Teaching English Tips to Stay in Control of a Large Class

Teaching English with games is becoming standard through out ESL classrooms of the world. And this is good news, because children love to learn through games, and become much more motivated students as a result. However games often make children excited, and if you have a large class you need a few things up your sleeve to bring the class into line immediately if things get a little over-heated.
Here are some tips and ideas to help you contain your pupils’ enthusiasm and manage your large class. There are three sections. Essential basics, useful tips, and attention grabbers.
1. Some essential basics to manage a large class
Together with your pupils define the rules in the first lesson, and post them on the classroom wall for reference. Knowing WHY a rule is in place makes it easier to keep. You must establish the rules on day one and stick to them!
Be consistent in applying your rules. If you are arbitrary about how you dish out your rewards or ’consequences’, or punishments you will undermine the rules themselves.
Praise good behavior to generate love and self-esteem. Whatever you do, avoid being like so many parents who spend their whole time telling their children, "don’t do this", and "don’t do that". By focusing on the positive in order to draw more attention to it you apply the universal law of "you attract what you focus on"
If you are working in a school know the law and rules of your institution before you go into the classroom for the first time, and work in harmony with the school.
Start out strict and fair - and stay that way! Being strict is not about looking stern and being bossy. It is about making sure the rules are kept, in a firm but fair way. You can still be a really fun, loving teacher and be strict with your class at the same time.
2. Useful Tips
Don’t break your own rules by raising your voice to be heard. Instead talk quietly or stop and wait. Your class should know that for every minute you are kept waiting they will receive extra English homework, or whatever consequence you have designated.
Children love the sound of their own name more than anything else. So use an individual’s name for praise and avoid using it when telling someone off.
Create teams and deduct or reward behavior points to a team’s score during a game. Your class will respond naturally by using peer pressure to keep the naughty children from misbehaving.
Empower your children with choices. For example, ask a naughty child, "Do you want me to speak to your Dad?" By asking a question you give the child the power to choose, whereas if you use a threat such as, "I’ll call your Dad if you don’t behave", you take the initiative away and seem tyrannical.
You can also say things like, "you can either play the game properly or you can sit in the corner". The child will probably choose to play the game properly, and you make them responsible for their behaviour.
Prevention is better than cure, so try giving boisterous children an important task BEFORE they start to play up. They may respond well to the responsibility.
It is important, especially with a large class, to hand things out quickly or use a system to have this done, such as giving the well-behaved children the task as a reward. Sing a song together or do some counting or a quick game to occupy the class while materials are handed out.
Play a mystery game and, before you start your fun game say that during the activity you will be watching the whole class for 3 well-behaved children who will be rewarded.
Only play games where you know you can keep a handle on the situation. For example there is no point playing a boisterous game with a lot of movement if you have more than around 20 children. With large classes, including classes of up to 60 children, you need special games where the children have limited movement - such as standing up or making gestures but while remaining in their seats. You can sign up to receive free games in the resource box below, and some of the free games given out are suitable for very large classes.
Attention grabbers
Start an English song the children know and love – they will all join in with you and at the end you’ll have their attention.
Clap out a pattern which the class must clap back, or start a rhyme they know with actions.
Use quiet cues such as heads down or lights off. Vary these with other fun quiet cues such as "Give me five".1--on your bottom, legs crossed; 2--hands folded in your lap; 3--face the speaker; 4--eyes and ears open; 5--mouths closed.
You teach this repeatedly in the first lessons and after a few weeks, you only have to say "Give me five:1,2,3,4,5", and the children will do it.
You can also use the Magic 1 2 3 idea. When a child does not comply start counting 1, 2,…The child knows that if you get to 3 there will be some sort of consequence, such as missing out on the next game. If you use this and you reach 3, you must follow through with an appropriate consequence consistently.
To summarise, establish the rules and consequences for good and bad behavior, apply them consistently, set a good example, use peer pressure and points, and use attention grabbing cues such as favorite songs, English rhymes with actions and countdowns. Above all play suitable games where you know you can keep in control of your class.
You can be firm and fun at the same time, and if you cannot manage your class, you should realize that, although it sounds harsh to say it, you are wasting their time.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Shelley Vernon

Can you learn Spanish without a formal education?

