Natural Foreign Language Learning (How To)
Listening Isn't Enough
Most courses for foreign language learning on the market today concentrate on the age-old 'listen then repeat' technique. Many center on teaching the learner how to 'sound out' common words or letters in the target language, but without reference to how the language is *actually* used and spoken by native speakers. Listening alone doesn't give the learner any real feel for how the language actually works, while stock phrases - however common - only reinforce the problem.
Make Sure Of Your Pronunciation
Long word lists are not only discouragingly difficult to memorize, they also do not help the learner to pronounce and *use* the language correctly. Poor pronunciation is one of the most common problems facing the language learning beginner, and it's one that can be easily remedied. Many courses do provide pronunciation guides for the vocabulary they teach - these will prove essential. Dictionaries also contain phonetic advice on pronouncing words accurately.
Grammar Rules Are Hard To Learn
Trying to learn a language by remembering lots of grammar rules is hard and time-consuming. It's not easy to form complete, spontaneous sentences while analyzing for grammar at each step. Learning to learn by example, such as how you learned your own native language, sidesteps the problem of 'grammar overload'.
Contextual Learning Brings 'Word Sense'
Learning 'Chien is the French word for dog' doesn't really tell us much about the word or how it is actually used by French speakers. Contextual learning means learning words in natural combinations: helping the learner to remember - and use - the word correctly, just like a native. Optimnem's range of educational courses are among the first in the world to use contextual learning for students wanting to study (or improve their) English, French or German.
Input - Read Plenty and Widely
The more combinations for your target language that you are exposed to, the more your brain is able to re-combine vocabulary to create your own complete and spontaneous sentences. Reading - books, magazines, newspapers, comic strips - increases your feel for the language's natural usage patterns.
Practise Regularly
Practice is an essential component to successful and effective language learning. If possible, practise with a native speaker of your target language. Native speakers have an innate feel for their language and how it is used - they will be able to give you better feedback and plenty of useful examples to illustrate key features of the language. 1-2-1 tuition with a native speaker can be a real advantage.
For more information on Optimnem's unique intuitive learning approach, visit http://www.optimnem.co.uk/Intro_P3.htm or to go direct to our course information pages, click http://www.optimnem.co.uk/courses.htm for more details and examples.
