Language learning:
Why |
Which |
How |
When |
General tips |
Materials |
Pronunciation |
Vocabulary |
Grammar |
Writing systems |
Chinese characters |
FAQs |
Phrases |
Language jobs |
Language learning experiences
Language learning:
Why |
Which |
How |
When |
General tips |
Materials |
Pronunciation |
Vocabulary |
Grammar |
Writing systems |
Chinese characters |
FAQs |
Phrases |
Language jobs |
Language learning experiences
Possibly the most useful tools there are for learning a language are writing implements, such as pens and pencils, and something to write on, such as paper or a notebook. You can use them not only to make notes and lists of vocabulary, phrases, etc, but also to practise writing in your L2.
The range of other materials and tools available to help you with your language studies is huge. From language courses and dictionaries, to mp3 players and portable translators. All of them can help you in different ways, and your language learning goals will determine, to some extent, which ones are most useful to you.
Below is a guide to the types of some of the language learning materials and tools currently available.
Language courses | Dictionaries | Grammars | Phrasebooks | Flash cards | Audio magazines | Audio books | Recording devices | Sound editors | Electronic translators
Language courses come in a variety of guises, including traditional ones, all audio ones, CD-ROMs and online ones.
The traditional ones tend to consist of textbooks containing dialogues, exercises, notes on grammar, and maybe cultural information. Accompanying cassettes, CDs and/or mp3s are often available.
Most such courses are intended for complete beginners or people with only minimal knowledge of the language. Intermediate and advanced-level courses are available for some of the more popular languages, such as French, German, Italian and Spanish.
Examples of this type of course include:
-
available for 100 languages and include all audio
courses, explorer courses for those who just want to learn the basics, and
in-depth courses for more serious students.
Teach Yourself
This type of course usually consists solely of cassettes or CDs, though some may also include a limited amount of printed material. All dialogues, exercises, instructions and explanations are recorded and the focus of these courses is teaching you to understand and speak the language.
Examples of this type of course include:
Various language courses are available on CD-ROMs and DVDs. Each course is different but they generally include dialogues, audio, exercises and tests. Some also include phrasebooks, dictionaries, videos, games and provide online and/or telephone support.
Examples of these courses include:
The Bilingualize helps language students read and enjoy texts written in their original language. It ads a discrete word-by-word translation under the original text for the comfort of the student: a great help to build up your vocabulary while reading what you like!
There are online language courses and lessons for just about every language you can think of. Many are free, while others require a one-off payment or a regular subscription.
There is considerable variation in the quality and quantity of the material available in each online course. Some of the free courses are excellent, while others are perhaps somewhat lacking in organisation and/or accuracy.
Links to online courses for many languages
Dictionaries come in a number of formats including bilingual, monolingual, illustrated, electronic and online. Bilingual dictionaries are perhaps the most useful ones for beginners and intermediate learners, while monolingual dictionaries, which are designed for native speakers, are also useful for advanced learners.
Pocket dictionaries are good for quick reference and easy to carry around. Larger dictionaries are better if you want more definitions, examples of usage, and information about pronunciation, grammar and possibly etymology.
Electronic dictionaries are available as handheld units, or as software. Handheld ones are portable, easy and quick to search, and often provide other functions, such as, text-to-speech, voice recognition and speech synthesis organisers, address books. They tend to be rather expensive though. Software dictionaries offer many of the same functions, and can be used on computers, PDAs and mobile phones.
More information about electronic dictionaries
Dictionaries for many languages are available from:
Amazon.com
Online dictionaries range from simple lists of words, to sophisticated bilingual and multilingual dictionaries.
Links to online dictionaries for many languages
Grammars are useful reference tools and provide detailed information about grammar and usage. Some include exercises to help you practise the various aspects of grammar. Some language learners like to know exactly how the grammar of their L2 works and find grammars very useful. Others prefer to absorb the grammar through immersion without studying it formally.
Grammars for many languages are available from:
Amazon.com
When visiting foreign parts, a phrasebook can come in very handy. Phrasebooks that come with recordings of phrases are particularly useful, as working out how to pronounce them from the written pronunciation hints is not easy.