A question I get quite a lot is "Can I really learn a language properly without going to formal classes?". And it is a fair question. Traditional thinking would suggest that in order to learn something like a language, you must go to school-like classes. And before the internet became so wide spread, I would have agreed to a certain extent. These days though, you can learn a language just using your computer and a little nouse.
One thing that has improved is the amount of high quality books and audio products that are available these days. Wander into any bookstore and you will be amazed with the amount and quality of what’s available. As far as books goes, I really only recommend a dictionary and perhaps a phrase book. They are tools that complement other things, I don’t really think learning 100% from a book is that effective.
What I do think is very effective is using the combination of software and audio programs. Not only do you learn what you would learn in a book, but you actually get to experience the language. Hearing and speaking the language you are learning is so much more effective than just reading it in a book and imagining it in your head. And in recent times, the quality has just risen and risen. There are some that are definitely better than others (You can see the best ones at my site) and products for all budgets. For a full review of what I think are the best 3 products, you’ll have to visit my site.
Something else thats able to take your language learning to the next level is Myspace. In the "olden days", people would often grab a penpal from overseas and send letters back and forth. But this wasn’t very effective for learning a new language. These days, with the invention of the internet and the rise of Myspace, meeting native speakers for language learning is a real possibility. All you need to do is create your own profile in Myspace, which is free, then look for speakers of your language of choice that also speak English. And considering there are over 100 million users worldwide, it is not hard to do this at all. It’s just a matter of sending a message to possible partners and within days I guarantee you will have more than enough people willing to help you out. And this isn’t a one way street. You can also help them improve their English, which is great fun as well.
While I may be a bit biased here, I also think that content based internet sites can be very beneficial. It’s not just my site either, there are tons of high quality sites out there, offering you all sorts of learning benefits. These sites are especially helpful if you don’t have the funds to purchase one of the software/audio products. Most of the time, they really can get you through.
So, next time someone asks me if they really need to go to classes to learn a language, instead of listing all the reasons why not, I’m simply going to send them this article.
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Anthony Dwyer

Spanish Love: Spanish Poets and Their Spanish Poems

Love and its attendant passions has been the favorite subject of Spanish poetry since the time of the troubadours, medieval poets who earned their keep by singing for the people at the village square or for the nobility during royal gatherings at the palace. Composers in their own right, these court poets sang about courtly love and the bittersweet pain of unattained love for an idealized woman using the jarchas, a form of love song that was actually poetry written in very short stanzas.

It is important in the study of Spanish love poems to differentiate between poems that originated from countries outside of Spain including Argentina, Chile, Colombia, Cuba, Ecuador, El Salvador, Mexico, Nicaragua, Peru, The Philippines, Puerto Rico, The United States, Uruguay and Venezuela which were written in Spanish but whose authors were not from Spain. All these poets and their respective poems have contributed in some way to the development of Spanish Poetry as a genre because they all wrote their work in Spanish albeit in the form of Spanish common to their country of origin. Although some of them wrote patriotic poems about their motherland, most of them utilized images of love to depict the sorrow of a country that has lost its freedom.

Some of these well-known Spanish poets and their popular poems are:

Carlos Alberto Garcia – Amor
Que soy
Quisiera
Yo te conozco
Olvidarte
Nestor Oscar Morris – Quiero decirte algo
Pienso solo en ti
Jorge E. Diaz Leyton – Tu
Manuel M. Mendez – Pertenencia

Focusing attention on Spanish poets who trace their origins to Spain, however; poets who lived, loved and wrote their best work within the Spanish Peninsula or the so-called ‘Poetas de Espa?a’, we come up with a list of illustrious writers whose works contributed to the development of Spanish Literature as it is today.

