Learning a Second Language

Second language learning can be very fun and easy. Many of us realize that there are many benefits of learning a second language, but for some reason have never made the full effort to learn a second language effectively, so that we can travel, have simple but real conversations, or read a newspaper or book in another language.

If you want to begin learning a second language, you have a wide variety of choices, especially on the internet. The difficulty is trying to figure out the best method for second language learning.

Many of us may have been learning a second language in school, like Spanish or French, but now you might hardly remember anything anymore.

If you were to travel to a French or Spanish speaking country, for example, you might recognize a few things here and there, but overall you might be as lost as someone who didn’t know the language at all.

What is the best and most effective way of rectifying that situation?

 

Quotes about Second Language Learning

“Those who know nothing of foreign languages, know nothing of their own.”

Johann Wolfgang Von Goethe, 1749-1832, German Poet, Dramatist, Novelist

 

“To have another language is to possess a second soul.”

Charlemagne, 742-814, King of the Franks, Emperor of the West

 

“In spite of the proven neurological and cognitive benefits, Americans are relatively unresponsive to their own need to put foreign languages at the core of their learning experience. They do this at the peril of their own security, since it is our lapse in linguistic and cultural skills which will likely provide the opportunity for the next terrorist strike.”

The Language Crisis in the War on Terror; Homeland Security

You may have read or heard that second language learning is more difficult for adults than it is for children. While this should motivate parents and educators to start children learning a second language at a young age, it might also have the opposite effect for others by discouraging you from trying to build upon what you already learned, or learning a second language for the first time.

But you shouldn’t be discouraged by that. Even if it is true that learning a second language is easier for a child, it is possible for adults to excel at second language learning.

What you need to do is to concentrate on the best methods of second language learning for adults.

Thankfully, there are entertaining and very effective programs to help you learn a second language. Whether you want to learn fluent Spanish, teach yourself French, teach yourself German, speak Japanese, learn Arabic through English, or what have you.

A good program for second language learning should have some minimum features, to ensure maximum learning in the minimum amount of time. These are:

1. High-quality audio lessons of about 30 minutes in length, delivered both professionally and in a fun way, so that it is easy to listen to a complete lesson without having to put aside too much time. It is also an ideal length for many commuters.
2. The use of videos, so that you can get a feel of body language, visual contexts, cultural expressions, and non-verbal aspects of the new language and culture that you are learning.
3. Access to online communities of other language learners, for support, interaction, and encouragement. Just like working out with a partner helps you train more consistently and for longer, the same is true with learning a second language.
4. Culture lessons, because when you are learning a second language, you are really learning a second culture. The language is there to express ideas, events, stories, news, gossip, etc. about and by a real group of people with their own distinct lives. Learning a second language opens a doorway for you to experience a whole new world of culture.
5. Self-tests, so that you can measure your learning progress.
6. Games and other fun techniques, to pleasurably stimulate other parts of your brain to help with second language learning.
7. Guides for proper pronunciation, so that you learn to speak like a native speaker as much as possible, so that you are actually understood by the people who you want to speak to.
8. A free trial period or no-questions asked money back guarantee, to ensure that you are fully satisfied with your choice.

Fun and effective learning techniques like this can make learning a second language so much faster and permanent, by working all parts of your brain.

Using scientifically proven second language learning techniques embedded in these courses, you will be able to learn a second language much faster than you ever thought possible.

The sidebar on the right of this page has a number of second language learning programs that have most or all of these features, for 10 languages, including French, Italian, German, Mandarin Chinese, Arabic, Hindi, Japanese, Korean, Spanish, and American Sign Language.

If you don’t  know which language you want to learn first, you can see which ones the US Department of State classifies as the easiest language learn for English speakers by clicking the link.

These courses are designed and offered through Rocket Languages, an award-winning innovative language provider with over 800,000 currently registered users.

The standard used for their certification is equivalent to the A1 and A2 levels of the Common European Frame of Reference for Languages.

 

Benefits of Learning a Second Language

There many reasons why you might want to learn a second language.

You may be traveling on vacation, you may be posted to a new location for work, you may want to study the society and culture of another country more in depth, you may want to impress a love interest, or you may have friends who speak another language and you would like to learn more.

Whatever the reason, there are benefits of learning a second language that you many not even realize.

If you are interested in another culture such as French or Japanese, for example, without knowing the language you are missing the essence of that culture. Imagine a Japanese person who loves Shakespeare but never read or saw Shakespeare performed in English.

Would they really understand what was going on in the plays through a Japanese translation? Or an Arab speaker who loves Bob Marley music, but has no idea what the lyrics are saying. Sure, you can appreciate the music, but if you don’t understand what he is saying, you are missing out of the full experience.

Similarly, if you really enjoy French or Japanese culture, for example, but do not know the language, you are missing out on a huge part of that culture, no matter how good the English translations are.

It is just not the same experience living one culture through the language of another. You miss too much. Understanding the common sayings, the jokes, the sense of humor, and the subtlety of another culture is impossible without learning at least the basics of the language.

You don’t necessarily have to be fluent. But if you know enough it can help you greatly in really appreciating the other culture to its fullest.

Second language learning has also been proven to increase your intelligence. Because other languages often use different structures to express the same meaning, you see the world in a more complex way. This can help children’s development and their success in school.

Click Here to Download your FREE GUIDE to Extraordinarily Fast Second Language Learning

Global Citizenship

In today’s global society the benefits of you learning a second language should be apparent.

It is essential to becoming a true global citizen. If you want to understand business, economics, politics, or social trends, learning a second language will broaden your scope immensely.

This is because so many of the most important developments in the world are now taking place outside of the English-speaking world.

If you want to get more in depth, and find out about these things before anyone else, knowing the languages of Asia, for example, like Chinese, Japanese, Hindi, or Korean, will give you an advantage and edge that your friends and colleagues will lack.

It is also an excellent idea particularly between high school and university to spend a gap year abroad. Doing this in a foreign country where they speak another language can give you a radically different perspective on the world, on your life, where you want to be, and where you want to go.

Learning a second language, then, becomes a way to change your life’s course.

For those that live in big cities, immigrants have changed once-familiar landscapes. There are Chinatowns, Turkish kebab places, Indian shops, German food fairs, French film festivals, Spanish music concerts, Italian operettas, Japanese restaurants, Arabic fast food places, and so on.

There is a world to discover right where you live.

You may be pleasantly surprised to find out what exists just around the corner. You may develop closer ties to friends and co-workers from different backgrounds. And you may discover great food and shopping that you never knew existed.

One of the benefits of learning a second language may be that you get the best deals, better service, and a wider variety of entertainment, food, culture, and places to go by knowing the language.

Whatever your reason for your interest in second language learning, it is always a wise move.

 

Achieve Your Goals, Learn Now

Don’t delay.

Learn that second language you always wanted to learn from the comfort and convenience of your home, iPod, and car. Use fun and varied techniques. Get the best teachers. Learn faster than you thought possible.

Search the site, get the free guides, sign up for the free trials.

There is so much to do and explore at Second Language Learning Now. Enjoy!