Teaching Vocabulary to Learners of English As a Foreign Language

Vocabulary is clearly an essential part of Language learning and teaching vocabulary in a productive way is something which must be at the forefront of our minds as teachers of English. Teaching new words to learners of English as a Foreign Language at first seems quite a straightforward proposition. You provide the appropriate word and meaning much like an automatic dictionary and move on. However, the teacher is far more than merely a speaking dictionary.

There are many things to think about when teaching vocabulary.

How many words should you try and teach students in one class? How do you decide which new words you should teach to your students? What criteria do you use to decide which words are most useful? How do you guide the students themselves in recognising which words are most useful for them? What is the importance of active and passive vocabulary? Why are frequency and coverage important? Why is register important? Do all students need to learn the same words?

How many new words should you think about teaching in a class?

There is no definitive figure here of course, as every student is different, but lower level students can generally manage about 5-8 new words of vocabulary a day. At higher levels usually a few more.

What new words should you teach to your students?

Even if you wanted to, you clearly can't teach students every word in the English Language. There are upwards of 500,000 words in English so you clearly only know a fraction of them yourself. A typical B2 (Upper Intermediate) learners' dictionary contains about 55,000 words of vocabulary. The average native speaker probably uses less than 20,000 words actively. Reducing huge quantities of words to manageable learning is a significant challenge for ELT and one of the great challenges for teaching vocabulary is which words to choose.

What criteria do you use in choosing what words to teach?

Frequency and Coverage:

Choose words to teach that are frequently used. Telling students about how often words are used or in what situations you might use them (formal, informal, academic, spoken or written English etc) is something invaluable that they often can't get from a dictionary. Clearly, the most frequently used words will be the most valuable to learn. The words taught also need to be assessed in the light of topic, function, structure, teachability, needs and wants.

Polysemic Words and Word Building:

In English, many words are polysemic - have more than one meaning - and can be used as nouns, verbs or part of a phrasal verb. It is important to bear in mind these alternative meanings and uses when teaching new words. It would appear logical to learn these polysemic words as a priority. The important point to remember when explaining meaning is that context will show which of the various meanings and uses is intended.

Word formation is an essential part of vocabulary teaching, for example, the way that root forms of words change to form adjectival and adverbial forms with the addition of prefixes and suffixes. Learning about word formation raises students' awareness of the language they use. Teach students word building skills. For example, if you teach the verb 'to advance', you might also teach the adjective 'advanced' and the noun 'advancement.' This gives the student extra vocabulary immediately but it also indicates broader patterns within the language. For example, you can point out that 'ment' is a common noun ending. (Others include 'ness' 'ence' 'ation' 'ism' etc.) Typical adjective endings would include 'ed' 'ing' 'ent' 'ive' 'ical' etc.

How do words lead onto other words? How can you point students towards patterns in the language?

Another important aspect of teaching vocabulary is 'word grammar', some words trigger/collocate certain grammatical patterns. Countable/uncountable nouns are an example of this, the former can be used with both singular and plural verbs, while the latter with only singular verbs. Other nouns are neither countable nor uncountable but have a fixed form and collocate with only singular or plural verbs, e.g. people (plural), the news (singular).

Register:

Register refers to a particular style of language relevant to a particular situation or context. For example the way a doctor talks to a patient about a prognosis/diagnosis will differ in style from the way the same doctor will relate the same information to a fellow colleague. Similarly, the way we speak in a job interview will differ from the style of language we use in conversation with close friends. Students need to be aware how certain words fit into different registers. When explaining vocabulary, bear in mind that explanations need to include relevant aspects of context and usage, e.g. 'mate' is a synonym of friend but is used colloquially typically for males.

Topic Area Words:

You could select a theme such as 'weather.' The ensuing vocabulary would include: rain, sunny, cold, windy etc. This is particularly useful if the student is interested in a particular topic or if a topic area has a direct relation to their life or job. Not all vocabulary or topic areas are of equal importance to every student.

