Four Reasons Why We Don't Understand ESL Speakers

By Lynda Stucky

So your new colleague is bright, extremely intelligent, and a great asset to the company. But there is one problem: English is not his native language and although he has a fantastic command of English, he continues to be difficult to understand when he speaks. Why?

There are four reasons that it can be hard to understand non-native English speakers whose grammar is good but whose intelligibility is poor:

1. Vowels and consonants are inaccurately pronounced, substituted or entirely omitted. Since vowels and consonants carry a lot of meaning to words, a substitution can alter the meaning drastically. Other languages don't use the same alphabet as English does and so non-native speakers must learn entirely new sounds. Among the harder sounds to learn are /r/ and /l/ as well as many of our vowels. Vowels in particular, if mispronounced are going to cause miscommunications. Consider the vowel in the word "pet." If someone substitutes a long ee sound for this vowel, the following sentences could be interpreted very differently:

"The den was messy and ugly" would sound like, "The dean was meesy and ugly."

Although the context of a sentence may help the listener figure out what was said, doing this frequently is tiring.

Often times, a non-native speaker will adopt the sounds of their own language to say the words. Another problem is that many English words are not pronounced like they are spelled. This can create problems even for the native speaker learning to say an unfamiliar word.

2. Inappropriate stress is placed on syllables in words. Again, a non-native speaker will use the structure of his/her native language and apply it to English. Some languages don't stress syllables like English. In order to stress a syllable, we lengthen the vowel sound of the stressed syllable and we increase our pitch and our loudness on this syllable. Consider the following two words: thirty and thirteen. The first syllable is stressed in the word "thirty" and the second syllable is stressed in "thirteen." A non-native speaker whose native tongue gives equal length to all syllables is going to say these two words almost identically. Word meaning is carried in these stressed syllables in American English. If this syllable is not stressed, there will most likely be an issue with understanding.

3. The rhythm and melody of speech (intonation) doesn't match American English intonation patterns. This issue is similar to the problem we just discussed. But it also has to do with stress of words in sentences. In the English language, we emphasize certain words (nouns, verbs, and pronouns). This gives the sentence more meaning. Say the following sentence three times stressing a different word each time:

I like pizza.

You can understand how these sentences are different based on the context.

Does Sara like pizza? No, I like pizza. Do you hate pizza? No, I like pizza. Do you like chicken? No, I like pizza.

Some languages speak with very little intonation and the sound is flat. This interferes with intelligibility.

4. The rate of speech is too fast. A fast rate of speech compromises our understanding no matter who speaks fast. Add mispronunciation of sounds, inaccurate stress and a flat pitch, and the speaker becomes especially difficult to understand. However, the opposite holds true too. If a person's conversational rate of speech isn't fast enough, it may be a struggle to listen. Non-native speakers must be especially careful to speak at an appropriate rate.

Listening to someone who is difficult to understand is a trying experience which requires patience and understanding. The longer we are in a conversation with someone who is difficult to understand the more we begin to tune out and shut down. Next time you are straining to understand a message with a non-native English speaker, do the following:

1. If needed, ask the speaker to clarify anything you don't understand.

2. Restate what you heard the speaker say.

3. Model good clear speech and proper grammar.

4. Ask him/her to slow down or use different words to convey the meaning when the message isn't getting across.

Many ESL speakers want to know when they have said something wrong and want to be corrected. They tell me, "Americans are just too polite to correct me." Of course, not everyone feels that way. To find out, just ask the person how they feel about receiving feedback. Presented in a non-critical way, the speaker may welcome your comments. Showing interest that you want to understand and that you care may make a big, positive difference in the eyes of the speaker.

Copyright (c) 2008 Lynda Stucky

Are you worried about your own intelligibility when speaking to others? We can help you change your pattern of speech to make you more understandable. Contact us here.

Italian is a Language Easy to Fall in Love With

By Benedict Yossarian

Italian is a very passionate sounding language. It is considered as one of the most romantic languages in the whole world. It has certain qualities that make it so flowery and makes people who speak it very animated. This is one reason why it is always linked with feelings of love and romance.