* Rafael Alberti - La Amante
* Vicente Aleixandre ( Nobel Laureate 1977) – Destruction of Love
* D?maso Alonso – Hijos de la Ira
* Gustavo Adolfo B?cquer – Rimas y leyendas
* Saint John of the Cross - Dark Night of the Soul
* Luis Cernuda - La realidad y el deseo
* Francisco Domene - Arrabal?as
* Le?n Felipe – Drop a Star
* Federico Garc?a Lorca - Sonetos del amor oscuro
* Luis de G?ngora - Soledades
* Jorge Guill?n - C?ntico
* Miguel Hern?ndez - Nanas de cebolla
* Santa Teresa de Jes?s - Laughter Came From Every Brick
* Juan Ram?n Jim?nez (Nobel Laureate 1956) – La Poetica
* Antonio Machado - Nuevas canciones
* Jorge Manrique - Coplas por la muerte de su padre
* Emilio Prados - Veinte poemas en verso
* Francisco de Quevedo - Flores de poetas ilustres
* Ana Rossetti – Where is My Man
* Pedro Salinas - Ayer Te Bes? en los Labios
* Garcilaso de la Vega - Hora de Nuestra Se?ora
* Lope de Vega - La Arcadia
* Esteban Manuel de Villegas - Las Er?ticas
* Leopoldo Mar?a Panero – Dedicatoria

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Philip Nicosia

Selecting The Best Language School For Your Needs

Some people decide to work abroad, some decide to study abroad, some just want to learn a foreign language, or just need to brush up on their current skills. There are any number of reasons that people what to learn a second language.

When it comes to choosing a school, the choices can be overwhelming. Here a few things to consider before you select a Language School.

School Reputation:
There’s no better way to judge a school than by its past successes. Any reputable school will be able to refer you to previous students that were happy with their service. If a school can’t supply a list of testimonials, you have to ask yourself, why not?

Class size:
Class size is definitely one of the most important considerations in choosing a language school. As with any type of education, people tend to learn quicker in small groups. Look for a school that will specify a maximum class size. Individual attention quickly disappears in classes of more than 10 – 12 students.

One on One Instruction:
Whilst one on one tuition can work very well for intense periods of revision or to work on a specific area of weakness. In a general learning situation, especially with beginners, students tend to learn quicker when mixed with students on roughly the same level.

Small Group Classes:
In small groups of say, six to eight students, each student gets the benefit of learning from each others triumphs and failures. Plus the chances of getting individual attention when it may be required are much improved. Smaller groups tend to bond better, and assist each other to a much higher degree than happens in larger groups.

As in any other learning situation, repetition and reinforcement are the tried and tested methods that bring the fastest results. In small groups each student benefits from the opportunity to interact with others in the group more regularly than they would have the opportunity to in a larger group.

Private Tuition
Private tuition can be advantageous where a student has a particular problem such as with syntax, grammar or structure, that would benefit from some personal one on one attention. Another instance where private classes would help are when an advanced student needs some intensive coaching in a particular area, eg. in relation to the specific needs of a particular profession.

Standard versus Intensive Classes
Many schools offer both Standard and Intensive courses. A Standard Class will typically run for 4 hours per day, and an Intensive Class for up to 6 hours.

Both classes will cover the same syllabus, with the only difference being the extended time available for coaching. The Standard class is best suited to the requirements of most students, as it provides a good blend of class time and revision time.

This information should serve as a list of basic things for you to think about when you are looking to choose the language school that will best suit your individual needs. The single smartest thing you can do before making your final decision is to ask lots of questions, particularly about testimonials from people that speak your native language.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: David Neehly

By degrees: The different German dialects

German is one of the most popular languages in the world. In fact, the Guinness Book of World Records has listed the German language as one of the three languages that are learned the most by people. It is also included in the ten most spoken languages in the world. In the European Union it is the second most known foreign language.German is also one of the agreed upon official languages of the EU and is also chosen, along with English and French, as one of the three working languages used in the European Commission.

German is also considered as a pluricentric language much like English and French. With the wide scope of usage for this language, it would be quite expected to think that a person who knows German would be able to go to any part of Germany and be expected to communicate effortlessly. Unfortunately, this is quite far from the truth. In reality, the German language has many dialects that are spoken in a large part of the country (and even in other countries).

The German dialects are not mutually intelligible to each other. This means that people who only know the different German dialects and not the common German language will not be able to understand each other.

How did the dialects evolve into this? Each dialect has evolved to contain typical words that are not considered as cognates of the words used in standard German this makes it quite difficult to understand in areas where the dialect is not spoken or an area where a different dialect is used.