Passive and active Vocabulary:

New words enter the Passive Vocabulary of students. Students may understand meaning, especially in the specific context where they see a new word used but as yet cannot use the word independently themselves. To ensure words enter the students' Active Vocabulary, regular revision in meaningful situations is essential. It is estimated that a student needs to encounter a word 10-12 times before it fully enters their Active Vocabulary. Vocabulary, in the same way as Grammar, is learned through use. It is therefore very important to give students opportunities within the classroom to use the new vocabulary themselves. Students remembrance of words is relative to the degree which they have used the word, thus the more we get students to use words in a task of some sort - finding opposites, transformation etc - the better they will remember them. Similarly, if we involve students in presenting new words the better they will remember them. Hence, acting out definitions in a dramatic way - trip, stagger etc - should lead to deeper learning of the words. Sense memory becomes involved, taste, smell, touch etc, which further enhances recall. Discovery techniques where students have to find out the meanings of words themselves will be more effective than standard teacher presentation of new vocabulary.

There may be many words that students will not need to use actively themselves at a particular stage in their learning career and therefore they can remain in the students' Passive Vocabulary. For example, at Beginner level it is enough to know 'big' and 'small'. At Intermediate levels, you might begin to use 'huge' 'massive' 'tiny' 'minute' etc. At Advanced levels, you might use words like 'vast' or 'minuscule' to give a different shade of meaning or to adopt a more formal or academic tone. The point is that at Beginner level it is clearly not practical or useful spending time trying to get the student to use a word like 'vast'.

Vocabulary Testing:

Vocabulary testing has several forms, and as with all techniques in ELT the more variety in the classroom the better.

Examples include:

1. Multiple choice Questions
2. Matching (opposites/complements)
3. Odd one out
4. Writing sentences
5. Dictation
6. Close/gap-fill (with and without wordlist)
7. Sentence completion

Conclusion:

In the classroom, the teacher remains central to the effective acquisition of new vocabulary. Every student is different so their language learning needs and vocabulary requirements are different too. As a teacher, you are interacting with students face to face on a human level. You have an expertise about who the student is and what is useful for them to learn that no dictionary or computer programme could ever have.

Why is it Important to Learn a Foreign Language?

In today modern society, it is more than just "important" to learn a foreign Language; it is "SO VERY important." Think about it. How many people do you know (or see everyday) who can speak multiple Languages? Even if just a little, knowing a different language can bring you many benefits in life. Here are three main reasons why learning a foreign language is so important:

1. To improve your cognitive and analytical capabilities

-Researchers have shown that knowledge of a foreign language increases your creativity, problem solving, and conceptualizing skills because the process of learning a foreign language involves a variety of cognitive skills. For example, in standardized tests (such as SATs, ACTs, GREs, MCATs, and LSATs), people who have studied a second language have noticeably higher scores compared to those who are monolingual.

2. To increase employment potential

-Many employers nowadays are looking for more applicants who are multilingual. Especially in the business world, where trades in foreign countries are common everyday practices, knowing a foreign language will land you more quickly with a job. Dr. Dan Davidson, President of the American Council on International Education, noted that the "English language alone is probably sufficient if all we need to do is buy our products abroad, if we need to purchase foreign goods and services. But when it comes to selling a product abroad, you have to understand the psychology and the belief structure of your client." Thus, the first step to understanding other cultures is to SPEAK their languages.

3. To enhance your enjoyments in life

-Now here is an obvious reason. Lets say that you are traveling abroad. Would it not be awesome if you could understand what the menus in the restaurant are referring to? Learning a foreign language will definitely enhance your traveling expeditions and will make your stay more feasible and fun. It will also allow you to make friends from different ethnical backgrounds and will bring you closer to the friends that you already have.

Now you may ask, "What foreign language should I learn?"

That is a very good question because with our business world today, there are two foreign languages that will be the most beneficial to you. First is French; then comes Spanish.

"Why French or Spanish?"

French is the second most frequently taught language in the world after English because these two are the only two languages considered to be global. The US State Department released a recent listing of international jobs on July 3, 2007 that noted more positions (125) requiring or preferring French than another other languages. Second on the listing was Spanish with 31. With Spanish, it is the official language of more countries in the world than any other languages. Look at any instruction guides or item's descriptions. I guarantee that Spanish is on there.

