Language proficiency consists of a variety of skills -- the ability to speak, comprehend, read, and write -- and each of these requires a subset of passive or active abilities: knowledge of vocabulary, the command of grammatical structures, understanding of cultural contexts in which language appears. For this reason, it is helpful to practice language in various ways. Besides, none of these skills exist in isolation. Practicing and improving your ability in one set of skills can also promote your language learning in the other areas.
1. Find a pen pal
Modern technologies have undeniably brought the world closer together. Years ago penpals communicated primarily through letter writing (hence pen pal!). Today there are many more alternatives which are much faster than snail mail and are still cheap or even free, including e-mail, fax, text chat or voice chat, text messaging, or video conferencing via the Internet. They don't even require a pen.
Finding a foreign language pen pal is easy. Many online services exist that will allow you to file a pen pal request or search databases for pen pals suitable to your language needs, age, and interests. You can find a partner for nearly every language, even those that are less commonly taught. The eTandem service allows you to register online and will actively match you based on your application with a suitable partner. At Mylanguageexchange.com, you can locate your own pen pal. The site gives you the opportunity to post a request for a pen pal or to search other requests by language and several other limiting criteria. Polyglot and Language Buddy both allow you to search for a language partner by language. Potential pen pals may also be lurking in our Foreign Language Forum here at Vistawide. All of these services are free.
2. Rent and watch a foreign film
Visit your local movie rental store and browse the foreign film section. Most films will be in the foreign language with English subtitles. If you're choosing a video rather than a DVD, be sure that the film is not dubbed, but rather in the original language with subtitles. Some university libraries have foreign videos that you can check out. Another alternative is to join an online DVD subscription service. Netflix has over 3500 foreign films available for rent -- by far more than any other rental service. If you prefer to download movies online, you will find a handful of foreign films at Movielink.
Especially if you are a beginning language learner, you will likely not understand much of the language in the movie. Native speakers talk rapidly, use slang, and often speak in accents or local dialects. Nonetheless, watching a foreign language film is a fantastic way to attune your ear to the sounds of the language. You'll probably notice that by the end of the film, you're able to understand bits and pieces of what you hear. Gather your friends together, make some popcorn, sit back and enjoy the trip!
3. Read or watch foreign news online
The Internet gives web users access to 100s of international news sources within seconds. The Internet Public Library provides links to online newspapers in over 150 countries and Broadcast-Live provides a list of television stations with streaming video.
Reading a foreign language newspaper or watching a video broadcast from another country is a great way to hone your language skills and familiarize yourself with an area where it's spoken. You can pick up vocabulary pertaining to current events and become exposed to different perspectives on those events. And you can become aware of local issues of importance to the readers or viewers of that particular news source.
After you have gone through the news stories once, read up on international events in your own language to fill in the details that you missed. Then go back and read or view the news reports again. The second, or third, or even the fourth time around, you will understand successively more.
4. Find native speakers in your community
You might be surprised to find that there is an individual or family or even a whole community of native speakers where you live. Visit a language department or the international programs office at a local college or university and ask if there are any foreign students who speak the language you're learning. These students are often far away from home and will appreciate establishing lasting and meaningful contacts during their stay. Plan activities together, take turns cooking meals traditional to your respective countries, or even invite them to spend holidays with your family. They will also be pleased to meet people who show a genuine interest in getting to know them and their culture.
Beyond the university, you could place an ad in the local newspaper expressing a desire to practice your language skills. You might offer to teach your own language in return. Often you need only find one native speaker to open up the floodgates. They usually know where the others are lurking and how to contact them.
5. Join or start a conversation group
Another way to connect with others who share your language interest is to join a local conversation group. Ask at local colleges and universities if such groups already exist. If not, start one of your own! Advertise at colleges and place a public announcement in the newspaper noting the date, time, and place of the first meeting. If at first you have no takers, don't dismay. The information takes some time to disseminate and reach the right people. Establish a fixed meeting time and place, say, each Tuesday at 6:00pm or the first Wednesday of every month at 5:00pm, and you are likely to eventually attract some participants.
6. Visit an ethnic restaurant
An ethnic restaurant is not only a place to enjoy some traditional cuisine, but it's also a place to connect with native speakers and find out what related events are going on in your region. Check the Yellow Pages under Restaurants in your area. If you are willing to travel, check the closest metropolitan area near you. Larger cities are more likely to host a variety of ethnic cuisines and populations.
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(Sh.Mahdavi)
1 comments: on "Language Learning Resources at Your Fingertips- Part 1"
It was very useful. Thanks a lot. The links were very effective.
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