วันจันทร์ที่ 31 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Why Learn English As a Second Language?

Why not? It's the international Language of choice for so many organisations and businesses world-wide. Frankly, whilst the USA remains the dominant economic and political power globally, then English is likely to retain its importance and popularity. So if you're in the International marketplace, be it as a Sales person, an Engineer, scientist or politician, then maybe having a good level of confidence and competence in English is a necessity? Coming from an automotive background, I can immediately think of several scenarios that I have found myself in with colleagues from around the world where e better level of English would not only have helped them, but also moved the business forward significantly! Here's the non-English speaker in a meeting - maybe he or she is a leading authority on their subject:


Our subject hears something said in the meeting that he knows is rubbish - the speaker obviously hasn't grasped a particular point. "He's wrong!" - but how do I tell him that politely?
Again, our man listens (and understands from the slides being shown) to an idea being put forward. "That's not the best way" - but how do I tell them what the best way is in terms that they will understand and without offending them?
Imagine a particularly long meeting. "I'm thirsty" - but how do I ask for a drink around here?
It's getting to some more technical point in the discussion or presentation. "I'd really like to see the way that he calculated that" - but how do I ask him?
After the meeting - the social occasion, where business is often done over a few drinks, or a good meal. "I don't want to eat here; I've heard it's no good!" - but how do I let them know?
Getting to the point of the meeting: "That's a lousy deal!" - but how do we discuss this in the kind of detail I want to go into?
"I really want to understand what makes this colleague / customer 'tick' - it would make this project / negotiation much easier" - but I'm stuck for words! English is too difficult!

How many more reasons does a boss need to get his best people well trained in speaking English as a Second Language?

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 30 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Language Lesson Plans - Form a Solid Language Teaching Strategy This Semester

Regardless of the Language you teach, it's nevertheless a good idea to have a solid teaching plan for each semester. Languages and linguistics are complex subjects that require structured planning if your students are to get anything out of your teaching. Here are a few things to consider when writing out your own Language lesson plans.

Whether you're teaching elementary school, middle school, high school, or college courses, it's likely your lesson plans will be submitted for scrutiny before a committee. This not only ensures that the materials is suitable for your students' current level, but it also makes sure that there is enough time to include everything you need to teach. Typical items to include in your Language plans include texts, movies, tapes, essay topics, assignments, field trips, and others. Many language courses also include days where they study the culture of the language they study as well. This may include a day set aside to enjoy music, food, and games from the language's place of origin.

With this in mind, it's easy to see why having quality language plans is important. In addition to having everything planned out and approved, having your plans looked over also ensures that your students have enough time to grasp and absorb the material at hand. Language courses, after all, are unique in that the material isn't always common knowledge, and so the resources for getting help are somewhat limited. By making sure there is enough time for your students to study, ask questions, and relearn difficult material, you are doing your part to make absolutely sure that your material remains cemented in their memories.

Some teachers, however, argue against language lesson plans. They see them as far too structured and rigid, leaving no room for spontaneity or fun. However, it is possible to arrange extra time aside for days when classroom discussions run off on tangents or you simply need an extra day or two to go over a certain topic. The key is simply arranging things ahead of time. This can be a tricky endeavor, as it's not possible to predict everything that may happen throughout the semester, but it is indeed possible.

These are only a few things to consider when making language lesson plans. If you're self-teaching a language, you'll find that you'll do much better with a lesson plan than without one, especially if you're juggling work, school, or domestic duties with your lessons. Learn more about language lesson plans today!

วันเสาร์ที่ 29 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Language Translation Jobs Are A Growing Area Of Need

Language translation jobs are a great avenue for a career. More different Languages are used in the social and business climates today. The need is ever increasing for more individuals who can translate Languages from and to English. The choice to retain the native Language is being taken by more people as well and this magnifies the need.

One requirement for translation is that a person be fluent in the language he or she will be translating. Fluency is important because there may be different needs for the translation. General, business, and technical interpretation are different levels of the need. Business translation ranges from receiving benefits to understanding what is required to function lawfully, such as registering a car with DMV or applying for a social security card to get a job. General services may be necessary for social gatherings. Technical conversion may apply to school or specific industries.

There are different arenas that require these services. Court testimony from witnesses is a very prominent situation requiring translation. There is an important and relative need to make sure that the witness understands the question and the court understands the answers. Also, medical situations require the need to make sure that everyone understands the situation. The government is an area that uses these services to offer new citizens the opportunity to understand benefits and direction in this country.

This can be a very worthwhile career. Gratification received from helping another person understand the information presented and be able to process that information is vital. Employment for interpreters has risen tremendously and translation covers various industries. Choosing translation as a career is not only rewarding but also profitable. This work pays well and does provide challenges and growth opportunities. Language translation jobs benefit both parties and helps to develop the cultural diversity aspect of society.

As stated above, language translation jobs are ever increasing and there is a need for more individuals to choose this career. More people of different races are choosing to maintain their native language and therefore, the need for translation increases. Language translation jobs include the courts, business arenas, government positions and social service venues. There is a variety of places and opportunity for these jobs.

This is indeed a great avenue to pursue for the person who is fluent in a language other than English. A job in this field carries over to several different industries. Though Spanish is more prevalent as the language for translation, other languages are calling for more interpreters such as Chinese, French, Korean, and others. The variation of languages needed calls for many different individuals. The more languages that are spoken increases the number of opportunities to be employed.

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 27 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Arabic Language Course - The 3 Best Arabic Language Courses Compared

Deciding to learn Arabic is one of the best decisions that you can make. Not only will you be able to experience a Middle Eastern holiday in the way that most people could only dream of, but it will open up huge business opportunities and/or make you infinitely more employable. Everybody learns new things in different ways (Languages in particular) so deciding what Arabic Language course to use can determine your success in learning Arabic, so read on for an in-depth comparison of the most popular Arabic courses today.

1. Pimsleur Arabic

Pimsleur Arabic's method of teaching Arabic is to focus exclusively on teaching you to speak - as opposed to read and write - Arabic. The Pimsleur Arabic language course makes extensive use of repetition, which may be a good or a bad thing depending on your learning style. For me, I found the repetition to be a bit taxing on my "self-discipline tank", but I also will admit that I can recall every word I was taught in Pimsleur Arabic with ease.  Using Pimsleur was a great choice for me, but it's by no means perfect. If you want a full understanding of Arabic, which of course includes being able to read and write, it may be best to look elsewhere.

Good For:


Beginners
Motivated & self-disciplined students
Learning on the go
Not Good For:


Beginners on a budget (costs $800+ for all 3 levels new, cheaper second hand/Ebay)
Anybody who wants to read/write Arabic
People with low self discipline
Intermediate Arabic students
2. Rosetta Stone Arabic

Rosetta Stone's method of teaching languages involves showing you an image and then telling you the word associated with that image. Then it will show you slightly different images to show you the relationship between them, which mimics the way in which we all learned our first language. This is ultimately Rosetta Stone's goal - to teach you Arabic the way in which you learned your first language. Having used Rosetta Stone for a number of languages, I can attest to its quality - it's quite enjoyable and I've learned a lot. A couple of nitpicks: Rosetta Stone is by no means cheap - the entire Arabic course costs $500US dollars and you are limited to using Rosetta Stone on your computer only, you can't transfer any files to your iPod or pop a CD in your car. Still, Rosetta Stone is always a solid choice for learning the Arabic language.

Good For:


Beginners
Visual Learners
Not Good For:


Beginners on a Budget (full course costs $500)
Learning on the go (you're stuck to your computer)
3. Rocket Arabic

Rocket Arabic is the recently released Arabic language course from Rocket Languages, a relatively new company that is very popular online. Rocket Arabic combines elements of both Pimsleur and Rosetta Stone to create a hybrid of sorts - you will learn through audio lessons (ala Pimsleur) and flashcard software games (like Rosetta Stone). Neither aspect of Rocket Arabic's package could be called as comprehensive as Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone, but it doesn't really need to be; it's a well rounded and quite fun way to learn Arabic, which is perfect for beginners.

Good For:


Beginners on a budget (downloadable course costs $100)
People who are bored easily
Learning on the go
A solid foundation of Arabic
Not Good For:


Intermediate Arabic students
People with dialup (downloadable course is a couple hundred megabytes)

วันพุธที่ 26 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Learning a Foreign Language - 5 Steps

Believe it or not, learning a foreign Language doesn't have to be hard. In fact, if you know how to do it, it can be pretty easy for you. Usually you'll find that there are many different techniques that can be used together to learn a Language quickly and easily. If you're wondering how you can learn a new language as easily as possible, here are a few great tips and techniques that can help you to quickly learn the language of your choice.