"Will I really be able to learn a foreign language, such as French and/or Spanish?"

Yes! You can learn any foreign language if you devote enough time and effort into it. If you do not have the time, then learn it on your FREE time. Instead of watching that soap opera or going to the bar, try sitting at home for half and hour and going over your foreign language studies. I assure you that in about two to three months worth of time, you will have a pretty good handle of your new language.

"What's next?"

After all your studies and as a reward for your effort, take a long vacation to the country of your language to test out your skills (and to sharpen them as well)! Go ahead and enjoy yourself! You will then realize how much fun you have been missing out. Learning a new foreign language is really "SO VERY" important after all.

The Important Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

What are the benefits of learning a foreign Language? Whether you are just starting out or if you have been studying a Language for a while, it helps to consider why you are learning a Language.

The reason for considering the benefits of learning a foreign Language is to keep yourself motivated. Especially for adult language learners, it is important to know why you are learning something. What is in it for you? If you can answer this question, then you will be more likely to stay motivated and stay with the language for the long haul.

First, consider the social benefits of learning a foreign language. For me people, the chance to meet new people, to make new friends, and the pursuit of love are big motivating factors in life. These same motivators are often powerful reasons for learning a foreign language. Learning a language will help you meet lots of new and exciting people. Your friendships with these people will encourage you to develop your language skills far beyond the casual learner.

Next, consider all the financial benefits of learning a foreign language. There are many ways that learning a foreign language can help you make more money. Learning a foreign language can lead to special recognition and promotions at work. It can increase sales, open up new business opportunities, and enable better service to your customers. Or it can lead to new job opportunities where you are paid to travel around the world.

Finally, consider the many travel, cultural, and other life changing experiences that you can have. For many people, these are the primary benefits of learning a second language. Just knowing a few words and phrases in another language will unlock doors and open people's hearts to you. It is amazing how much people light up when they realize you are making the effort to learn their language. In many parts of the world, especially in smaller more rural locations, people are genuinely enchanted with someone who is trying to learn their language. This often leads to all sorts of cultural exchanges, invitations to experience the local culture as few other travelers are able to experience, and memories of travel adventures that will last a lifetime.

12 Keys to Using Songs For Teaching Children English As a Foreign Language

Teaching Children English Using Songs

In answer to a reader question on using songs for teaching Italian children English, I gave the following twelve quick keys. They're equally effective, however, for children from any country, or of almost any age too for that matter.

Here they are:

1. You can use most songs for English Language Teaching, but learners usually prefer songs which are currently popular. Both you and your learners can collaborate on selecting songs.

2. You should also select songs with easy-to-understand lyrics, absolutely NO profanity, violent, illegal or immoral themes like sex, drug use, prostitution, gang violence, kill-your-mother, suicide, etc. (It's easier to fall into this trap than you think. Many popular song lyrics are horrid)

3. For motivating children take along a dozen or so children's songs on cassette or CD with the lyrics. Beg, borrow or steal a selection of popular children's songs and you're all set. (Okay, don't steal them, ask - politely, about a million times until they say "yes")

4. Most popular song lyrics are available online. You'll need to be very, very careful of downloads from sites like these since they frequently FULL of viruses, Trojans, worms and lord only knows what else.

5. Walt Disney has a truckload of great children's songs. Us e films and shorts directly or just a recording with display pictures for visual support.

6. In addition to the above keys, there are the standard children's favorites any primary song child or teacher can tell you. You can even use songs from your childhood, if you were ever a child, that is.

7. Use inter-active games and Total Physical Response (TPR) along with the songs. Choreograph simple moves and actions to the beat and rhythm of the song.

8. Keep a fairly fast-paced class going as children get bored and restless easily with their short, short, short attention spans. Change activities every 15 minutes or so - even LESS with tiny "Chiquiticos".

