15 August 2009
Putting together all the various things that I do makes it seem a bit overwhelming but it can be "pick and mix", there is so much variety that I do pretty much what I feel like most of the time. The exception might be when an assignment is due and I want to [...]
15 August 2009
I’m a bit of a geek about pens. For everyday writing I have a selection of Cross pens and a Cross pencil.
Here’s one of my current favourite Cross Pens
For mind-mapping and note taking I like Pilot V pens with a medium nib, one each of six different colours.
14 August 2009
As I see it there is a simple choice, either try to study two languages at once or accept that once learned a language will be forgotten if not used and will need to be revived at intervals.
My experience so far this year supports the second option: I went to [...]
14 August 2009
My current ambition is to be able to communicate comfortably in English, French and Spanish. I began to study Spanish in 2008. I have been a student of French, on and off, for about 30 years and up to last year I could cope reasonably well in a supportive social environment.
14 August 2009
When I started to think about taking on a third language I realised I had two main worries: firstly I didn’t want to lose my second language (in my case French). Secondly I wanted to make the best choices about getting good quality teaching and resources for my new relationship with Spanish.
13 August 2009
Please feel free to contribute any comments or tips that you think might be useful to other readers.
Bill
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Author
Bill Ferguson |
Spanish Teaching Resources Getting good quality teaching and resources
The information I am going to share is an honest account of what I have tried over the past year and my opinions are just that, opinions. I will share my likes and dislikes, what works for me and what doesn't. This is a personal experience, I am not an expert but if you share my ambition of learning to communicate in a third, foreign language, then maybe we can help each other along the way.
According to Friedrich Nietzsche: "One who speaks a foreign language just a little takes more pleasure in it than one who speaks it well. Enjoyment belongs to those who know things halfway."
I think he is right. Its hard to define halfway but I think the fun starts when you know enough of a language to be able to make yourself understood, given sufficient time to think. At this stage you are not merely tolerated but treated as an honoured guest in a foreign country. People see you bravely struggling to speak and understand, and give you credit for trying. They are nearly always kind and supportive.
Go beyond this to fluency and its like a toddler growing up, you are no longer cute and vulnerable. You are competing for resources, in the adolescence of language acquisition unless you have a definite role you are treated with suspicion. Maybe that is the stage to consider moving on to another new language ...
Getting good quality teaching and resources is vital to success: encouraged by an influential book by Harry Ferber I now view language acquisition as a military campaign, I need to use my resources efficiently to overcome all resistance, I need to capture vocabulary and not let it escape. I need to wear down the opposition by attacking daily and not allowing it time to regroup. I need to learn the predictable tricks that the new language will play on me and be ready for them (this means learning grammar). Like any military campaign good quality intelligence is vital. Learning a Third Language My current ambition is to be able to communicate comfortably in English, French and Spanish. I began to study Spanish in 2008. I have been a student of French, on and off, for about 30 years and up to last year ....read more Strategic Planning When I started to think about taking on a third language I realised I had two main worries: firstly I didn't want to lose my second language ...read more Fear of Losing French As I see it there is a simple choice ....read more |
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