Not just learn a language! Practice it!
March 18th, 2008 admin Posted in General |
I’ve met several persons who have told me they’d love to learn a foreign language — particularly English. When I hear them say that, sometimes I ask them to practice with me (having a conversation in that language), and 90% of the times they refuse to do so, replying with “It’s embarrassing!“.
I understand them, because I have too felt embarrassed many times, but about a couple of years ago, I learned the lesson.
Someday, I was chatting with one of my best friends, Martin, who lives in Canada. Chatting with him (in English) was something usual, but then, he asked me if I had a microphone. Fortunately (or unfortunately), I told him I did have one. He asked me if I wanted to have a voice conversation with him. Again, fortunately (or unfortunately) I replied yes.
Even though our chat conversations were fluent and natural, it seemed it was a whole different story with voice conversations. My responses got reduced to shy laughs, yesses and noes.
After several sessions of voice conversations with my friend, I noticed I was getting better, and not just that, but I was speaking with a wider vocabulary. I’ll explain this.
When I chat with someone, I usually try to use a minimal vocabulary, as I don’t want to waste my precious finger’s energy (he he he). But when I have to use my voice to communicate, it’s a different story, as it’s far more easier. So, this means if you speak the language instead of writing it, you’ll be most likely using a wider vocabulary. And the most interesting part is you’ll not just be using it, but getting used to it.
When I began learning German, I liked to learn up to 100 words per day, and I was happy because I was starting to be able to understand somewhat some German articles. But after around a week (that would be 700 words learned), I tried to write some phrases in German and noticed it was really hard for me to do so. I opened my German course book, and there wasn’t any problem at remembering the words, I knew their meaning, but just couldn’t make any sentences.
Now I understand that when you’re starting to learn a foreign language, you need to speak it, not just memorize words and/or understand its grammar. If you learn that “le chat est blanc” means “the cat is white” in French, try to practice that phrase and its components all you can. Don’t just leave all that learning floating in your brain!
Also, don’t be shy, and if you find an opportunity to practice what you know, practice it!
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March 18th, 2008 at 9:46 am
You are right… so many people are “embarrassed” when asked to speak the language they are learning. However, I have met someone who wants to practice! I have a sister who just returned home from Madrid, Spain and all she wants to do is practice her Spanish! Lucky for us, our dad fluently speaks Spanish. Sometimes it does feel a bit weird for the three of us to speak Spanish together, as for twenty plus years we just spoke English! My sister and I both really wanted to become fluent in Spanish, so, after we took language classes in Spain, we knew we could practice with our dad. Once we got over the initial awkward feeling of speaking another language together, we decided that we should practice as much as possible.
I have realized that some people just want to study a language… but not speak it
Intercambios are a great way to practice, because you both get to feel a little embarrassed together, and help each other out. It is always nice to speak to someone who is also learning another language, because they feel the same way you do.
Have you ever tried singing in German? I realized that when I sing Spanish songs (Shakira always helps), I learn new phrases, and it is a great way to hear myself speak too, to make sure I am saying the words correctly.
My friend has told me he will help me with my Italian over msn messenger… but now I think I will ask him if he also has a microphone! What other languages do you speak?
Thanks!
March 18th, 2008 at 3:56 pm
This website is really good. I’m from San Diego and I like the languages. Constantly, I search for websites where I can practice my grammar, and not so long ago I found this site. It’s interesting what you explain about the shyness, as that’s what happens to me with the Japanese. I’ve visited other websites and what I liked from this one is that it’s not full of ads. Congratulations for your websites and I hope to read more posts really soon.
March 18th, 2008 at 7:20 pm
Thank you, Elizabeth, we are trying to build the greatest language learning community, and comments like yours really motivate us!
Jessica, your interest on sharing your experience with us is a great source of motivation, too, we hope to hear more about your language learning experiences!
Currently I speak fluently Spanish (my first language) and English (I’ve some flaws in English, though!). I’d say I’ve mastered basic German and French. At the moment, I’m practicing a lot my French with my friend, Martin — who I mentioned in this post –, as he lives in Quebec, Canada, and he’s fluent in English and French.
French has some similarities with Spanish, so I’m learning it fast (not like German!), so I hope to be able to say I’m trilingual soon.
How about you, Jessica? What other languages do you speak?
March 19th, 2008 at 11:34 am
Hi! Everyone, I also loves languages especially european languages. My native is Japanese.
“Embarrassing” it’s the word for Japanese people. We are always embarrassing in speaking other languages. They say it’s a kind of national character!! So I’m one of them, and trying to remove that emotion in learning languages, but it’s something very hard. But I know the fun of speaking other languages too. And I look for other who learn same language which I’m learning. (I mean to speak to native is something harder) It’s my language training way.