There is a so-called dialect continuum in countries where German is spoken. During normal situations the dialect that is used by a neighbouring region is understood quite well even if it is also distinctly different from the dialect that is used in the adjacent region.

The so called Low German dialects that are used in the Northern part of Germany are considered mutually intelligible but it still remains not understood in other parts of the country. Of the other remaining dialects, the German dialects used in Switzerland, Southern Bavaria, Austria, and the West Bank of the Rhine are notoriously known for being very hard to understand outside the regions in which these dialects are used. On the other hand, the so called Central and Eastern German dialects are seen to be more understandable in other parts of the country.

Low Germanic dialects are those dialects that were not affected by the High German consonant shift. The Low Germanic dialect is comprised of two subgroups – Low Franconian and Low German.

The High Germanic dialects are broken down into Central German and Upper German subgroups. The Central German dialects include Ripuarian, Moselle Franconian, Hessian, Thuringian, South Franconian, Lorraine Franconian and Upper Saxon. Upper German dialects include Alemannic, Swabian, East Franconian, Alsatian and Austro-Bavarian. The Upper German dialects are also used in certain parts of the Alsace, as well as in southern Germany, Liechtenstein, Austria, and in certain parts of Switzerland and Italy where German is spoken.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Philip Nicosia

Dutch progression: The changes in the Dutch language in the 20th century

The Dutch language is spoken by more than 22 million people, most of them in countries like the Netherlands and Belgium. Given this statistic, Dutch can be considered as one of the more popular languages in Europe.

Before the 17th century the Dutch language was not yet standardized. There were many dialects in existence that it was beginning to pose a problem.

After the 17th century, after the standardization of the Dutch language has taken place, it became so much easier to identify the distinctions between the standard Dutch language and its dialects. But the developments surrounding the Dutch language has continued well into the 19th and 20th century. Because of the influences being exerted by other languages like German, French, and English, the standard Dutch language is undergoing a change.

One of the more noticeable change in the Dutch language over the past century is with regards to pronunciation. The voiceless pronunciation of certain letters or syllables are now entering the standard language and is a unique feature that was more commonly heard from a dialect found in a province in Holland. These voiceless pronunciations commonly revolve around “v” as “f”, “z” as “s” and “g” as “x”. This current trend mirrors the desire for a change in spelling Dutch as near to its phonological sound as possible. This would mean that each particular sound is represented by a single letter or that a grapheme is only made in one particular way.

There is also a shift in how three diphthongs are being pronounced. The diphthongs in reference are ei, ui, and ou. The current shift for these are now moving towards aai, ou, and aau. This change was first seen among women who are middle aged and well educated and who come from the upper middle class. These women are identified with the world of the academia, politics, arts and literature.

From these beginnings the practice eventually spread out to women from other demographics. But lately even men have started employing this language change. It is also becoming employed by children, even those under the age of ten years and from very diverse backgrounds.

Already, this change can be heard in large parts of the Netherlands, but most especially among women of Turkish or Moroccan descent.

There are also some changes being seen in the area of morphology. One very significant change is inclusion of plural endings ( -s) even for nouns. This change is mostly seen in words that end in –e – for example, hoogte – de hoogtes, which was usually hoogten.

Even the suffix –baar is becoming more and more prevalently used in modern Dutch usage more often in the use of neologisms. In turn, the suffix -(e)lijk is becoming less and less used and in fact is being ignored in favor of the aforementioned –baar.

There is even a rising use of “concentrations” in modern Dutch. This is most commonly seen when using multi part compound nouns.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Philip Nicosia

Why Learn Swedish?

Aside from the possibility of living in Sweden or Finland (where Swedish is an official second language), or meeting someone important who knows to speak only in Swedish, you’re probably looking for other reasons to convince you to go through the trouble of learning it as a second language. After all, Swedish is not as widely used as Chinese, Spanish or English—it’s not even among the top 10 languages in the world—but knowing how to speak the language does have its perks.

If surviving in a foreign land is not enough of a reason for you, then it should be of interest that the Swedish language is one of the easiest to learn to those who fluently speak English. It is worth noting that Swedish has borrowed a lot from other, more popularly used and studied languages, such as French, German, and English, which may lend to the initial familiarity of the words to a first-time learner of the language.

