Archive for the 'Language' Category



Top Assistance Products of Listen Technologies

Thursday 23 July 2009 @ 10:42 am

Listen Technologies has for many years been one of the most sought after manufacturers of hearing assistance and listening devices for decades. There are endless uses that people have used this equipment for, and it is relied on in hundreds of different types of venues all over the world.

From theaters, concert halls, and houses of worship to sporting events and political arenas worldwide, individuals want to hear every word that is spoken, every sound that is made which is why they come. When the need for auditory enhancement is present, Listen Technologies has proven time after time that the equipment that they provide is top of the line and the ultimate in technologically advanced machinery.

Even though many people can get by with a standard sound system, there are many others who not only want supreme quality enhancement of the sounds around them but they also need enhanced equipment. An enhanced auditory experience for many people is a necessity and not an option, and this is where Listen Technologies shines as an industry leader. Products are designed for easy, convenient wireless sound solutions for patrons whose experience depends completely on how well they are able to hear what is going on around them.

There are many different types of equipment available in many different price ranges, and these range from personal small systems to large systems that can serve hundreds or even thousands of people at a time. Basic systems give a great performance at great prices, and the basic components are included such as digital receivers, headphones or ear buds, and the antennas to pick up the sounds as well. These standard systems are perfect for use for board meetings and training sessions, in ear cuing, and general auditory assistance. Crisp, clear amplification, reduced background noise, and a long signal range make these devices unsurpassed in quality and necessity. Their 216 MHz systems offer double the range of the more standard 72 MHz systems up to an average of 3,000 feet.

The larger systems have a much broader capability and can be used for international meetings, translation purposes, and for hearing in large arenas like concert halls. These systems might have multiple receivers and head sets included and might also include large speakers for clear sound amplification over a larger area than smaller standard systems have. These are sometimes used with corporations, in theaters, for outdoor events and in sporting arenas. Listen Technologies continues today to be one of the premier manufacturers of hearing assistance devices and listening equipment.

For more information on Listen Technologies, please visit our website.

[tags]Listen Technologies[/tags]




Learn Japanese Working At a Resort in Japan

Monday 20 July 2009 @ 3:29 am

There are many ways to learn a language. Some go to school, some stay at home and read books, and others try to make friends and chat online. But the best way to learn a language is to go to the country, surround yourself with local people in a fun environment, and the learning will come naturally!

A great way to improve your Japanese is by working in ski jobs in Japan. Working in a ski resort in Japan gives you the chance to live, work, and breathe with Japanese people. Every day, you’ll be interacting with others of a similar age and interests - a love of the snow! You’ll meet great new people, gain a unique insight into authentic Japanese culture, and most importantly, learn Japanese. If you make a little effort to get to know the local Japanese staff there, you’ll find your Japanese sky-rocketing before your eyes.

Working using a foreign language is possibly the fastest way to improve your ability. Having to pay attention to your job being explained to you, and the personal pressure you’ll feel to do the best job that you can, will result in you always listening intently to anything your co-workers say. Especially in Japan, where the work ethic is so entrenched in everyone, you’ll find that the Japanese take so much pride in their job, that you’ll also start to feel that way. In turn, you’ll find motivation from your co-workers to perform exceptionally in your duties.

There are many different types of ski jobs that you can do. The positions you’ll be eligible for depend on your Japanese speaking ability. The positions listed below are in ascending order (easiest to hardest) of Japanese ability required:

1. Ski Jump

Working hours: A typical day starts at 7:30am and finishes at 5:00pm (1-1.5 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is called ‘nighter’ - hours are 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include clearing away snow after a big dump. Setting up guide ropes leading up onto the jump boarding ramp or steps.

Regular duties: Helping customers safely board the lifts/steps to the top of the ski jump. Giving verbal instruction to customers who aren’t familiar with ski jump facilities. In the event of heavy snowfall, lift paths may need to be cleared. A physically demanding position. A good job for true beginners to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

2. Lifts

Working hours: A typical day starts at 7:30am and finishes at 4:30 or 5:00pm (1-1.5 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is called ‘nighter’ - hours are 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include clearing away snow from around the boarding ramp onto the lift, and wiping off snow that has settled on the lift seats overnight. Guide ropes leading up onto the lift boarding ramp will sometimes need to be erected.

