.

Traveling in Your Host Country For ESL Teachers

2008-11-02T10:47:00.005-08:00

By George Bellas

Teaching ESL overseas is a challenge. One of the first challenges with teaching abroad is transportation in your host country. Apart from the United States and Canada most countries use public transportation or mass transit to move their population around. If you have a chance to go to New York or Chicago then use those cities' to practice in before you go. Chicago has the elevated trains for commuters as well as regular trains and buses. New York has the subway and share taxis. Theses share taxis usually follow a route and hold from six to twenty people depending on how many they can shove in.

In the Philippines they are called Jeepnease. In Turkey they are called Dolmush. They will usually take you on routes off of the standard transportation routes that buses follow but not always. Many young people will recognize you as a foreigner and want to practice their English conversation skill with you. Some of them learn English online for free and need a native speaker to practice their conversation skills. They will often be very helpful if you need it.

Buses are a common mode of transportation for between cities. Most countries buses are fantastic. Some even have stewards to serve tea and snacks during the journey. The bathroom facilities on public transportation can be pretty bad so go be for you go. Also, always have the necessary hygiene products and anti-diarrhea medicine with you at all times. Door knobs, handles and other peoples' hands are a leading way that you will get sick so wash them, wash them and wash them again after traveling. Bus lines will often give you the option of buying a one way or round trip ticket. Always buy the round trip ticket. You may want to take a detour on your trip but at least you have a way home. If buses seats are not sold many times that run will be cancelled potentially leaving you stranded.

Taxis are last on the list because of expense and the isolation that they create between you and the local culture. First they are expensive on an ESL teacher's salary. Even if they are affordable, it is very easy to get taken by a driver fwho didn't turn on the meter or took you for a joy ride and wants full fair. This can break your budget in one bad cab ride. However, keep enough money in your pocket to jump in one during a blizzard or other emergency. The second and more important reason to avoid taxis is that it isolates you from the local culture. The other teachers and the students will be on public transportation. Many good relationships were born and new things learned by talking in the line at the station or bus stop. It also shows them that you are not better than they are but one of them.

The only mode of transportation that you don't want to buy local are your footwear. Have at least two pairs of shoes that have good support that you can stand in all day while you teach and then walk five miles in. You will be happier and healthier for them. Learning to use and ride the local transportation is in your best financial and social interest.

Learning English online

Free English course

Common Mistakes in Learning a Preposition of Place

2008-11-02T10:47:00.003-08:00

By Charles Johnson

Prepositions are part of the grammar of every language. In English some of these are used to denote the placement of people and objects. In this case, this is called a preposition of place. Even native English speakers have difficulty with this concept on times, so it should not come as a surprise for students of English as a second language when they have problems depending on their mother tongue. This is due to the fact that there are not many rules for using prepositions in English sentences.

There are rules, however for using some of the prepositions of place, especially the prepositions and The word refers to an object or person being inside something, such as a room. In this sentence, sleep in a bedroom the preposition shows that the person sleeps inside a room. If you want to say that there is an object inside a box, you also use the preposition so that a sample sentence could be he gift is in the box.

Refers to the surface of an object and is outside the object. In the sentence the plate is on the table? the preposition you that the plate is laid on the table. It is sometimes problematic for English language learners because it denotes a place in general, such as it a meeting it the airport or it school Sometimes it means that same thing if you substitute in for it in examples.

It is very helpful to use pictures when teaching or learning the concept of prepositions that denote place. When students can see the word printed in the proper location or a sentence in which the object is in the proper place in the picture, it is easier to tell the difference between how the words should be used in speaking and writing. Most online English courses do have pictures along with instruction in this concept to make it easier for students to understand.

The common prepositions used to denote place in English in addition to in it and in are:

- under

- between

- beside

- behind

- in front of

- next to.

When students can see how these words are used by the pictures they see, they will associate the words with the pictures and internalize these prepositions into their vocabulary.

Exercises on the use of these prepositions should include questions in which the students fill in the correct word to make a grammatically correct sentence as well as looking at a picture and filling in the correct preposition for each place. In the early stages of learning, it is helpful to provide students with a list of such prepositions to choose from and later they can fill in the correct words based on what they have learned without the use of the word list.

The online courses in English also offer students the opportunity to receive immediate feedback when they complete the various exercises and quizzes so that they can go back to review the instruction and take the exercises and quizzes as often as they wish until they answer all the questions correctly.

For more information on prepositions of place, indirect questions and other aspects of English grammar visit http://www.1-Language.com the best site to learn English online.

English Lesson Plans With Color Pictures

2008-11-02T10:47:00.001-08:00

By Alexander Golishev

There has been an ongoing debate among ESL/EFL teachers whether color pictures and other visual aids can help learners of English improve vocabulary acquisition. As an ESL teacher, I have always been positively sure that color pictures and flashcards are the best way to introduce new vocabulary. Of course the quality of such pictures is very important. They should look fun and entertaining while also being highly education in nature. To my delight, I have recently found a study which proved my guess.

The Institute of Foreign Language Research has conducted a comprehensive survey in order to find out whether there was any improvement in levels of vocabulary acquisition with ESL students who were offered visual aids. The research was conducted in the USA, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, China, Russia, and Japan. In each of these countries the researchers divided students in two major groups. With the first group, they used visual aids such as color pictures and flashcards to introduce new vocabulary. While with the second group, they only used conventional vocabulary learning methods and techniques, such as translation and definition.

According to this survey, the students from the first group had a 30% higher level of vocabulary acquisition than their peers from the second group. A feedback from the students has also been collected in the form of individual interviews in which students had to answer the question: Do you believe color pictures can help you learn new words better and faster. 70 % of the students said they loved working with pictures and other visual aids and were having most fun in classes where pictures, flashcards and over visual materials were used.

Leaning vocabulary through visual aids has much to do with learns' psychology and psycholinguistics in general. A lot of prominent scientists believe our consciousness is not language-based, but rather image-based. That is we don't think in words and sentences, we think in images. So it seems a natural approach to learn new words through images. This is the shortest way to the students' memory because there is not wasting time on translation. Upon hearing a new word, students are able to see 'that thing' rather than relate it to a specific word in their own language.

Thus a lot of ESL teachers, and I among them, recommend using color pictures with any level EFL students.

Recession - The Best Time to Learn a Language

2008-11-01T11:20:00.005-07:00

By Kenneth Leong

Recently I wrote that Britons are missing out on jobs at home and abroad because of their inability to speak languages other than English. Leonard Orban, the EU commissioner for multilingualism, says that small- to medium-sized companies in the UK are increasingly turning to foreign nationals to fill jobs that call for more than one language. In previous articles, I've explored the reasons why people need to learn a second language.

In recessionary times, it's even more important to keep improving and to consider learning a second language. Now is the time to be upskilling to future proof yourself. The ability to speak a second language puts your business or your job prospects one step ahead of the competition. You are also demonstrating to future employers that you have what it takes to stick to something. Employers realise that people who embark on language learning have some key characteristics that are highly valued in such times: commitment and dedication being some key ones.

The reasons people give for not learning a language include lack of time, the cost involved and the difficulty of the subject area. Part of what makes knowing a language a great skill to have is simply because it's not that easy for someone to acquire fluency. If it was, it would quickly lose it's value and won't be treasured as much.

Let's think about it this way. What if you manage to land a big business deal in Asia or Europe, or secure a great job, because you speak a second language? What if you get yourself out of a sticky situation in a foreign country because you speak the local language? What if you find the love of your life as a result of your language learning journey? I've certainly seen these things happen.

The economy may be going through recessionary times, but your personal life shouldn't. This is the time to be preparing yourself for the next boom.

The Elegance of the Japanese Alphabet

2008-11-01T11:20:00.003-07:00

By John Hubert

The Japanese Alphabet is an elegant system of writing that consists of two main scripts known as the Hiragana and Katakana alphabets.

It's these two writing scripts that comprise the some 100 kana characters that are used to write and pronounce every sound in the Japanese language. Learning the alphabet has always been a difficult task for new students, as the characters often bare little if any resemblance to one another.