Phrasebooks for many languages are available from:
Amazon.com
Flash cards are a useful tool for learning vocabulary and grammar, if you look at them regularly. I found them particularly useful when learning Chinese characters. They might have a character, word, phrase or sentence on one side, and a translation, definition and/or notes on the other side. You can make them yourself, buy readymade sets of cards, or use flash card programs such as Anki, Mnemosyne and Supermemo.
Flash card programs are available from:
http://ichi2.net/anki/
http://mnemosyne-proj.sourceforge.net/
http://www.supermemo.com/
http://www.flashcardexchange.com
A great way to improve your reading comprehension and increase your vocabulary in Spanish is to subscribe to Puerta del Sol, an audio magazine produced by Champs-Elysées. This publication comes out once a month and consists of an hour-long programme on CD or audio cassette covering a wide range of topics, such as politics, current affairs, sports, travel, film, and literature. The accompanying magazine includes a full transcript of the programme plus vocabulary and notes. Optional study supplements are also available.
Find out more at: www.champs-elysees.com
Think Spanish Audio Magazine is a monthly publication designed to increase Spanish fluency while teaching you about life in Spanish speaking countries. Each issue contains diverse articles written in Spanish with a bilingual glossary, a monthly lesson and crossword puzzle, and the exclusive "Think Spanish! Repeat After Me" section. The custom made Audio CD accompanies the magazine each month and allows you to improve pronunciation and increase listening comprehension.
Find out more at: www.readspanish.com
Listening to audio books in a language you're learning is a great way to improve your listening comprehension and vocabulary. If you can read printed versions of the books at the same time, even better. You could also use foreign audio books to learn a new skill or to learn about a subject that interests you through the medium of your L2.
A recording device of some kind is a very useful tool to the language learner. You can use it to record conversations, radio programmes, songs, classes and lectures. Such recordings can help you to improve your listening comprehension. You can also make recordings of your own attempts to speak your L2, analysis of which can help you to improve your pronunciation and intonation. They also provide a snapshot of your speaking abilities, which you could use a later date to assess how much progress you've made.
Recording devices come in the form of tape recorders, mini-disc recorders, mp3 players with voice recording facilities, and dictation machines. The most convenient are those which can be connected to your computer so that you can transfer the recordings, edit them and/or copy them to another device.
Some recorders require an external microphone, another useful tool for language learners, while others have built-in microphones. The quality of recordings is generally better with external microphones.
It is also possible to make recordings on your computer using software such as Audacity (see below), or sites such as Odeo.
Once you've made recordings, you might need to edit them. Various programs that enable you to do so are available.
I use Audacity to make and edit recordings on my computer. It's free, fairly easy to use and has a range of functions, including changing the volume, speed or tempo of sound files, cutting out silences and background noise, adding fade-ins and fade-outs, and multi-track recording. You can also use it to listen audio files, or parts of them.
Audacity of available from: http://audacity.sourceforge.net/
Other free sound editors
http://www.moor-software.com/0.php?lang=English&page=blast.php
http://biphome.spray.se/baxtrom/soliton.htm
http://www.cockos.com/reaper/
http://www.nonags.com/nonags/auedit.html
http://www.wavosaur.com
http://www.code-it.com/KISS_free_wave_editor.htm
Electronic translators are available as handheld units, or as software. Handheld ones are portable, easy and quick to search, and often provide other functions, such as text-to-speech, voice recognition, speech synthesis, organisers and address books. They tend to be rather expensive though. Software dictionaries offer many of the same functions, and can be used on computers, PDAs and mobile phones.
More information about electronic dictionaries
Introduction |
Why learn a language? |
Which language? |
How? |
When? |
General tips |
Materials |
Pronunciation |
Vocabulary |
Grammar |
Writing systems |
Chinese characters |
FAQs |
Useful foreign phrases |
Language jobs |
My language learning adventures
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Copyright 1998- Simon Ager