Regular duties: Checking customer tickets and clipping if required. Helping customers safely board the lifts - giving verbal instruction to customers who aren’t familiar with riding lifts. Stopping lifts in case of emergency. On snowy days lift seats will need to be regularly cleaned (brushed) before customers sit down. In the event of heavy snowfall, lift paths may need to be cleared. A physically demanding position. A good job for beginners to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

3. Restaurant

Working hours: A typical day starts at 6:00am and finishes at 10:00pm. An average 9 hour shift (1 hour unpaid lunch break) covers two out of three meals (breakfast, lunch and dinner).

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping/vacuuming your work area each morning. Most restaurants operate on a ‘cashless’ ticketing system - negating the need to fill cash registers with the days ‘float’.

Regular duties: Serving drinks and dishes to customers at their tables, clearing them away after customers have finished, and wiping down tables in preparation for the next customers. Some of the ski resorts have self-serve facilities, whereby customers serve themselves (leaving only the clearing of tables for restaurant staff). Showing customers to tables and taking orders. Restaurant work may sometimes includes the serving of food onto dishes for customers, and even simple food preparation duties, such as making hotdogs, sandwiches or pizzas. A good job for beginners to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

4. Ski Rental

Working hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is called ‘nighter’ - hours are 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning, and filling cash registers with the days ‘float’.

Regular duties: Helping customers with any queries and offering recommendations about ski equipment (eg. skis, snowboards etc). Briefing customers on the safety and handling of equipment. Taking customer details (name, address, contact numbers) when organizing rental equipment. Ringing up customer rental charges on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). Helping customers choose appropriate sized equipment (according to body weight and height, etc.). Adjusting stances on skis/boards to suit boot sizes. Waxing of skis/boards and general maintenance of equipment. Collecting rental gear from customers at the end of each work day and checking stock levels to make sure all rental equipment has been returned. Closing and balancing cash registers at the end of the work day. A good job for beginner-intermediates to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

5. Ski Instructor

Working hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm. The average 9 hour day (1 hour unpaid lunch break) includes two sessions of 2 hour lessons (total of 4 hours teaching each day).

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your ski school each morning.

Regular duties: Taking customer details (name, address, contact numbers) who wish to join ski classes. Helping customers organize rental equipment if required. Each day consists of 2 by 2 hour lessons. Outside of the lessons, you may be required to help ski rental with equipment preparation or collection at the end of the day, or other various duties. A good job for intermediates to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

6. Ski Patrol

Working hours: A typical day starts at 6:30am and finishes at 10:00pm. Your shift (which may be split) will usually be about 9 hours (1 hour unpaid lunch break) during this period.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your Patrol centre each morning. Checking ski-run conditions to make sure slopes are safe - includes erecting safety fences and warning signs around dangerous zones. Checking avalanche-prone areas.

Regular duties: Dealing with injured customers by attending to injuries with basic First Aid, and delivering customers to ski patrol centre for ambulance pick-up. Cautioning customers who may be breaking resort rules. A good job for intermediates to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’. Helping customers with queries on the slopes.

7. Gift Shop

Working hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is sometimes available between the hours of 5:30pm - 10:00pm.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning, and filling cash registers with the days ‘float’.

Regular duties: Helping customers with any queries, and offering recommendations about gifts and cakes. Ringing up customer purchases on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). In limited cases, gift-wrapping may be required. Closing and balancing cash registers at the end of the work day. A good job for beginner-intermediates to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

8. Bellhop

Working hours: An average shift is 9 hours (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Shift times may vary greatly throughout the month. A typical day starts anywhere between 7:00am and 12:00pm and finishes 8 or 9 hours later. Overtime work is applicable to shifts exceeding 9 hours.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning.

Regular duties: Taking care of customers’ baggage and delivering baggage to rooms (no tipping in Japan). Guiding customers to the front desk for check-in and helping with any other queries. A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: As the initial contact point with customers entering the hotel, greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’ is crucial.

9. Ticket Sales

Working hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break). Overtime work is sometimes available between the hours of 5:30pm - 9:00pm.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning, and filling cash registers with the days ‘float’.

Regular duties: Selling customers tickets and helping with any queries. Ringing up customer purchases on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). Closing and balancing cash registers at the end of the work day. A good job for beginner-intermediates to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

10. Slope Concierge

Working hours: A typical day starts at 8:30am and finishes at 5:30pm (1 hour unpaid lunch break).