One of the best strategies that people use to learn the kana is to associated mnemonics with each of the hiragana and katakana Japanese alphabet characters. An example would be examining the character 'tsu' and associating it with a tsunami wave. The character resembles a wave that is curved. Since anyone can associate a tsunami with a wave, all we need to take is the 'tsu' sound, and think of 'tsunami'.

Through a mnemonic technique such as this we're able to memorise a character that we perhaps normally wouldn't be able to. We can do this for a number of other characters, however it's often the 'tsu' character that poses many problems for new students of the Japanese alphabet.

As ones studies of the Japanese language progress, the other writing system or alphabet known as the kanji is learnt. This system of writing is quite complex as it consists of many thousands of characters, and thus a mastery of it would involve a mastery of Japanese itself. New students however will find the kanji to be quite daunting, and so the kana is the preferred system of writing, as it is used by the Japanese each and every day, and is also easier to learn than the kanji.

The kana is divided into both the hiragana and katakana alphabets. The hiragana is used by Japanese for native words whilst the katakana is more frequently used for foreign words and foreign names. A native Japanese person will typically write their name in the hiragana alphabet, whilst a foreigner will usually write their name in katakana.

There are a number of changes that can take place with the Japanese alphabet characters, such as the dakuten and handakuten. These modifications typically result in different sounds and meanings of characters. One thing is for certain is that learning the kana becomes easier the more you associate mnemonics with each character. In time, learning both the alphabets will become an easy task that you can easily fulfill.

John Hubert maintains a site on the Japanese Alphabet which also teaches ways of memorizing similar hiragana and katakana characters.

Learning English

2008-11-01T11:20:00.001-07:00

By Dr Birbal Jha

Very recently I had an interaction with a correspondent of a national newspaper, who had come to British Lingua for enrolling his wife in the institute. Before the admission formalities he wanted to know whether the methodology of teaching English followed here was the one he cherished in his mind. He put a volley of questions to the counsellor. His main concern was whether English was taught here through the Direct Method. He wanted a method where the learner is directly exposed to an English speaking environment, and one where grammar, etc is taught. He wanted that his wife should get an opportunity to hear people speak only English. That, he thought, was the best, nay, the only way one could learn good spoken English.

So far so good. True, very true; the best method to learn a language is the direct one. But then I suggested that in that case he would better send his wife to an English-speaking country, preferably England itself. Alternatively, such an English-speaking environment should be created at home where she lives.

But is it possible for each Indian learner to go to England to learn English? He, then, admitted the fact that he would not be able to send his wife there. Also, it was neither possible to create a complete English environment at his home for this purpose.

I have my personal experience and feelings that we need an exposure to an English environment when we want to speak that language. But in trying to to learn a language you need to understand the methodology of learning a second language or L-2.

As a matter of fact, many of the adult learners feel bored and inconvenienced when directly put into the direct method. Although it is okay for the children. The adults get discouraged and retreat from such experience. Finally they drop the very idea of learning the language.

What the adults need is an easy-going situation. Once they learn the basics they are quick enough to pick up the words and speak the language. Even personally, I have been quite opposed to teaching the rules of grammar in a textbookish fashion. The learners should not be made to parrot the definitions of grammatical terms which are of no use in communication. But, of course, you need to learn the basic rules of the grammar of a language you wish to learn and use. For example, you take the word 'watch'. It is okay to explain that watch can be used both as a noun and as a verb. For example, we can say - He is watching television, or, He has a wrist watch, or, He keeps a watch on everything happening around him. The actual usage gives you an idea how grammar functions here. In fact, once you have understood how a noun or a verb functions, you may easily understand how a noun or a verb behaves. Hence, the best way to teach a learner is how the sentences are framed, or how the sounds are produced and so on.

Moreover, every language has its own idioms and collocations. Take an example, - we can say, I have a bath daily, I take a bath daily, but never, I do a bath daily. The noun 'bath' collocates with the verbs 'have' or 'take' but not with 'do' or 'make'. This should be explained to the learners so that they may speak the language in tune with the native idiom of the language.

We need to understand the basics of language learning process and its niceties, subtleties and intricacies. We must not be impractical in our approach. Many of the Indians have proved that their English is better than those of many of the native speakers. Hence, you too can learn good English provided you follow practical methods of learning.

Birbal Jha, born at Sijaul in Madhubani, Bihar, 1972; Ph D, M A, M Com, PGD in journalism, Patna University; Founder, British Lingua, the leading language training institute of India; Editor, Lingua Bulletin, a widely circulated English language teaching monthly published from Delhi; Author, a host of books on the English language as well as subjects of general interest; quoted in the New York Times and the People's Chronology Encyclopaedia.

Spanish Language Roots - Tracing Spanish Back to Roman Times

2008-11-01T11:19:00.000-07:00

By Anthony Hendriks

Spanish language roots can be traced back to Roman times. Spanish is the fourth largest spoken language in the world. It is becoming increasingly important in the United States as the Latin communities grow there. Learning Spanish has become very important for American companies looking to market to the Spanish community.

Spanish is a very old language that can be traced back to Roman times. Latin was the spoken and written language of the Roman Empire. The empire was very large however and covered most of the known world. During the 3rd century, the Roman Empire was invaded by the Visigoths. These barbarians came from the area we now know as Germany.

There was an attempt to translate the Visigoth language into Latin. Slowly, Vulgar Latin, a mix of Latin and Visigoth, grew out of the Visigoth area of the Roman Empire. Vulgar Latin is the mother of all the Romance Languages that we know today. These include:

• Spanish

• Portuguese

• French

• Italian

• Romanian

During the 4th to 7th centuries the Visigoths invaded and occupied what we know now as Spain. This is where Vulgar Latin was truly born. Modern Spanish can be dated back to the conquest of Moorish Spain by Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon. Spanish is spoken today by more than 332 million people around the world. Spanish was spread throughout the world as Spain explored and conquered distant lands with naval exploration. Mexico and the America's are some examples of this exploration and the simulation of the Spanish language.

Software packages you can run on your computer can make learning Spanish easy. Learning Spanish can be fun and is very important for anyone who is in sales or the customer service industry. Spanish speaking people now make up a huge part of the world economy. Now is the time to learn Spanish and it has never been easier.

If you would like to review some of the best Spanish learning software packages available to learn Spanish, visit http://www.yourlanguagelearn.com You will also find some interesting language trivia and learning tips and resources on the site. See you there!

When Your ESL Students Don't Approve of Halloween

2008-10-31T12:53:00.003-07:00

By Jane Wangersky

Halloween is a new and confusing holiday for most ESL learners - and for some, it's also controversial.

A few years ago, as I was teaching a class of adults about Halloween, one student said that he and his wife and children wanted no part of the holiday, because their church taught that it was (in his words) "devil day".

Many people, including ESL students, sincerely feel that their beliefs won't let them celebrate Halloween - and will tell you so. What does an ESL teacher do when confronted with a statement like this? Argue that Halloween is harmless fun? Drop the subject and switch to irregular verbs for the rest of the class?

We don't have to do either. I think we all know better than to get into what would end up as a religious argument with students. Avoiding the subject isn't the way to go, either. Halloween is a reality of North American life that touches people whether they like it or not.

That's the best place to begin. Tell the students they need to know what to expect on the night of October 31st - trick-or-treating, firecrackers, pumpkins and all. Next, get into why these things happen: the pagan and Christian roots of the celebration. Explain the ancient Celtic new year and the All Saints' Day custom of beggars asking for food in exchange for their prayers. Explain, also, that Halloween celebrations began in Britain died out there, but lived on in the U.S. and Canada (as one of my TESL instructors said, it's the colonies that preserve the old traditions). In other words, give the class information rather than advocacy for either side. Even students who don't celebrate Halloween may find its background interesting.

You'll probably want to avoid Halloween crafts, or anything else that would make the class feel as if they were involved in getting ready for the holiday - or have an alternate activity ready. Halloween activities could also be optional take-home work.

Handle this potential controversy with respect for all involved, and you'll be demonstrating a little bit of what makes our society great.