Love is in the Italian Air

You might be wondering what made Italian a language of love. Let us trace some reasons behind this claim:

The primary reason behind this is the Italian culture. The country has a very colorful history which may condition our thinking that indeed it is a romantic language.

The culture of love is in the air. You can smell Italian passion and visualize romantic imagery all over. Look at the devotion to great architectures and artworks that can be traced back to the olden times. The works of the great Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Raphael display the passion of the Italian soul. The details of the David, La Giocanda, The Pieta, and the Monalisa say it all.

The connection of the Italian culture to the Catholic faith shows the purity of love as seen in Jesus, Virgin Mary, and all the other saints depicted in sculptures and paintings. The architecture of the different churches and basilicas all over Italy also makes the language synonymous to love.

Have you seen an opera? It is an Italian contribution which also conveys a lot of love and passion. The notes of the opera bring the audience to a different level of appreciation. They do experience pure emotion and sensation while listening to the performance.

The biggest reason, among all reasons, why Italian is a language of love is the country itself. Italy is a very wonderful place. The atmosphere is really romantic with views of rustic sceneries, the sea, the hills, the country side-everything spells love. Whether they know Italian or not, a lot of honeymooners pack their bags and go to Italy to spend time together and strengthen their bonds.

Some Basic Facts about the Italian Language

Now that you know that Italian is a lingo of love, it will be better if you know some details about the language, here are some of them:

Italian has a very distinct stress and traces its roots to the dead language of Latin. It uses most of the Latin alphabets in majority of its words. Unlike our usual ABC, the Italian alphabet doesn't have J, K, W, X, and Y. J sounds like I in the Italian words like Bojano (Bo-ya-no), Joppolo(Iopolo), and Jesi(Iesi).

The Italian alphabet today consists of 21 letters. The letters also have their Italian equivalents like gi for j; s,ss, or cs for x; c or ch for k; u or v for w; and i for y.

Accent is also very important when speaking the Italian language. Notice the acute accents you have on the vowel E in perche. Grave accents are also used in A, I, O, and U having the stress on the final vowel of the word like in gioventi (youth)

When reading words like hai, hanno or ha, the H is often silent. Furthermore, the word Zanzara or mosquito is pronounced with z being read as dz or dzan' dzara.

Italian as you can see is beyond pasta, pesto, pizza, and the Ferrari.

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

How to Face the Difficulties of Learning the German Language

By Benedict Yossarian

The German language is not as popular with foreign language students compared to French, Spanish, or Italian.

You might wonder why, since there are around 100 million speakers of German all over the world. It is the language for most of Eastern European countries and majority of migrants from different countries. German is also a very popular language in business as its country of origin is among the most industrialized countries in the world.

Beyond all these a lot of students still find it difficult to speak German. Surprisingly, native speakers will agree. Below are the main reasons for such.

• Multiple noun construction- unlike English where a dog means dog, or house means house, the German language is not about the noun itself. Its nouns may vary if it's masculine, feminine, or neuter. It takes a while before students get comfortable with the der, or die, or das which denotes the gender of the noun.

• Word Order- The word order does not simply follow a subject verb order. The German language presents the order of words depending on the tense of the sentence. There are complex rules to deal with so you have to be aware to avoid sounding ridiculous.

• Method of Teaching- the approaches of how English speaking native or a Spanish speaking native will teach the German language vary. As you put them under the microscope, you will see flaws in how high schools, universities, or special program deal with inculcating German language to the students' mind.

Study Tips to Make Learning German Easier

Knowing that learning the German language is a daunting task, you have to come up with ways to make learning becomes easier, here are some tips:

• Use your First Language as Tool - Take note of the similarities of your own language to the German language. If you are an English speaker, you will notice that German comes from Latin and Greek origins. For example, das Haus is house in English. Garden in German is der Garten. Recognizing the familiar words will program your brain to recall and store them with ease.

• Fight Language Interference- As much as you want to relate English to German, most of the time you got to think German if you want to speak German. It will be ineffective if you will think English and translate it to German. Be careful when you do this, since the German word bald means soon in English.

• Gender Familiarity- you have to face the fact that nouns in German is gender related. It will be wise to learn German words and learn their genders at the same time. It is important to know when to use the masculine (der), die(feminine), or das(neuter).