Morning preparation: None

Regular duties: This position was created to assist with queries and give information to customers out on the slopes. Skiing around and offering help to customers who look lost or need help with something. Guiding customers to facilities. Pro-actively approaching customers and offering assistance. Checking on customers to make sure they aren’t injured, and contacting patrol if required. Cautioning customers who may be breaking resort rules. A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

11. Information/Concierge

Working hours: Shift start times may vary throughout the month. A typical day consists of a 9-hour shift (1 hour unpaid lunch break) anywhere between 7:00am and 9:00pm. Overtime work is available.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly organizing your work station each morning.

Regular duties: Taking care of customers’ enquiries and offering recommendations about events / restaurants / sights / facilities etc. A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’ is crucial.

12. Hotel Front Desk

Working hours: An average shift is 9 hours (1 hour unpaid lunch break) . Shift times may vary greatly throughout the month. Reception is open 24hrs and shift times can fall anytime during the day. Shifts are rarely split - you will be working a 9 hour block. Overtime work is applicable to shifts exceeding 9 hours.

Morning preparation: Primary duties include briefly sweeping your work area each morning.

Regular duties: Helping customers check-in and check-out. Taking the occasional reservation and answering the telephone (putting telephone calls through to other departments). Helping customers with any queries about hotel facilities etc. and offering recommendations about services. Ringing up customer bills on the cash register and controlling cash inflows-outflows (great care needs to be taken in giving the correct change to customers). A good job for intermediate-advanced speakers to learn Japanese.

Additional duties: Greeting customers with a nice smile and a friendly ‘hello’.

If you want to Learn Japanese, it’s not about good school grades, or learning perfect grammar - it’s about interacting with people. Learn the most fun, and most effective way possible - working in a ski resort in Japan!
http://www.boobooski.com/ski.html

[tags]learn japanese[/tags]




Benefits Of An ESL Lesson

Wednesday 15 July 2009 @ 8:17 pm

While many people believe the ESL Lesson is something new, it’s not. In fact, it’s been around for several years and has shown us a plethora of uses for it. Since English is considered the most common language in the world, it’s important for businesses around the world to utilize it for proper communicating purchases. Whether it be for professional or social statures, it could end up making or breaking a deal.

In today’s world, the ESL Lesson is extremely popular in the United States. Many immigrants are learning to speak English this way in order to gain citizenship to the United States. There are various ways to do it, and one of the most popular is through the military. Obviously this coincides with having a specified number of years in the service, but it is an option. If you do choose this route, you will be assigned to a base where you actually take the ESL Lessons until you’ve learned the English language.

Keep in mind this is not the avenue that everyone will be able to take, which is why there are other options available. You can find places on the Internet who will be involved in forums and discussion boards just for ESL Lessons. These are all individuals just like you, who are trying to get a grasp on the English language and be able to utilize it everyday. The best part about the online venues is you will find instructors available for any questions you may have about the language. This way you can learn faster and start using it in the real world.

We’ve searched and scoured the Internet for months looking at the different options you might have, and the best one is the ESL board. Actually it’s not a board at all, but a social network geared towards speaking the English language. It’s a great place to meet friends, but more importantly you can practice with others without feeling embarrassed about how you pronounce something. Plus you’ll gain access to the premium media and enjoy videos, games, and lesson plans to help you along the way. It’s simply a new innovation that we can’t believe didn’t come out years ago. So not only will you be able to complete your goals, but have fun doing it in the process.

The best thing to do right now is go have a look at the different options available. If you feel there is one you want to be associated with, then simply follow the instructions, build your profile, and begin enjoying all the features to your new ESL Lesson.

If you would like to learn more about an esl lessonvisit http://www.eslunited.com.

[tags]esl job, esl, efl, esl lesson, esl cafe, esl students, esl games, esl teaching, esl activities[/tags]




The Function of Prepositional Phrases in English

Monday 13 July 2009 @ 8:19 pm

When learning the English language, it is important to have an understanding of the grammar. One area that requires understanding is the function of prepositional phrases. Prepositions are words that have just one possible form which introduces the object of the prepositional phrase.

A few commonly used prepositions in English include: about, above, across, after, against, along among, despite, down, during, around, toward, under, underneath, until, with, within,etc. The preposition’s role is to demonstrate a plausible, time-connected, or spatial relationship between the object of the prepositional phrase and the other parts of the sentence.

