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Thanks for reading the Multilingual Books newsletter, your source for foreign language news, information, and product information and specials from Multilingual Books. This is also available as a web page at our website, www.multilingualbooks.com. In this issue:
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Learning a Language - The Process
By Paul Torres
Across the United States, it is not uncommon for young children to be able to talk in multiple foreign languages. There are many schools across the U.S. that teaches young toddlers in multiple foreign languages. One such school is the “Language Workshop for Children” in New York City. In this school you will find young children who talk with classmates in Japanese and during naptime may ask simple questions in French, “Est ce que je peux dormier?” (Can I go to bed?). Often, they can say this often without the slightest American English accent. This will be a growing trend in the early part of the 21st century.
Does it sound like parents may be pushing their kids toward overachievement? Not entirely, say educators and child development researchers. “In the past decade or so, we've learned a tremendous amount about the best way to teach foreign languages so kids develop a real proficiency for using them," says Christine Brown, director of Foreign Languages for the Glastonbury, Connecticut public schools and chairperson of the National Standards Task Force on Foreign Language Education.
This insight into learning has not been the secret of just the language teachers; in fact psychologists and linguist recently have added a lot of understanding to the incredible learning capabilities of the young mind. We now know when the window of greatest opportunity is created during a children’s development.
According to neurobiologists, a newborn's brain is like a new computer waiting to be programmed. In the womb, a very small percentage of all connections are already created, as a newborn many more other connections are just waiting to be programmed during those first years of life. As a result, say some researchers, the immature brain offers certain advantages for acquiring a second or third language that will never be found again in a person’s life. It is believed that after the age of 10 the ability to make some basic connections can no longer be made. Learning any language after this age may be difficult.
Does this mean that there is little hope for adults who want to learn a foreign language? Francois Thibaut, Director of “The Language Workshop for Children”, who has taught both children and adults at all ages, does not think this is so. He believes adults can master any foreign language through willingness, effort and hard studying.
Adult Americans are studying foreign languages. As a result, a new understanding of proper and effective learning methods is emerging. The focus has switched from the old conjugation and memorization to the new immersion and communicating with the language every day. The key is to learn the language as naturally as possible and the immersion program for adults is quite successful. As kids we learn our native tongues through osmosis, as adults we can recreate that natural learning activity through exciting creative activities. So don’t be shy, go out and partake in learning a foreign language. Whether you are an adult or a child, there are now proven methods that will allow you to be successful!
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Web Site of the Month
Say "Hello" in Different Languages!
Being friendly has never been so fun! Greet a friend or make a new one by saying "Hello" in a different language. Our curious staff found this wonderful web site dedicated to the idea that greeting someone in their own language is a wonderful way to make a friend! So, explore this site and say "Merhaba" (Turkish) with a smile!
http://www.ipl.org/youth/hello/
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Question: I am very interested in finding out about materials in Lakota Sioux that I could learn from, for example an audio course and a dictionary, especially designed for non-native speakers like myself who are very interested in learning the language.
Answer: Thank you for your interest in Native American languages. Multilingual Books is proud to have a variety of offerings. We have several Lakota courses, the best being Introductory Lakota with 15 cassettes and a book for $185.
Thanks, Ken.
Question: I would like to know if courses of languages like Tamil and Tibetan exist. It would be very important for me.
M.O.
Answer: Thanks for contacting us with your inquiry! In Tibetan, we offer Fluent Tibetan: A Proficiency-Oriented Learning System. The Tibetan Journal calls this course "a significant and unmatched achievement in the field of teaching colloquial Tibetan." We at Multilingual Books agree. Fluent Tibetan is the most systematic and extensive course system available in spoken Tibetan language. It was developed by language experts working in conjunction with indigenous speakers at the University of Virginia under a grant from the International Research and Studies Program of the Department of Education. This is the most complete and best Tibetan language package available. Includes 1010 page, 4-vol. text, and 18 cassettes (26 hours). Companion CD-ROM also available. $260.
Thank you, Ken.
Do you have a question to ask the Multilingual Books staff? If we choose your question, we will print the answer in our next newsletter and you will receive a $25 gift certificate good towards any purchase from multilingualbooks.com.
Ask The Expert by e-mail at: asktheexpert@translation.net
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Platiquemos Basic Spanish Course For a limited time, Platiquemos is now on sale for only $79 - save $20! Please use promo code FSI-PLAT to receive your special. |
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On-line Learning at Multilingual Books Multilingual Books is proud to now offer on-line learning, using the proven Rosetta Stone method. The on-line courses use real-life images, text, and voices of native speakers to help you to learn to speak, read and write the new language quickly, naturally and easily. Access your online courses from any compatible computer with internet access, anywhere in the world. Go through a simple, free registration process for access to our 24-language online demo - two lessons are available in each language! Try our on-line learning... |
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2-for-1 on FSI courses! Act now! |
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$20 off Platiquemos Spanish course! Now only $79! For a limited time, Platiquemos is now on sale for only $79 - a savings of $20 off the regular price of $99! Please use promo code FSI-PLAT to receive your special. For ordering and more information, please visit our Platiquemos page. |
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Free On-line Learning Lessons! Multilingual Books is proud to now offer on-line learning, using the proven Rosetta Stone method. The on-line courses use real-life images, text, and voices of native speakers to help you to learn to speak, read and write the new language quickly, naturally and easily. Access your online courses from any compatible computer with internet access, anywhere in the world. Go through a simple, free registration process for access to our 24-language online demo - two lessons are available in each language! Try our on-line learning... |
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