What language do you speak? What language do you think in? For most of us, those two answers are probably the same. Do you ever find yourself thinking in another language? What? Maybe you’re like me and never even considered that possibility. I find myself day dreaming quite a bit lately since we have announced … Continue reading HOW TO THINK IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE
Working on this site, I’ve discovered some great power of language quotes! (Well, at least they speak to me.) Some are well-known, others less so. Some are profound, a few light-hearted. Feel free to disagree if you will, but I encourage you to take time to ponder. Why Not “English Only”? “Americans who travel abroad … Continue reading Power of Language Quotes
The answer to the question, “Why is language important?” is probably most simply put as “it’s how we communicate.” My answer and motivation to learn a new language is the fact we are soon moving to a region outside of my home country. We are retiring abroad, and as exciting and romantic as that sounds … Continue reading WHY IS LANGUAGE IMPORTANT?
In Part 1 of this article we addressed the Acquisition-Learning Hypothesis, the Natural Order Hypothesis, and the Monitor Hypothesis. However, it is the final two hypotheses – the Input Hypothesis and the Affective Filter Hypothesis – which have the most practical application for both language acquisition and language teaching. It is to these hypotheses that … Continue reading THEORY OF STEPHEN KRASHEN OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: Part 2
Current second language acquisition theory owes a great debt to the pioneering work of Stephen Krashen, a linguist, educational researcher, and professor emeritus at University of Southern California. When Krashen proposed his 5 hypotheses in the early 1980s, they offered a new and radically different view of language acquisition. While subsequent research has uncovered both strengths … Continue reading KRASHEN’S THEORY OF SECOND LANGUAGE ACQUISITION: Part 1
If you’ve ever wondered how to learn a foreign language, this article is for you. Consider this: Your best way to learn a foreign language may be the opposite of the usual way! The most important element is desire. Is this something you really “want” to do? Maybe it’s something you really “need” to do, … Continue reading WHAT IS THE BEST WAY TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?
CONGRATULATIONS! You have made the decision to learn a new language. Whether this is your second language, or your fifth, your goals are the same – you want to be able to communicate with others, and the stages of language acquisition will likely be the same as well. You may run into roadblocks, we all … Continue reading TEN STAGES OF LANGUAGE ACQUISITION
If you’re like me, you’re amazed and in awe when you hear someone speaking in one language only to quickly switch and begin speaking in another one just as fluently. That really motivates me and makes me wish I could do the very same thing. I suppose you could call this my “WHY”. So ask … Continue reading GET MOTIVATED NOW: Why Is Being Bilingual Important to YOU?
If you’re like me, you would love to learn to speak a foreign language, or two or three. Whether it is for employment, travel, or just for fun, keeping the brain engaged in learning is healthy, smart, and many times fun if you choose the right thing to learn. Being able to communicate better should … Continue reading LEARN HOW TO SPEAK A FOREIGN LANGUAGE: 10 STEPS TO SUCCESS
The United States has been a cultural ‘melting pot’ or ‘salad bowl’ for over two hundred years. With this trend, comes the reality that many cultures must co-exist and work together. A harmonious blending doesn’t always happen, and there are challenges of diversity in the workplace environment. How can we overcome language barriers in the … Continue reading LANGUAGE BARRIERS IN THE WORKPLACE: How to Overcome Them