For instance:

- The man is sitting on the chair.

The prepositional phrase ‘on the chair’ shows a spatial relationship between the subject man and the object chair

- The child has not been to the pool since almost drowning.

The prepositional phrase ’since almost drowning’ shows a time-connected relationship between ‘has not been to the pool’ and ‘almost drowning.’

- The woman lost weight despite eating junk food.

The prepositional phrase ‘despite eating junk food’ shows a plausible relationship between losing weight and eating junk food.

Prepositional phrases consist of a preposition and an object of a preposition and perform a number of sentence functions that include: Particles, Heads The Prepositional Phrases, Complements of Phrases, Adverb Modifying a Verb, Adjective Modifying a Noun, or functioning as nouns but are not real nouns and are referred to as Nominals.

1.) Particles

Particles consist of a phrasal verb followed by a preposition.

mess up
jump in

The prepositions ‘up’ and ‘in,’ act as particles in the phrasal verbs ‘mess up’ and ‘jump in.’

2.) Heads The Prepositional Phrases

in the office
after the movie

‘in’ and ‘after’ precede the prepositional phrases.

3.) Complements of Phrases

Prepositional phrases balance noun phrases, adjective phrases, and verb phrases.

Dogs depend on their owners,
The star of the play just left.

Prepositional phrases are ‘on their owners’ and ‘of the play’

4.) Adverb modifying a Verb

The dog chases after the cat.
The toilet overflowed despite the plumbing repair.
The plant grew without using special plant food.

5.) Adjective modifying a Noun

Please give me the book next to the computer.
I see the car with the large dent.
Stop the car at the railroad tracks.

6.) Functioning as Nominals

The store is next to the bank.
The office is between a restaurant and a gift shop.
The encore is after the concert has finished.

The Nominal performs this function in sentences when they are used in conjunction with the designated verb.

7.) Adjuncts

Prepositional phrases working as adjuncts frame an entire clause.

For my part, I enjoyed learning to swim.
With all due respect, you are not my boss.

The prepositional phrases are ‘for my part’ and ‘with all due respect.’
When learning the English language, understanding the rules and meanings of sentence phrases that includes such functions as prepositional phrases will go a long way in mastering both the spoken and written language.

Free English lessons are available online! Get English translations online and learn English online at the same time!

[tags]learn english, free english lessons, english translation, apreder ingles[/tags]




How To Say I Love You In Thai

Sunday 12 July 2009 @ 5:23 pm

So, you’ve connected with a beautiful Thai girl and you would like to tell her I love you in Thai or even question if she likes you or to tell her she is lovely. You’ve attempted it in English and somehow she just isn’t understanding. Sometimes the language of the heart can be difficult even when you speak the same language. How can you let this beautiful Thai girl know precisely how you feel?

You’re going to find that while the Thai language is confusing for Americans, it’s actually pretty simple to at least pick up a few useful phrases that you can use to impress your Thai lady. While the tones can be difficult in speech, the grammar is much simpler than English. And when you use these phrases, even if not spoken exactly right, your Thai girl will be so happy that you’ve gone ahead and learned her language.

These are several simple phrases that will help you determine how your Thai lady feels and will inform her exactly you feel too. There’s no cause to allow your differences in language keep you from talking the language of love - in Thai.

chan rak khun - I love you
khun suay mak - You are very beautiful
khun na-ruk mak - You are very cute
khun tam hai pom mee kwarm sook - You make me happy
pom kit teung khun - I miss you
pom sot - I am single
khun chorp pom reu blao - Do you like me? (For yes the reply is “chorp” and for no the reply is “mai chorp”)
khun mee faen reu yung - Do you have a girlfriend/boyfriend? (For yes the reply is “mee” and for no the reply is “mai mee”)
ben faen pom dai mai - Can you be my girlfriend? (For yes the reply is “dai” and for no the reply is “mai dai”)
pom kit wa pom long rak khun - I think I have fallen in love with you
hua jai kong pom ben kong khun - My heart is yours
chan rak khun mak leeuy - I love you so much
joop dai mai - Can I kiss you?
tee rak - sweetheart or darling
khun keu yot ruk kong pom - You are my sweetheart

So there you have a very nice beginning if you’re looking for useful phrases to use when speaking with Thai girls. I hope you’ve enjoyed the article and that it’s useful to you.

