Comments on: Help! A Language is Attacking Me! https://blogut.ca/2010/02/09/help-a-language-is-attacking-me/ A blog about University of Toronto events, news, university groups, clubs, campus life, and toronto student life: written by U of T students. Sun, 09 Oct 2011 03:24:09 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.1.3 By: Julia Bolotina https://blogut.ca/2010/02/09/help-a-language-is-attacking-me/comment-page-1/#comment-173677 Julia Bolotina Mon, 15 Feb 2010 01:01:13 +0000 https://blogut.ca/?p=4041#comment-173677 Greg, I have to admit I've never used Rosetta Stone or programs like it, but I'm skeptical about how well they could work. Yes, it's based on intuitive learning, which is wonderful, but it is still essentially vocabulary and (some) grammar learning. If they keept showing you pictures and getting you to learn the names of, for example, colours based on them, that's essentially a more fun version of cue cards. Unless you're under 7, immersion can only take you so far - you have to sit down and do at least some active learning. The only program that I've heard of that is based on immersion that I think coudl work really well is the program that First Nations House (I think) has set up for learning Anishinaabe (I think)... it's based on students teaching other students the language; while it is based on immersion, it places responsibility on students taht I think woudl encourage more active learning. I've heard great things about it, anyway. Greg, I have to admit I’ve never used Rosetta Stone or programs like it, but I’m skeptical about how well they could work. Yes, it’s based on intuitive learning, which is wonderful, but it is still essentially vocabulary and (some) grammar learning. If they keept showing you pictures and getting you to learn the names of, for example, colours based on them, that’s essentially a more fun version of cue cards. Unless you’re under 7, immersion can only take you so far – you have to sit down and do at least some active learning.
The only program that I’ve heard of that is based on immersion that I think coudl work really well is the program that First Nations House (I think) has set up for learning Anishinaabe (I think)… it’s based on students teaching other students the language; while it is based on immersion, it places responsibility on students taht I think woudl encourage more active learning. I’ve heard great things about it, anyway.

]]> By: winna https://blogut.ca/2010/02/09/help-a-language-is-attacking-me/comment-page-1/#comment-173574 winna Sat, 13 Feb 2010 06:29:37 +0000 https://blogut.ca/?p=4041#comment-173574 Learning a new language is such a love/hate relationship for me. I enrolled in the French program at U of T to force myself to really learn the language and boy do I know what you're talking about. I have all these cue cards plastered all over my wall in my room and I actually spend time and sit down to study the language. I am am proud of the fact that I enrolled in the French program in university. It's forced me to work harder and really immerse myself in the language and culture more so than I would have, I bet, had I not enrolled in the program. Learning a new language is such a love/hate relationship for me.

I enrolled in the French program at U of T to force myself to really learn the language and boy do I know what you’re talking about. I have all these cue cards plastered all over my wall in my room and I actually spend time and sit down to study the language.

I am am proud of the fact that I enrolled in the French program in university. It’s forced me to work harder and really immerse myself in the language and culture more so than I would have, I bet, had I not enrolled in the program.

]]> By: greg https://blogut.ca/2010/02/09/help-a-language-is-attacking-me/comment-page-1/#comment-173460 greg Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:43:27 +0000 https://blogut.ca/?p=4041#comment-173460 Languages are easy. Your brain is programmed to learn them, you just need to acquire the language in a more natural way. Memorizing grammars and vocab can be a waste of time if you have not tried to speak the language in order to get that gut intuition for how it works. Try getting ahold of the two best tools around, either Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone. Pimsleur will get you speaking and conversing very quickly. It's an audio program where you must participate and respond to questions in the new language while someone gives minimal explanations and translations in English. It paces the new vocab and concepts very well and gives you all the most important building blocks to use the new language. I'm not sure if the library has copies of these particular programs but enough snooping on the internet can get you a good deal ;). Languages are easy. Your brain is programmed to learn them, you just need to acquire the language in a more natural way. Memorizing grammars and vocab can be a waste of time if you have not tried to speak the language in order to get that gut intuition for how it works. Try getting ahold of the two best tools around, either Pimsleur or Rosetta Stone. Pimsleur will get you speaking and conversing very quickly. It’s an audio program where you must participate and respond to questions in the new language while someone gives minimal explanations and translations in English. It paces the new vocab and concepts very well and gives you all the most important building blocks to use the new language. I’m not sure if the library has copies of these particular programs but enough snooping on the internet can get you a good deal ;) .

]]>