1. Practice with Someone Who Knows the Language

Practicing with someone who knows the language already is a great idea if you want to learn a new language quickly. Whether it is a friend or someone that you work with, their knowledge can help you in many ways. Take the time to talk with them on a regular basis so you can practice your skills and learn more about speaking the language from them.

2. Research the Language

Researching the language is an important tip as well. Find out all you can about the inflection used in the language, where it has its origins, learn the culture of the people, and anything else that you think may help you learn. Often a bit of research can go a long way.

3. Remember it Takes Time

When it comes to learning a foreign language, you need to realize that it is going to take you some time to do so. Don't expect it to happen over night. Whether you are learning from tapes, going with great software like Rocket Languages or Tell Me More, or working through some workBooks, it's going to take some time to really learn the language.

4. Enhance Your Vocabulary

Make sure that you take the time to enhance your vocabulary as well when you are working on a new language. After all, your vocabulary is going to be the base for speaking the language. If you don't expand your vocabulary, you'll have a hard time really learning the language.

5. Learn Online

Learning online is a great option available. There are foreign language software programs that you can use online and online based programs as well. These programs are some of the most flexible programs out there that will help you to learn quickly. If you have the internet, this is a wonderful option.

Using these techniques when learning a foreign language is important if you want to be able to learn quickly. Employ these tips and techniques and you'll find that you'll be able to pick up the language quickly and you'll learn it well.

วันอังคารที่ 25 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

How to Read Body Language - Top 10 Tips

Interested in learning how to read body Language? Would you like to be able to tell when people are lying and understand people's intentions? This article will provide you with the top 10 tips for reading body Language.

I feel Body Language is the most important Language you can learn. It bypasses the verbal communication barriers and gives you an insight into what others might be thinking, or what actions they are likely to take.

Remember that the art of being able to read body language is to be able to look at some one, pick up the signals, and at the same time not let on to that person you are doing this. If you do the person will become uncomfortable.

Tip 1. - Eyes

Dilated pupils - the person is interested in the topic.

People say that the eyes are the windows to the soul. They can tell so much information about the person if you know what you are looking for. As in most situations, the same signal can be interpreted in a different way. It depends entirely on the circumstances at hand. The example above could also mean that the person is on drugs, or it could mean that they are focused.

Tip 2. - Hands

Open palm.- the person is relaxed and comfortable.

The hands have many expressions and are a good place to start when learning how to read body language. Generally when some ones hands are open it means that their defenses are relaxed.

Tip 3 - Mimicking

When you are talking to someone, if they are mimicking your body position and action it means that they are comfortable in the situation and most likely interested by you and what you are saying.

Tip 4 - Eyes

If someone's eyes are gazing to the side it is a trait that they are feeling guilty. Likewise if they are gazing down this express's shame. Remember the eyes have so many meanings and it's easy to make the wrong evaluation. Practice makes perfect.

Tip 5 - Arms

The main two expressions with arms is that they are either closed (folded) or open. When folded the person is possibly angry or disapproving. When their arms are open the person is in an honest position and is accepting of the situation.

Tip 6 - Rubbing of the Chin

If someone is rubbing their chin it generally means that they are thinking.

Tip 7 - Feet

When you are in conversation with someone you can tell if they are comfortable and interested by what you are saying by their feet position. When standing opposite one another the other persons feet are facing in your direction. This means that they are comfortable and their head and eyes will also be focused on you.

When standing opposite someone their feet are pointing away and their head and eyes are not focused on you. They will most likely be nodding and agreeing with a fake smile. This means that the person n question is not interested and might even feel uncomfortable in the situation.

Tip 8 - Legs

When stood up Legs are a good indicator of how confident someone is. If someone is standing with their legs shoulder width apart they are relaxed. If they are standing with a stance wider than that they are a confident and are in a grounded position to show they are in control.

When stood up with legs crossed the person is probably shy.

When sitting down if the legs are crossed it shows the person is in protective mode. This is very much used alongside crossed arm action.

If the legs are open when the person is seated then they are in a relaxed position. The same as when standing.

Tip 9 - Fingers

Fingers can create many gestures and are great for reading body language. A pointing finger can either be someone pointing to a item or place, it can also indicate anger. If someone is curling their fingers tightly they are usually pleading for some thing.

Drumming or tapping with the fingers indicates frustration. The faster the beating, the greater the frustration and tension inside the person.

Tip 10 - Eyebrows

The eyebrows have many uses. Listed below are some examples. When the eye brows are raised, normally the person is shocked or surprised. The greater the surprise the more raised they will be. When someone flicks their eye brow up and down quickly they are greeting someone else or are showing they have acknowledged them.

I hope you have enjoyed learning how to read body language tips. Remember reading body language is not a skill that can be learned over night. The more you practice the easier it will become and the more subtle you will be able to do it.

วันจันทร์ที่ 24 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Influences on the Jamaican Language Patois

The Jamaican Language of Patois is a very colorful Language. Like some other Languages, Patois words and phrases can have one meaning on one context, while having a completely different meaning in another. It is similar to french in that way, which Patois is partially derived from. There are other Languages and cultures that have had a heavy influence on Jamaican Patois. To of the least thought of parts of the culture that have influenced the Jamaican language are animals and farming. Both of these have had an impact on Patois.

With animal farming being quite popular in Jamaica, as it usually is on most islands, it's no wonder there's a heavy impact. Like a lot of other languages, Jamaican Patois references animals quite frequently when speaking figuratively. Not only are there lots of farm animals in Jamaica, but there are also a lot of insects as well. An example of this is the expression "ting lakka galla whass" which translates to "hurtful like the sting of a wasp". If you learn the language or spend time around it you will definitely hear the references to animals. Another example is "faas lakka pouhs" which means "nosy like a cat".

Jamaica is known to be an agricultural society, and their economy relies heavily on this. Every year the island exports tons of cash crops. The people of Jamaica have very close ties to the land, so it's no wonder it's had an influence on the language. There are many Jamaican phrases that are directly related to farming. For example, the saying "trait lakka yam tik" translates to "straight like a yam pole".

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 23 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Urdu - The Language Of Pakistan

Urdu is part of the Indo-Aryan group, which is a subgroup of Indo-Iranian Languages. The Language itself is a hybrid of Turkish, Persian, Pashto, Arabic, Sanskrit and Hindi. The biggest influences are from the Turkish and Persian Languages, followed by Arabic and Sanskrit. Urdu is very similar to Hindustani (commonly referred to as Hindi). Hindi has a greater Sanskrit influence as opposed to Urdu, but Urdu and Hindi speakers can communicate easily with little effort.

Urdu is pronounced "Or doo" which means Army or Hordes; this Language was created in the Indo-Pak sub-continent around 1000 years ago, when soldiers speaking different languages like Turkish, Arabic, Persian, Sanskrit, Hindi and other local languages fought together in armies of the rulers of India during those time. This is the times when the Aryan invaders from central Asia came and conquered large territories of India. These were the Moghul rulers who came with Turkish cavalry passing through Afghanistan and into India; recruiting soldiers from the areas they passed through. Since then, there were so many languages spoken within this army that a new language evolved. With its roots in the army barracks, it came to be known as Urdu. The first Mughal ruler was Zaheeruddin Baber and when he attacked India he had ten thousand Turkish Cavalry sent to him from the Ottomans. Baber's army was predominantly Persian speaking, with a large group of Pashto speakers who mixed with Turkish speaking cavalry before they attacked India. Over the years Urdu evolved in the barracks of these soldiers and eventually found its self being spoken in most parts of the Moghul Empire, especially by the Muslims and eventually in the Moghul courts, where Persian was spoken.

Urdu is very close to Hindi and the grammar is almost exactly the same. Urdu uses the Persian script with a few additions to cater for the phonetics of local languages. The script is also referred to as Nastaliq style, which is really the Perso-Arabic script. It is written from right to left unlike the Roman script which is written from left to right.

