Careers and the Advantage of Multilingualism

For those of you debating on whether or not to start learning a new language or simply continue to improve one in which you already have some degree of proficiency (including English, if it is not your native language,) here is a report with some valuable information - and motivation - for you.

http://www.tirfonline.org/TIRF_Plurilingualism_full.pdf

If nothing else, take a look at the executive summary in the beginning and the table of contents and jump to the sections that interest you most. The gist is that it is a research summary (in very reasonable, non-academic language) that identifies the role of English and multilingualism in the global corporation.

NOTE: While the primary focus is on the role of English in global economic success, there is plenty of direct and indirect discussion about the importance of native English speakers having a working proficiency in other world languages too!

The research questions that guide the study are:

1. What language requirements do global corporations have?
2. What are the economic purposes and benefits of these requirements?
3. How do global corporations assess whether workers meet their language requirements?
4. What have global corporations done to address the language challenges they face?
5. What is the impact of employees’ language abilities on individuals, firms, and economies?

If you want to be a part of the ever-expanding global marketplace and/or workforce, you simply cannot afford to take this lightly. This should be an excellent topic for discussion, so I look forward to seeing your comments!

The Language Learning Community

Hi everyone,

Given the speed at which information flows online, it's almost impossible to keep up with everything you want to learn about. If foreign language learning is an interest to you, I want to invite you personally to do three things to help stay current on tips, resources, and information:

1. Ask a question. The fastest way to get the information you want, rather than searching the entire internet for it, is to simply ask! Send me an e-mail at ForeignLanguageCoach@gmail.com with any language-related question and I'll do my best to answer it as quickly as possible. Let me be your very own language coach.

2. Follow this site. Just click the link in the lower right column and follow this post. (You can also follow me on Twitter for info on languages, language-related business and technology; just look for LauraSicola.) You can even sign up for an RSS feed which will send new posts right to you; you don't even have to come looking for new information. "Home delivery" of the information you want most -- what could be better than that?

3. Post a comment. When you read something here that really hits home for you, please share your experiences, suggestions, encouragement, and ideas with the rest of the community. We are all on the same journey, and we can all support each other. Don't be shy! You never know who will be touched by your story.

I hope you'll become an active member of our community!

Raising bilingual children

An interesting comment was posted regarding the value of raising children with two languages. I absolutely agree that the earlier a child starts to learn a second language the better, and even more so if it is possible to raise the child with both languages as "first" langauges.

Some people worry that the child will get confused. But in reality, as the commenter mentioned, it helps with cognitive development, and world view alike, as the cultural perspectives reflected in the different languages will broaden the child's understanding of people and situations around him or her.

Sometimes children raised with multiple languages from infancy start talking a bit later than monolingually raised children. This is not a problem and should not be cause for concern. It could be due to many things, including trying to sort things out in their little brains. But once they start talking, look out! They'll be babbling away in both languages before you know it.

There are many systems parents use for raising bilingual children, such as "one parent, one language" in which one parent speaks one language with the children and the ohter parent speaks a different language with them, so they learn to associate a language with each parent. This is easier, of course, if each parent has a different native language. Alternatively, they may have "language zones" of sorts, in which they speak one language in the home and another when out in public.

Regardless of the system used, it is valuable to have story books, video programs and music for children in both languages, so they become literate in both languages and learn to appreciate both for the cultural and artistic beauty they offer as well. Even the television program Sesame Street is available in dozens upon dozens of languages around the world!

For parents interested in raising bilingual children, here's a good resource, written by Georgetown U. professor Alison Mackey and U. of Minnesota professor Kendall King: "The Bilingual Edge: Why, When, and How to Teach Your Child a Second Language." It's very accessible and a smart handbook for parents with just enough research support mentioned to be convincing without being "academic."

So don't hold back, parents! It's not easy to foster bilingualism in many environments, but that doesn't mean it's not a worthwhile endeavor. Your children will thank you for it in the long run, and you'll be proud that your children accept and embody more of your cultural heritage.

Good luck!