Jane Wangersky is an ESL teacher and author. To get a reading for your ESL class right now, visit her site, The ESL Dollar Store.

Here's 4 Criteria to Become a Professional Translator

2008-10-31T12:53:00.001-07:00

By Cheow Yu Yuan

Due to globalization, more businesses are expanding into overseas markets. Some markets such as China and Thailand are non-English speaking countries. Therefore, the need for professional translation service is at the highest demand than ever. These businesses will need to translate their professional business documents such as business and marketing plans to the native language. And as a professional translator, you can definitely make money from them.

If you wish to be a translator, you need to know foreign languages well. Other than knowing various foreign languages, you still need to possess the skill to make the right analysis of the meaning of the target language. Therefore, someone who only knows many foreign languages may not be a good translator. Additionally, it will be good if you are a native speaker of the target language as you will tend to understand more about the dialect and culture of the way they speak.

If your dream is to become a professional translator, this article can help you in your quest. Let me share with you 4 criteria that you need to fulfil first before you can become a professional translator:

1. Must know how to read and speak different languages. Knowing how to read and speak different languages is a must if you want to become a translator. If you cannot read foreign languages, there is no way you will be able to translate one language to another accurately. To pick up other languages, you can start attending language classes or reading useful sources such as bilingual dictionaries.

2. Must know how to write well. In order to be a translator, you need to write well. Copywriting skill is something that you cannot afford not to have. When it comes to copywriting, there are different styles of writing based on the type of language that you are writing for. Also, do take note on the punctuation and paragraphing. Proper punctuation and paragraphing will increase the readability and value of the translated materials.

3. Be a good listener. When you are listening to what your client is saying, you need to grasp key notes and specific vocabulary in order to translate a speech accurately. With regular exercises, this skill can be developed over time.

4. Get yourself bilingual dictionaries and utilize them. A bilingual dictionary is a great resource for you to master foreign languages. Do not just leave them on your book shelf. Utilise them and take action. Take note and practise speaking. With more practice, the better you will become.

These are the 4 criteria you must have in order to become a professional translator. Do remember that a good translator is not born overnight. A translator is good because of the amount of hard work and due diligence he or she has put in.

For language translation service, visit WhizWordz now:

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Why Spanish Audio Books?

2008-10-30T12:35:00.003-07:00

By Richard Coppin

Spanish audio books are fast gaining popularity. There is little doubt that Spanish is a wonderful language with a long history with rich culture and tradition. The mere mention of this language evokes thoughts of splendor and class.

The producers of these books took advantage of this fact to bring more of these Spanish audio book titles into the market today.

The Spanish-speaking and reading market is a huge one that is full of potential for growth. Since audio books is a fast growing market today, more titles are being produced and made available. Not only are these titles available in abundance, they usually are produced with good quality.

These Spanish audio books are sometimes recorded with accompanying background music or other sound-effects. These music and effects increase the overall enjoyment of the audio books . Some have termed it as a "Journey through the books" due to the excitement derived from those books.

Spanish audio books not only cater to those that already know the language well. It also proves to be useful for those learning the language. These Spanish audio books are usually recorded in clear, concise voices. The pronunciation is precise as they usually use native Spanish speakers to 'read' these books. This can prove to be a big help for language learners to learn even quicker.

Spanish audio books can prove to be an effective teaching tool for parents or teachers of young children.

Young children are usually very sensitive and emotional. Their attention span is also very short, always losing focus on a subject. Parents often find themselves unable to make their children read because of this. Spanish audio books can help children as these audio books are recorded in an interesting manner. With the music and sound-effects, children tend to enjoy 'reading' these books even more. It can also help to control children's tempers and anxiety.

The best thing about this is parents and/or teachers often find themselves not having to do anything, other than to assist the younger children to play the audio books. These children often find themselves lost in the soothing and exciting voices and spend hours and hours listening to these audio books, anticipating page after page.

It isn't hard to see why these Spanish audio books are so popular today. All the factors mentioned above illustrate that. With a majority of the consumer market having less time for conventional reading, will books become obsolete in the near future? It is a freaky thought but one that is not without basis for concern.

My name is Richard Coppin and I am a webmaster who enjoys writing on a varied number of topics - Why not take a look at our sites. Spanish audio books and European skiing holidays

How Spanish Audio Books Benefit Students

2008-10-30T12:35:00.001-07:00

By Richard Coppin

There are so many audio book titles available out there in the market today, produced by many different companies in many different forms (mp3, wma etc). In fact, audio books have generally been used in schools by teachers of second-language schools, struggling students with reading difficulties or visually-impaired students. How do these Spanish audio books help students?

Audio books, and Spanish audio books specifically, can benefit children and young people. Parents who find themselves too busy to be able to assist their children personally can get one of these audio books for them.

These books can come in the form of great gifts as they generally are products of exceptional quality these days.

Children and young people can listen to these books and learn anywhere in a fun manner. No more will children need to learn Spanish through conventional classes. Children and young people today often find themselves losing interest as there are just so many distraction out there. With these Spanish audio books however, learning can be done while relaxing. They can listen to it while commuting from the bus to home, while relaxing on their favorite chair or even play it on the laptop while surfing the net.

While generally the interest and acceptance levels are high, my enthusiasm for Spanish audio books in general have been met with some objections from different quarters on several occasions. I have been asked if these audio books can be considered as books and if listening to these Spanish books are to be considered as reading? Some even claimed it as cheating and do not consider them as reading!

Before I can answer that question, just what exactly is the definition of reading? If it is to gain knowledge amicably, and if reading is to understand the content story or theme then I would have to say that audio books succeed 100%.

Let's just assume that Spanish is the mother-tongue of the students we are going to discuss. They might know the basic language and can read to a certain degree. These Spanish books can assist students to learn beyond their reading ability. Not only that, it can actually help students to pronounce the words properly and it can help one to improve on their vocabulary. Most of these Spanish audio books are recorded by native-speakers with soothing, professional voices and sounds. This motivate students to a better learning experience overall.

There are many other ways students benefit from audio books in general and Spanish audio books specifically. I have not even warmed up but I will save it for some other time.

My name is Richard Coppin and I am a webmasterwho enjoys writing on a varied number of topics - Why not take a look at our sites. Spanish audio books and European Skiing Holidays.

The Difficulty of Teaching Yourself Chinese

2008-10-30T12:34:00.006-07:00

By Praveen Sequira

Sure, the spirit may be willing, but the reality involved in teaching yourself Chinese is a little more complicated. The Chinese language is one that is produced by a variety of tones and sounds that are very unfamiliar to American speech patterns. The desire to speak Chinese, or to learn the Chinese language and writing style is an admirable endeavor for many. However, anyone wanting to learn how to speak Chinese Mandarin should be prepared to purchase a wide variety of books, CD-ROMs, and other formats that may help you along the way.

Of course, there are a wealth of basic courses on beginner's Chinese, and let's not forget a massive number of Chinese phrases and Chinese language dictionaries. The problem with these is that many of the books fail to produce a format that is user-friendly enough and inexpensive enough to be of adequate value.

Every book on how to learn Chinese offers its own method for doing so. Authors explain terms like high, middle high, middle, middle low, and low tones. They offer warnings that tone can drastically alter the meaning of a word. For example, one comment Chinese word can mean mother, hemp, scold, or horse, depending on the tone that is used. Thereafter, the race is on to understand what all this means, and how to apply it to a self-taught study of the language.

Chinese language lessons often contain a word that describes the pinyin system, which is a term used to describe the romanticized (translated 'readable') Chinese language to facilitate English-speaking people who wish to learn Chinese. Unfortunately, many different Chinese language-learning books offer their own spelling versions of many common words.

Beyond that, many CD-ROMs and audio materials that help facilitate self-teaching the Chinese language utilize native Chinese speakers who speak too fast or in over-long sentences that are almost impossible to wrap the tongue around. Many books and audios proclaim ease-of-use, steady pace, and confidence building language exercises; however the reality that is found between the pages is more than a little intimidating.

