Post on 19-Aug-2014
description
6 REASONS WHY THE INTERNET IS A LANGUAGE LEARNER’S BEST FRIEND
Dogs may be man’s best friend, but even your pooch knows the internet is an amazing resource.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/will_brenner/2007180466
REASON #1:
Tweet your heart out.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/64018555@N03/6756411895
Follow prominent figures who Tweet in the language. Musicians – Politicians – News Agencies – Actors – Athletes – Activists
Follow regular users who speak the language natively. Tweet them! They’re a lot more likely to respond than celebs.
Use hashtags to find partners. #penpals #languageexchange
Follow language learning accounts. We’ve got a few of those right here.
WHY IS TWITTER YOUR FRIEND?
- REAL-TIME COMMUNICATION
- AUTHENTIC LANGUAGE USE
- EXPOSURE TO ABBREVIATED SPEECH
- FREE!
REASON #2:
YOUTUBE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/njsouthall/5414060206
Watch and learn.
Search for music. Rock out until you understand what they’re saying. Then continue rocking out.
Search for answers. After all, YouTube is the 2nd most popular search engine after Google. If they can’t
answer you, nobody can.
Search for channels. Subscribe to channels that put out language lessons. It’s like going to class, but you
don’t actually need to show up on time (or at all).
Search for culture. Language and culture go hand in hand. Not to mention how watching travel videos is
some serious motivation to keep learning.
WHY IS YOUTUBE YOUR FRIEND?
- 1,000,000 NEW VIDEOS PER HOUR
- FREE VIDEO LESSONS FROM NATIVE SPEAKERS
- FOREIGN LANGUAGE MUSIC
- TRAVEL VIDEOS
- ENGAGES MORE SENSES AND SKILLS
REASON #3:
BLOGS
Read into it.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/waltstoneburner/9253192330
Read subject blogs. Interested in gardening? Try to find a gardening blog in the language you’re studying.
Read language learning blogs. So you really want to get into the nitty gritty? Find blogs that teach the language.
We’ve got a bunch of those over here.
Leave comments. You can do more than just read a blog. Leave comments to interact with the author
and your fellow readers. Trust us, bloggers love comments.
WHY ARE BLOGS YOUR FRIENDS?
- INTRODUCE SUBJECT-SPECIFIC VOCABULARY
- USE CURRENT AND NATURAL LANGUAGE
- ALLOW FOR INTERACTION WITH PASSIONATE LANGUAGE PROFESSIONALS
REASON #3:
SLIDESHARE
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mikemcilveen/8397293336
Next slide, please.
Flip through classroom-style lessons. No more listening to someone read their own slides. Give their presentation to
yourself.
Find language learning advice. Slideshare is a also great place to find out how and why to learn a language. We’ve got
some tips and tricks for you on our channel.
WHY IS SLIDESHARE YOUR FRIEND?
- SELF-GUIDED, COURSE-STYLE PRESENTATIONS
- LANGUAGE LEARNING TIPS AND TRICKS
- VISUALLY STIMULATING
REASON #4:
TEDTALKS
Ideas worth spreading.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/urban_data/8899256033
Spread ideas in 40+ languages. Did you know TED translates their talks into 40+ languages? Follow along with subtitles
and a transcript of the talks.
Learn something new, in a new language. Select a language and a topic. Prepare for your mind to be blown.
WHY IS TED YOUR FRIEND?
- INNOVATIVE AND INTERESTING SUBJECTS NOT FOUND ANYWHERE ELSE
- ADVANCED, SUBJECT-SPECIFIC VOCABULARY
- MIND BLOWING
REASON #5:
Pin now, read later.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/midiman/1200793930
Create your own language boards. Search for language related pins and store them for later!
Pin vocabulary.
Pin quotes and expressions.
Pin grammar. These pins are often links to longer lessons, too!
Pin videos. Remember how awesome YouTube is for language learning? Now you can store your
favorite videos on your board for later use!
Pin culture. History, geography, recipes, songs, etc. It’s all there.
Pin motivation. The internet is full of temptations to distract you from studying. Distract yourself with
a motivation board, then get back to studying! It’s like reverse psychology.
Follow other users’ boards. Don’t feel like searching for pins on your own? Follow another user’s board.
WHY IS PINTEREST YOUR FRIEND?
- STORE RESOURCES FOR LATER
- VISUALLY STIMULATING
- HIGHLY ORGANIZED
- DIVERSE LANGUAGE & CULTURE RESOURCES
- FUN & ADDICTING
REASON #6:
LIVE INSTRUCTION
Who says you have to go to class?
http://www.flickr.com/photos/94433617@N02/8596345463
Take a class. Sometimes you just want some good, old-fashioned classroom time. The benefit of
online live-instruction? Your classroom is wherever you want it to be.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/jason-riedy/5295575048
WHY IS LIVE ONLINE INSTRUCTION YOUR FRIEND?
- ALL OF THE BENEFITS OF TRADITIONAL CLASSROOM
TEACHING
- PROFESSIONAL TEACHER AT YOUR DISPOSAL
- CONVENIENCE
- INDIVIDUAL OR GROUP SESSIONS
“The limits of my language are the limits of my world.” – Ludwig Wittgenstein
Don’t limit yourself to traditional resources. Incorporate these online resources to make your learning experience a great one. After all, that’s what friends are for!
http://www.flickr.com/photos/mrmayo/4838213379