• Be Patient- Like any other language, mastery takes a while. It will not take 10 days only to make you an eloquent German speaker. Maybe not even 2 years. You have to realize though that the more you expose yourself to the language the more it becomes part of your system.

Learning the German language is like learning any language, it has its challenging parts. What matters most is your interest in the language and your discipline to devote time to conquer the German language.

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

Tips That Work When Learning Languages

By Benedict Yossarian

How will it sound if you are able to say "I love you" in more than 10 languages? Perhaps these most romantic words will even be more romantic.

How convincing will you be if you are able to close a deal in your counterparts own language, say in Japanese or Chinese?

The knowledge of language is truly a powerful tool that we can have in our lives. Learning a language or two is very feasible especially now that a lot of ebooks, CD's, or online courses are readily available.

Tips in Learning Foreign Languages

If you want to learn a foreign language that you can use in business, travel, or just for the love of learning new things you can try to do the following tips:

• Research - Knowing what language you want to learn is the beginning, but you have to start to learn it as quickly as possible. Research online for available references or materials that you can use to make learning easier for you. The internet will give you choices for books, CD's, or online courses which you can take. You also need to determine if visual, audio-visual, or group learning methods will be effective for you.

• Listen- If you want to learn French, German, or Spanish then listen to these foreign languages. Listen to music, watch movies, or read literature which uses those languages. You will have no idea what they're saying but everything starts there. Words will be familiar to you when you hear them the second time and learning will be much easier.

• Immerse yourself- try to incorporate what you hear or learn in everyday situation. Say "good morning" in Chinese, or say "how are you doing?" in German. Listen to the languages while you're driving, or while you're in the tub. Try to find ways to live the language

• Make most out of the Resources that you have- Aside from CD's or tapes make use of the books, DVD's, or flash cards that you purchased. Imitate the sound and consult written literature if you are confused about pronunciations. Languages may have varying rules as to syllables or characters and the way they are pronounced.

• Watch movies - rent films using the language that you want to learn. Get those with subtitles so you can read the meaning while learning the sounds of the foreign language.

• Visit the Country - If you have enough time and money to do so, and enough reason then go. The longer you stay and interact with the native speakers of the languages you want to learn the easier it will be for you to learn it. You may not be able to master it before you return home, but aim to be conversant using the foreign language.

• Learn the Alphabet- different languages may have different phonetics and alphabet. They might not follow the usual ABC that we know. Learning their basics is key to learning a new language

• Establish Connections- having native speakers of the language that you want to learn will be a big help in your endeavor. Learning will be a continuous process and talking to them on a regular basis will help you retain it by repetition.

Learning new languages is very possible. Nothing is impossible since experts have revealed that people do not need very high IQ to learn. Being too busy should not be an excuse.

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as Spanish and French Tuition.

The Spanish Language Conquering and Being Conquered by the World

By Benedict Yossarian

Hola. Adios.

These may be very familiar words to anyone in the world. Yes, it is Spanish and everyone knows a little of this language. Like any other language, Spanish has a very rich history.

Let's Talk About Spanish

Spanish is one of the major languages of the world. It is spoken by millions of people not only in Spain but in the rest of the world.

If people will ask you about the Castilian language, will you know the difference? Castilian is actually the official tongue of the Spanish language. A deeper probe of Spanish will reveal its intricacies and variations depending on the region where it is being used.

Other frequently used Spanish languages are the Basque, Catalan, and the Galician. It will be a misconception to call these as dialects. They are recognized languages under the umbrella of Spanish but reflect distinction and division of the Spanish culture.

When we talk of the Spanish language, we are talking of one of the most romantic languages in the world. You might be thinking of galleons, conquistadores, and the beautiful people. The Spanish language is a language which traces its roots in Latin and shares similarities in terms of structure with other European languages.

The Evolution of the Spanish Language

Aside from traces of Latin, the Spanish language is also said to have developed during the rule of the Roman Empire. Spanish had its beginnings around 2000 years ago and had its early formation in the Iberian Peninsula.

Today, it is estimated that 300 million people around the world use Spanish as their native language. It has evolved primarily due to the conquests made by Spain in a lot of countries and somehow, their language was influenced by the words of those they conquered.