Urdu is spoken by over a 100 million people as a first or second language. Urdu is the National language of Pakistan and one of the 23 official languages of India. The official language of Pakistan is English, but Urdu is also used officially by the Law enforcement agencies and local governments. It is also spoken widely in parts of Afghanistan and Bangladesh. Urdu speakers are also found in Europe, USA and the Middle East. It spread in these regions as people immigrated to these parts looking for work.

Urdu has four main dialects Pinjari (Pin Ja ree), Rekhta (Ray kha ta), Deccani (Duck nee) and Khairboli (Khai Boalee). Pinjari, Deccani and Rekhta have almost disappeared, but most probably merged with the modern day accent which is Khairboli. Rekhta had the highest Persian influence, followed by Khairboli and Deccani. Rekhta is the language of Urdu poetry and is therefore considered a dialect. Khairboli is the Modern Vernacular Urdu and is spoken in Karachi, Delhi and Lucknow. Pinjari and Deccani which were spoken in Hyderabad and Anderpardesh regions of India have almost disappeared.

The modern day dialect is the Modern Vernacular Urdu. People who speak this language are also referred to as Ahal-e-zuban, (People of the tongue or language). People who have Urdu as their first language are referred to as Urdu speaking in most parts of Pakistan. The people who actually speak Urdu as their second language have a very different accent, especially people from the Punjab and Pashto speaking regions. The accent in the Punjab regions is influenced by the Punjabi language and many Punjabi words form the common vocabulary of Urdu in these regions. Pashto speaking people have a very neutral accent and are very clear; however most Pashto speakers who speak Urdu very commonly confuse gender in the language. There is also a considerable English influence on Urdu in Pakistan and in India. Words like import, export, genuine (pronounced gen yun when used in Urdu), kitchen, glass, chicken, table, latrine and many more words are used as part of modern day Urdu.

Urdu was given its name in 1751, when a very famous writer Saraj-uddin Aarzoo referred to this language as Urdu. The first Urdu Book is called "Woh Majlis" (means that gathering of literary activity) in 1728 and the first Urdu Poet was Ameer Khusro (1253-1325 A.D.)

วันเสาร์ที่ 22 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Reading Body Language in Depth

Body Language can tell you a lot about what is happening in a relationship in so many ways. Is somebody feeling distant, having second thoughts, or are they going to go home rip off all your clothes and make wild, passionate love to you as soon as you close the front door.

The clues are in the body Language of your partner.

Walking:

Let's take just walking to a destination for an example.

Things that say you are in sync are great. You are walking in about the same pace, side by side. Holding hands is another positive. If you go to look at your partner and admire them they should automatically return the admiration. There is a process known as mirroring in psychology and NLP which stands for Neuro-Linguistic Programming. NLP goes as far to say you should copy the persons mannerisms, body Language to get more in rapport with a person. This shouldn't be necessary as if you are connecting well you and your partner should be in sync already. There have even been studies that say heart rates get similar.

Warning signs for walking exists when couples aren't in rapport. If somebody walks far ahead or behind they both have meanings. Far ahead would mean they just wish to lead, and get away from their partner. Somebody who walks far behind could be scared of their partner, and feel intimidated by them.

If your partner crosses the street and gives absolutely no verbal or non verbal signals it is also a negative sign.

Sitting:

Now sitting is another example that can be used. Look at a pair of newlyweds. You'll see a lot of times they sit next to each other in booths at a restaurant not across from one another. They tend to remain close to each other no matter what. A family with a close mother and father do the same thing even when kids are involved. A partner I'm dating might even sit sideways facing me in a car when they are really into me.

Couples with good body language will take the time to connect all the time. The will face towards one another and when distractions stop will reengage each other in connecting. This can be done with kissing, holding hands, eye contact, or conversation. Their bodies should be angled towards each other and physical contact is done quite often. Another sign in a restaurant is both of the couples are eating in proportion to each other.

Negative signs are when somebody doesn't connect during breaks. They instead read a menu again, look out the window, play with their purse or engage everybody but the person they are will. Their bodies are probably angled away from each other and physical contact in minimal. If somebody is eating a lot of their meal and the other is hardly touching their plate something is going on. The person hardly touching their plate is probably bothered by something.

Making Love:

When a couple is in sync they connect on a much deeper level they just physical. There should be a strong mental aspect. Eye contact is one of the biggest things both partners should be able to freely look into each other's eyes during sex. Touching, holding, kissing is usually all a natural occurrence that happens during love making. A clasp of the hands with your partners, eye contact and others signal a much deeper connection. Partners should be willing to give pleasure as well as receive pleasure.

Some warning signs could be closed eyes , in a stiffness in the shoulders and neck. These signal coldness, anxiety

Be aware of the nonverbal communicate you have with your mate. There was a research study done by a psychologist known as Albert Mehrabian. His findings were it's not what you say but how you say it that really matters. Verbal communication only accounts for 7% of the total communication we communicate.

วันศุกร์ที่ 21 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Language as Identity

English is not just a national Language it is a unique global passport.

The sameness of Language can overcome any identity crisis, sometimes inconveniently. When I arrived in London, fresh from South Africa and desperate to immerse myself in a foreign culture, Language became an issue. If I opened my mouth to speak and there was a South African nearby (and there usually was...) they would inevitably gravitate toward me and want to bond. This was not what I had in mind; I have nothing against my fellow citizens but I had spent a lot of money, and come a long way to have a 'foreign' experience. The concept of a bunch of us hanging out together in London was beyond me.

Just as there is safety in numbers, there is safety in a shared Language. Our voice quality, accent, vocabulary, and particular idiom all denote who we are and where we come from. Language articulates our identity. Others recognise this identity and either there is a synchronicity (you're part of the group) or there is not. Friends feel the same about things; have similar interests; and will often express themselves in a common language.

The British government's Kingman report in 1988 on the teaching of English firmly endorsed the importance of language education as an instrument of personal development, and the promotion of a sense of personal identity: the 'shaping of personality and the exploration of self are inextricably bound up with language development." But the report also recognised the role of language teaching to develop wider identities. "From childhood," it says, "we learn to use language not only to identify with certain groups but also to exclude others."

To belong to a particular 'nation' is a sense of identity. We reside in a certain geographical area and are as a result, a certain race. South Africa is a good example of people of many different races trying to develop a sense of patriotic identity in respect of the nation. This, of course is only happening now, and South Africa was a prime example of how certain groups who do not talk the same, look the same, or act the same are excluded from the 'greater' group. However, given the importance of communication in fostering links between people, it is not surprising that language is high on the list. South Africa has eleven official languages but English is the one you need in order to get a worthwhile job; in fact, there are few countries in the world where English is not used in the course of a day. English has become our global common ground.

Language helps to articulate cross-national identities that would otherwise be difficult to sustain. Therefore, the Kingman report emphasised the need for children to widen their horizons and prepare themselves to enter a 'public world' to which the passport is language. International conferences are usually held in English; our cross-national youth culture currently converse mostly over the Internet in English; popular music is often sung in English and so it goes. Language is seen as opening pathways not only to careers but also to fulfilment in identifying with the global community at large - and which you may seek to identify with as well.

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 20 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Is a New Language Difficult to Learn?

Learning a new Language is like learning a new way of thinking. You immerse yourself into a new culture and even traditions of foreign people. You learn to speak and write in a different way from your mother tongue of which causes no escape from the eventuality of thinking differently as well.

Is a new Language difficult to learn? Yes, it could be difficult at times, but most of the times it is easy. There is one condition. You must love the Language you'll be learning. Loving to do something makes the experience a heck a lot of easier. It's no different with Languages.

Now, there is one very important aspect to pay attention on. It's about the method you're using to learn a language. If you're in school and you're learning a new language, you won't make it. In my experience, when I was a student, most of my peers didn't learn German. And some of them didn't even learn English.

I believe that self teaching is the foundation of learning everything. Think about it. The best things in life you learned...did someone teach you these things? I think not. So, in my opinion, the best method to use is to spend 90% of your time self-teaching.

The next thing I hear all the time is...WHERE TO START? Oh, gosh, not again. OK, I've spend months and months trying to realize where to start and I found it by accident. It's called Pimsleur. Period. I know some of you now are saying: "Huh, Rosetta Stone or Tell me More is better". Let me tell you something, tell me More is a not totally appropriate for beginners.

If I have something to recommend to a beginner, then it would be to start with Pimsleur, and then go with Rosetta Stone. And even THEN try Tell me More. That's the perfect way to go.