The author and his Thai wife write about all aspects of Thailand from Thai food to Thai girls at their blog Thailand Musings. If you have an interest in dating Thai girls you should really check it out.

[tags]thai love, thai language, thai phrases, thai girl, thai girls, thailand girl, thailand girls[/tags]




Translation Service - 5 Tips to Select the Right Translation Agency

Friday 19 June 2009 @ 3:33 pm

As globalization comes into the picture with the maturity of Internet, more businesses are rapidly expanding their operations overseas. With this, it is natural that there will be a demand for professional translation service.

If you are intending to expand your business operations globally, especially to non-English speaking countries, you definitely need a professional translate agency to translate your business documents, marketing collaterals, websites, legal documents, technical reports, etc.

A professional translation agency will be able to help you overcome the language barrier that comes with doing business globally. Now, let me share with you 5 tips to select the right translation agency for the job:

1. Look for an agency with reputation and experience. Study their websites and find out their clientele, client’s testimonials, case studies, etc. Other than studying their websites, it is best to ask for recommendations from your business associates, friends or family members.

2. Make sure that the agency is proficient in languages. The language proficiency of the agency must be considered so as to ensure that they will be able to translate your business documents accurately. There are many ways to find out the language proficiency of an agency. One of the easiest ways is to find out how many different language combinations the agency is offering and the qualifications of their team members.

3. Getting a service with the lowest price may not be the best choice. Although getting a cheap translation service helps you to save money, it will sometime jeopardize the quality of the work. The reason an experienced agency charges a premium for their services is because they will ensure that the work is of the highest quality with accuracy.

4. Select an agency that offers various services. An experienced agency usually offers translation services in multiple languages as they have clients across the globe. Also, they should also provide other services such as website localization, software localization, etc. By finding an agency that provides multiple services all under one roof, you will save time when you require other services in the future.

5. Good customer service. Good customer service is very important. In business, time is money. Therefore, you cannot afford to delay a project due to poor customer service. Once the project starts, the agency should provide updates on the progress of the project to you periodically instead of you chasing the agency for updates.

So take your time to choose the right translation agency for the project. You cannot afford to choose an agency that cannot perform the task well.

For English Chinese translation services, visit WhizWordz now:

Click Here: English Chinese Translation and other language services at WhizWordz.

[tags]business translation, translation, translator, localization, interpreter[/tags]




Business Translation - 4 Effective Business Translation Tips

Friday 19 June 2009 @ 3:33 pm

Professional translation service is in demand nowadays because more companies are doing business internationally. If you are planning to expand your business operations overseas (especially to non-English speaking countries), then you definitely need a professional translation service.

Business translation is very different from casual translation. There are a lot of other factors that you must bear in mind. Now, let me share with you 5 tips to effective business translation:

1. Select the right translation agency. It is important that you engage an experienced and reputable translation agency to do the job for you. An experienced agency will do a thorough research and ensure that the work is of the highest quality. A good agency will also understand the target language well and how communication works in the country you wish to enter into. Business translation is more than just translating word by word. You need to understand the culture and dialect of the country in order to translate professionally and accurately.

2. Make sure that the agency that you are hiring has translators who speak the native language. You need someone who is well-verse in the native language and is sensitive to the culture and ethics of the country. This will ensure that your business documents fit into the culture of the country and accepted by the people.

3. Translate your website and software content too. Other than business proposals and marketing collateral, you must translate your website content. If you are in the software business, it is important that you translate the content of your software and any other software documentation into the native language. An experienced agency will assign professional website technicians or programmers to translate your website and software accurately.

4. Make sure that you are comfortable with the agency you are working with. Although technical capability is very important, you also can’t neglect your working relationship with the agency too. To have a good working relationship, the agency must be able to work closely with you and provide quality customer service. By doing so, you can minimize any misunderstanding that will jeopardize the quality of the work.

Hope that with this article, you now understand the importance of business translation service. With quality business translation service, you can definitely expand your business overseas smoothly. One additional tip for you is before you decide to hire an agency, make sure that you shortlist a few agencies and compare the prices so that you can get the service at the right rate.

For English Chinese translation services, visit WhizWordz now:

Click Here: English Chinese Translation and other language services at WhizWordz.

[tags]business translation, translation, translator, localization, interpreter[/tags]




Why Subtract When You Can Add?