Before borrowed words were included, however, Swedish has long enjoyed commonalities with most other Indo-European languages, particularly its closest kin—Norwegian, Danish, and Icelandic. It is even said, that by knowing how to read in Swedish, one is also instantly able to read Danish and Norwegian text, as probably the main difference between the three languages is in the pronunciation.

Another good reason to learn Swedish, particularly if you plan to stay in Sweden for a long period of time and want to get on the native’s good side is that knowing their language will make it easier for them to open up to you, with you being a stranger to the country. Learning the native language is important if you find it important to make many friends while you’re there, as it is seen as a means of showing respect to the natives in many countries.

Convinced yet? Here’s another good reason: with enough practice and reviewing, you’ll be able to gain expertise of language rules within a year of studying Swedish. Also, even if you’re studying the language outside of Sweden, you’re sure to find others to speak in Swedish with for practice, with tens of thousands of Swedish language students enrolled at any given time. However, nothing can introduce you to the language’s melodic and expressive quality quite like a regular conversation with a native Swede. It is a language best acquired for more than just deciphering the manual of an imported car.

Ready to join the bandwagon? Before you sign up for Swedish classes, be sure to browse for aids on how to make learning a second language easier for you. One such resource is provided at http://learnmylingo.com/freeguide.htm, which offers “Eight Ways to Learn a Language Quickly and Easily” for free! Later on, when you’re just about ready, click on the Swedish tab so that you’ll be prompted to start your journey to learning the Swedish language. Other language courses provided by the site are Spanish, French, Italian, German, Dutch and Japanese.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Philip Nicosia

Japanese Pronunciation Vs. Katakana

As a native English speaker hearing non-natives (especially Asians) trying to speak the English language I sometimes can’t help but chuckle, or cry, over the way they slaughter the words. As I presently reside in Japan and understand the Japanese writing system I have come to understand, in one word, why they tear apart the English language... Katakana!

Katakana is one of the four Japanese writing systems. The other systems being Kanji (the characters ((not cartoon)) you see on tattoos), Hiragana, and Romaji (the Roman alphabet). The early Japanese written language came from China. This system is called Kanji. Through the development of the Japanese language it became necessary to implement Hiragana which is used for words of Japanese origin and Katakana to help in the pronunciation of Kanji.

Still further into the evolution of the Japanese written language, Katakana started being used to help Japanese people pronounce borrowed words from other languages. At this time, the language which has the most borrowed words transcribed into Japanese is English. It is important to note that the Japanese language does not contain the sounds “L”, “R”, “V”, “Si” (as in “See”), “Hu” (as in “Hoop”), “Th” (as in “Thank”), and “Zi” (as in Zebra). There are a few other phonetic sounds that are not originally contained in the Japanese language, but through the further development of the Katakana writing system the Japanese people are able to pronounce the foreign sounds almost like a native speaker.

Another point worth noting is that the Japanese system phonetically combines two of our English sounds per character with the exception of the “N” sound. As an example of this let’s take my name “Scott” and assault it with the Katakana system. “Su Ko Tto” is the basic end result of my name in Japanese. You can see the extra “U” and “O” have been added because of the two sounds per character from the Katakana writing system. Actually if I am to say my name as it should be pronounced the Japanese perceive it as the word “Skirt”. Yes, many young children have had their fun with my name in this respect.

You may think that the Romaji system would save the Japanese from needlessly abusing the English language but it does not. Though Japanese children are taught the Roman alphabet at a fairly young age, their school teachers almost always teach them the alphabet’s pronunciation utilizing Katakana because 1: it is easier to teach the children that way and 2: the Japanese teachers are not able to make the correct distinction and pronunciation themselves.

As children grow up without knowing the correct phonetic pronunciation of the English words they gradually lose the ability to hear and differentiate between them. Soon enough words like “Rice” and “Lice”, “Sip” and “Ship”, “Than” and “Dan”, become the same to the Japanese ear. Though the famous tongue twister may be difficult for us, hearing a Japanese person saying “She shells she shells by the she shore” over and over again (and thinking they are saying it properly) is quite humorous.