Elizabeth, I could help you something about learning Japanese.
And I also making language learning service, like this site. Please check out! It’s http://www.cotva.com/
I speak English, French (off course Japanese) and learning German, Russian, Latin, Polish, Icelandic, Latvian, Croatian. (In truth, I love “learning” languages)
March 24th, 2008 at 3:13 pm
I speak English and some Spanish… on my way to becoming fluent!
I think everyone is a bit embarrassed at first when they being to speak a new language; sometimes it sounds awkward to hear yourself talking in another language, but that is what practice is for. It is even weirder when you have your first dream in another language! (This means you are really learning it though, if you are even thinking in it while you sleep!)
- That is so great to be able to learn and speak so many new languages! What do you think the easiest language so far is for you? Seems like they could be pretty different learning styles.
March 24th, 2008 at 4:49 pm
Hello Jessica, I’m really happy to see you again!
Your post was fun to read. I remembered when someday I woke up thinking in German.
I believe the easiest language to learn for me is going to be the Italian. I haven’t started learning it, but I once played a video game in Italian, and it seemed really easy for me, as it’s very similar to Spanish.
Hope to see a new comment from you soon!
March 26th, 2008 at 4:22 pm
Hello again! Yes, waking up and thinking in another language is great! Also when you have “flashbacks” in another language, ie you randomly have a thought in another language, while speaking your own, it is quite interesting too! Another funny story, my sister actually came back from Spain around Christmas, and was at my house at our party, we were playing a game where you had to describe a word to your partners, for them to guess. The partners would then shout out the word, and if they were right, they would get a point. My sister was on my team, and kept having trouble thinking of the words that I was describing in English! She kept thinking in Spanish during the game! She said that since she had been trying so hard in Spain, to always think in Spanish, that she was having difficulty with thinking how to describe and guess the English words! Dios mio! I guess her brain was really used to thinking and speaking in Spanish, and that really impressed me! I am sure you have some funny language learning stories too, no? Good luck with your Italiano!
March 27th, 2008 at 2:14 am
Hola Jessica
Well, something really funny that happens to me is that sometimes I forget a word in Spanish, but curiously I know the word in English or in German. Actually, I’ve been in many situations where I do know how to say something in English, but I don’t know how to say it in Spanish :p
Something else that happens to me is that sometimes I want to describe a feeling or a situation to someone, and I find it easier to describe it in another language than in my own.
I haven’t had enough time to study languages, as I’m full of homework (actually, I don’t even have enough time to give some healthy updates to Language Blog!). As soon as I finish this semester, I gues I’ll focus again on language studying.
Have a nice day, Jessica!
April 3rd, 2008 at 1:02 pm
Maybe you don’t have time to “study” but you sure can still have fun with other languages- on the internet, radio, even watch dvds in another language- This way, they are activities more than “studying”, so you might find that you have some extra time for them.
For example, yesterday was a very busy day for me, but I got free tickets to the movie “Under the same moon/ La misma luna”. The movie was in Spanish with English subtitles- so it was great language practicing for me and fun at the same time!
I look forward to your next blog! Good luck with all of your classes!
April 3rd, 2008 at 11:37 pm
Hi, all! Interesting that Jessica should mention watching DVD’s in another language. I was experimenting with the language menu of a favorite movie and was surprised at the audio and subtitle choices. As a life-long student of languages, I am thrilled to meet fellow enthusiasts. I think singing is a great tool. Like when I remembered the words to a German beer-drinking song that I hadn’t heard in 20 years!
To the success of the Languageblog!
April 4th, 2008 at 12:26 am
Hey!
I agree with you.Not just learning a language practising it with dedication makes you perfect.
April 4th, 2008 at 3:07 pm
Yes dedication is exactly it! But studying languages can be very easy to do, if you “study” in creative ways! The more you practice the easier it will get. Once I left Spain I lost a lot of vocabulary, because I did not practice as much… So I highly recommend continuing on with your practicing, even if it is something silly like singing to yourself or talking on messenger online to a friend abroad. It will help a lot!
April 9th, 2008 at 1:07 am
Sorry for not answering to your comments!
Thank you laland44
Your comment really motivates me to continue with this project.
Studying in creative ways! I liked that way of expressing it, Jessica. Actually, I’ll be posting a series of “techniques” or ways you can study foreign languages, and most of the tips are what you can call them “creative”. Creativeness is a human gift we must exploit to the maximum!
Thanks for all your comments