And last but not least, the most important thing in learning any language is to master the art of DOING. Forget about procrastination. If you don't practice, you are never going to learn a language.

Stop Speculating And Learn Sign Language

If you want to do something to the society, you should stop speculating how it can be done and start acting. You have many ways. One among them is to help those who are hearing-impaired, for which learning Language will be a good idea. Learning sign Language is very difficult because you should find a good teacher for learning it. The truth is teaching a Language is more difficult than learning it. We all have tongues that can be used for speaking and not using the tongue is very difficult. The person who teaches the language should act as if he/she is deaf. You may not always get a deaf teacher to teach you the language.

You have online training programs available on the Internet and these programs teach you with the help of visual aids and illustrations. On top of it, the programs are manned by real deaf teachers.

Even while you are learning language, you should act as if you are deaf. Otherwise it will be difficult to learn it. Another interesting thing is that the grammar of the sign language is much different from those of other languages. So only if you think you are deaf, you will be able to stop thinking in the language you actually speak. Otherwise, your signs will resemble your speaking. This will lead to incorrect sign language.

Your sign language can be perfected only if you practice it with all earnestness. But unfortunately, you can not practice it as often as possible because in real life, you may not get many chances to use it. Of course, you can find people who may also be interested in learning sign language. You may also have deaf communities in your area. You should make efforts to find them out, connect with them and visit them often so that you will get opportunities to converse with them in the language. Such communities are available online also. Using videos, you can practice and rehearse whatever you have learned in the sign language.

If you delve deep into the sign language, you will find that order and structure are there in a language. It almost follows the structure and order of words where very minimum space of the body is used in parallel. Space around the body is used in various ways to denote many things at a time. To quote an example, classifiers, that happen to be a different group of signs, is the basis for structure and ordering.

Another interesting thing about language is that it does not have direct parallel signs corresponding to the spoken language. For example, for the meaning beautiful, you have many words in English such as gorgeous, voluptuous, etc. But sign language has only one sign to denote all these. This is not the case for every word. In certain cases, you have several signs corresponding to the same word in the spoken language.

In certain cases, it is similar to foreign language translations into English and vice versa. You can not translate exactly because you may not have the exact word in English or in that language. Same is the case with sign language. You must know all these concepts when you are learning language.

วันพุธที่ 19 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

The (de)Evolution of the English Language

Never before in history has a single Language been as widely used as English. The number of English users in Asia alone is more or less equal to the number of Native English speakers worldwide: 350 million, more or less the combined populations of the United States, Britain and Canada.

The advent of the Internet has boosted English even further, about eighty percent of the world's electronically stored information is in English, and this widespread use of the Language has caused an increase in the demand for English courses. An estimate by the British Council reports that today more than 1 billion people are learning English for work, study or leisure. China is strongly pushing English language in its schools, there are more Chinese children studying English as second language than there are Britons.

Those among the native English speakers who believe their language will soon be the standard for worldwide communication should think again:

Firstly, it can hardly be considered their language anymore, since the vast majority of English users are not native speakers. English is a living language and like all languages it evolves, it changes and adapts itself according to its environment and - especially - the cultural and historical background of its speakers, often mingling with idioms and linguistic structires of the local language. There is no longer one English, but rather various adapted forms of the language, often with dramatic changes in spelling, pronunciation, vocabulary and grammar.

Secondly, the Internet fastlane is producing an even more interesting phenomenon, when one would imagine such a widespread resource as the Web to become a solid reference for spelling and grammar, we are met with quite the opposite, English over the Net is evolving, or rather de-evolving towards a more simplified form.

More and more frequently we encounter what might look like harmless spelling mistakes; blogs, newsletters, chats and forums are full of them. At a closer look we might notice that some of these altered forms are consistent across the Web, in some cases we might encounter simplifications, such as there used indifferently as 'there' or 'their', or phonetic shifts, caused by the natural tendency to spell similar sounds the same way: thus unstressed _ent and _ant both sound the same and tend to be spelled _ant e.g. consistant.

Other changes might involve the tendency to either spell 's no matter what grammar is involved, two chair's or the opposite, its for 'it is' pronoun + verb or 'its own' possessive pronoun.

The result of this might be surprising and, for the purists, rather unsettling. If there ever will be a common world language, it won't look or sound much like English anymore. Current trends might produce a language with simplified grammar, she look chair, phonetic spelling ther is a tendansy to bad wether and foreign words Hungry kya 'Are you hungry?' a mixture of English and Hindi found in a recent ad for Domino's pizza in India.

Being a living language, the de-evolution of English seems unstoppable, in a certain sense this is a signal of its good health and of its massive usage in today's world. Only dead languages never change.

วันอังคารที่ 18 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

International English Language Jobs

Many employers throughout the world are offering English Language jobs of varying types to people who speak and write well in English.

English Language teachers - this has to be the most common type of English Language job offered nowadays. English language teachers are in demand throughout the world, particularly in countries where English is not the first or second language spoken by their citizens. Teachers are needed to help non-English speakers to learn a certain level of proficiency in English needed for their educational or occupational requirements. For example, some English language teachers have to teach Business English in companies so that employees can converse with corporate clients.

Translators - to be a translator, one must be proficient in two languages. The first language is, of course, English. The second language is usually the native tongue of the host country where the translator will be based. The point in being proficient in two languages is so the translator can assist individuals who may not understand speakers in either language. For example, if you are a English-Japanese translator, you may help English businessmen communicate with potential Japanese partners or vice versa.

Interpreters - this is just another word for the same job that a translator holds.

Consultants - this is a blanket term for a wide variety of English-language-based jobs. For example, some universities seek bilingual consultants to help them develop educational programs for foreign students. Office staff may also have to be bilingual if they are to be based in the host country, but will require English proficiency skills to communicate with English-speaking clients and guests.

Media positions - in this era of globalization, many companies require bilingual staff who will help them in managing international operations. For example, if you speak English and Russian, you might be hired by an international media organization and report news from Russia. Media personnel often have to act as translators as well in this case.

Proofreaders - though this is a rather specialized industry, there is still demand for such people. Generally, proofreaders must also be bilingual as well, with a high level of proficiency in English, to meet the demand from international clients. A proofreader has to spot errors in grammar and vocabulary usage in certain documents.

Freelance writers - freelance writers come in varying types, depending on their field of specialization. For example, if you have a computer technology background and speak English very well, you could market yourself as a writer for articles devoted to computer technologies. You might even say you specialize in articles about HTML language. Freelance writers who have a field of specialization command better rates than freelance writers who can only write about general interest topics.

Office personnel - these also come in different types. For example, a company may need secretaries, typists, and clerks who speak English relatively well. If you are bilingual, you may be employed by a foreign or international organization.

As you can see, English language jobs vary from job to job. It helps if you are proficient in another language as well so that your options increase accordingly.

วันจันทร์ที่ 17 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Using Popular Songs to Improve Language Listening Comprehension Skills

Are you students sometimes bored in spite of your best efforts? Are you looking for some new and different techniques? Could you use a learning activity that would really wake them up? Would you like to get and keep the students' interest? Even have them helping you? Then try this classroom-tested technique by using student-selected songs to teach listening comprehension.

Almost everyone loves music. It is a part of our Language and life from before birth onwards. As babies, we hear lullabies. As young children we play, sing and dance to a myriad of nursery rhymes. As adolescents, we are consumed by the beat of popular music artists worldwide. As adults, every form of advertising we hear, every special event we experience, is in part, music. Music pervades television, movies, theater, and even the nightly news. When we exercise, when we work, when we play, when we worship and even when we die, music is there to reinforce or alter or every mood and emotion. A catchy tune is played, hummed or sung, at times in our head, as we go about our everyday lives. So, why not include music and songs in Language learning as well?

Factors Contributing to Listening Comprehension of Song

o Use of new vocabulary, idioms and expressions - You'll need to address the new material offered in each song. This includes grammar, vocabulary and usage.

o Pronunciation and accent of the singer - Every native speaker doesn't pronounce or sing with the same accent. Students may be exposed to an accent which is outside the realm of what they might normally hear in context.

o Use of new grammar and structure Song writers and singers are notoriously "loose" when it comes to use of grammar, structure, pronunciation, stress and other language factors applied to songs. The teacher must prepare for this.

Three Principal Song Selection Criteria

1. Use songs that are popular with the students whenever possible. Unfortunately, students frequently select songs for classroom use which are objectionable in some way making the song unusable.

