Some people, at one time or another in their lives, have considered learning a second language. Many even have had a brief course of language during middle or high school, only to forget it once they grew up and filled their brain with other things. Then, as an adult, it seemed as if it would be too much work, too difficult, and would take too much time to learn a second language. Besides, some people wonder, where would one even begin? Most people don’t have time with work, their children’s activities, and their own hobbies to take classes on a language. But there are actually resources online that can assist in teaching a second language if one knows where to look and where to begin.
Others may wonder why one would need to learn a second language at all. In America, the overwhelming majority of people speak English and there really isn’t any reason to learn anything else. However, if one were to travel overseas, he may find himself in an entirely different situation. Maps may be in another language, directions may not contain English, and anybody that is asked will, more than likely, speak in their native tongue. Many works of literature also read better in the language in which they are written. Languages often do not translate verbatim, and things can be understood more literally if one knows the language and reads it in the original form. If one were to learn Italian, for example, he could attend an opera and understand the story without reading along in the program. Foreign films would also become much more enjoyable. In America we are a melting pot of many different cultures and heritages. Knowing the languages of our ancestors aids in understanding these cultures and ways. Knowing a second language can also aid you in the job market. It will give one an advantage over those who only know English, because you will be able to speak with foreign customers or business partners who speak only their native language. Finally, learning a second language improves memory, and everyone can take advantage of memory improvement, whatever stage of life they are in.
There are over six thousand languages spoken in the world today. How does one really choose what language to learn? The number one language spoken currently, and historically, is Mandarin. It is spoken primarily in China, Taiwan, and Malaysia, but many other places as well. If one were to read Mandarin, he would see Chinese characters. The second most spoken language is English. For this article, we will assume that the reader has already mastered this language. So, on to number three, which is Spanish. Spanish is spoken in Mexico, Spain, and Central and South America, traditionally. However, it is also spoken in many parts of the United States as well, and it may be easy to practice on some real Spanish-speaking participants right here in the country. German, French, and Japanese are very popular languages to learn, most likely due to the tourist attraction to those areas. And that is a fantastic reason to learn a language, so it is an important consideration when choosing a language to learn.
There are several different ways to learn a language. Some are more complicated and in-depth, like college-level courses available at a local university. These would be lead to more proficiency in the language. There are high-school level courses that can be taken at vocational schools as continuing adult education. Free online courses are popular ways to learn languages, because they can be accessed at any time, and they will cost the user nothing. However, some disadvantages may be that there is no tracking device if the user would want to leave the course and come back, nor would there be any feedback from a live user. There are online courses that can be taken that cost a fee, and these courses are a little more organized, and they can also involve a live teacher to offer feedback. One can also purchase CD’s for the computer or DVD’s for the television or computer. As with online courses, the general rule is, if one pays more for a program, he is probably getting more comprehensive lessons.
Once one has decided upon a language to study and has decided which course to embark upon, there are some tips that can be noted. First, learn the vocabulary. Just like in the English language, one will have no idea what anyone is saying or writing if the vocabulary is unfamiliar. While reading a passage or listening to someone speak, if you read or hear an unfamiliar word, look it up before moving on. Secondly, learn the pronunciation. This can be done best by hearing the language. Unfortunately, learning by book falls short in this lesson. One can phonetically sound out the word, but there is no substitute for hearing someone of that nationality actually pronounce it. The same, actually, can be said for English-speaking teachers who pronounce the words. It just won’t sound quite the same when the student goes to another country and hears it from a native. Learn the alphabet, and learn the grammar of the language. Many languages do not follow the same grammar patterns as English; many do not even remotely resemble English grammar. Get yourself familiar with the grammar. If possible, learn whole phrases in a language. This is actually somewhat like slang, whereas, if the phrase is broken down literally, it may not translate in the same way as it is meant. An example in English may be “What’s up?” Clearly, the English-speaking student is not asking another what is up in the sky. However, someone of another language, who may not be familiar with the phrase, may find himself looking at the sky if someone where to ask him that phrase. All languages have such phrases, and it would be most helpful to learn them.
English is the second most spoken language in the world. The English language began in the 5th century with the invasion of three Germanic tribes to Great Britain. The three tribes’ languages merged to become Old English. English has gone through several variations since then, and the American version of English began around 1600 with the colonization of North America. American English’s popularity and familiarity is often attributed to movies, television, and the Internet.
Historically, Spanish emerged as a consequence of Vulgar Latin, and the modern version of Spanish with Isabella of Castile and Ferdinand of Aragon when they completed the conquest of Moorish Spain. At least 332 million people speak Spanish around the world today, with the majority of those people in Mexico, Spain, and Latin America. There are also many people who speak it in Canada, the United States, Costa Rica, and the Philippines. Spanish is phonetic is spelling, thus making it easier to learn than English, as words are spelled, for the most part, exactly as they sound.
The German language resembles Anglo-Saxon and dates back to the 8th Century. It is spoken in Germany, the Alsace-Lorraine region of France, East-Belgium, Austria, Northern Italy, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Luxembourg, and it was nearly the official language of the United States. The English language won by only one vote of members of the Continental Congress.
One of the Romance languages, French is derived from Latin, and it is closely related to Italian and Spanish. Those who speak French are generally from France, Switzerland, Canada, Belgium, some areas of Africa, and the state of Louisiana. French pronunciation is very much influenced by the pre-Roman Celtic language and the Germanic invaders of the time. Modern French consists of 20 consonants and 15 vowels, and French words are often spoken in open syllables.
Approximately one fifth of the world’s people speak the Chinese as their native language. Variations of the language are considered dialects, rather than separate languages. There is, however, only one written Chinese language. Even though a character may be pronounced differently in each dialect, it will have the same meaning, regardless of the area. Because the Chinese language incorporates characters rather than syllables, words, and names, do not necessarily translate well into English or any other language.
The Russian language historically has gone through many changes. In the middle ages it was known as Cyrillic; it was written in large, clear ustav letters, which later evolved into a cursive form. Under Peter the Great, in the eighteenth century, these forms were simplified, and the language underwent further simplification in 1918. Thus the Russian alphabet stands today. In the middle of the eighteenth century, M. V. Lomonosov created three written Russian languages, in an attempt to imitate the Russian educated. The Middle Style of these languages, the one that had principally used for poetry and science, formed the basis for the modern Russian language.
Arabic is the sixth most spoken language in the world, with over 180 million people in the world claiming it as its native tongue. Furthermore, due to the fact that it is the language used in the Islam holy book, the Qur’an, Muslims read it all over the world. Arabic claims numerous local dialects, as well as Classical Arabic, which is used in the Qur’an, and Modern Standard Arabic, used in newspapers and on television. Arabic words contain “roots” which are three letters that contain the meaning of the word. The remaining description of the word is built around that root. The grammar used in Arabic is quite irregular as well.