rob

Thanks a lot.

Thanks!

Your ideas have brought to mind a few other things English language learners can do to improve their English.

1) Get online and join an English chat community. Right now there are English learners of all levels looking for other learners to practice their speaking with. Type ‘chat in English’ into your search engine of choice and browse the many sites that come up. Most communities are free to join. Choose one you like, find a English chatting partner and get talking.

2) Keep an English journal. Start filling your journal with your English goals and dreams, inspiring English quotes, and useful English words and sentences. Use your journal as your source of inspiration when you feel down or lost. Your journal will become your most trusted friend on your road to English success.

Keep an upbeat and positive attitude in regards to your English learning. The better you feel about your English, the faster you’re going to improve!

These are the ones to the best of my knowledge.

thank you.

First of all, the Rosetta Stone software is the best language software I have experienced personally. Unfortunately, the online version seems a bit buggy with the audio pickup from my mouthpiece, and I heard the actual installed software would help fix that.

I was able to move through the lessons quickly and retain the knowledge learned easier than ever, but if I dared take a week away from my studies, or tackle another heavy study or focus it was detrimental to my learning. My suggestion is take Rosetta Stone seriously and focus on your language learning all at once.

The greatest part about this software is that it throws you into the language and gives you no way out except getting it right or exiting the software. The software constantly reviews previous lessons to keep it fresh, and your overall progress is always in the forefront to encourage you to keep going.

The toughest part of the software was the audio input expected from the learner. If you did not get it just right… RRRR! This software raises the bar in personal language learning.

I would personally recommend anyone try the online version first before buying since it is only just over $100 for 3 months versus over $400 to own each level.

I really appreciated this topic! There are so many advantages of learning a language, and I think you have done a good job of listing them here.

I also liked what you had to say about #’s 7 and 8. It is definitely a real plus if you know the language where you are traveling/ visiting. It’s a lot easier to navigate, and understand what is going on around you. You will also get a real taste of the country, where as a tourist with no knowledge of the language, you might not understand things fully.

Studying abroad is a life changing experience, and learning a language while you do it is not only beneficial but it is also very rewarding!

—
Daniel

You’ve raised a very interesting point about different learning methods Myn. Your language skills really can develop in different ways, depending on how you study. For me personally, watching tv in Thai, for example, really did help me develop my listening skills. But don’t even ask me about writing it haha!

Yes, using an English to English dictionary is a great way of doing things. So too is a thesaurus for learning new words. Also I really do think that blogs are a great way for students of a second language to practice and develop their skills.

Dan

1. I started learning English from reading (playing a game) and using a dictionary.

2. when i started learning English i have no access to internet nor a English radio/film. And back then game haven’t used voice actor. As a result my listening skill is quite bad compared to reading skill.

I have a friend who often watch movie/film without subtitle. And as far as i know his listening skill is quite good.

3. I have some friend who is English native speaker, and chat with them really help my English skill, especially how to respond quickly

4. Most of my vocabulary was learnt from reading/playing a game.

5. I rarely use this method, but instead i’m using English to English dictionary which sometime “force” you to look at another word while looking for one word.

6. Writting a blog also help much, especially in writting skill. You can get a new friend and share your life with friend. Killing two bird with one stone.

7. Nah, i do not have the chance to go abroad yet. But it surely will help you learning English, since you have to use that to communicate

~ Myn

Thanks for the comment and you’ve raised an interesting question. I had not come across esperanto before so thanks for the link.

Hi Helena, I love Camden too - so many great places to go out and I’ve been going to Camden Market for years. Dan

Unfortunately you’ve missed this event now. But, we’ll soon have details of the next event and will post it soon.

Take a look at http://www.esperanto.net

Esperanto works! I’ve used it in speech and writing - and sung in it - in a dozen countries over recent years.

Indeed, the language has some remarkable practical benefits. Personally, I’ve made friends around the world through Esperanto that I would never have been able to communicate with otherwise. And then there’s the Pasporta Servo, which provides free lodging and local information to Esperanto-speaking travellers in over 90 countries. In the past year I have had guided tours of Berlin and Milan in the planned language. I have discussed philosophy with a Slovene poet, humour on television with a Bulgarian TV producer. I’ve discussed what life was like in East Berlin before the wall came down, how to cook perfect spaghetti, the advantages and disadvantages of monarchy, and so on.