9. Try incorporating some simple "dance" moves into the songs too for some added benefit. Have the "kiddies" ad lib, lip sync, pantomime, swing, sway kick, hop, slide, glide, whirl, spin, dip, step, jump and wave - you get my drift?

10. Use pictures as an aid in teaching key words in the song lyrics. Cutouts, posters, drawings, anything that provides positive visual support and reinforcement for lexical elements, grammatical them, connected speech, pronunciation or use in context is fair game in EFL classes for children (and adults too, actually)

11. Practice a couple of the songs and activities beforehand in front of a mirror on your own. (See how silly you look! That's okay though, so don't worry. We can't see you)

12. Oh yes, and be sure to have lots of FUN yourself! Whoever said English and foreign Language teachers can't have fun too? (Certainly not me. Despite my scholarly appearance, sometimes I'm nuts in EFL classes!)

So "Don't Worry, Be Happy".

I hope this helps you with using songs to teach English to children. Be sure to check out the other article posts of mine like "9 Reasons Why You Should Use Songs to Teach English as a Foreign Language" on my blog for teaching English using songs.

Five Advantages of Learning a Foreign Language

To attempt to do something new, many times we need to understand the benefits as well as the advantages of doing it. When it comes to learning a foreign Language how quickly we develop our learning skills can directly relate back to how we feel about the benefits we will receive. In this article we want to take a look at a few advantages of learning a foreign Language and the benefits of doing it.

1. Depending where you are in your career you may be looking for business advantages in the foreign language that you are trying to learn. If your job requires you to travel overseas then there may be specific languages that you need to learn depending on where you travel.

For example, if you are traveling to Europe, you may need to know the French language. If your business travels take you to Mexico or south, learning Spanish may be important to you. There are many benefits that can be obtained from being able to speak a foreign language in the career that you have.

2. Only one out of 12 people in this world speak the English language, yet, over half of all Internet visitors speak English. For this reason there are many benefits of learning a foreign language if you wish to communicate online.

3. If you are into Internet e-commerce you may need to translate your website into multiple languages. If you do e-mail marketing, and you know that one out of two visitors speak English, you need to become fluid at writing grammatically correct email messages.

4. To realize the advantages of learning a foreign language, you may have to take language courses. This could involve immersing yourself in the language, and culture you are trying to learn. Language lessons are available online for any language that you are willing to learn.

5. If you like to travel there are many benefits to learning a foreign language. Being able to speak more than one language can come in handy when you are in an airport, ordering at a restaurant, asking for directions, or even ordering room service at a hotel in the country are visiting.

This is five different advantages of learning a foreign language. You may be able to come up with a list of your own that features different benefits to you personally. You never know when you may need a foreign language to help you out, and you will be glad that you took the time to learn it.

Why Do English and Foreign Language Teachers Really Give Tests?

Why Test?

You know how your learners dread to hear, "Next class we have a test on ..." Why, you can practically hear their groans of displeasure even now. Even teachers hate tests to some degree. There's preparing the test, administering it and then the meager efforts to try to prevent the almost inevitable cheating. It's a cat-and-mouse game of "catch-me-if-you-can". Who's "smarter", the teacher or the learners? So considering the fear and dread that both the learners and teachers have of testing, what is really the role of testing, evaluation and assessment in English Language Teaching? The following are key points in consideration of English and other foreign Language tests.

Did you know that:

o Students learn more in classes that use tests

o The connection between testing and increased learning is well-proven in research

o Students are more motivated in classes that use tests ...

o The classes in which students learn most and for which they study hardest are ones in which they are frequently and thoroughly tested... (Eggan - Kauchak, 1994)

o Students expect to be tested - adult students expect and respect formal testing and are challenged by it... (M. Thompson, 2001)

ASSESSMENT means judging learner's performance by collecting information about it.
There are basically two types of assessment, informal and formal.

INFORMAL ASSESSMENT is when we observe learners to see how well they are doing and then comment on their performance.

FORMAL ASSESSMENT is when we assess learners through tests or exams and give them a grade.

In addition, testing, evaluation and assessment in English and other foreign language teaching can also serve the interests of four distinctive groups; teachers, learners, the administration and parents in the case of young language learners.