2. Songs MUST have clear and understandable lyrics. Nothing is worse than a song almost nobody can understand. If you have trouble understanding the lyrics by listening, then another song needs to be selected.

3. Songs should have an appropriate theme. There's enough bad news, negativity and violence in the world already. Songs with any type of negative theme should be avoided. There are plenty of positive, upbeat, even humorous songs available. Use these.

Music pervades virtually every aspect of our lives

Music pervades virtually every aspect of our lives. Students adore it. It contains numerous useful elements for language teaching and it's fun for both the teacher and students. So, why not include music and songs in your language learning classes as well?

วันศุกร์ที่ 14 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Some Spanish Facts And How To Easily Learn The Language

Spanish courses are available everywhere. Most people still learn Spanish as a second Language from a university or college to earn a certification as well. There are many benefits how learning Spanish can help you. There are always others who are interested to learn Spanish but would like to learn inexpensively. If you want to help, you can teach them what you have learned.

Another thing is you can learn from available internet Language software program. You just have to trust your source though, with the tight competition online, there are already many website willing enough to give away learning Spanish techniques. You need to research first before you make your choice.

But why are so many people willing to learn the Spanish Language as a second Language? There are too many people already talking in Spanish, why not stick to English? It's not a matter of competition which language wins by a majority basis. The advantages are credited to you, the student. There are just too many reasons; each depends on your current situation why Spanish suddenly interests your will.

Here are the facts: Spanish is now officially considered as the second world language as a vehicle of international communication. It only ranks third as the international language for politics, economics and culture. On top of that, Spanish is also the official language of 21 countries and is spoken approximately by a 100 million speakers as a second language. Whether you know this already or not, learning Spanish is not just a trend happening today, especially in the internet. It's learning a language that is spoken by many people around the globe and officially recognized in many countries.

You can start familiarizing yourself with Spanish words. Memorizing it also won't be a problem at all.

Spanish word = miel

English word = honey

Try to picture a bee making honey on a mile wide honeycomb.

The Spanish word for honey is used in the sentence as the word "mile", to incorporate the idea with the English translation. From this example alone, a person learning the Spanish language makes it a lot easier to remember the words because brain's attention is focused on what's silly and funny. Pick another Spanish word with English translation, and then plot them the same way how the example appears above. You can start learning Spanish on your own and improve your memory as a plus bonus!

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 13 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

How to Learn Any Language

Learning a Language is easy. Yes, this is contrary to what many people believe. But, for many people, their only exposure to learning a Language has been in grade-school, one of the worst environments for learning any language.

Do you think you might need a university degree, tutor, or language school to learn the language of your choice? Nope. You don't need a university degree. You don't need a personal tutor. And you definitely don't need to sign-up for any expensive language schools. Why would you ever want to put yourself in a classroom environment when learning languages anyway? It just doesn't work well -- ask anyone who has ever taken language classes if they can speak the language they supposedly learned.

It's true that there are some people who are terrible at learning languages. I would make a bet that you're not one of them, just like a I would make a bet that you're not tone-deaf. Studies have shown that only four percent of people are actually tone-deaf. I haven't come across a study showing numbers for terrible language learners, but I would bet that it's close to the number of tone-deaf people in this world: four percent. If you're reading this article, I bet you're in the other 96% of the population -- fully capable of learning any language you desire.

You don't need any special skills to learn a language. No, you didn't miss your chance at learning a foreign language as a child. While it's true that children have a natural tendency towards learning languages, it isn't true that they have an edge over adults -- it's actually the opposite. The only advantages children have over adults are an abundance of time for cartoons and not caring whether or not they make mistakes as they speak.

Adults can learn faster than children, but they need an efficient method for learning to do so. It is true that some languages are more difficult than others to master. It is also true that mastering a language takes a considerable amount of time.

If you can speak your native tongue and read this article, then you most likely have the skills necessary to learn a foreign language. There are a few tricks that make this easier, but all you really need is an efficient method for learning the language you want to learn. So if there is an efficient language learning method for adults, what is it?

The efficient method comes from a man named Barry Farber, fluent in over 14 languages. After years of experience learning languages for both needs and wants, he authored a Book titled "How to Learn Any Language; Quickly, Easily, Inexpensively, Enjoyably, and on Your Own."

Farber describes the majority of his method in two chapters titled "Gathering Your Tools" and "The Multiple-Track Attack." In "Gathering Your Tools," Farber describes the tools you need for each language. Farber then describes how to use these tools in "The Multiple-Track Attack." The basic tools consist of the following:

* Basic textBook
* Dictionary
* Phrase Book
* Newspaper or magazine
* Student reader
* Audio course
* Flash cards

The wonderful thing about this list is that you have a great chance of finding what you're looking for, especially when looking for the materials on the Internet. To start learning the language you want to learn, I would advise picking up a copy of "How to Learn Any Language" by Barry Farber, whether new or used from the Internet or your local bookstore, or borrowed from your local library. After that, you need the tools for your language of choice and time to study.

Lucky for you, I've spent countless hours researching the best materials for learning a number of different languages. You can find my picks for the best language learning tools in the language section of JustAJot at www.justajot.com/language/ [http://www.justajot.com/language/].

Remember: the more exposure you have to a language, the better. Immerse yourself in the language you want to learn as much as possible and reap the rewards.

วันพุธที่ 12 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Understanding Body Language Flirting

They say that 70% of what we communicate generally is expressed through body Language. That's how much our gestures come into play when conveying messages. The art of flirting is also expressed with gestures and subtle actions, sometimes even subconscious body signals, also known as body Language flirting. Understanding this artful dance makes it possible for strangers to instantly become comfortable with each other.

What are the signs of body language flirting? We need to be sensitively aware of these gestures to be able to learn them and eventually automatically detect them.

Her Hair

A very common body language flirting sign is when she touches, fixes, and strokes her hair more often than necessary. This is her way of trying to make the best first impression she can. It's also her way of getting you to notice her at the same time.

Eye Contact

If she's at all interested in you, she'll throw you a few lingering glances - ones that last longer than usual. If she's very interested in you, during a conversation she will not only look at your eyes, but she will even tend to glance at your mouth when you're talking. This type of gesture suggests an interest in kissing.

Her Mouth and Lips

Another subtle sign of body language flirting is when a woman makes certain movements or gestures with her mouth or lips. Here are some examples: she may purposely eat something very slowly, she may lick or wet her lips frequently, she may apply chapstick or lipstick very slowly in front of you, and she may blatantly bite her lips. These gestures encourage men to visualize kissing her.

Physical Contact

If she touches you in any manner, this is an obvious sign of body language flirting. She may also lean in closer to you when talking--close enough to touch you or even whisper something in your ear. This creates intimacy between the two of you.

Her Legs and Feet

Women who frequently cross their legs then uncross their legs convey body language flirting. Researchers emphasize that this pattern is a sexually charged behavior. Another sign of flirting you should be cautious of is the direction that her feet are pointed in. If her feet are pointed towards you, it means that she is more likely to gravitate towards you.

Understanding these fundamental body language flirting signs gives you an edge over most other men when flirting with women. Although, not all the signs mentioned here are universally true for all women, they are true for the majority of women. Ultimately, there's only one way to find out for sure, and that's to go out and make yourself aware of these signs and judge for yourself if they're applicable or not.

วันอังคารที่ 11 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Language and Children's Behavior - Is a Language Disability Causing Your Child's Behavior Problem?

Children with behavioral difficulties often have Language difficulties which are not recognized. Research has revealed a strong correlation between behavioral-emotional disorders (BED) and Language disorders. Approximately 55% to 72% of children with behavioral-emotional difficulties will also have a some type of Language problem. For some it may be like the chicken and the egg question. Which came first? The problem with language or the problem with behavior? Regardless of how it starts, there is no doubt that language influences behavior and that behavior influences language. Those with behavioral-emotional difficulties are likely to have trouble understanding what people say and also struggle to put their thoughts into words. The area of language that is affected the most is the social use of language- communicating with others in everyday situations; this is referred to as pragmatic language. A speech and language pathologist is the professional who can determine if a language problem exists and how mild or severe it is. Unfortunately, the speech-language pathologist is often overlooked because the behavioral problems are the number one concern.

