Wednesday, July 4, 2012

International Diffusion and Power of The German Language

German institutions and schools located all over the World are the main instruments to help this diffusion. Even though German might not be the first language in the school curricula, the number of people learning and/or using it worldwide runs around 128 million.

On the other hand, the knowledge of German gives you access to one of the best educational systems in the world. For instance it gives you access to more than 350 universities and institutes of superior education, some of world-wide reputation. Additionally it is a language that maintains its scientific relevance, due to classical works in many of the branches of the human and social sciences, as evidenced by the continuing relevance of authors like Goethe, Kant, Marx, Freud, Weber or Einstein, whose original works can only be read in German.

Despite the fact that it has a weak standing in the United Nations and the European council, it is considered a "working language" - the official languages being French and English - nevertheless German in Internet is in second place in the Wikipedia, according to the classification on the basis of the number of articles.

The German Government wants to motivate young people to learn German through original events and projects all over the world. With this goal in mind it has created a network of more than 1,400 schools and it has planned an Olympic competition for students, linguistic camps and a juvenile parliament.

Sunday, July 1, 2012

3 Steps Parents Can Take To Support Elementary Language Education In Their Communities

Many parents and teachers are concerned about cutbacks in funding for foreign language programs at the elementary school level.

Is there anything a parent can do to support early childhood language education in their communities?

Yes! I recently attended a presentation given by Janis Jensen, the NJ Coordinator of World Languages and the President of the National Network for Early Language Learning. During her talk, she made these suggestions for parents and teachers who are being faced with potential cutbacks in their school's foreign language programs.

1. Be an advocate. Many of the teachers at the presentation agreed that active and vocal parents can play a very influential role (sometimes more than teachers) in convincing school boards to support funding for early language learning. Consider organizing concerned parents, and presenting a compelling case to the school board for maintaining adequate funding for early language learning. Sending articles to the local newspaper about the benefits of early language learning also can help generate support for funding language programs.

Monday, June 25, 2012

Students May Want to Thoroughly Learn the Spanish Language

Parents will be noticing educational institutions furnishing additional immersion study programs in schools. However, quite a few of those programs in schools are attaining full capacity. Mothers and fathers want her or his youngsters to learn Spanish through these immersion programs. Though, educational establishments are unable to accommodate the amount of children that desire to join in.

Many schools will require students to learn a second dialect. The idea of learning a different language in addition to her or his native dialect seems useful. Nevertheless, rather frequently students do not comprehend the reason she or he has to study a new dialect. At that moment, mothers and fathers in addition to educational institutions must be explaining the positives of being able to speak two languages. If children understand all the advantages then she or he may aspire to speak many dialects.

There are a few problems in regards to the method schools train children in a foreign dialect. Educational establishments beyond the U.S. teach many more days each year. That situation is the reason third world places including India and China produce kids with more knowledge than America. Some common sense will enlighten individuals if a person studies additional hours on a topic then he or she will comprehend much more about the subject. Giving students the summer off harms a pupil's capability to comprehensively know an issue.

Sunday, June 10, 2012

Why Everyone Should Learn a Foreign Language

No matter what age you are or what educational background you have, you can learn a foreign language and there are many reasons to do so. Humans have a universal characteristic and ability that is unique and distinguishes them from all other species on this planet. This ability is the complex use and adaptation of communication that we call language. Over thousands of years this has developed and evolved into the complex array of languages that cover the modern world. Here are just a few benefits of adding another language to your abilities.

1. Improve your English - Studying the proper parts of speech in another language can also help you better understand how your own language works. People who have a flair for language, like poets and novelists, often speak more than one language.

2. Travel - Nothing makes traveling to different countries easier than knowing the language. You will not have to depend on English-speaking locals, who can often become annoyed by the fact that you didn't bother to brush up on the country's language before visiting.

Tuesday, May 22, 2012

Is Spanish Truly The Best Language To Learn?

Learning Spanish is a skill, just like any other. But learning Spanish can be fun if you like to take on a learning challenge, Learning to speak, read and write Spanish could be your cup of tea. Basic Spanish is one of the very easiest things to learn if you have a good reason to do so. But the best part is, as an adult, you can finally understand how to learn, and accept the fact that it is a process that takes some time, and you enjoy the ride. However, if you truly believe that learning Spanish is very difficult or if you don't want to learn, I can virtually guarantee you will have a tough time of it.

There are reasons to learn the Spanish language for its own sake. And in our time, language learning software can be perfect for people who like to learn Spanish at their own pace in the comfort of their own home or who can't attend regular classes. Language-learning software gives learners the flexibility to set their own pace. These computer programs most commonly fall into two types: featuring either the immersion or the translation method. The immersion method programs guide you through everything in the language you are learning. And the translation method programs show you just a bit at a time and translate that bit for you into your native language. And while studying another language can make you feel smarter, you need the type of program which will work for you.

With more than 350 million native speakers, it is the fourth most commonly spoken language in the world. Spanish speakers can be found on every continent except Antarctica. Spanish is what we call a "Romance" language, meaning that it is based on Latin, the language of the ancient Roman Empire. While it is certainly possible to travel to a Spanish speaking country without knowing any Spanish, your trip will in no way compare with the incredible adventure that awaits the traveler who speaks Spanish. And as an extra bonus, learning Spanish can be the perfect excuse for enjoying the cuisine in Spanish restaurants.

Monday, May 14, 2012

Four Ways to Learn the English Language

English the worldwide language of trade and commerce. Anyone who wants to travel, study or conduct business abroad would benefit so much if they know how to speak English.

For those who are willing to put in some time to learn the English language, here are the most common ways on how a person can learn and improve his or her language skills.

1. Enroll in a language school

English language schools abound in major cities all over the world. If you can spend at least a couple of hours in school, taking classes in a language school is one of the best ways to learn the language. You get to interact with English speaking mentors and converse in English with classmates. Your mentors can also listen to you and can give you tips on improving in your weak areas.

Sunday, April 29, 2012

Creative Use of Your Computer Can Make Language Learning Easier

Your computer can be used as a creative tool in your quest to learn a foreign language. Some innovative ideas can turn your language education into an entertaining, truly memorable experience.

* Audio Modification

Many companies produce software packages that enable you to transform your voice (or someone else's). You can make your voice feminine, masculine, or robotic. It can be raised to a high pitch or lowered to bass tones.

So how does this help you learn a new language?

Many foreign languages (French and German, for example) assign gender to nouns. When learning new vocabulary, why not record feminine nouns in a female voice, masculine nouns in a male voice, and neuter nouns in a robotic voice? This approach can also be used with other types of vocabulary learning. Perhaps you could record a list of German dative verbs in a woman's voice and a list of German accusative verbs in a male voice. You can even take audio files that have been recorded by other people and make them more interesting by morphing voices or adding sound effects.