What should we do about this? Put an end to English words being transcribed by the Katakana writing system. Have well qualified and preferably native English speakers teach Japanese children the actual sounds of the Roman alphabet. If we work together we may just be able to put a stop to the Japanese abuse of the English language.?S.B.

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Scott Brady

Learn The Korean Language

The Korean language is spoken by more than 70 million people, primarily in North and South Korea. There are a number of native Korean language speakers in several countries, including the United States Australia, Canada, and Japan. The Korean language is made up of an alphabet of 28 characters that have been in used for hundreds of years. These characters are in no way similar the western alphabet that makes up the English, French, Spanish, and other languages. This can prove to be intimidating for someone interested in learning the Korean language. If you are a soldier, a diplomat, or just someone planning a trip to South Korea, learning the language will help you to break down cultural and communication barriers.

There are several ways you can learn the Korean language, to varying degrees. If you study Korean at a college or University, you will receive an intensive education on the alphabet, reading, writing, and speaking the language that will give you a leg up on communicating with Korean citizens and work associates. If you are planning a career in as a United States diplomat, for example, there is a chance that your job will take you to Korea. Being able to communicate with native Koreans will help you make the most of your job and experience in a new land. You will be a better representative of your country if you are able to demonstrate your willingness to learn the indigenous language. Your cultural sensitivity will be appreciated. Also, if you plan to be a teacher of English as a second language, being fluent in Korean will make your experience living there more pleasant. As an instructor of English, you will be teaching Korean students, but you will also be learning from them.

Another way to learn the Korean language is by enrolling in one of many accelerated courses that are available through community colleges and even online. An accelerated course in Korean will provide you with a basic knowledge of the language, which will allow you to understand basic phrases, and ask basic questions. You will also be introduced to the Korean alphabet, which might seem daunting. There is language instruction available for purchase, as well. You do not learn the language by memorization. Rather, native Korean speakers provide real-life scenarios that provide you the opportunity to “learn as you go”, using voice technology over your computer. You get immediate feedback, which is a less stressful way for you to learn. When the learning process is less stressful, you are more apt to take the information in and retain, thus learning the Korean language with greater ease than you thought possible.

Whether you are interested in learning the Korean language for your own intellectual development and enjoyment, or you are inclined to do so for a job such a international diplomacy or teaching, learning to speak, read, and write Korean gives you the knowledge to communicate with people of a different culture, and if you are working abroad, helps you to have a less worrisome experience communicating with native Koreans. There is nothing more stressful than being unable to communicate with people while in a foreign country. Learning Korean will alleviate that stress, as well as make a good impression with your overseas associates. Learning the Korean language will enhance your travels and work experiences in that you will be appreciate the lives and culture of the Korean people, a people that seem mysterious to us. Learning a second language such as the Korean language is an intellectually and personally improving achievement that will provide many benefits to you professionally and intellectually. http://www.foreign-languages-school.com

Find the essential information on where and how to learn a new or second language at Learn Korean Language

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: John Davison

Immerse Yourself In The Japanese Language

Japanese is a language spoken by more than 120 million people worldwide in countries including Japan, Brazil, Guam, Taiwan, and on the American island of Hawaii. Japanese is a language comprised of characters completely different from the western alphabet that makes up such languages as English, French, Italian, and German. If you are required to learn Japanese for business reasons, or if you are planning a vacation to the Asian island, it might seem intimidating to learn a language so different for your own.

If you are required to learn the Japanese language for your job, consider jumping into an immersion program. There are immersion programs that are available for enrollment that do not require you to travel to Japan, but are held in the United States. Master instructors who are native Japanese speakers will provide a short and highly intensive program in which you will live and breathe Japanese. Do not be intimidated. Immersion programs are known to be highly effective in very short periods of time. You might surprise yourself with how much you learn in such a short period of time. Not only will you come away with a firm grasp of conversational Japanese, but you will also understand the alphabet, and gain a little insight into Japanese culture. At the end of your course, you might be tested on your newly acquired knowledge. The Japanese government provides standardized tests that measure written and conversational understanding, the most common known as the Japanese Language Proficiency Test (JLPT). There is also a test available that measures comprehension of the language in business situations. It is known as the Business Japanese Proficiency Test (BJPT).