Many people who have spent hundreds of dollars on multiple Chinese language learning materials often wish they could utilize the services and expertise of a private tutor to help them grasp the many nuances and rules involved in speaking Chinese. Many people think that private language tutors are way beyond their budgets. In addition, some wishing to learn to speak Chinese live in rural areas, where Chinese language tutors are not to be found.

Searching online resources is one way to get around this, but finding an excellent online learning environment for learning to speak Chinese Mandarin dialects is also a little more difficult than one would think. The ideal way to learn any language is to be able to communicate with someone who speaks that language. Mando Mandarin is an online, one-on-one tutoring program that helps students learn Chinese from native Chinese language speakers.

Finally, that box of books can be put away, along with the audiotapes and CD-ROMs, after a brief experience with the experienced experts and teachers that are found on the Mando Mandarin website. Live lessons offer the best one-on-one language learning method than many other methods out there today.

If you want to learn how to speak Chinese the right way, and to be understood after all your effort and practice, do yourself a favor and click on to http://www.mandomandarin.com for more information.

Recession-Proof Your Lifestyle by Learning a Second Language

2008-10-30T12:34:00.005-07:00

By Neil Breakwell

There is no doubt that the global economy has taken a downturn of the like that has not been seen for many years, with entire countries on the verge of economic collapse and even the strongest countries heading inexorably into recession. These times are the most uncertain for business and employment alike as trade and jobs hang in the balance. Companies will go under, small businesses will go bankrupt and many people will lose their jobs--this is often unavoidable and is a sour outcome of the economic crash. There are, however, ways in which individuals and businesses can give themselves an added boost against the competition to ensure their business, or their job, is less likely to be found on the executioners block. One of these ways, which is available to everyone, is to learn a foreign language. It doesn't matter how rich, smart or busy you are, everybody can learn a foreign language, and doing so gives your business and employment prospects a boost like you wouldn't believe.

Today's world is a global environment, no country or economy is an island--If nothing else, the current economic crisis has shown us how true this is: If one country falls, they all fall. This is partly due to the fact that the majority of economy today is created through trade and a large portion of that trade is international: Venezuela sells oil to America, America exports goods to Russia, and China sells everything to everyone. International trade is the way of business today and most certainly the way of business in the future, and yet many companies continue to trade in solely domestic circles. If you are a business owner, there is one way to make your economic trade with foreign countries a reality and cement relationships with your foreign counterparts: Learn their language. Maybe they can speak English already so you feel there is no need to learn a new language, but what if your company is one choice of a possible 5 similar companies all vying for the same contract? What could tip their favour in your direction? I bet taking the time and effort to learn their language would do it. Apart from making communications infinitely easier between you and all of their staff, it would show your prospective clients your intentions for the deal. They could see that you put time and effort into learning their language so they would know you would put time and effort into the partnership. Your business could only improve from doing such a simple thing as learning a new language.

What about if you are an employee? You must be thinking, how can learning a language help me? Well I am glad you at least asked, because it can...immensely. If you have been following the above, i hope you can see the importance of business owners learning the language of their clients. This does not, however, stop with the business owners, especially in big companies. Very few of the CEOs of big companies do the day to day dealings with everyday clients--they have managers and sales teams to deal with that. Becoming an international sales executive usually depends on one thing: What languages can you speak? If you speak the same language as a client of the company, you are more likely to be moved to international sales and more likely to be promoted. If a company has international clients it will be searching for employees who can speak the native language of their clients to keep the business strong and secure against economical difficulty. If you are bilingual, you will be among the last names to be placed on any forced retirement list, you will be in demand for many years to come. Most native English speaking countries are notoriously bad at learning second languages, so at the moment the advantages of doing so are enormous.

Even if you are in a company that does not have so many international clients, the chances are good that you have some non-native speaking employees at the same company as you. Again, if you are able to speak reliably to the staff in their own tongue, you are less likely to find yourself relieved of duty than the guy who thinks speaking English slowly is as effective as speaking a foreign language.

Overall, there are never any downsides to learning a second language. There are intellectual and personal advantages that I won't go into here, but as far as business and employment goes, learning a second language, especially a strategically chosen foreign language, can mean the difference between success and failure, employment or the job office.

A second language is not particularly difficult to learn either: There are many great products that can help you learn quickly with only 30 minutes per day of study, and there are even free products that can help you learn if money is a problem. Basically nobody should have an excuse as to why they do not learn a foreign language and with the enormous benefits associated with it, learning a second language is the smartest thing anyone can do.

Learn a second language and improve your life.

Neil Breakwell is a teacher in Thailand and has lived in Asia for 9 years. He is the creator of a language learning website that gives advice on the best ways to learn new languages and gives honest, in-depth reviews of the best language learning products. If you are looking to learn a new language to protect yourself from the current economic climate and improve your life then visit http://www.lingualogue.com

Choosing a Translation Services Company Or Machine Translation

2008-10-30T12:34:00.003-07:00

By Mark Kieran

As we are all aware the translation industry is awash with translation tools such Spell checkers, translation memories and automated glossaries. But is the feasibility of machine translation a reality in this day and age? By explaining the doubts and limitations of machine translation I hope to clarify to clarify some of the preconceived notions that the general public may have about the field and aid them in deciding on Machine translation or a translation services company.

The notion of computer translation is not new. In fact shortly after World War II the American Government had already began investing considerable resources in the field without the slightest doubt that the concept was not a reality.

Some common terms in this field indicate the some of the difficulties that those pioneers of machine translation were to encounter, for example the difference between machine translation (MT) which is the translation of text by a machine and Computer Aided translation (CAT) which is the translation of texts by a translator with the aid of translation tools. Under Machine translation there are three types of system namely Batch, Interactive, and Interlingual Approaches. A Batch method has coded rules to "decide" on the best translation. There is no need for a translator.

With an Interactive system the translator is present and decides on the translation options provided by the translation system. With an Interlingual approach the source translation is translated to an intermediate language that is used to translate back and forth between the source and target languages.

CAT and MT software these days use either the Batch or interlingual approach.

With MT translation most texts tend to have a 70% accuracy e.g Google translate. Most experts now concede that 100% accuracy is not possible. Three terms that crop up are Fully Automatic High Quality Translation which is in my view is impossible to achieve, Fully Automatic Low Quality Translation and Partly Automatic Medium Quality Translation. The percentage accuracy claims of Machine translation is open to debate as there is no universal standard to measure this and accuracy claims tend to be very subjective.

When to use Machine Translation or Translation Services companies

There are five important criteria when choosing whether to use machine translation or translation Service companies

1. Subject matter. Here the computer can have an immense advantage especially in regard to technical texts. In the case of a field like Life sciences where the vocabulary is very specific and comprehensive, the Machine Translation system can have a terminology Database built up over years which is impossible for a Translation Service company to compete with. Of course the quality depends on the amount of work and quality of the work put into the Machine translation's dictionary.

2. Speed. Speed is an area where the computer reigns supreme considering that the average translator translates at a rate of 2,500 words per day.

3. Level of accuracy. We already discussed the levels of accuracy. If a text is solely for information then a fully automated translation is feasible but if we need 100% accurate translation the amount of time spent post-editing the MT system can often outweigh the benefits of using this system.

4. Consistency of vocabulary. Again the computer is excellent when it comes to consistency. One centralized MT system ensures consistency as opposed to a Translation vendor outsourcing a large job or different jobs over time to different translators. It is often the case that no two translators translate a sentence in the same way. Of course, the success of the MT depends on the preprogramming done beforehand.

5. Cost. Bearing in mind that the computer can tick all the right boxes for speed, consistency, level of accuracy and subject matter one has to bear in mind that successful Machine translation systems require substantial investment to populate them with high quality and a high volume of content which, of course, has to be passed onto to the client of a Translation Services company

It's pretty evident from the above points that the computer can yield impressive results but what we must realize is that current MT systems will not give 100% accurate translations. If this level of accuracy is required it's always best to hire the services of a translation company.

Mark Kieran is the director of a multiple language vendor in Madrid, Spain. In addition to translation services in over 141 languages, the company provides localization, globalization and interpreting services.

