Archive for Language Education

Tips To Complement Your English Lessons

There are many things you can do to complement your language lessons, whatever language you are learning. We’ll focus on the English language, which characterizes for being easier to learn because of its popularity. Let’s have a look at a few things we can do outside the classroom to keep learning.

Listen to their Music
The most popular music in the world is written in English. Whatever your musical taste is, you are sure to find an English speaking band or musician that suits you. For example, If you are into Old School Rock and Roll, why not pay attention to ACDC lyrics? If you enjoy the current pop or R&B music, how about reading Rihanna’s or Justin Bieber lyrics while listening to their music? Trying to figure out the words instead of reading is good exercise too. When taking English classes Washington visitors start paying attention to English music instead of the local bands they used to listen to before.

Watch their Films
A good idea is getting together with your classmates and watching a movie in English. Have you ever tried doing this without subtitles or dubbings? You will get to a point where you won’t even realize that there are no subtitles. This happens because your brain gets used to incorporating the sounds naturally to make them a part of yourself. This is what you should be aiming at. After taking English classes Chicago students meet at one home in order to do this. The main areas that they work by doing this are listening comprehension and vocabulary.

Use the Social Networking wisely!
The truth is that nowadays we spend hours on the computer or using a gadget like a smartphone, iPhone or blackberry to stay connected. There are many things you can do here: try switching the default language to English, or whatever language you want to learn. This will force you to learn, since you will want to do certain things, and in order to do them, you’ll learn by trial and mistake, until it gets easy. Another thing you can do is befriend people who speak English, or who are studying just like you. Also, join pages of your interest in English. Can you come up with more ideas like these?

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Spanish Words and Phrases For Sports Related Injuries

I have a word or phrase in Spanish today that’s a sports-related injury. So if you practice sports, this phrase may come in handy. I also have some more Spanish words to share with you that will come in handy if you have small children or grandchildren who play and fall, and have a tendency to get bumps and bruises.

Here in Medellín, Colombia, I practice an “artes marciales” (martial arts) called “Jiu-jitsu Brasileño” (Brazilian Jiu-jitsu) and a few days ago, I suffered a pinched nerve while training. Earlier today, I decided to send an email to my Jiu-jitsu instructor to tell him that I will be out until my “herida” (injury) heals.

Without giving it much thought, when preparing my email to him I described the injury in Spanish as a “nervio pinchado.” And then I thought about it…

And I asked myself is “nervio pinchado” really the correct term in Spanish for pinched nerve? Or am I just making a literal translation?

So I went on-line and visited some of the forums for foreign language learners and I discovered that there are several phrases that Spanish speakers use in order to say pinched nerve:

1. Nervio pellizcado

2. Nervio pinchado

3. Compresión del nervio

Before you go, I have 4 more Spanish words that I want to share with you. I have found them helpful to know for “Jiu-jitsu Brasileño,” but they are very important to know for anyone who practices any type of contact sport, and for anyone who has small children or grandchildren who play and fall, and have a tendency to get bumps and bruises.

1. Morado – bruise

Después de la pelea, el boxeador tenía la cara cubierta de morados. After the fight, the boxer had a face covered with bruises.

2. Moretón – bruise

Después de caerse, el niño tenía un moretón en la frente. After falling, the boy had a bruise on his forehead.

In Colombia, the word that I hear used for bruise is “morado.” “Morado” literally means “purple.” I checked with one of the “Learning Spanish Like Crazy” instructors from Mexico and she said that the word “moretón” is the word that is commonly used in Mexico for “bruise.”

3. Chichón – lump, bump, knot (that one would receive after being hit or struck).

Tienes un gran chichón en la cabeza. You have big lump on your head.

4. Chipote – lump, bump, knot (that one would receive after being hit or struck).

In Colombia, the word that I hear used for lump or bump is “chichón.” I checked with the same “Learning Spanish Like Crazy” instructor from Mexico and she said that the word “chipote” is a little more commonly used in Mexico than “chichón.”

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Teach Kids A Second Language

It is not easy teaching your child a second language. But it is a rewarding experience teaching them and you can open their young to explore a new world of sights and sounds. Even if you’re not entirely fluent in another tongue, here are 5 simple ways you can help your child learn to speak a second language confidently and easily.

1. Remember the earlier, the better. By the age of two, a child’s brain is sucking up and processing all the information he or she comes in contact with, so it’s an ideal time to start learning a second language.

You may think, “But he hasn’t even mastered ENGLISH yet!” That’s okay! Believe it or not, children can easily juggle two (or more) languages at once without the difficulty that their adult counterparts may have if they try to learn the same language when they’re older. Learning two separate languages will also not hinder your child’s reading or speaking ability. In fact, it will actually improve and broaden their vocabulary as they get older, since many foreign language words are used in English as well.

2. It is better to teach your child with some simple words and basic greetings first. Learning a language does take time and repetition, so only move on when your child feels comfortable and confident in using what he or she has already learned. If you’re not completely fluent yourself, but still want your child to have the benefit of a second language, purchase a good dictionary and work book to reinforce what you already know so that you can teach it to your child.

3. You can try to make studying language to be a fun time by setting aside a special “Language-Only” time. Practice the language together with your child through music, books or videos and use this time to speak and play together using only the second language. It’s a great way to build up the child’s interest in another culture and will help him learn the language more completely and thoroughly.

4. If your significant other speaks a foreign language, consider having him or her speak only in the foreign language to the child, while you speak to them in English. This will quickly help the child understand each language’s structure and differences, and he won’t be as likely to get confused. Remember though, language learning is a slow by steady process. Let your child know not to worry about making a mistake or sounding silly. That’s the only way he or she will become confident enough to speak the language on a regular basis.

5. Whenever possible, immerse your child in the second language as often as you can. Taking trips to the place where the language is spoken is a great way to make a language feel “real” to a child. Children mimic what they see, so seeing others speak and use the language in their day-to-day lives will show him that he can do the same!

The most important thing of all is to treat learning a second language like a fun “adventure” rather than a tedious chore. If you keep these tips in mind, it won’t be long before your child is equally comfortable and proficient in both languages! Good luck!

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