Wednesday 17 June 2009 @ 8:07 pm

Have you ever given thought to how different your life might be if your parents had chosen to enroll you in that summer enrichment program, that fall football camp or that study abroad during your school years? Often times simple decisions such as those shape who we become in our adult lives. I recall a good friend of mine who chose to live in Spain for a year of her college study. She met a native Spaniard and continues to fulfill a lifelong dream of owning a bed and breakfast in that beautiful country!

I myself had the great fortune to live as a exchange student during the summer of my junior year in high school, and now I own a company that utilizes the second language skills I acquired during those three valuable and life changing months. Allow us to use our imagination as our children so freely do to think back on a time in our lives when, choosing to add something to our life, could have truly changed the shape and direction of our futures.

As parents and teachers we often are faced with the challenges of communicating with others in various world languages. Many Americans are not bilingual and find that skill set something they wish they had concentrated on during their schools years. What if I told you that you have the tools and resources at your disposal to give your own children, your own students the gift of learning a second language before their elementary school years kick in?

First of all, you might be wondering when the best time is to introduce a second or third language to your child. Experts advise us to begin the second language journey as soon as possible in the early years. I have even heard about pregnant moms listening to music CDs that showcase two languages so that the child will be born recognizing the sounds of both! Imagine getting such a head start on a lifetime language skill.

What if I told you that should you choose to introduce a second (and third and fourth) language to a special young child in your life he will experience early reading skills along with advanced cognitive development. Simply stated, that young child will be smarter than his monolingual peers. It is a fact that many studies have explored and proven again and again. Being raised bilingually leads to higher standardized test scores, an increased ability in problem solving along with excellent communication skills.

The above pretty much covers the what, why and when. You should expose young children to world languages beyond their native language as early as possible because it increases their brainpower and will help them become lifetime language learners. Allow a young child to learn a new language before the age of eight to ten, and chances are that child will speak the target language with native or near native pronunciation. As we adults struggle with accent issues throughout our adult years we realize this is truly a gift we should give our young children.

Let us now explore the how to add in a language instead of subtracting language from the lives of our young children. I cannot tell you how many times I have heard a parent exclaim that they will not allow a new language to enter the mind of their little one until she has mastered her native language. They come up with all kinds of myths, from she will be language delayed if she listens to bilingual music to she will be confused if we read to her in two languages.

Please let us clear the air now! All of those well meaning relatives, all of those trained pediatricians and all of those school staff members do not intentionally mislead us as parents and teachers. It is simply that there are two very divided schools of thought on this subject, and their beliefs rest in myths that are continually dispelled with recent research.

Truth is that you should add a language into the routine of your home or classroom from day one. Children need daily exposure to languages, both native and new, in order for the languages to become part of their natural speech. Meaning that allowing the child to hear both native and new languages within the same song, the same movie frame and the same book page provides for neural pathway connections that are part of successful language acquisition.

Your child should be allowed to hear the word bread and pan both so that she becomes comfortable with the flow between her native English and her new Spanish. This methodology is called a bilingual method that allows for a seamless flow between native and new languages. It works for any two languages you choose in introduce in a side-by-side manner. Try it! You will like it!

Not only does it allow your child to continue learning his native language it allows you, the adult in his life who may not know a lot of the new language, to feel a high level of comfort with the way in which the new language is being introduced. I know most of my peers who are parents and colleagues who are teachers much prefer having their native English in the picture as they begin to explore learning a new language with their children.

The answer to the how is to find products and programs that use a bilingual approach, an addition of the new language to the native language. Other methods insist on subtracting the native language out of the world of a young child for an hour, a song, a half-day and allowing her to hear only the target language. This method, often referred to as immersion, removes the point of reference for the child. Often times this method can lead to anxiety in the young child, illness or a sense of rebellion; thus finding the parent or teacher frustrated at the lack of performance on the part of the child.

Put yourself in the position of a young child who is having his native language subtracted from the picture of language learning. Do you really feel he is going to be excited about this new language when he is being forced to speak only in that language for an entire hour or an entire morning? Chances are that child will experience feelings of nervousness about the language-learning environment or, as the Boston Globe reported, even begin to lose sleep over the situation and experience negative medical side effects.

Bilingual consultant, keynote speaker and children recording artist, Beth Butler is the founder of The Boca Beth ProgramSample the bilingual beats here
Order online or call toll free 1.877.825.2622 today!