One Stop Shop Translations S.L.

http://www.onestopshoptranslations.com

(Madrid) 0034 91 365 9608

Why is There a Need to Learn Another Language

2008-10-30T12:34:00.001-07:00

By Larisa Callaghan

Most people are afraid to learn another language because it takes a lot of time and dedication. There are approximately 8000 different languages spoken in the world. Language is critical to life. It is the main key to social interaction. It helps to identify us as individual. Without the existent of different type of languages, we will have no history and culture. Language proves to us that humans are a very intelligent creature.

The most common spoken languages that we know are English, French, German, Dutch, Swedish, Finnish, Russian, Norweigian, Italian, Spanish, Japanese, Mandarin Chinese, Korean, Vietnamese etc. At present, majority of people other than people from English speaking country, learn English as their second language because English language is the centre of economics and politics. What will be the next main language? Look at China and India now, they are the emerging countries. China is really going ahead in the past few years. They really spent big, buying mining material from around the world. Many countries buy and manufacture product in China. Everywhere you go and anything you buy is always "Made in China". India is also emerging with many countries outsource their call centre put to India. Have a good guess what will be the next popular or main economic language.

Most school in the world has a second language program in their curriculum. Some countries even had third or fourth languages as a compulsory subject in their school program. And if you miss out in your school days, maybe it is time to learn. Start today, it is never too late to learn. Learning another language is not expensive at all. Look around, you should be able to buy a suitable learning material according to your own need and budget. Whatever languages you choose to learn, it does enable you to see the world in a different perspective.

The world is beautiful with all different languages and races. Speaking another language allows one to work successfully with many different nationalities. Knowing more than one languages improve your chances for job opportunities. It also helps you to build your trust and friendship with people whose language you speak. Speaking another language helps to communicate with the world and bring them closer together. Majority of people learn another language for the following reason such as relocation to another country, business or work related, to learn and understand other people's culture, to become a linguist, to make travel more enjoyable, interest in foreign country and language, engage in international trade and diplomacy work, promote national security and world peace, improve life skill and knowledge, bring peace to the world etc.

How do you get started to learn a new language?

There are many books and audio language courses around, so go to your local bookshop or online. I am sure you can find one that is suitable for your level. Audio course can be helpful because you can listen to the right pronunciation by the native speaker. If you do manage to find a suitable one, download it to your MP3, which you can listen to frequently. Initially, it may seem strange and foreign, but after a period of time you should get use to the language. Reading or listening an hour daily is more effective than many hours of learning. Do not be too concern about your inability to remember, understand or speak the language. There is no such thing as learning a language overnight. Patient and the right mindset is the way to learn as with most things in life. Remember starting out is always the hardest.

The more time you spend learning and practicing another language, the faster you excel. Daily practice is the key to success. Listen, write, read, study words and phrases on a regular basis also greatly enhance your language skill. Build your vocabulary because there are heaps to absorb. Reading aloud helps to improve speech, memory and thinking in another language. Read slowly and repeat the same topic until you understand. Get yourself a dictionary or search online. Most important is, you must have a great passion to want to learn the language, otherwise, it is going to be a slow process.

Another great way to learn another language is to live in the country itself. This way, you will have no other choice but to speak the language of that country. For example, as an English speaker, if I want to learn Japanese language, I will travel to Japan and live there for say three to twelve months. A good way is to go to the target country (not English speaking country) to teach English. This way you will not only make money but learn another language. Most Japanese learn English in school but they lack communication skill and also most elderly people may have difficulty understanding English. Once there, I will have to speak Japanese on a daily basis, eat Japanese food, learn Japanese cooking, culture, eat and live like the local, explore the country, attend their festival etc. All this greatly helps me to learn, understand the language and the people, and also it makes learning the language far more interesting.

But not everyone can afford to learn another language using this method. And if you are in the workforce, you can't really afford to learn and live in another country unless it is work related. Fortunately, there are many home study courses which you can learn at your own time and in the comfort of your own home. Some courses over the internet even allow you to try the course for free. You should be able to find one which teaches you grammar, writing, listening and culture by native speaker. Library is another place to go to look for language books and audio courses.

To greatly improve your language skill, you should have your targeted language book and a book about the country. An interesting book to learn about a country is to buy a travel guide book such as one by lonely planet or any other publisher.

The best time to start is now!

Larisa is the web owner of http://www.clixaholiday.com Feel free to surf my web while you are there. Compare hotels worldwide before booking and also bid cheap holiday for family. I have extensive travel experiences to Asia, US, United Kingdom, Canada and Europe. Go to "Learn a Language" and grab a free 6 days language course now!. Sign up for one or all the languages. Learn the chosen language at your own time and speed. It is 100% free. To get the same program (Build a Niche Store) I use to set up my store, scroll down to the bottom of my home page.

Are Women Better at Learning a Language?

2008-10-30T12:33:00.006-07:00

By Kenneth Leong

A recent article in Scientific American outlined results from a study showing that girls completing a linguistic abilities task showed greater activity in brain areas implicated specifically in language encoding. Boys, on the other hand, showed a lot of activity in regions tied to visual and auditory functions.

The implications are numerous. It appears that boys need to be taught language both visually (with a textbook) and orally (through a lecture) to get a full grasp of the subject, whereas a girl may be able to pick up the concepts by either method.

From our experience, we've observed over the years that there are consistently more girls (OK, women) than boys in our classes. On average, women make up about 60%-70% of the client base, and it's not surprising to see all-female classes at times. There may be a number of reasons why this is the case. Perhaps language learning is simply more appealing to women. Others would say that girls like the romance associated with learning a second language. It seems like now we have some more compelling biological reasons behind this phenomenon.

However, it has also been interesting to observe the guys who come along for language classes. Maybe it's not politically correct to say so, but it also appears that the guys who tend to want to learn a second language (in spite of being supposedly biologically inferior in this respect) are more sophisticated, confident, urbane and adventurous. If guys are indeed behind the proverbial eight-ball, perhaps those who choose to learn a language need these qualities in order to succeed. Either that or simply because they wish to be in the presence of beautiful, intelligent women. There's certainly nothing wrong with that!

Kenneth Leong is Director of Euroasia Language Academy in Auckland, New Zealand. They offer European and Asian language courses to native English speakers. Visit their site at: http://www.euroasia.co.nz/

Helpful Tips to Speak Learn Spanish

2008-10-30T12:33:00.005-07:00

By Justin Grant

Learning Spanish can be a very exciting time in your life as it gives you many chances to widen your scope so to speak. If you think about the many new opportunities such as making new friends, exploring new business ventures or simply going on holiday and knowing how to speak the language. You could use this line of thinking as motivation to speak learn Spanish as soon as possible

The great thing nowadays is the vast options you have when choosing how to go about it. There are a lot of learning facilities that have classes on on languages, CD's and books are also widely available, and of course, you can learn almost any language online. For most, the last option seems to be the best and easiest solution to your needs.

Some of the advantages of learning online would be that you can do it at your own pace and not feel pressure from a class environment if you aren't as quick at getting some of the words. You can fit it in whenever you have free time and the comfort factor always plays a role. Many find that sitting in their own living rooms is more relaxing and therefore get more work done instead of going out in bad weather or rushing to meet the specific times of a class. With that said, it is also vital to shop around before and see which course best fits your needs. Don't just settle on the first one that you find.

Once all the research has been done and you have found your desired course, start right from the beginning. Why am I telling you this? It's only common sense to start from the beginning. I am saying this as I have known quite a few people who give the starting section a quick once over and try to tackle the advanced sections first in an attempt to speed things up. Unfortunately it doesn't work that way, and you are only going to get frustrated.

In order to speak learn Spanish, the basics have to be mastered first, then you will find it easier to go onto the harder phrases and pronunciation.

One or two extra tips would be to find articles or news on the internet that is written in Spanish or listen to some Spanish music and try to pick up some words or phrases that you understand. Be patient, you are not going to be fluent in the language a week from now and finally, do not be afraid to slip up. Mistakes are part of learning, especially when just starting out.

So, by getting a good online product, surrounding yourself with all things Spanish, mastering the basics first and never worry about mistakes, you are on track to speak learn Spanish.