The variations of the Spanish language are therefore seen not only in the boundaries of Spain. It is evident in countries like Mexico, Argentina, Puerto Rico, Nicaragua, Honduras, and many more.

English also invaded Spanish like other languages. Now it is common to see words like bus stop, click, or marketing in Spanish speaking countries. This is fondly called Spanglish.

There are campaigns to protect the language and retain its purity. The truth is that Spanish like any other language is a mix of different influences. This fusion of different roots and evolution is inevitable with the available technologies which make communication a lot easier.

Learning Spanish

If you want to learn Spanish beyond the fiesta, tapa, siesta, burrito, or tequila, there are a lot of ways to do so. You can browse the internet and learn from websites the offer foreign languages. Some of these sites offer these courses for free and some charges minimal fees. They have a lot of available media which can make learning fun and easier.

You can start to immerse yourself in Spanish by listening to audio CD's or watch films, television and read books in Spanish. You can also try to incorporate some Spanish phrases in your day to day living.

Ultimately, you can visit Spain and experience first hand how the language really sounds. Explore their culture, arts, history, and their day to day living. Through this experience you will have a deeper perspective and understanding of the Spanish language.

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

Learning Spanish by Yourself, With Other People, With the World

By Benedict Yossarian

If you want to learn Spanish you might be aiming to improve what you already know or you really want to learn it as a new foreign language. The best method of learning languages really depends on the individual. Spanish has its own sound but it is perceived uniquely by every person trying to grasp the language.

You have to find out which method is most effective for you. Self awareness is the key since you and you alone will be the only limitation of how you learn things.

The following are some common methods use in learning Spanish:

Classroom Setup

A lot of people are still comfortable in a classroom set up when learning things. Studying the Spanish language in a classroom usually has a Spanish native speaking teacher guiding the class through out the course.

Meeting people in the class who also want to learn Spanish will be a good way to provide the necessary interaction. It might be awkward at first when you try to speak in Spanish but as you advance through the course everything will sound perfect.

The scheduled class and specific assignment will also somehow oblige you to go on. The classroom set up is perfect if you are into learning with a group of people and if you want to have a set paced so you can gauge your learning.

Always be on time and be ready to talk Spanish.

Learning by Yourself

If you don't have the time to keep up with the schedule of the classroom set up to learn Spanish, you can do it independently. Family, work, and other commitments might prevent you from joining a group who has the same interest for the language, but learning by yourself can also be fun and exciting.

When learning by yourself it is wise to make use of all the technologies available. Good references to learn Spanish can be found on the internet, in libraries or tutorial CD's.

Since you do not have a specific schedule to follow, make most of all the opportunities that you have to immerse yourself in Spanish. Listen to instructional audio while driving, or while at home, try to watch TV that is in Spanish.

You also have to try to using Spanish words or phrases that you know by using them to greet people or by conversing with native speakers of the language.

Spanish is everywhere from music, food and community. It is your determination which will dictate if you will learn it fast or not.

Immerse Yourself

Spanish like any language should be part of your life so you will learn it by heart. If you have the time and budget, travel to Spain or Mexico to learn about the culture, the people, and the life behind the language.

If traveling is not an option you can watch Spanish soap operas, listen to Spanish songs, or attend Spanish festivals in your local community.

You can also try to establish a connection to Spanish speaking people by winning friends who speak the language at work, gym or in your neighborhood.

No tenga miedo de aprender español. ¡Usted puede hacerlo! Do not be afraid to learn Spanish. You can do it!

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

Learning French Through Our Way of Living

By Benedict Yossarian

Est-ce que tu parles francais?

That is "do you speak French?" Learning the most romantic language in the world is not a daunting task. Think of what you want, and get it. You might be rushing from your bed, to the subway, to your office, and back but believe me there is enough time to learn French.

Incline sur la façon dont apprendre le français effectivement (Tips on How to Learn French Effectively)

The subheading says it all. Here they are:

• Francophone Everything- The language that you want to learn should be incorporated in your lifestyle. Label everything French in your house and in no time you will be learning new words. Make the kitchen, bedroom, laundry room as French as possible. Your brain will love it and learning will be faster.