Learning the Japanese language will certainly help to enhance your career. If your organization has offices in Japan, or you do business with other Japanese firms, you will not only will be able to communicate with your Japanese business associates, but you will also be able to better represent your organization in your business travels there.

If you want to learn Japanese in order to vacation on the island, and if you have the time and the financial resources, you might opt to learn the Japanese language through an immersion program where you travel to Japan. This way, you will not only learn the Japanese language, but you will also experience the fascinating Japanese culture. Learning Japanese where the language has its origins, you will plunge yourself into the life and culture, and you will learn the language quickly. You will learn the conversational and colloquial styles of the language. You will interact on a daily basis with indigenous Japanese people, who probably won’t be willing or able to communicate with you in English. You will be immersed into the everyday life of the island nation. You will grow to understand and appreciate the Japanese culture, including the history, the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. You will attend courses in which you will learn the alphabet, how to write it and read it. Learning the Japanese language through immersion is a fun and ideal way to go.

Whether you want to learn the Japanese language for pleasure, or you are inclined to do so for work, learning to speak, read, and write Japanese gives you the potential to further develop you career by working abroad and make a good impression with overseas associates. Learning Japanese will also enhance your travels in that you will be able to appreciate the lives and culture of the Japanese people. Learning the Japanese language is an intellectually and personally enriching pursuit that will provide you with career opportunities as well as an awareness of a culture other than your own.

Find the essential information on where and how to learn a new or second language at http://www.foreign-languages-school.com/the-japanese-language.html

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: John Davison

Teach Kids A Second Language

It is not easy teaching your child a second language. But it is a rewarding experience teaching them and you can open their young to explore a new world of sights and sounds. Even if you’re not entirely fluent in another tongue, here are 5 simple ways you can help your child learn to speak a second language confidently and easily.

1. Remember the earlier, the better. By the age of two, a child’s brain is sucking up and processing all the information he or she comes in contact with, so it’s an ideal time to start learning a second language. You may think, “But he hasn’t even mastered ENGLISH yet!” That’s okay! Believe it or not, children can easily juggle two (or more) languages at once without the difficulty that their adult counterparts may have if they try to learn the same language when they’re older. Learning two separate languages will also not hinder your child’s reading or speaking ability. In fact, it will actually improve and broaden their vocabulary as they get older, since many foreign language words are used in English as well.

2. It is better to teach your child with some simple words and basic greetings first. Learning a language does take time and repetition, so only move on when your child feels comfortable and confident in using what he or she has already learned. If you’re not completely fluent yourself, but still want your child to have the benefit of a second language, purchase a good dictionary and work book to reinforce what you already know so that you can teach it to your child.

3. You can try to make studying language to be a fun time by setting aside a special “Language-Only” time. Practice the language together with your child through music, books or videos and use this time to speak and play together using only the second language. It’s a great way to build up the child’s interest in another culture and will help him learn the language more completely and thoroughly.

4. If your significant other speaks a foreign language, consider having him or her speak only in the foreign language to the child, while you speak to them in English. This will quickly help the child understand each language’s structure and differences, and he won’t be as likely to get confused. Remember though, language learning is a slow by steady process. Let your child know not to worry about making a mistake or sounding silly. That’s the only way he or she will become confident enough to speak the language on a regular basis.

5. Whenever possible, immerse your child in the second language as often as you can. Taking trips to the place where the language is spoken is a great way to make a language feel “real” to a child. Children mimic what they see, so seeing others speak and use the language in their day-to-day lives will show him that he can do the same!

The most important thing of all is to treat learning a second language like a fun “adventure” rather than a tedious chore. If you keep these tips in mind, it won’t be long before your child is equally comfortable and proficient in both languages! Good luck!

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: George Williams

Study The Italian Language Abroad

The Italian language is one of ancient and historic roots. Today, it is spoken by approximately 70 million people, and is the official language of several nations, including Italy, Slovenia, and Vatican City. If you are interested in learning to speak, read, and write another language, consider the romantic Italian language. You could study at a college or University and receive your degree in Italian. You could take one of many online accelerated courses. Or you could experience the beauty, history, and culture of the Italian language firsthand. You could attend one of the many Italian immersion programs available in Italy.