FOR TEACHERS:

Testing, evaluation and assessment in English and other foreign language teaching can serve the interests of teachers in at least three major aspects:

- Evaluation of teaching and didactic methods

- Evaluation of learner language competencies

- Teacher accountability to the administration and parents: i.e., are objectives being met?

FOR LEARNERS:

Testing, evaluation and assessment in English and other foreign language teaching can serve the interests of learners in three principal aspects:

- Demonstrate knowledge

- Diagnostic to point out areas of weakness or inability

- Promote study

There are five key Assessment categories (ref. Cucchiarelli, Panti, Valenti, 2000):

- Placement assessment

- Formative assessment

- Diagnostic assessment

- Summative evaluation

- Self- assessment

In the next part of this article series we'll continue and consider each of these assessment categories in more detail. English and other foreign language teachers, your personal insights, observations, questions and comments on this topic will be greatly appreciated.

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.

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.

Why Learning About the Culture Is Important in Foreign Language Learning

Many people think that learning a foreign Language consists of grammar and pronunciation. However, in order to truly become proficient with the Language, you must know and understand the culture. Discussed below are some of the reasons why learning about culture is important in foreign Language learning.

First and foremost, Language is culture. In order to speak the language conversationally, you must understand the cultural associations attached to different words and phrases. This allows you to be able to think in that language, rather than simply translate what is being said to you. When you can actually think in a language, you will likely be able to converse easily in that language.

When teachers include instruction about the culture in their foreign language courses, students' proficiency improves greatly. Rather than simply regurgitating sentences and phrases back to the teacher, they become immersed in the language. They understand why a certain phrase is being used during conversation.

Teaching students a language without teaching the culture behind it leaves students lacking the social aspect of conversing in the language. Without knowing why you use a certain phrase in a social setting as opposed to a formal setting can cause some serious faux pas when conversing with locals. It is often said that language is the soul of a country. The everyday language of a country is laced with some of the culture of that country. This is why to become truly proficient in conversational speaking of a specific language, you must know about the culture of the country it comes from

Can You Really Learn A Foreign Language While You Sleep?

It really seems so easy. Just put on the CD or tapes, relax in bed and learn English (or another foreign Language) while you sleep. Have you ever seen those ads that say, "Learn English While Sleeping" or that promise "effortless" Language learning by listening to a tape or CD while you relax or take a nap? With the continual rise in the study of English as a foreign or second Language, (EFL, ESL) progressive TEFL English and foreign language teachers, foreign language learners, and educational administrators need to be aware of the implications posed by claims of "learning English (or another foreign language) while you sleep. To better understand the processes involved let's first look at each of them individually in turn. In this first part of the series, we'll examine the elements of sleep.

What is Sleep?

The state of sleep is generally defined as "the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious." A more extensive definition is offered by Webster's New World Dictionary (third ed., 1989); "sleep: a natural, regularly occurring condition of rest for the body and mind, during which the eyes are usually closed and there is little or no conscious thought or voluntary movement, but there is intermittent dreaming".

Sleep is also likened to death. In the Holy Bible (NWT, 1981) at John 11: 11 Jesus says, "Lazarus or friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep." Then in verse 14 Jesus clarifies his meaning of "sleep", "At that time, therefore, Jesus said to them outspokenly: Lazarus has died." In describing death the bible continues at Ecclesiastes 9: 5 stating, "The living are conscious that they will die; but as for the dead, they are conscious of nothing at all." Sleep then, is characterized as a condition typically devoid of conscious thought. Have you ever slept through a severe thunder storm, a series of car alarms going off, an explosion, an earth tremor (minor earthquake) or dogs barking loudly at night? Completely unconscious, right? For even further clarification, here are some characteristics of human sleep.

