roughdraft
Well-known member
not sure if this is the best subforum, more about people than art isn´t it? and wouldn´t want it lost in general banter, but I have no qualms should a moderator want to move this -
Here we go - it´s 18 minutes and fastpaced, very little if any filler
disclaimer: it´s a TEDtalk, I don´t know anything on their politics or who they are linked to, hopefully if there´s something ugly lurking in the organization, you can still apply these principles if this is in your interest.
Five Principles:
1. Focus on language content that is relevant to YOU - trains, cooking, this type of music that type of music, tattooing, start with the things that you are naturally attracted to, it'll help you to buffer the challenge.
2. Use your new language as a tool to communicate ¨from the jump¨.
3. When you begin to understand the message, you will begin to unconsciously understand the language (comprehensible input).
4. Language acquisition is NOT about amassing knowledge...it is more like a physiological training, or learned habits.
5. Your psycho-physiological state MATTERS........be fearless and confident right... this applies to everything in life right, karma, riding the wave, whatever you wanna call it, take care, feel well and you are much more likely to do well. Loosen up.
Seven actions:
1. Listen a lot, soak it in, put yourself in a context where you are catching the rhythms and patterns of the language. This is where a lot of people start....music, movies....subtitled videos...write it all down in a notebook and speak it outloud to yourself. Granted it is much better if you are with people ¨in real life¨ who are speaking, but don´t let a lack of access to that hold you back.
2. Get the meaning before you get the words (context and body language) ¨comprehensible input¨ this is more with people speaking the language around you, but can also be accomplished accessing art through technology (see the last part of 1.)
3. Start mixing... use the few words you know to amplify the combinations of words. Even if you have to just talk to yourself before you get to wherever you need to be to practice.
4. Focus on the core. 1000 - 3000 words is the base of a language, everything else is the spice on the chicken - and my personal note, we are ALL talking about the same things, just in a different way! So anyone can go out there and do it! This is a really beautiful thing and anyone should be encouraged by this.
5. Acquire a language partner...eventually you will speak enough to form a bond, and find someone special, whatsoever type of special that may be - they will exercise reasonable patience and you will grow exponentially in this way because of the natural way we as people who want to bond, do. I learned a fuckload more (and better) of Portuguese spending hours daily with a Brasilian girl for weeks than most of the Spanish I acquired in college, and with people who I simply was not *as* close to.
6. Copy the face, catch the precise feel - this is the point where you can even shed your accent. During my final days in Brasil, I not only got feedback from people I was meeting for the first time, but people I had known well for a long time, telling me I sounded like a native in certain parts of my speech. So again, I find myself a witness and share this with you.
7. Directly connect to mental images....in my opinion this comes before 5 and 6.... if you can visualize what something is and think in the language, you are getting settled into it. Imagine how you think in English, this is when you know you are gaining ground.
%%%
I find this presentation to be very solid, this got my attention not only from how cleancut and well thought out it is, but because when a friend came to me recently on this subject, the first thing I told them was (Principle number 1) above, as well as being a witness to, and now reflecting on, how these work in my own life and times.
and to be more clear, and surely many of you with your values and awareness will not be surprised - I learned more Spanish exercising myself this way (you could call it DIY) than what I learned getting a Bachelor´s diploma in Spanish.
Sure it is easier to learn another language the younger and healthier you are, however it does not necessarily matter how old you are, if you can take care of your brain and put the work in, you can learn another language. I knew a guy from Israel in his 70s who learned Spanish very well. I also know a really smart dude in his 20s who posts *here* on STP, who knows about 10 languages if I recall correctly, and I have no doubt from knowing him and talking with him that he has made his way throughout multiple countries learning multiple languages quickly and thoroughly by applying these types of principles and actions.
Finally - no matter your lifestyle and priorities or limitations, language acquisition and practice is something that´ll make the ride more enjoyable. It is empowering and healthy no matter how you use it.
Here we go - it´s 18 minutes and fastpaced, very little if any filler
disclaimer: it´s a TEDtalk, I don´t know anything on their politics or who they are linked to, hopefully if there´s something ugly lurking in the organization, you can still apply these principles if this is in your interest.
Five Principles:
1. Focus on language content that is relevant to YOU - trains, cooking, this type of music that type of music, tattooing, start with the things that you are naturally attracted to, it'll help you to buffer the challenge.
2. Use your new language as a tool to communicate ¨from the jump¨.
3. When you begin to understand the message, you will begin to unconsciously understand the language (comprehensible input).
4. Language acquisition is NOT about amassing knowledge...it is more like a physiological training, or learned habits.
5. Your psycho-physiological state MATTERS........be fearless and confident right... this applies to everything in life right, karma, riding the wave, whatever you wanna call it, take care, feel well and you are much more likely to do well. Loosen up.
Seven actions:
1. Listen a lot, soak it in, put yourself in a context where you are catching the rhythms and patterns of the language. This is where a lot of people start....music, movies....subtitled videos...write it all down in a notebook and speak it outloud to yourself. Granted it is much better if you are with people ¨in real life¨ who are speaking, but don´t let a lack of access to that hold you back.
2. Get the meaning before you get the words (context and body language) ¨comprehensible input¨ this is more with people speaking the language around you, but can also be accomplished accessing art through technology (see the last part of 1.)
3. Start mixing... use the few words you know to amplify the combinations of words. Even if you have to just talk to yourself before you get to wherever you need to be to practice.
4. Focus on the core. 1000 - 3000 words is the base of a language, everything else is the spice on the chicken - and my personal note, we are ALL talking about the same things, just in a different way! So anyone can go out there and do it! This is a really beautiful thing and anyone should be encouraged by this.
5. Acquire a language partner...eventually you will speak enough to form a bond, and find someone special, whatsoever type of special that may be - they will exercise reasonable patience and you will grow exponentially in this way because of the natural way we as people who want to bond, do. I learned a fuckload more (and better) of Portuguese spending hours daily with a Brasilian girl for weeks than most of the Spanish I acquired in college, and with people who I simply was not *as* close to.
6. Copy the face, catch the precise feel - this is the point where you can even shed your accent. During my final days in Brasil, I not only got feedback from people I was meeting for the first time, but people I had known well for a long time, telling me I sounded like a native in certain parts of my speech. So again, I find myself a witness and share this with you.
7. Directly connect to mental images....in my opinion this comes before 5 and 6.... if you can visualize what something is and think in the language, you are getting settled into it. Imagine how you think in English, this is when you know you are gaining ground.
%%%
I find this presentation to be very solid, this got my attention not only from how cleancut and well thought out it is, but because when a friend came to me recently on this subject, the first thing I told them was (Principle number 1) above, as well as being a witness to, and now reflecting on, how these work in my own life and times.
and to be more clear, and surely many of you with your values and awareness will not be surprised - I learned more Spanish exercising myself this way (you could call it DIY) than what I learned getting a Bachelor´s diploma in Spanish.
Sure it is easier to learn another language the younger and healthier you are, however it does not necessarily matter how old you are, if you can take care of your brain and put the work in, you can learn another language. I knew a guy from Israel in his 70s who learned Spanish very well. I also know a really smart dude in his 20s who posts *here* on STP, who knows about 10 languages if I recall correctly, and I have no doubt from knowing him and talking with him that he has made his way throughout multiple countries learning multiple languages quickly and thoroughly by applying these types of principles and actions.
Finally - no matter your lifestyle and priorities or limitations, language acquisition and practice is something that´ll make the ride more enjoyable. It is empowering and healthy no matter how you use it.
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