Anxiety and Language Learning

Anxiety is one of the most challenging obstacles to overcome in learning a new foreign language. We are afraid of making mistakes, of looking and sounding foolish, of being vulnerable. I don't know about you, but whenever I feel like I'm fumbling around in another language, clumsily scrambling for the right word or grammatical construction to make my point, I always want to interrupt myself and say to the other person: "Just so you know, in MY language, I'm really smart!"

We like feeling smart, worthy of admiration, respected for our skill and knowledge, knowing our true personality is coming through. That can be hard to do in a foreign language, especially in the beginning. So here are a few tips to help get you over these fears so that your anxiety doesn't hold you back from making all the progress you are otherwise capable of making:

1. "Fake it 'til you make it" - if you are not confident in using another language, don't let it show! Keep a smile on your face, learn to laugh at your own mistakes, and pretend that you are emotionally okay - or maybe just a little frustrated - with your temporary limitations. If you appear to be totally embarrassed, falling apart under the pressure, you will project those thoughts to the other person. If you "fake" confidence well, it will have two results - first, if you act like it's not a big deal, you will put your listener at ease with it too; and second, you can actually convince yourself that you ARE okay, and eventually, it will feel natural to BE okay with it. Mind over matter!

2. Rehearse - Whether you are reading aloud to yourself at home, repeating phrases that you hear on television or radio, doing your homework out loud, or simply talking to yourself (which plenty of us silently do already) but out loud, practice speaking as much as possible, even if it's just one word over and over. This also has two purposes. First, it will help your mouth get used to the feeling of the words and phrases in the foreign language, so it will eventually feel more natural, just like you have to practice any sport or art to get used to the physical motion involved. Second, it will help you get used to the sound of your own voice in that language. For many people, it simply "sounds weird" to hear their voice in a different language. If your voice sounds "weird" to you, you will probably be afraid that it sounds "weird" to other people too (though it probably doesn't), and this will keep your anxiety level very high. Get used to it so you stop worrying about it.

3. Learn to talk to strangers - This is not as difficult as it seems! Each time you go out, decide you are going to ask a question. Just one question. You can ask the same question to two, five, or ten people, in the same location or in different locations. Perhaps you will ask someone to reach an item on the top shelf. You might ask someone to recommend a good brand of soft drink, pet food, or detergent. You could ask if an item is on sale. You can also decide how complex you want the question to be. Depending on your level, you can ask about the price of something by saying, "How much is this?" or by saying "Excuse me, but could you please tell me how much this costs?" Plan your phrase in advance, rehearse it, then set that as your goal for the day. The idea is to realize that most people will be very kind in responding, even if your language is imperfect, and even if you don't understand the whole answer. It will help you get over the fear of interacting with a native speaker as you get used to taking the first step of engaging them in conversation.

Consider this reality: You have nothing to lose by trying these strategies. If you never make the effort to try, you are guaranteed to make no progress. If you DO make the effort, the absolute worst possible result is that you maybe feel a little silly at first, but you make a little progress; you can't do worse than "no progress," right? And at best, you get used to the experience, reduce your anxiety, and make improvement little by little, which will reduce your anxiety and genuinely increase your confidence anyway! After all, isn't that the goal?

Zig Ziglar, a famous sales guru, asked a very relevant and powerful question: "Is your fear of failure greater than your desire to succeed?" Wow! Think about that, and find the motivation and strength inside yourself to make sure your answer is "NO!" Then use these strategies, and step by step take control of your own language learning success.

Language Learning Media: Poll

The options we now have for learning parts or all of another language are seemingly limitless, and new programs and media are springing up almost daily. So I am curious, if you could choose to learn a language using any media what would it be? Please post comments with (a) where you are, (b) the language(s) you would like to learn, and (c) which of the following means you would like to use for *self/independent study* (i.e. not classroom) if they were available. You can choose as many as you like, but don't forget to identify your #1 choice:

- textbooks
- CDs
- DVDs
- MP3s
- Web-based programs for the computer
- Mobile web-based applications (for cellular phones, Blackberrys, iPod/iPhone, etc.)
- Dedicated iPhone or Blackberry application
- Other (please explain)

I am really interested in this, and with a better understanding of your interests, I can help direct you to useful software and materials that will suit your interests.