Earning a degree in Italian from a college or University will provide you with a thorough knowledge of written and conversational Italian. If you earn a college degree in the Italian language, you will most likely be fluent in it. This can lead you to several interesting career options. For example, you can find employment as a foreign language translator, either in the United States or aboard. You can also work as a teacher of English as a second language to students in Italy. If you are already established professionally, and find that you must learn Italian as a job requirement, you can enroll in accelerated courses in Italian online. There are several reputable programs offered via the Internet that are convenient and fun. Learning Italian in this manner will give you a very basic foundation in the language.

If you have the time to devote (a few weeks to a month) and the financial resources, an ideal opportunity is to learn the Italian by enrolling in an immersion program. By doing this, you will not only learn Italian, but you will get a taste of the exciting Italian way of life. Learning Italian in the beautiful country of Italy, where the language has its ancient roots, you will be thrust into the life and culture, and you will learn to speak and understand the language quickly and with surprising ease. You will learn the conversational and colloquial styles of the Italian language. You will interact on a daily basis with native Italian, and they probably won’t be willing or able to communicate with you in English. You will be absorbed into the everyday life of Italy. You can choose to study in historic Rome, Florence, Milan, or even Venice. You will learn to understand and appreciate the mythic Italian culture: the art, the architecture, the food, and the people. You will also attend courses in which you will learn how to read and write Italian. Can you think of a more fun and interesting way to learn a foreign language?

Knowing how to communicate in more than one language (such as English and Italian) can be advantageous to your career. If the business you are in demands international travel, being able to communicate with your associates in Italy will make your work easier and less stressful. If you are fluent in Italian, you can be certified as a foreign language translator for example (as mentioned previously). This is a challenging career opportunity. You can work full-time for a foreign language translation firm, translating important business documents or web pages for global corporations. Or you can do freelance translation work, where you make your own work schedule. You might also have the skills to teach English to students in Italian speaking countries. By knowing English and Italian, you would be able to live and work in Italy.

By learning to speak, read, and write the Italian language, you possess the potential to develop you career by working in Italy, or you can set out on a new career as a translator or English instructor. Learning Italian will also enhance your travels to Italy. Learning the Italian language is an intellectually and personally achievement that will broaden your scope professionally open your eyes to a new culture.

Find the essential information on where and how to learn a new or second language at http://www.foreign-languages-school.com/study-the-italian-language.html

Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: John Davison

Learning English In Four Easy Steps

So, you want to learn to speak English. That is great. There are a ton of great resources out there that can help including over 49,000 ESL websites.
Now if you are like most other ESL students reading this article then you already have a fairly good notion of the English language. You most likely are looking for a place to practice and enhance your English skills. So, here are four easy steps to do just that.
Step Number One: Preparation
Since you already have a fairly good notion of English you don't need to start all over with the ABC's and the verb "to be". Take stock of your current skills and find out where you are weak. Once you know what you need to learn...all you have to do is learn it.
So, pick out something from your list of things that you know you need/want to learn. Take a few minutes to analyze why you want learn this information, and make sure you focus on that particular point while studying. It is super easy to get side-tracked onto other topics.
If you do see something of interest while you are on your search for information...make sure to take note of it so you can come back at a later time. But for now...FOCUS on the task at hand!
Step Number Two: Practice
Now that you know what you know what you want to learn, jump over to Google or Yahoo and do a quick search on your chosen topic of interest. From there you should be able to find sites that will provide you with tools and resources such as audio files, video files, exercises, and tests to practice what you want to learn.
Step Number three: Use
Alright! You are rip, raring, and ready-to-go! You studied what it was you wanted to learn, and now you need to put it into use in real life situations. Use what you just learned on your friends and acquaintances. Hit the forums and try out what you now know. Try to use it at least thirty times to really assimilate it well and make it a part of you.
Step Number four: Evaluate
Once you are done for the day, sit down for a few minutes and evaluate how you did. Did you learn everything that is required? Are you still weak in certain areas of this topic?
Take note of these things, and use them in your planning time tomorrow as you restart the cycle. Make sure to do these four steps everyday, and you will steadily see your skills progressing. So now...just go do it!
Article Source: http://www.articlerich.com - By: Travis Waack