• Popcorn Night with French Movies- Buy DVD or rent movies which are in French. Experiment with the subtitles by turning them off so you will hear how musical the language is, or turn it on so you get to understand some of the phrases. Some internationally acclaimed films in French are Amelie, Chocolate, and the Dreamlife of Angels.

• Tour France- the best method to learn the French language is by visiting the city of light. Immersing oneself to the culture and the people is definitely the fastest way to learn the language. In France, they speak French from cab drivers, to front desk personnel, waiters, everyone. Try to converse in French and before you end your holiday you will somehow be familiar with the throaty vocals of the language. Oui(Yes)?

• Make French Connections- if you don't have the budget to go to Paris, you can meet new French friends in you community. By meeting these people you will be able to practice the language. You can join wine testing events and restaurants which will allow you to immerse yourself in French culture. There are also language exchange programs that you might find in your community boards, university, or internet forums.

• Sing, Sing French- Check out CD's of French music and try to sing along with it. Try to be conscious of the pronunciation, accent, and pacing of words. Music media will let your brain easily recognize the foreign words.

• Lisez les livres français (Read French Books)- It is time to borrow books from your local library or get some bargain from the second hand bookstore. Learning should not be expensive. Poetry, fiction, or the history of France will make you fall in love to French language.

• Watch French TV- with the hundreds of channels available on cable, satellite, or internet TV you will learn French in no time. TV is a good avenue that you can mix with books and other audio resources in your quest to learn a foreign language.

• French Phrases- Impress people by telling things using French. Je t'aime means I love you. Watch how your special someone will react to that. Short phrases can be a good approach to learning the words, the pronunciation, the accent and the structure of a new language.

Allez apprendre le français. Why don't you look that up?

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

Learning Foreign Languages Enriches Your Life in Many Ways

By Benedict Yossarian

There are people who just love to learn foreign languages. They are in love with new words, the construction of sentences, and the musicality of the new language they acquire.

On the other hand, there are people who learn foreign languages because they need it. Most universities have foreign languages in their curriculum for their students. Some need it for their jobs, as an added skill.

Whether it be want or a need, learning languages will never fail to tickle our curiosity and imagination. Here are some things that foreign languages can bring into our lives:

Enhance Your Career Potentials

Knowing how to speak in a foreign tongue or two is a big advantage in the very competitive jobs market. If you have the skill to speak in different languages, it will open doors for promotions in your office or placement in a very good opportunity abroad.

Deepen your Perspective

Understanding how other people from different countries speak gives you a chance to immerse yourself in their culture. You can start appreciating films, music, literature, plays, and other things from foreign lands. Thus, you can enrich you view of life through foreign languages

Enjoy Your Holidays

When you visit another country for a holiday or as a tourist, there is an apparent lack of communication, a wall between you and the locals. If you know how to speak their language, this barrier is hurdled and you can immerse yourself into how their day to day life is. Ask questions in their native tongue and you can definitely get the best answers and recommendations to make the most out of your vacation.

Improve Your Marketability

Language skills being posted in your curriculum vitae will attract the attention of the HR department, the boss, and most companies. If you know to speak Chinese, French, German, or any other language they will see you as an asset to achieve their goals. So if you have mastered a language, by all means include it in your CV.

Increase Awareness of Other Culture and Race

Knowing a foreign language gives you a chance to learn about the history of other nations and races. This gives you the opportunity to compare the strengths and weaknesses of your own country and people. From there, you can figure out the differences that may count to improve your life.

Win More Friends and Make Life More Meaningful

Language traverse borders and you can win a lot of new friends if you can communicate better. Comfort zones are establish and you will realize that people open up to you for the reason that you sound or talk like the way they do.

Broaden Your Choices for Education

If you are thinking of the best universities for a certain field of interest, you can discard the limitations of your own geographical boundaries. You may consider overseas schools that can offer better programs or cheaper courses. The languages that you know will help you blend in and adapt easily to life in a foreign university.

Learning a New Language is Fun

Anyone will have a smile when you divert from your usual ABC's and 123's. It enriches your being when you hear the sound of different language and learn the basics of a different tongue.