Thanks for your input!

Yappr

I just found out about a fascinating website that helps people learn English through movies and videos, etc. It's all "authentic" video footage from entertainment to news to advertisements, with good audio and transcription. The variety of options available is impressive to say the least. Click the title of this post to link to the website, or click here: http://en.yappr.com/welcome/Welcome.action

This kind of web source is great for people who want a more freestyle approach to learning. There is no curriculum, no set plan, no vocabulary list or grammar lesson. You pick something that interests you, watch and listen to the video, and basically do anything you want with it from there! You choose the vocabulary to learn, structures to look up, sounds to practice, etc. For those who want to learn what they want, when they want it, this can be a very motivating approach.

Yappr is specifically for people who want to learn English as a second or foreign language, but there are other resources out there that provide similar opportunities for people learning other languages too. More on those later. Stay tuned!

Rosetta Stone (TM)

The one question I probably get asked more than any other is: "What do you think about Rosetta Stone?" If I had a dollar for every time I hear that question I'd be able to retire very, very young!

The objective answer is that it is a very thorough, well-constructed, pedagogically sound program. For people interested in long-term language development, it will take you step by step through lots of the language and give you a chance to practice your speaking, listening, reading and writing skills.

The subjective answer - since people usually want to know if it's truly the "best" program available - is that while it is an excellent program overall, it may not be the best program for you and your needs. This is a bit harder to gauge. Here are three key questions to ask yourself before investing upwards of $300(US) on this program:

1. Are you the kind of person who likes to work independently at a computer, and will be disciplined and diligent enough to do it regularly for months on end? If so, it may be suitable for you. If you prefer the energy of a classroom, the opportunity to talk to a teacher, and the pre-set schedule of a classroom-based course, a computer program may not be the way to go.

2. Rosetta Stone is an immersion style program. This means there is no translation into English (or your native language) at all! Everything, starting from the very first lesson, is listen, repeat, read, and write words in the target language. You must inductively figure out what is being said. You will never see a verb conjugation chart or vocabulary list. Will this inspire and intrigue you, or drive you crazy and frustrate you?

3. What are your language goals? If they are for long term broad language ability, then this program will provide a strong foundation for general proficiency in the language. However, if you have a very specialized focus, want to start on a business-langauge trajectory right away, or have other functions you need to succeed in doing right from the start, this might take too long (months or years) before you get the vocabulary and structures you need. Not that your language needs are necessarily more sophisticated, but if you need to start with protocols and phrases for business card exchanges as soon as you get off the plane, for example, it may take a while to get there simply because the authors didn't address that topic until, say, Level 2. Rosetta Stone is very tightly structured, so you really need to follow their order for continuity purposes.

There is no such thing as a perfect fit, or a magic approach that will make you learn any language instantly, etc. But you can take an "off the rack" program and make supplemental adjustments that do meet your needs. So if Rosetta Stone is the only option available to you, or is the program your company has decided to purchase wide-scale for everyone, even if it doesn't inherently suit your learning style, you can successfully use it to learn any language you want. Stay tuned for further discussions about how!

Which language should I study?

Deciding which language to study, if you're looking to start fresh, can be difficult. Maybe you're clear on your reason for choosing a language: to get the job promotion and work with new clients in China; to take a 3-week vacation in Italy; to develop a better relationship with a spouse/partner's Ukranian family. Then the choice has pretty much been made for you. But for others, there may be competing interests.

I often hear people say things like, "I would really love to learn Italian, but I feel like Spanish would be much more useful in my industry/neighborhood." To you I ask a few key questions, all of which lead back to the issue of motivation:

1. Regarding the language that seems more functionally useful, how tangible are the benefits? That is, can you imagine what you would do with it right now? If you want to know what the Latin American prep cooks are saying behind you in the restaurant kitchen on a daily basis, there is a near-immediate and perpetual benefit (and hence motivation) to learning Spanish. If you want a job/promotion that would require German, then the rewards are a bit farther off but the value is real and in your sights as long-term motivation. If you think it might be useful to learn Russian because you occasionally shop at the Russian markets on the other end of town and it's the biggest local 'foreign' language (though most people there speak English anyway and/or you don't need to converse much to buy fruit), the rewards might be a bit too abstract to be truly motivating. Try to quantify the benefits. The REAL benefits you see it likely to have in your life.