I have often heard the responses "It's just behavior", "He understands when he wants to", "He's just stubborn" or other similar statements. One memory which stands out in my mind was when I was asked to evaluate a teenager who was fourteen years old. It was the first time his language had been examined. The evaluation revealed a six year delay in language skills; his language was equal to that of an eight year old. When a language disorder goes undetected, it not only impacts communication, but self-esteem as well.

Every child who has is having behavioral problems needs, and should have, a language evaluation. A language evaluation will be able to discover how well your child understands, is able to speak, and how well he can use language in his everyday life. Knowing what a child's language skills are will also help with developing an appropriate educational program, assist in developing a behavioral intervention program, and may also provide helpful information to the child's counselor or psychologist.

วันจันทร์ที่ 10 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Flirting, Body Language - What You Should Understand From Her Body Language Gestures

Flirting, body Language "speaking" usually starts with the first contact which is established between two persons is the visual one. Before anyone would say a word, the eyes have already sent a message that can be interpreted in different ways. Thus, when a woman looks deeply into the eyes of men means that is fascinated by him, and more than that, if she will not move her eyes from him, means that for her in that place and at that time, there is not another man for her.

When a woman is keeping her arms crossed on her chest, the gesture may be interpreted in several ways. For women, crossing their arms may look like they are some vulnerable creatures and feel the need to protect themselves. Also, women are resorting to this position to attract attention to their breasts, in this situation arms crossing can receive a sexual meaning.

When a woman is feeling a sense of discomfort in the presence of a person of the opposite sex, will tend to slightly remove her presence, with babies steps maybe but it is definitely noticeable. Crossing legs can also be interpreted as flirting, body Language experimentation. As a gesture that betrays nervousness or the desire to cause it. Most people cross their legs in an unconscious gesture, when they feel some nervousness.

Women often play with their own hair and this is also a sign of nervousness. If you catch her doing this gesture you can be sure that you have had some kind of effect to her. When the presence of a man excite a woman beyond measure, she will start to feel her mouth getting dry. Well, if she has began to moisten and bite her lips in your presence, it is clear sign that you interest her. It is a clear sign, a gesture whose significance can not be hidden. It is a clear gesture of flirting, body language "speaking".

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 9 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

7 Qualities of Highly Successful Foreign Language Learners

So you have either started learning a foreign Language or you want to learn one? Good for you! I have successfully mastered two Languages and although it wasn't easy, I learned that there are certain qualities shared by all bi-lingual people.

Make a commitment to master the language. This is absolutely crucial for your success. You must have a solid commitment and determination that you are going to master the language no matter how long it takes and what it takes to do it. This includes a commitment to the time and money that it will take and it will take both of these especially since some kind of immersion program is going to be necessary in order to master the language you have chosen.

Set goals for learning your chosen language. Divide your goals up by categories such as speaking, reading, writing and vocabulary. Fix goals for the week, month, and year. Be specific and realistic. Make sure that you have the time necessary to actually reach the goals you have set for yourself.

Obtain the proper language learning materials. This includes Books and audio materials as well as any relevant internet learning sites. If you need help with this, ask around in online forums or for advice for anyone else you know that has already learned the language you want to learn.

Study every day for at least ten minutes. The human brain cannot handle learning a language for one hour one day, none the next and five minutes the next. You must schedule specific times for studying the language and plan out what you will learn during that time. You should at minimum spent part of the time memorizing vocabulary words and part of the time either on grammar or listening to the language.

Find others who speak the language no mater what level they are at and then arrange to practice with them. You can find a lot of language groups by either looking for a local foreign language association such as the l'alliance francaise for French as well as on meetup.com.

Watch DVD's of Disney or other familiar movies dubbed in the language and listen to familiar music in the language. It will be easier to understand these and it makes it easier to learn how to think in the foreign language and this is crucial to developing fluency.

Obtain a pen pal who is a native speaker and practice with him or her. You can find plenty of these online. This will help you learn more about the culture as well as to practice the language. Consider also calling the person using some kind of an internet phone such as skype in order to practice speaking orally.

In short you can master a foreign language if you are committed to the process and if you put forth the work it takes to do it successfully.

วันเสาร์ที่ 8 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Basic Facts About The Korean Language

The Korean Language is spoken by the entire population of North Korea and South Korea. While there are certainly differences between the Korean dialect spoken in the north and the one spoken in the south, the dialects are mutually understandable.

The Korean Language is also used in the autonomous region of Yanbian which is in the southern province of Heilongjiang in China.

Approximately 78 million people speak Korean, including communities of immigrants now living in the former Soviet Union, Australia, Canada, United States, Brazil, Japan, United Kingdom, as well as the Philippines.

The so called denomination of the language varies between both Koreas. In South Korea it is usually called Hangugeo or Hangungmal. Officially the name given to Korean is gugeo which means "language of the country.Colloquially speaking it is also referred to as urimal that literally means "our language."

North Korean typically refer to the Korean language as Chos nmal although it is also called urimal. The standard of North Korea is based on the way it is spoken in the capital P'yngyang while in the south the standard is the way it is spoken in Seoul. The differences between these two forms of the Korean language does not make it impossible for speakers of either group to communicate with each other because the differences are more or less equivalent to the Spanish spoken in Spain and the Spanish spoken in Latin America.

The origin of the Korean language is not yet clear. Some linguists say it belongs to the group of the Altaican languages whilst others put it in the same group with the Japanese language in one single group: Korean-Japanese.

Since neither of these two views have been demonstrated decisively, those who do study the language prefer to refer to the Korean language as a language significantly distinct from the aforementioned groups. From a morphological point of view, the Korean language uses agglutination which is the process of adding affixes to the base of a word. Korean maintains a grammatical syntax whose base is Subject-Object-Verb. Japanese, Vietnamese, and the Korean languages are influenced heavily by the Chinese language.

The system utilized for writing Korean is known as Hangeul, and it is at the same time an alphabetical and phonetic system. It is quite common to use the vocabularies that come either directly or indirectly from the Chinese language.

วันศุกร์ที่ 7 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

The Navajo Nation and Language

The Navajo Language is part of the Athabaskan family of Languages spoken in the southwestern United States by the Navajo tribe. It's unique in that most of the other Athabakan Language family members are from the north.

It's also ranked as the most highly spoken Native American language of all, with a whopping 178,000 speakers. Unlike numerous other tribal tongues, the use of the Navajo language has actually grown over time, not declined.

The spelling for Navajo came from the Spanish language. Literally, it is a Pueblo Indian word meaning "farmlands". It is thought that this name was given due to the Navajo nature of settling and farming.

The Navajo peoples' traditional name of Diné bizaad is translated "the people" (what most Native Americans call themselves). The Navajos refer to themselves as Navajo as well, particularly when conversing in English.

Navajo is spoken in the Four Corners states of Utah, Colorado, New Mexico, and Arizona. It is a language widely spoken by not only adults, but Navajo kids, too.

More than fifty percent of Navajos speak it in their homes. It is a language that is actively passed onto offspring, and thus, the language is a form of daily communication for the Navajos.

The Navajos of the past lived in domed earth houses called hogans. The men hunted, warred, and ruled, while the women farmed, cared for the livestock, and performed domestic duties.

Artwork also had gender roles by way of males producing jewelry, and women crafting rugs and clay pots. Today men often farm, and females can join the military.

The Navajo language includes of four vowels: a, e, i, and o. Vowels come up short, long, or nasalized and employ high to low, rising to falling tones. Combinations such as short/nasalized/low tone can be made.

Tones are very popular in the Navajo speech, rounding out practically every word, adding up to a very lively language. The sounds of Navajo are similar to Apache languages, but different from any others outside of that group.

The subject-object-verb speech is packed with complex verbs. Each verb requires at least one prefix, with a maximum of eight. Navajo accounts for the verb types imperfective, perfective, progressive, future, usitative, iterative, and optative.

Verbs can vary depending on the shape of the subject; the verb for holding a ball is not the same as holding a twig.

The Navajo speech is quite hard for non-natives to comprehend due to the exact manner in which subjects relate to each other. Such relationships could seem meaningless to foreigners, but are strikingly significant to a Navajo.

They have a take on life that is very connected to a bigger world. Instead of saying, "I'm thirsty," a Navajo would say, "Thirst is hurting me". In this way, some say the language paints pictures in your mind.

