The Language Professor, LLC - Blog

The Language Professor, LLC

How Long Does It Take to Learn A Foreign Language - Part 3

10/22/2020

“Learning a foreign language adds variety and flavor to your life.”

The late Dr. Paul Pimsleur estimated that it takes about 1500 words to know the basics of a language and about 5000 words to become fluent. How long would it take you to learn 1500 words? Many language experts agree that, with moderate to intensive studies, three months to a year.

HOW LONG DOES IT TAKE TO LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE? - PART 2

10/15/2020

The amount of time needed to learn a language also depends on how that time is spent. Being in a country where the language is spoken is usually better than classroom learning. Classroom learning, though, where you practice the language is better than going to a foreign country and then only speaking your native language. The amount of time practicing and using the language is the key.

How long does it take to learn a foreign language? - Part 1

10/8/2020

How long does it take to learn a foreign language?

The amount of time it takes to learn a foreign language depends on the language chosen. For native English-speakers some languages like Spanish, French, and Italian are easier to learn than other languages like Arabic, Chinese, and Japanese. You will note the easier languages are the ones that have an alphabet more closely resembling your native language. Conversely, the harder languages are the ones with an alphabet most different from your native language.

TIP: LEARNING A LANGUAGE NEEDS TO BE REGULATED AND CUT UP INTO SMALL SEGMENTS

10/1/2020

It is important to ask yourself

“Am I willing to dedicate the necessary time each day to learn a language? Do I need to make adjustments in my schedule?

What time during the day can I dedicate 15 minutes to learn?”

Once you do a self-examination, you can brace up your mind, set your short-term goals, and stick to them.

What role does dedication and commitment play in learning a foreign language?

9/24/2020

In order to learn a language, you must consistently teach yourself something new, without forgetting what you have already learned. In other words, you need to learn on a regular basis. But that is not all. You must also do so with enough consistency that you can tie in what you are currently learning to what you learned previously. You could learn one new word a year in the foreign language. That would be regular, but would you remember last year’s word, this year’s word, and next year’s word the following year?

Of course, my illustration is an exaggeration but sometimes as language learners we don’t realize that language is about stringing words and their meanings together to get an idea or thought across. It’s difficult to do this by taking a lifetime to learn a language. Think in terms of collapsing the time frame and learning the basics within six months to a year. That way, you will feel like you have accomplished something, and you will know enough to actually start having fun with the language.

What ideas can you think of to consistently learn vocabulary?

WHAT IS YOUR FIRST SECOND LANGUAGE?

9/17/2020

That’s right! What is the first language that you learned as a second language – second to your native tongue? The first foreign language I learned was Spanish. In order to communicate with native speakers, I focused on understanding it and trying to say every little bit I could.

The purpose of learning my next foreign language, French, was strictly academic. I had little opportunity to speak outside the classroom. Although a good language to know, the purpose of learning it was very different from learning Spanish. With French, my focus was directed towards grammar and composing essays.

Many years ago, I took a trip to Germany. Guess what? I learned just enough to enjoy the trip. Today, though, with advanced studies and interaction, I am more competent in German.

What language would you like to learn next?

When I start learning a language, what should be my focus?

9/10/2020

Define your reason for learning a language. Your reason for learning, your motivation, is very important in figuring out what should be your area of focus. If you are learning a language in order to travel to a foreign country, then there may be little need for you to bog yourself down trying to learn all the grammatical rules of the language. On the other hand, if you are studying for a written language exam for a college course, then you will need all the grammatical rules and then some. If you are learning a language for work purposes, then you probably want to focus first on learning to speak and understand the language, as well as the culture, since you will be dealing with many native speakers.

What is the best time of the day to study a language?

9/3/2020

You probably already know if you are a morning person, afternoon person, evening person or even a late evening/early morning person. What you need to select is, not when you are most active physically, but when your brain is most alert mentally. It is during this time, when your brain is most alert, that you want to do the bulk of your learning.

My time is in the morning between 6:00 am and 9:00 am. Sometimes, I am not physically active until later, but my mind is sharpest during this time. My mind is refreshed and ready to take in new information. I can study something that takes me three hours in the evening but will take me only a half hour in the morning. Finding time to do something extra is a challenge in itself. Why not make that time count by taking advantage of your optimum learning period of the day?

I don’t have an ear for languages. So how can I learn?

8/13/2020

I don’t have an ear for languages. So how can I learn?

Listening is probably the most difficult part of learning a language. Listening is difficult because, unlike reading, you can’t always know where one word begins and the other one ends. You have to pay far more attention than reading, writing, and speaking. Sometimes you only have one chance to listen to something. For example, either you heard what the TV commercial was about, or you didn’t. Having only one opportunity to hear a phrase or conversation makes developing listening skills more difficult. However, you can develop this skill! As you continue learning, build your vocabulary and get plenty of practice listening to the language. Think about what the benefits will mean for you!

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I TOOK FOUR YEARS OF HIGH SCHOOL ENGLISH. WHY CAN’T I SPEAK ENGLISH?

7/16/2020

A lot has to do with the way foreign language has been taught. There are four skills of a language. Two skills require you to gather information: reading and listening. The other two skills require you to produce information: writing and speaking. Many schools have taught students to read the language (literature), write the language (grammar and verb drills), and occasionally listen to a pre-recorded audio file pronouncing the vocabulary and verbs for you. Little emphasis may have been placed on actually speaking the language or listening to it extensively. The way languages are taught in high schools and colleges is changing. But for many who have been taught using the old methods, you simply had much more practice in reading and writing than you had in listening and speaking. But don’t give up. There are a variety of ways you can now increase your listening and speaking skills.