I hope you found this article on learning the language helpful. If you are interested in more about Spanish and various other languages, please go to http://onlinelanguagetraining.wordpress.com

Teaching ESL Effectively to Adult Refugees and Immigrants

2008-10-30T12:33:00.003-07:00

By Joan Pougiales

For adult refugees, progress in ESL classes is often excruciatingly slow because it is so difficult for them to retain information from one day to the next. There are a couple of reasons for this. One is that their education has often been "interrupted" by war or other civil unrest, resulting in low education levels and study skills; they simply do not know how to study on their own and are completely dependent on teacher instruction. Another reason for their slow progress is that the war or civil unrest in their native countries has left most of them traumatized to some extent, and trauma has a negative impact on short-term memory.

What this means for ESL instruction is that the need for review is constant and ongoing and needs to be woven into every aspect of classroom planning and instruction.

Here are some simple rules to effectively teach adult refugees and immigrants:

Rule #1: Keep the information load down. As a Cambodian student once told me, "You teach just a little, but I learn a lot."

To keep the information load down:

Rule #2: When you introduce new vocabulary, use old, familiar grammatical structures.

Rule #3: When you introduce a new grammatical structure, use old, familiar vocabulary.

Rule #4: Review, review, review. Every day should contain a review of the previous day, and the previous week, and the previous month. Vocabulary and grammatical structures should be constantly recycled, and should spiral to reinforce learning and keep information fresh in your students' minds.

Rule #5: Application is important to set new information into memory, so allow students to get plenty of oral and written practice, and minimize teacher talk.

Joan Pougiales, Ph.D. has taught English as a Second Language for over 30 years to college-bound students in the U.S., as well as to adult immigrants and refugees. Her web site is devoted to helping refugees and immigrants, beginning and intermediate students, to learn English and succeed in their new lives in the U.S. Visit her at http://www.growenglish.com

Enjoy Learning Spanish Online With Your Kids

2008-10-30T12:33:00.001-07:00

By Ingrid Grzeskowiak

The benefits of learning Spanish online can't be denied; mastering another language not only makes you aware of other cultures, more marketable as an employee, and more aware of the world, but learning a second language can actually be fun! If you decide to take up a second language, one option is to take Spanish online lessons, which are readily available for you and your family to learn another language together.

While the traditional methods of teaching a second language has been in a classroom setting with textbooks, how many of us can remember much from our high school coursework? The best method for learning a second language is immersion. While this isn't practical for most of us, Spanish online lessons use games to learn Spanish. Many also have Spanish lessons for kids, geared for the younger audience. With this method, you get the benefits of learning a second language through a combination of text and immersion techniques. How? Because you can visually see the words and practice talking at home, without the embarrassment of messing up in front of a class.

When searching for Spanish online lessons, make sure that they meet your criteria for mastery. Listen to sample lessons, if available, and make sure that it can take you to the level you want to attain. Some programs may be aimed more at tourism, some for work, and others for general use. If you are including your family, make sure the Spanish lessons for kids are going to help you learn together. Using games to learn Spanish with your children can be a fun and rewarding activity, and you might accidently learn some too!

When you do include your children in your online Spanish lessons, it is a great bonding activity for you and your family. Imagine the fun of being able to play games to learn Spanish with your kids, and the laughter you can have with the silly pronunciations you will inevitably make before mastery. This second language can also be "code language" for your family when you want to play in public. It will make your children more confident in speaking with people from Hispanic origins if you can all practice together at restaurants or stores.

Sitting down at the computer to take Spanish online lessons does not have to be a chore for you. Make it a fun family activity that you can share. When you include your children in it, you are holding yourself more accountable for studying and practicing your second language, so your chance of success goes up. Make it a priority to start today!

What are you waiting for, when you can offer so much to your children and yourself by using games to learn Spanish so you can work towards a better future? Increase your family's cultural sensitivity, awareness while becoming globally conscious. Spanish is an extremely useful language, spoken in many parts of the world... so by using Spanish online lessons, you are broadening horizons not just for home use, but so you can travel and enjoy other cultures. Now that is something you just can't find in a textbook.

Ingrid Grzeskowiak has years of experience in language teaching with children and adults. She invites the reader to check out her Learning Spanish Online Blog and get a few tips on Spanish Lessons for Kids

How to Learn Any Language

2008-10-30T12:32:00.005-07:00

By Erik Nitsu

Learning a language is easy. Yes, this is contrary to what many people believe. But, for many people, their only exposure to learning a language has been in grade-school, one of the worst environments for learning any language.

Do you think you might need a university degree, tutor, or language school to learn the language of your choice? Nope. You don't need a university degree. You don't need a personal tutor. And you definitely don't need to sign-up for any expensive language schools. Why would you ever want to put yourself in a classroom environment when learning languages anyway? It just doesn't work well -- ask anyone who has ever taken language classes if they can speak the language they supposedly learned.

It's true that there are some people who are terrible at learning languages. I would make a bet that you're not one of them, just like a I would make a bet that you're not tone-deaf. Studies have shown that only four percent of people are actually tone-deaf. I haven't come across a study showing numbers for terrible language learners, but I would bet that it's close to the number of tone-deaf people in this world: four percent. If you're reading this article, I bet you're in the other 96% of the population -- fully capable of learning any language you desire.

You don't need any special skills to learn a language. No, you didn't miss your chance at learning a foreign language as a child. While it's true that children have a natural tendency towards learning languages, it isn't true that they have an edge over adults -- it's actually the opposite. The only advantages children have over adults are an abundance of time for cartoons and not caring whether or not they make mistakes as they speak.

Adults can learn faster than children, but they need an efficient method for learning to do so. It is true that some languages are more difficult than others to master. It is also true that mastering a language takes a considerable amount of time.

If you can speak your native tongue and read this article, then you most likely have the skills necessary to learn a foreign language. There are a few tricks that make this easier, but all you really need is an efficient method for learning the language you want to learn. So if there is an efficient language learning method for adults, what is it?

The efficient method comes from a man named Barry Farber, fluent in over 14 languages. After years of experience learning languages for both needs and wants, he authored a book titled "How to Learn Any Language; Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably, and on Your Own."

Farber describes the majority of his method in two chapters titled "Gathering Your Tools" and "The Multiple-Track Attack." In "Gathering Your Tools," Farber describes the tools you need for each language. Farber then describes how to use these tools in "The Multiple-Track Attack." The basic tools consist of the following:

* Basic textbook

* Dictionary

* Phrase book

* Newspaper or magazine

* Student reader

* Audio course

* Flash cards

The wonderful thing about this list is that you have a great chance of finding what you're looking for, especially when looking for the materials on the Internet. To start learning the language you want to learn, I would advise picking up a copy of "How to Learn Any Language" by Barry Farber, whether new or used from the Internet or your local bookstore, or borrowed from your local library. After that, you need the tools for your language of choice and time to study.

Lucky for you, I've spent countless hours researching the best materials for learning a number of different languages. You can find my picks for the best language learning tools in the language section of JustAJot at www.justajot.com/language/.

Remember: the more exposure you have to a language, the better. Immerse yourself in the language you want to learn as much as possible and reap the rewards.

Erik Nitsu has an interest in many things, language learning being one of them. For more information on how to learn any language, as well as researched tool lists for specific languages (and where to get them), visit the language section of JustAJot at http://www.justajot.com/language/

Do You Know These Important Japanese Words? 10 Most Important Japanese Words Everyone Should Know

2008-10-30T12:32:00.003-07:00

By David T. Johnson

Anyone who plans to visit Japan should have a nodding acquaintance with the vocabulary to make communicating the locals a little bearable. It was found out that 75% of the tourists who frequent Japan have no knowledge of the Japanese dictionary -- even the simple ones used everyday by the locals. These visitors often find it hard to interact with the native folks, especially when they're lost or if they want something done.

If you want to enjoy a memorable visit in this amazing region, then you need to know a little bit of their vocabulary to effectively interact with the locals.

Top 10 Japanese Words Used By The Locals

1. Yes and No

The most basic words you can learn in Japan are "hai", which means yes; and "iie" for no. Since most of the locals will be asking you things that requires a close answer, nodding or shaking your head might be disrespectful. It's better to give them a straight yes or no when the flow of the conversation demands it.