วันพฤหัสบดีที่ 6 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Use Attractive Body Language to Attract Women

The right body Language to attract women. As you read in the introduction to the psychology of attraction, it's VERY important to use body Language to attract women. This is because women look at every single aspect of your non-verbal communication to determine if you are the kind of guy that dates girls like her. They pay attention to your face, your smile, you posture, your hands and many other factors are all important to the girl you are trying to pick up.

So how do you use body language to attract women? It's all about confidence, guys. Projecting confidence is the most important aspect of using body language to attract women. Before you approach a girl, put a great big smile on your face!

Pay attention to your eyes. Eye contact is very important. A good rule of thumb for eye contact is to keep your eyes locked on her while it's her turn to speak. Break eye contact every once in a while when you are speaking yourself, so you are not staring too much at her.

Don't be afraid to touch a woman early in the interaction. I don't mean grab her boob while saying hello. Simply use light arm touches to articulate what you are saying. And I do mean LIGHT, you don't want to push her over. Touch very briefly and very lightly. If you notice the girl is becoming more comfortable with you, you can try touching different parts of her body (no not boobs just yet) like her hand or, when you are sitting, touch her leg. You shouldn't be afraid to escalate this, but if at any moment she indicates that she is not comfortable with a touch (maybe she pulls her hand away slightly), you should stop and take a step back. This shows that you give her space.

Try to get as close as possible to a girl without her feeling uncomfortable. A very good rule for this is the more you turn your body away from her, the closer you can be. Play around with that. For instance, you could point to something in the room and turn your whole body towards it while standing closer and when you are turning your body to face the girl again, take a step back. That is very powerful.

These are some of the things you should NEVER do:

Don't move too fast. Slow and careful movements project confidence and is good body language to attract women.

Don't slouch. Standing up tall is a very important aspect in body language to attract women. Walking around like you just ran over your own dog isn't going to do you any favors and is the opposite of body language to attract women.

I hope you found this article useful to learn how to use body language to attract women.

วันพุธที่ 5 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Learn to Speak Spanish with Spanish Language Learning Software

They say that those who are the most competitive in the job market speak a second Language, and so many people are clambering to learn how to speak Spanish because they think it will be the easiest new Language to learn. After all, in some places of the United States there are just as many people that speak Spanish as those that speak English and it is important to learn the languages that you are going to need the most.

Spanish language learning software can help you learn the difficult language that is Spanish. Between verb tenses, vocabulary, and reading and word recognition there are so many different ways to go about learning Spanish with the help of Spanish language learning software that the options are virtually endless.

No matter what your strong points are or what your weak points are when it comes to learning, there are programs out there that can help. As a matter of fact, there are even Spanish languages learning software programs out there for younger children whose parents want to teach them to learn how to speak the Spanish language. Many of these programs are not designed simple enough for children and other child Spanish language learning software programs are designed too simple for children of a certain language, so you want to try out the Spanish language learning software that is best for you.

They say that English is the hardest language to learn, so be thankful that it is not English language learning software you are looking into. It is important to know that Spanish language is not learned only by Spanish language learning software or fancy classes or even fancy Books. What matters the most is how you put your Spanish words to use in the practical world. If you never have any reason to use the language, your Spanish that you have learned so far will probably not last very long at all, and there is no use having a language in your head that you do not plan on putting to use.

You can purchase Spanish language learning software from just about any Book store or cultural store. If you attend a college or school, the school library or Book store should have a plethora of Spanish language learning software available for lending or for purchase, so sort through that and see what kinds of software programs you might be able to put to use in your Spanish learning endeavors.

Nobody ever said that learning Spanish would be easy and finding the right Spanish language learning program is no easier. It is important to take your time and find the right product that can really help you learn, or you will just be wasting your money and your time. Learning the Spanish language is something to be commended, but it won't be easy.

วันอังคารที่ 4 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Encouraging Children's Language Development

Parents and carers can use a range of strategies to encourage children's Language development. We thought of the following:

Talking to the child - even before a child can speak it is important for the adults and children around him to talk to him, for instance, by explaining what you are doing together ('It's time for Adam's lunch, isn't it?'), or what is happening ('It's lovely and sunny out here', 'Mummy will be here soon'). Remember to leave pauses so the child has chance to respond.

Using facial expression to convey meaning - children may not understand the words but they will usually understand the meaning if clear expression is used. For instance, if a child picks up a piece of soil in the garden and is about to eat it you might take it off him saying 'yuck' or 'nasty'. He may not know what 'yuck' or 'nasty' mean. If, at the same time, you also scrunch up your face and stick out your tongue to indicate a horrible taste, the child will understand your meaning quite clearly. Most adults do this quite naturally when speaking to young children.

Reading and story-telling.

Social interaction. Including the child in experiences that give him the opportunity to hear conversations and meet new people.

Language and Other Areas of Development

The child's ability to communicate and use language effectively is of key importance to many other areas of their development.

Language has particularly close links with intellectual development and is the main tool by which we are able to develop our thought processes. For example, we use words to help us store and recall memories and other information.

Think about the word 'sunshine' - what memories and thoughts does this bring up for you?

Everyone's memories and thoughts will be a little bit different. When we asked a group of students this question, their answers included:


warmth

light

my holiday in Cyprus

summer

a t-shirt I have with a sun motif

flowers.

This is a good example of the way in which words act as tools to help us organise and recall our thoughts and memories.

We also tend to use words mentally to direct and plan our actions, for example: "I'll drop these off at the library first and then call into the supermarket."

It follows that children whose communication skills are impaired in some way, or who have limited vocabularies, may also find it more difficult to develop reasoning skills and acquire new concepts.

Communication skills are essential if children are to express themselves clearly and understand others. It follows that there are close links between language and communication skills and the development of social skills. Poor communicators tend to find social situations difficult, and also find it more difficult to build relationships with other people.

Becoming a Communicator

Effective use of language involves far more than simply learning words - the child also needs to learn a whole range of skills around speech and communication, such as understanding how a conversation works. These are known as pragmatic skills.

Pragmatic skills begin to develop in the early weeks of life, with tiny babies 'turn taking', initiating communicative interchanges, and 'talking' non-verbally to their carers.

Pragmatic skills include:


knowing that you have to answer when a question has been asked;

being able to participate in a conversation by taking it in turns with the other speaker;

the ability to notice and respond to the non-verbal aspects of language;

awareness that you have to introduce a topic of conversation in order for the listener to fully understand;

knowing which words or what sort of sentence-type to use when initiating a conversation or responding to something someone has said;

the ability to maintain a topic;

the ability to maintain appropriate eye-contact (not too much staring, and not too much looking away) during a conversation;

the ability to distinguish how to talk and behave towards different people and in different situations.

Many everyday activities can be used to encourage children's language development, for example during mealtimes or group work. Parents and carers should look for opportunities to help children develop their language. This would include opportunities to:


use questions

listen

learn new vocabulary

speak.

Handling Mistakes

Young children make many mistakes in their speech. They often use grammar incorrectly and they may mispronounce words because they have difficulty in making the correct sounds. They substitute the difficult sound for an easier one, for instance 'th' for 's', as in 'yeth' for 'yes'. Such difficulties usually resolve themselves by 5 or 6 years of age.

It is very important to tackle such errors in a positive way if you are to boost the child's confidence. Avoid direct correction of errors. Show the child that you have understood what he is trying to tell you and also teach him how to say the word correctly. For example:

Child: 'mook.'

It is better to respond with 'Yes! Book, Book.' than 'No, not mook, book.'

With older children too, it often helps to echo back mistakes correctly. They get the message but they do not feel criticised. This can be the key to good communication between the two of you.

Child: 'I have to do vis homework for tomorrow.'

Adult: 'You have to do this for tomorrow? OK.'

Some children are so keen to get the words out, or have so much to say, that they stumble over their words. Parents may worry that the child is beginning to develop a stutter but this is just a temporary stage that many children go through. It is not a true stutter. It is only likely to become a problem if parents or carers make a fuss and try to correct the child's speech. The child then becomes self-conscious and a real stutter may develop, at which stage the help of a speech therapist may be required.

Delayed Language Development

Children may be slow in learning to talk for several reasons, including:


genetics - it may be that the child's parents were late talkers too.

he or she may have been concentrating on other aspects of development, such as learning to walk.

not enough individual attention from adults - children learn to talk from adults rather than children.
This can be a problem in large families or where there are twins or young children who are very close in age.

lack of encouragement.

deafness - A child cannot learn to speak if he or she cannot hear the words spoken by other people. They also needs to able to hear themselves so that they can improve their own attempts at words. Interestingly, during the first year, profoundly deaf babies often babble at the same time as other babies, but they stop after a few months. This may be because they cannot hear themselves and so can't reinforce their babbling.