Characteristics of Sleep

Characteristics of sleep in humans are:

o lying down, if possible although sleep is possible in almost any position according to studies done on astronauts and in sleep study centers

o Eyes are closed, but sleep can occur with opened eyes in an environment devoid of light and / or distraction

o You don't hear anything or do not consciously respond to external sounds depending on the level, depth or stage of sleep

o Slow, rhythmic breathing pattern (which might be altered during dream stage)

o Muscles are completely relaxed with the exception of altered states of sleep or reaction to dreams or abnormal physical conditions

o Person may occasionally roll over changing positions

Stages of Sleep

On the average, a person goes through five stages, or levels of sleep. The stages each have distinctive characteristics and determine what the brain and body are capable of.

o Stage One - 4-5% Light sleep. Muscle activity slows down

o Stage Two - 45-55% Breathing and heart rate slows. Body temperature decreases

o Stage Three - 4-6% Deep sleep. Slow Delta waves begin

o Stage Four - 12-15% Very deep sleep; brain produces Delta waves

o Stage Five - 20-25% Rapid eye movement (REM); dreaming occurs

Why Do We Sleep?

For the most part, sleep allows several vital functions to take place. It is an essential physical and mental state with which we cannot do without. Our sleep allows us:

o To repair muscles and other tissues

o To replace aging or dead cells

o An opportunity for the brain to organize and archive memories, that is in part, to transfer data and memories from short to long-term memory

o Lowers energy consumption (balance of enzyme production achieved, i.e. blood glucose levels, electrolyte levels, etc.)

o To recharge the brain (diminished supplies of fluids and enzymes in organs and lymphatic system can be replenished during sleep)

How Much Sleep?

Most young adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, but the quantity of sleep required can vary depending on age, daily activity, diet, nutrition and other physical and / or psychological factors. Sleep deprivation can directly affect:

o Short term memory

o Performance

o Efficiency

o Physical health

o Emotional health

With 30 to 40 million Americans suffering from serious sleep-related disorders, the effect of sleep on learning and cognitive competencies is of serious concern.

In the next segment of this series, "Learn A Foreign Language While You Sleep: Theoretical Approaches", we'll look at both recent and current language-learning theories and approaches and how some might seemingly provide some support for these claims.

What is the Easiest Foreign Language To Learn?

Do you want to start with the easiest foreign Language to study? Which Language should you study first? If you are seeking a good language to start with, I would suggest the following:
Consider starting with a foreign language that is similar to your own.
The easiest foreign language to learn is probably closely related to your own. Most languages fall into certain groups. It is relatively easy to study a language similar to your own, or similar to another language that you already have some experience with. For example, French and Spanish are closely related to English. You will probably find it easy to deduce the meanings of many words on your own. If you already know some French or Spanish, then you shouldn't have much trouble with a language similar to Italian. Learn the basics of one, then switch to any of the others, you will find remarkable similarities.
Even if the words are very different, the grammar patterns are often the same. At some level, you will have an intuitive sense of how things go together. This makes it much easier to learn a closely related language rather than one from a unrelated lineage such as Korean or Russian.
Can You Find Lots of Resouces?
Can you find lots of resources in your chosen language? This is a critical factor in choosing a language. The easiest language to learn also has a lot of resources available. If you go to the library, can you find language guides, dictionaries, and phrase Books in your target language? If you search on-line, can you find websites, podcasts, and other material in the language? If you search around, can you find movies dubbed in the language? Finally, can you find native speakers to practice with? There are all important factors to consider. The easiest foreign language to learn will be one where you have access to native speakers and a good selection of resources.
Are You Interested In The Language?
Finally, do you have an interest in learning the language? For instance, why would you want to spend a huge amount of time studying Russian if you have no interest in the food or culture of that part of the world? But if you are enthralled by the sound of Italian, dream of eating at a piazza cafe, hope to one day explore Tuscany, and are fascinated by the people, then choosing Italian is probably a no-brainer. The easiest foreign language is one that you really want to learn.
Having strong reasons on many different levels to learn a language is a key factor to your success. It will help keep you interested, keep things fun, and keep you going through the ups and downs. Language learning is a skill. You have to work at it. Like anything else, you have to develop strength in it. The experience of learning one language will in turn make it easier to learn the next language. Start with an easy language and build up from there.