2. Greetings

Japan is well known for its polite greeting. If you are in the region, it would be best to give the appropriate greeting stay on their good sides.

• "Ohayou Gozaimasu" -- good morning

• "Kon-nichiwa" -- good afternoon

• "Konbanwa" -- good evening

• "Oyasuminasai" -- good night (used for people who are going to sleep for the night)

3. Arigato or Arigato Gozaimasu

"Arigato" is short for thank you. The complete form is "Arigato Gozaimasu". Some of the locals use the slang "domo" when they are in a hurry.

4."Sumimasen"

If you want to catch the attention of a Japanese local to ask directions or if you need their help, then you need to say "Sumimasen", or excuse me in English. This is can also be used when you accidentally bumped into someone as an apology.

5. Asking

If it's your first time to visit Japan, then there might come a time that you need to ask the locals some questions about things that you don't know about. Some of these are:

• Korewa nan desuka? -- asking what a certain object is

• Wa doko desuka? -- asking for direction

• Nanji desuka? -- asking for the current time

• Ikura desuka -- how much is the item/service? (monetary)

6. "Sayonara"

This is the equivalent of goodbye in Japanese. This is considered to be a polite gesture when you tell someone that you will be leaving or to see some of the locals off.

7. "Tasukete"

When you are in need of help or if you want to catch the attention of the locals that you are in trouble, then you only need to say "tasukete" (tas-soo-keh-teh).

8. Please

Please is a universal language for politeness and respect, especially in the case of the Japanese locals. When you offer them something then say "Dozo". If you want to ask for something then you need to say "Onegai Shimasu".

9. "Wakarimasen"

When a local is starting to talk to you in Japanese fast and hard, then you say "Wakarimasen", which simple means "I don't understand".

10. Bathroom

It would be a waste of time doing charade in front of the locals when you need to go to the bathroom. To avoid wasting any more time in this scenario, ask them for directions to the nearest bathroom by saying "Toire wa doko desuka?"

Discover The Best Way To quickly start speaking Japanese Words With An Astonishing Guarantee. You Really Can Amaze Your Friends or That Special Someone when You Start speaking Japanese Words Fast. See details at the Free Review on http://www.SpeakForeignLanguagesCenter.com/speakjapanese

Can You Really Start Speaking Chinese Without Stumbling Using These 10 Tips and Tricks?

2008-10-30T12:32:00.001-07:00

By David T. Johnson

If you try to imitate how real Chinese people speak, more or less you would find yourself stammering over your words. However, this should not hinder you from continuing your venture on learning a new language. To help you out, here are 10 tips and trick on how you can speak Chinese without stumbling.

Tip #1: Get A Tutor

Learning this language by the book can be pretty hard. This is because the whole language system is based on the intonation of each syllable. Hence, you should be able to hear how each syllable should be pronounced. Merely reading cannot guarantee that you have the right pronunciation for that syllable or word that you are saying.

Tip #2: Watch Chinese Movies

Chinese movies that have English subtitles are one great way to practice the language. Here you can sharpen your listening skills, so that you can learn to discriminate more of the differences in syllable pronunciation.

Tip #3: Listen To Chinese Music

Try listening to Chinese music. If you feel that you are having a hard time pronouncing Chinese statements, then try singing them. If you can, try learning one Chinese song. Pick out a piece that is quite upbeat and not boring. In this way the tunes can be your guide in remembering the words.

Tip #4: Talk To A Friend

It would be a lot easier if you will learn a new language with a friend. In this way you can practice with each other. If you already have a partner to learn the language with, then keep on practicing with him/her.

Tip #5: Greet Everyone!

If you try greeting someone 'Hello' or 'Hi', then why not greet them by saying 'Ni Hao' instead? Try substituting your constant greetings like 'good morning', 'good evening', 'good bye' and 'thank you' with their Chinese counterparts. This can be a good practice too.

Tip #6: Teach Someone

When you learn a new word, phrase or sentence, teach it to someone else. Try teaching it to your younger sibling or other family member. Teaching new information that you just acquired is one way to effectively retain it.

Tip #7: Talk To Yourself

If you do not have anyone to practice with, it is all right. Go and find a mirror then talk to yourself in Chinese. Do it just like how you would when you will be practicing a speech in front of a mirror. This also helps in improving your comfort in speaking the language.

Tip #8: Label Your Surroundings

If possible, place labels with the Chinese names of different objects in your house. You can also do this for specific rooms. In this way, it's not only you who can learn but also other people in the house. You can then practice some basic statements in which you can use the labels in.

Tip #9: Imitate!

Imitation is one way for you to adapt easily to a non-native tongue. If you expect to be watching Chinese movies, try imitating one of the actors/actress' lines. Imitate how they say it. Be sure that you catch the correct accent and pronunciation for the statement.

Tip #10: Don't Be Shy

The biggest problem faced by majority of non-native students learning Chinese is shyness. Do not be shy when speaking out the words. Chinese is a very nasal language. Hence, it is okay to sound a bit nasal if you are speaking it. Do not be too conscious of the people around you.

I hope you take these tips and use them and soon you will be speaking Chinese in no time at all.

Discover The Best Way To quickly start speaking Chinese That Includes An Astonishing Guarantee. You Really Can Amaze Your Friends or That Special Someone when You Start Speaking Chinese Fast. See details at the Free Review on http://www.SpeakForeignLanguagesCenter.com/speakchinese

Here's How to Make Sure That You Hire the Right Translator

2008-10-30T12:31:00.000-07:00

By Cheow Yu Yuan

Due to globalization, more businesses are moving their operations to other countries. Naturally, it makes sense to translate all business documents and website to the native language if you are expanding into a non-English speaking country. Moreover, when you attend business conferences overseas, you will also need to hire a professional translator. With a translator around, you can then communicate effectively with the people over there. With so many translators in the market, how can you ensure that you find the right one?

When you are looking for a translator, there are few things that you should take note. The first thing is to get a list of candidates so that you can select the right one for your business. Just go online and do a search on translator or translation agency in Google and you should be able to shortlist a few. Now as you have a list of candidates, let me share with you some tips to hire the right translator:

First of all, you need to choose someone who grew up speaking the language you need. This is very important because some countries have their own dialects. You need a native speaker who speaks it as first language to ensure the accuracy of communication. However, in any case that you want to hire a non-native translator, it is fine too. But you need to make sure that the non-native speaker has at least lived in the country for a minimum of ten years.

Next you need to get someone that has at least 3 years of experience as a professional translator. I will strongly advise you to get a translator from a reputable translation agency. Those translation agencies should have a pool of translators and you can be sure that they have the experience that you are looking for. A strong translation agency will have a system to regulate the quality of the translation work. Remember to look at the clientele and credential of a translation agency before deciding on one. Do take your time to screen through every agency and choose the best one for the job.

Last but not least, you need to check the privacy policy of the translation agency. All translation agencies should have their own privacy policy. So if you are hiring a translator from an agency, you should not be worrying too much. However, if you intend to hire a freelance translator, make sure that you trust the person. This is because a freelance translator is not bounded by an agency and if he or she violates the privacy agreement, you have no one to hold accountable for. So my advice to you is to hire a translator from an agency. At least if there is any problem, you can drop by their office and resolve the problem.

For language translation service, visit WhizWordz now:

Click Here --> Japanese Translator and other language services at http://www.WhizWordz.com

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Learn Spanish Software Reviews - Top 5 Reviews in 2008

2008-10-28T20:19:00.003-07:00

By Xavier Vivas

Ever wanted to roll your R's like a true Latino and have the salsa dance from off your lips?

Those are the linguistics of the Spanish language and here you can learn the best techniques!

This research was done to help aspiring Spanish students embrace the challenge of proper learning with top notch tools available in today's market. Many Spanish Learning Software packages claim to be the best but more often than not, they are not what they advertise to be.

Here, I have selected two products considering the rest were much more expensive and did not provide the extensive material as promised. If you are serious about learning this beautiful and diverse language, you are encouraged to check out the following recommendations from an experienced Spanish Tutor!