It is extremely important to recognise deafness in children at an early age, as the earlier the child receives treatment the better the outcome. Parents and carers are ideally placed to notice that something is wrong with a child's hearing. Such problems are also often picked up at the routine developmental checks carried out by health visitors during the first year or so.

วันจันทร์ที่ 3 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Spanish Language Translation

Importance

Spanish is one of the most major Languages in the world today. It is very important in multiple fields ranging from business to tourism to the sciences. As the Latin and Hispanic communities continue to grow, so will Spanish and its economic importance. This means the need to translate many and diverse documents - from the cultural to the legal - into Spanish. The Spanish speaking populations of the world continue to expand - especially in the USA where it is the number one minority. This means that commerce and other concerns will benefit from Spanish translation to broadcast their message to this increasingly important market segment.

Spanish Translation

Spanish is read and spoken throughout the world and it can be translated to/from its own Spanish dialects and to other Languages. Modern Spanish and its variations are all derived from its pure and original Castilian. Dialectical use of Spanish can require local or regional translators to provide true and meaningful translations. Punctuation standards - such as question marks and exclamation points - are different for Spanish. Capitalization rules are also unique to Spanish. These subtleties can be important in transacting business in Spanish-speaking and Spanish-dialect zones.

Business Translation

Spain and Spanish-speaking countries are doing more and more business with Anglophone countries. These business needs obviously create translation needs for business-related documents. The bulk of these translated documents can be diverse - ranging from advertising to legal to tourism documents. The whole of the document must be proofread by a native-speaking expert for its accuracy, precision and intangibles. The subtleties of Spanish translation and their number can dictate the amount of needed translation time. It has been said elsewhere that dictionaries are for in-context word translations only. Machine translations are for whole text, low-cost rough Spanish translations.

Transcription versus Translation

The difference between Spanish transcription and Spanish translation is academic. Transcription is the mere documenting of spoken or written text. Hispanophones usually transcribe from Spanish, while Anglophones usually transcribe from English. If an official document is to be transcribed and then translated into another Language (or Spanish) - a certification is usually required from the translator. The certification is typically overseen by a local or regional governing body. Machine or online translation is possible for non-certified translation work, but can lack the "humanness" needed for some documents. In these arenas, direct human translation is required and often superior.

วันอาทิตย์ที่ 2 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Byki Language Software Review

The stated goal of the Byki team is to have a course for every Language in the world - perhaps a little ambitious but they certainly cover very many. So just what are you getting with a Byki Language course? The aim of this article is to outline the good and bad points of the Byki language system.

By no Means Comprehensive

The first thing to point out is that Byki is not a 'complete' language learning solution. It is meant merely as a supplement to a wider learning regimen. Byki primarily deals with memorizing vocabulary, and it employs a number of innovative techniques to help you along the way. The system comes with a large number of categories (called lists) covering beginner, intermediate and advanced learners. The lists can be anything from kitchen vocabulary to verbs. A word will be displayed on a card (in English or in the language that you're learning), and you are allowed time to translate the word before flipping the card to see the translation. If you weren't correct, the word will be displayed more often in an effort to help you commit that word to memory. This is the basic premise of the Byki system.

Lots of Different Activities to Keep you Interested

While the sole interest of Byki is teaching vocabulary, there are six different activities to make things more interesting and enjoyable. These activities include:

Multiple Choice: - In this activity a card is shown and four possible options are given to choose from.

Fill in the Blank: - Here a small phrase is shown with a missing word. It's your job to fill in this word by typing in your answer.

Pronunciation Practice: - This is a vital activity for language learners who don't get the opportunity to speak with natives. With pronunciation practice you listen to the native pronunciation of a word and try to mimic this using your microphone. The pronunciation meter then marks your pronunciation from beginner to advanced.

Word Whirl: - With word whirl the entire contents of the list are shown one by one over a minimalistic, and some what mesmerising backdrop. All you have to do it watch. It's a great thing to do before moving on to the other activities.

Concentration: - This is rather like the card game 'pairs' in which all the cards are placed face down and you can turn over only two at a time. The aim is to find a match, or 'pair'. The difference being that in this game one of the cards has the English word and the other card has the foreign language word.

Four Square: - In this activity you have a center card which is constantly upright surrounded by four face down cards. The four face down cards are rapidly displayed and then turned face down again. It is your task to identify which of the cards matches the one in the middle.

Create Your Own Lists

The beauty of Byki comes in the form of its customizability. You're not stuck with the limited number of lists that the package ships with. In fact, there are a number of free lists that you can download from the internet covering just about anything. But best of all, you can create your own lists. This is especially beneficial for serious language learners. Should you be learning a specific topic, let's say the conjugations of a certain verb, you can create a list with as many words as you like and repeatedly test yourself on it with the activities mentioned above.

Track Your Progress

Byki provides a system in which to track your progress. All learned items are recorded and saved into a list divided into 'fresh' and 'stale' items. Fresh being those words most recently learned and stale being the words and phrases that haven't been practiced for a long time. This is a very useful system as it allows you to look back at words you learned a long time ago and make sure you haven't forgotten them.

Test Yourself

After you have completed the activities on a certain list, there are four test modes:

Self-Reporting Test: - In this test you're shown a card and effectively must say to yourself what it means before the card is flipped and the answer revealed. You must then tell Byki if you were correct or incorrect. At the end of the test your results are shown and recorded. This is a good way to periodically check your progress.

Written Test: - Rather like the Self-Reporting Test only this time you don't say the correct answer to yourself. With this test you must write your answer in the space provided.

Listening Comprehension: - In this test you hear the foreign language word and have to type its meaning in English.

Dictation: - In this test you listen to a word being pronounced by a native and then have to type in what you heard. This is a great way to improve your listening skill.

Conclusion

Byki has a lot going for it but you must understand that it isn't a complete language course. If utilized properly, i.e. to supplement other learning strategies, it can be extremely beneficial. It is especially useful if you're already a member of a language class/program. Using Byki is a great way to commit to memory things that you've already learned. I have been particularly impressed by the way Byki persistently presents you with your most troublesome words. The system has great variety with the various different types of activities and tests. This gives Byki a certain longevity values, there is always something different and new to try meaning you'll keep coming back. Being as cheap as it is, Byki is certainly good value for money.

วันเสาร์ที่ 1 ตุลาคม พ.ศ. 2554

Why Learning the English Language Is Important

The English Language is a difficult Language to learn if it is not your native language. However, it is certainly a language that you should consider becoming proficient at if you want to get ahead in the world of today. To be able to make a splash in the business world, it pays to have a thorough understanding of the English language. If you are wondering why you need to make this a part of your personal and professional arsenal, but are uncertain of where it fits in, read on:

Corporate Growth

Many organizations are outsourcing basic functions of their business to overseas locations. Some of these jobs pay quite well and the more proficient you are with the English language, the better chance you will have of communicating. The better communication that you can establish, the more possibilities you will have within one of these major established companies.

Individual Growth

Say you run your own business. What if you want to expand your reach to a global marketplace instead of staying local? The English language is your key to being able to do this, because most every country has some influence within it - at least enough to communicate well in the language and avoid having to learn several different languages for minimal growth. In order to expand your horizons to multiple countries at once, establishing a good grasp of the English language is essential.

Building Relationships

Beyond work relationships, English also helps you to establish personal relationships and maintain them far beyond direct contact. With social media and greater educational travel programs now available, it is easier to establish meaningful relationships that last a lifetime. But language can often create communication barriers, and learning English is the quickest and most reliable way to make sure you keep these potentially enriching relationships together.

Writing and Speaking Better

Simply expanding your horizons through the learning of another language is yet another great benefit. The more that you immerse yourself with, the better chances you will have of writing and speaking better. You can also enjoy higher quality entertainment, such as Books and movies, in their original languages so not to impede with the enjoyment of the presentation.

Learning the English language is not something that you can do overnight. It takes a lot of time and effort to get it right, and who you learn it from is very important. A poor teacher can put you on the path to disaster, and it can take quite some time to undo the damage. Choose wisely, and you can open up a whole new world of prosperity.