2. Regarding the language of greater interest, why do you want to learn it? Do you love the food and music from the culture associated with that language? Do you want to vacation somewhere? Do you have friends who speak it, or just love the sound? Try to articulate what it is that makes you happy about the idea of learning this language.

If the list of benefits from Question 1 is more compelling than the enthusiasm you feel at the thought of the points listed from Question 2, that would be a goood reason to start with the more "functionally useful" language. However, if you simply are happier at the thought of learning language #2, I honestly say: Go for it!

On the whole, the enthusiasm will help propel you through the lessons over time, and is also likely to promote your success. But also remember that there is nothing to stop you from picking up some of the other language at a later time. If the person above decides to learn Italian because of her love of Italian opera and food, a positive experience for 6 months of successfully studying Italian can later influence her decision to switch to Spanish with a more positive outlook.

If the two languages are related - as are Spanish and Italian - one can also facilitate the other. If you are going from Italian to Chinese, of course, there's virtually no transferable language there, but you CAN transfer the study habits, skills and strategies from your Italian experience to your new Chinese experience.

Whatever you do, make sure you are embarking on this journey full of enthusiasm, not with a sigh of resignation and trepidation. Enthusiasm sets goals, goals provide direction, and all of this together helps to breed success!

Pacing and language study

Learning a foreign language is obviously a long-term project to say the least. One key to not losing momentum is learning to pace yourself.

Whether you're working on a big project at the office, training for a marathon, or redecorating the house, it's great to go with the momentum when you have it, but equally important to stop your work for the day before you totally burn out! The problem with trying to squeeze every last drop of energy out of a session is that you end up feeling just that: completely drained. That's never pleasant. And then, you finish an otherwise wonderfully productive session with the thought, "I can't look at this any more," which translates into resistance to starting again the next day. It's completely counter-productive.

Instead, find a reasonable place to stop for the day while you're still feeling interested, eager and enthusiastic. Then you'll be ready to pick up again the next day -- with a full tank of energy to have another successful session. This will help eliminate lots of unnecessary stops, starts and jolts, making the road to language learning a nice, smooth ride!

Languages and Learning Disabilities

I just received a very interesting inquiry from an expat in Sweden who is struggling to learn Swedish after many years due to her dyslexia. This is a very unique challenge. Pronunciation in Swedish is also very challenging, as they have more vowel sounds than English does, and grammar is also very complicated, so she has her work cut out for her!

First and foremost, I think people with genuine, diagnosed learning challenges like this (and the rest of us too, actually) need to take stock of their strengths, and identify how they managed to succeed in school as children. Did they have a strategy for reading long texts? How did they learn to spell? Any tips or tricks or mnemonic devices they developed? Make an actual list of these strategies, and post them somewhere very visible for easy reference. You can add to the list whenever you experiment with something new that works, and increase the "tools" in your mental "toolbox."

Second, it's important to take small steps. Dyslexia can cause ideas to jumble up on paper and in the mind, so if there are too many items on a list, too many long sentences with small font, etc. it can be visually overwhelming and give people a sense of futility from the start. Consider limiting any vocabulary list to ten words. Or even five. Use large font, and double ot triple space from line to line. Cover other words or sentences with your hand or a piece of paper so you are only seeing one word or sentence/line of text at a time, and try reading out loud, which forces your eyes to focus and register what they see more consciously. Even for those of us without this problem, reading aloud can help us consciously register more of the text, whereas we otherwise may visually skim a paragraph or so and upon getting to the end, think: "What did I just read?"

These are just a few strategies. We'll address strategies for dealing with learing disabilities/disorders in future posts as well, so stay tuned!