[tags]teach child languages, introduce languages to child, foreign language for child, bilingual education[/tags]




Tried and Tested Methods Of Learning Spanish

Thursday 11 June 2009 @ 4:43 pm

Spanish is the third most commonly spoken language after English and French. The United States of America is the third largest Spanish speaking nation in the world followed by Spain and Latin America. There are many reasons for a person to take an interest in speaking Spanish.

A lot of Americans get married to people of Hispanic origin and they might want to speak Spanish in order to converse comfortably with their spouse’s relatives in case they do not speak a lot of English. Some people study Spanish because they like the sound of that language and many others might want to learn it as a part of their career requirement. Whatever the reason, there are number of ways of becoming proficient in speaking Spanish, a few of which are listed in this article.

School or college

There are many schools, colleges and other educational institutions that offer specialization courses in this language. It is worth taking up these courses if the person who teaches you is a Spanish speaking person who can converse comfortably in that language. There is no use to taking it up if you are learning it from an English speaking person because at times, you might find their vocabulary to be very limited or their pronunciation not quite authentic.

Listen and observe

Another interesting way to study Spanish is by listening to people talk in this language and observing the nuances. If you notice closely there are many words in Spanish that closely resemble those of English. The reason for this is the fact that both these languages had their origin linked to Latin. There is a particular pattern that is followed by these words. By making note of them and trying to use them when possible you can master Spanish easily.

Online courses

Today, internet is a powerful medium of communication. You can do everything from buying to learning on the net with ease. There are many educational institutions that offer certified courses for Spanish. This way you can become skilled in Spanish by sitting in the comfort of your home and at a convenient time of your choice. Though, it seems very interesting, this type of learning has its share of drawbacks too. When you learn over the internet, you cannot communicate in that language with other people and this inhibits your learning capability. Also, the curriculum for the course over the internet is very limited, hence, you might not be able to learn as much as you intend to. And another drawback is that many institutes do not issue certificates on time.

Move to a Spanish speaking country

This is the best way to learn the language. You cannot learn swimming without getting into the water, though, you may have taken many theoretical lessons for the same. Similarly, to learn a language you need to be in the country where people communicate in that language. This is a sure shot way to master Spanish in a short period of time.

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The Option Of Living In Spain

Thursday 11 June 2009 @ 11:10 am

Part of the relocation activities or the option of deciding to live in Spain, is that of getting to know the local culture as well as learning Spanish. By integrating yourself into the local culture you will in all likelihood settle in much easier, and by learning Spanish you will effectively be able to communicate with the local people, which in essence are your new neighbours. This makes it extremely handy in adjusting to the new lifestyle that you have chosen to you and your family.

There are many ways that you can choose in your effort in learning Spanish, which include activities such as extra lessons or classes, books or audio options or what is known as immersion. Actually if you think about it, that is really what you are doing when you move to Spain, in a you in immersing yourself into the local culture.

Some areas may differ from others in their traditional practices and ways of life, and you would do well to do a bit of homework or research on these practices, so that you may adjust more easily. You should also bear in mind that if you choose to live in a smaller village or in the countryside, the locals will most likely not be able to speak English as well as you might expect. This is largely due to the fact that they have no need to do so, and it is doubtful that because you have arrived anything will change.

Therefore the challenge arises in learning Spanish, and this may be urgent, in which instance you should effectively seek to combine a number of ways of these methods to speed up the process of learning Spanish, so that you may learn as quickly as possible. This in no doubt will also assist your communication efforts within your new home town. At the very least, when the native Spanish-speaking locals to see that you are making an effort, you will gain an amount of respect from them; and they will undoubtedly assist you with your integration into the community.

Where to start learning would be a matter of personal preference, as well as time and resources available, but should not be put off if you have made the decision to relocate. One of the most effective learning mechanisms is that of online tuition, which is available whenever you have time, and you are not restricted by official class hours and other people’s schedules.

Learning Spanish can be fun as well as rewarding, and is a definite must if you’re choosing to live in a foreign country, such as Spain; and furthermore by learning this language you will be opening up a world of opportunities in terms of travel and communication benefits for yourself.

Most of us learn Spanish at school as our third and fourth language, but in todays enviroment people are choosing to learn spanish fast, If you have decided to learn Spanish then read on.

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