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

Knowing the German Language is an Advantage in Business and Travel

By Benedict Yossarian

German language may not be the first choice when one wants to learn a foreign language. How the language sounds maybe daunting for non-speakers but 100 million of the world populace from 38 countries speak German.

Here are several reasons why one should consider learning German:

• Study German for Business

Germany is a major world exporter and is the 3rd largest industrial country in the world. If you are into handling business negotiations, chances are that you will encounter another German speaking businessman.

Well, Germans know how to speak English but knowing their language puts you on the advantage of winning their trust. You can also understand fully the original context of what they want to say. German can be an impressive business language when you use it over the phone, web conferences, or during presentations.

• Essential for Travel

The German language is the second language of most countries in Eastern Europe. Aside from Germany, Austria, and Switzerland, you may want to learn a few phrases when you go to the Czech Republic, Russia, Hungary, Romania, or Kazakhstan.

German courses are offered online or through exchange classes. You may also inquire about formal classes held in Berlin if you want to master the language.

• Working in the Tourism Industry

The field of tourism is a very lucrative career all over the globe. There are a lot of courses specifically designed to help people learn many language and use it in different fields of expertise.

Working in a German speaking country and knowing the language will keep you ahead of the rest. If you are not working in a German speaking nation, you must put to mind that millions of German speakers travel around the world each year.

• Get a Feel of the German Culture

Germany is beyond beer and lederhosen. The country has a very rich history, culture, and heritage. A lot of known scholars who made great contributions to our lives trace their root in Germany. Music, science, health, cars-you may fill up the A to Z of the alphabet and attribute something to Germany or its people.

When you travel to a German speaking nation, it will be best to have an English-German dictionary handy. A translation book with helpful phrases will ensure that you don't waste your time trying to look for Point A when you have reached Point Z.

Practice saying the phrases you hear from native speakers. Imitating the sound and the diction will get you started in learning the German language.

If you have a chance to go to Germany and is really serious in learning German, you should check out some of the German language schools. Immersion to the language is the key of all the programs to help you master German.

In German language classes, you will be taught by a native German speaking professor and interact with other German speaking persons. Take advantage of the encounters since you will effectively know how the language works during day to day conversations.

Berlin is a good place to start looking for a German language school. There is a high concentration of universities in this city and they offer a lot of programs for foreigners who take interest in their culture specifically their language.

The language machine is a leading company providing private language tuition across the UK such as French and Spanish Tuition.

Why Students Should Learn Chinese

By Kip Owens

China has a huge population; approximately 25% of the world population speaks Chinese. This number is huge compared to the number of native Spanish speakers (332,000,000) and English speakers (322,000,000) [Source: The Summer Institute for Linguistics (SIL) Ethnologue Survey 1999].

The US government admits that China is an important player, and has made considerable efforts to help introduce Chinese at public schools. The government has authorized $1.3 billion dollars in federal funding over five years for Chinese language instruction in American schools [Source: news release from Senator Joe Lieberman office: May 26, 2005]. The "Department of State has designated that Chinese is a 'critical language.' " [source: Newsweek article, May 2005]

For an MBA student, imagine the potential of accessing a vast sea of abundant, low cost talent. Just to give a glimpse, in 2004, China produced 700,000 engineers, compared to the 60,000 engineers produced the US. Outsourcing is very real, and more companies are outsourcing manufacturing, IT, customer support, and other business functions. Being able to negotiate and understand without a clumsy translator not only furthers the business relationship, decreases chances of costly miscommunication.

Because of the recent tilt towards free market economies, rapid growth, and increasing numbers of skilled workers, China requires people that understand the best practices in their new free economy. Many of these new positions will be filled by MBA graduates from Chinese speaking US and European institutions, well versed in finance, management, and marketing.

Learning Chinese can be very difficult. The written system for Chinese is ideographic, or based strongly on symbols and characters, rather than some sort of alphabet. The language itself is one of the top four most time-intensive languages to learn [source: Foreign Service Institute]. The process of speaking and reading Chinese actually uses different parts of your brain.

There are 10 mistakes that all beginner Chinese students make that slow them down and are very frustrating. Read on to learn how to recognize and avoid the 10 common makes people make learning Mandarin Chinese. Also, read a thorough product review on Rocket Chinese.