Here is an overview of each of the selected programs and what they offer. Don't forget to read the conclusions at the end of this article for more information.

RocketSpanish

This software is part of Rocket Languages; a highly recognized and experienced languages software developer.

After initially reviewing their website, it was nice to see that the audio demos are free of charge. Even the additional 6-day trial Spanish course offer! This just solidifies the authenticity of the website and the product.

The method used in this software is incredibly practical and the quality of the audio materials is very good as well. Basically, the whole learning process is very simple, step-by-step instructions which are easy to follow. There are also many real-life situations that you can relate to.

The tutors are not only experienced, they are native Latin American Spanish speakers who have an understanding for the difficulties most English speaking students might have. Their approach is friendly, fun and simple.

Another remarkable feature I liked was the price/product ratio since this is indeed one of the most economical programs you can purchase in today's market.

This method is good for those of you who are new to learning Spanish or even those of you who are at an intermediate level. The 210 pages of basic grammar and 160 pages of advanced grammar included in the package are a good reference you can always use.

Unfortunately, the CD version does not include the extra bonus MegaCards which is a helpful tool for beginners and advanced students because it contains words and key phrases to remember.

For additional info don't forget to read my conclusion at the end...

Learn Spanish Like Crazy

For starters, I have to admit that at first I was not impressed with their website. I considered it to be one of those so-called "Spanish Courses Websites" with impractical techniques that even I would avoid as a teacher.

However, because my only objective was to discover new techniques to improve the learning of Spanish while using interactive software and finally get some real facts, I decided to give it a try.

I must say, I was quite surprised with the features and resources included in LSLC. The slogan of the website is "you would try to mimic the words until they became ingrained in your head. This is a natural way to learn to speak any language!" and that is indeed what they do.

The whole package is great and includes a wide range of useful information. This learning technique is based on practical methods and easy exercises which enable the student to advance rapidly. I can attest to the fact that this works since I have practiced this way of learning myself; as a Spanish tutor and also as a student of other languages.

Nevertheless, by reviewing LSLC and comparing it with RocketSpanish, I discovered some important details that can make a difference in the approach they choose for their clientele.

First of all, the downloadable version does not include any of the FSI Learning tutorials, so as a result you only get 21% of the package.

Secondly, if you get the CD version, (which costs 2 times more) you will obtain tons of audio tracks with valuable information for basic and advanced students.

This method as well as RocketSpanish offers a Money Back Guarantee of approximately 8 weeks and they both have online forums to help resolve tricky questions you may have.

Conclusion

These two products are good enough to get you started with Spanish. It is even there to solidify your knowledge if you are an intermediate student. However, if you want a simple, practical and economical system then RocketSpanish is certainly the one for you.

Don't get me wrong, LearnSpanishLikeCrazy is also a great method and you can gain a lot of knowledge and also improve rapidly with it. If you are serious in learning Spanish and wish to do so at your own pace by being your very own instructor, this method is made for you at only a couple of hundred dollars more.

So that is all for now! Keep reviewing my articles for more Spanish learning tips and if you want to get more information and see all the statistics, graphics and final remarks for these two products just go to : http://www.spanishland.net

Xavier Vivas is the founder of SpanishLand.net, a Spanish Resources Website. Also, he is a Spanish Tutor teaching this beautiful language since 9 years ago.

"In my career as an instructor, I have had many different kind of students; fast learners, beginners, advanced, from different backgrounds and nationalities, etc. I have tried many different methods to facilitate the learning of Spanish and I have gained a lot of experience with various approaches, too. That is why I have done this research to help aspiring Spanish students reach their finest potential with the best tools available online."

Hasta pronto!

Polish Translation - Breaking Language Barriers

2008-10-28T20:19:00.001-07:00

By Wain Roy

As businesses thrive and communities mingle to share mutual interests, there crops up one problem. The problem of understanding each other's language. Most of us would suggest that use of English as the formal language is the answer. But there are few nations who believe in using their mother language for all informal and formal dealings. Poland is one such country where the Polish language is used for interactions of all kinds. The language barrier in Poland is evaded by translation, a process by which the meaning of a text or document from an unknown language is conveyed to another language.

It is estimated that there are nearly 7000 languages in the world, out which English, Arabic, Portuguese, Mexican, Spanish, French are a few popular names. Language forms a vital mode of communication and is subjected to change with changing times. When different nations and cultures meet, the language barrier is broken down by translators, who communicate the meaning to respective parties.

Translators play a vital role to forge a relationship between nations. Their talent and skill set can set the right mood between the two parties. Translators should be versatile and should have excellent communication skills in both the languages. His translation should be crisp and concise to enable comprehensibility. Translators can never afford to misinterpret as this can lead to misunderstanding on both sides. Translators thus bear immense responsibility towards the building up of new relationships between two diverse nations or cultures.

Countries like Portugal, Poland, Japan, Korea, and China use their mother tongue for all talks and business dealings. Portuguese is the sixth most popular spoken language in the world, reiterating that Polish translation is indispensable. Thus translation plays a major part to reach the local citizens.

Polish translation does not signify translation of the words from the originating language to its equivalent with Portuguese. There are quite a number of online tools providing instant Polish translation from any language. However, these translations are not accurate as they simply translate words from the originating language to its equivalent in Portuguese. Herein arises the need of a translator who will not only correct these errors but also convey the proper meaning of the language.

A good number of websites nowadays offers Polish translation as part of their services. Polish translators who are not well versed in Portuguese cannot be efficient in their jobs as they might succumb to grammatical errors. Thus it is always prudent to have a Polish translator who is either a native speaker or has been a Portuguese or a citizen of Portuguese dominating nations as they are familiar with the style of conversation and appropriate usage of the language.

The demand for Polish translators has been on the rise with their requirements in the fields of art, engineering, medical, law, business, science, advertising and public relations. With the expansion of the Internet, Polish translation is gaining further grounds and creating greater scope for businesses to thrive.

Wain Roy is an internet marketing professional expert in various industries like real estate, web design, finance, medical tourism and Polish translation

How to Pass Your Foreign Language Class

2008-10-28T20:18:00.006-07:00

By Tom Tessin

Are you currently taking a foreign language class in college? If you aren't yet you most likely will need to take a few foreign language classes to get your major in college. There are many general education classes that are needed when in college, and foreign language is one of them. Foreign languages can be very difficult for some people to learn. When in college, it is even harder to learn a language because you learn the language at such a fast pace. Read below for some tips on how to pass your college foreign language class.

Professor - Your professors are supposed to be your friends so make sure you can ask them questions. If ever you have a question be sure to always ask until you understand. Whether you ask in class, or after class be sure you find out the answers.

Be there - College is expensive and if you don't show up you're going to only be wasting money. You want to make sure you go to every class when you have a foreign language. If you miss one day you will most likely be missing out on a lot. It's like math you have to learn the basics before you can go any further.

Textbook - Any kind of book in college costs an arm and a leg these days so you want to make sure you read it. Go through the textbook and go page by page and chapter by chapter. If you keep up with reading the textbook you will go much further than you think.

Sounds - You want to make sure you get a feel for the sounds. When learning a foreign language we often get confused at first with the different sounds. Try to pick them up and speak with the accents. It will take some time but it will flow much nicer and make you feel a whole lot better.

Verbs - To create good sentences in a foreign language you need to make yourself aware of a lot of verbs. Take a few days a week and just study verbs for 20 minutes each time. The more verbs you know the better your speaking will get.

Tenses - Be sure that you familiarize all the tenses. You want to make sure you know the past, present and future tense. If you don't learn these properly your sentences won't make sense. Once you get the feel for the tenses you will be on a roll.

Conjunctions - Learn all the conjunctions of the foreign language. Be sure you understand the subordinating, coordinating, and verb conjunctions. Once you know these a foreign language will make much more sense to you.

There is a lot to know about learning a foreign language. The most important thing is to have patience, have fun with it and have motivation. Foreign languages can be very frustrating but once you get the gist of it you'll be glad you took the time to learn it.

Find articles like these and more of Tom's work all on his student blog.