Evocative and Beautiful Journey Through Italy
Evocative and Beautiful Journey Through Italy
By Andrew J Smith
Piedmont is the region of Italy that my family and I live in. We believe it to be the most beautiful region of Italy and one of the most beautiful and magical places on earth.
Perhaps fortunately it remains a region that is little discovered by tourists – both foreign and Italian. Here is a region where you will have the little square and alleyways of medieval hill towns all to your self, explore fabulous markets with only the locals for company and explore places that have remained relatively unchanged for centuries. Saluzzo and Montiglio are just two of the gems of this region awaiting discovery.
Many of my friends and family in the USA and UK ask me to describe this special corner of Italy to them and I do my best. However help is at hand – a beautiful book was published a few years ago that literally transports you to this part of Italy. It is a book that through words and photos helps you discover this region that I love so much.
Autumn in Piemonte: Food and Travels in Italy’s Northwest
An absolutely beautiful book, the author is both poet and cook, brilliantly evoking atmosphere and sharing Piedmont’s great recipes and food. The photos are exceptional and together with the passionate writing of the author they will have you longing to follow in her footsteps. I particularly loved the chapters on le Langhe and the one on the Gourmet University which must surely be unique. My favourite of this selection of books on Piedmont.
For more on this and other books and my insiders guide to Italy visit:
http://www.my-italy-piedmont-marche-and-more.com/books-on-piedmont.html
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How Long Does it Take an Average Person to Learn Japanese?
How Long Does it Take an Average Person to Learn Japanese?
By Chun Tak Nicholas Tsoi
Overview:
There is no exact answer as to how fast an average person acquires enough skills in the Japanese language to converse/write fluently. Like all the languages of the world,it will depend on your age, your desire to learn, time you spend learning, and other factors. If you just take a class and don’t actually put in the time to do some self-studying, it’s going to be a long while. One of the best ways to learn is definitely go to Japan and surround yourself with Japanese people.
Challenging Aspects of the Japanese Language:
Definitely, the most difficult aspect of Japanese to most people is Kanji or Chinese Characters. But I think anyone can do it if they have the motivation to spend the time memorizing and understanding the structure of Kanji. The Japanese typically uses around 2,000 Kanji in their common everyday life (either newspaper/media) anything beyond the prescribed list of 2000 is more if you are pursuing any technical fields like medical, legal , business terms. Grammar can post a challenge to some due to the SOV sentence pattern unlike the SVO pattern of Chinese or English. If you are a Korean learner of Japanese, then you will have the SOV pattern to your advantage. In terms of pronunciation, Japanese phonetic is fairly straight forward made up of 5 main vowel and additional consonant sounds in combination. To most speakers of English, this should not post much of a problem.
Number of Years you should expect to master Japanese:
On average if you want to become fluent, it will take some time, usually if you attend university and take a 4 year Japanese class; it should be sufficient to get you fairly fluent. If you want to just become conversationally fluent, it is highly possible to achieve fluency within 1-2 years if you live in Japan or regularly surround yourself with Japanese people. Becoming ‘fluent’ has more to do with the quality of instruction and study rather than any specific time period. The more quality practice you have with native speakers, the less time you’ll have to spend to get to the level you desire. You could take college classes for 4 years and barely be able to order food at a restaurant, or for one day you could role play the situation with a native speaker and have it down pat. It’s all about the focus and your determination!
Conclusion:
Japanese is not intrinsically difficult; it’s just very different from English, having evolved on a completely separate linguistic path. If you happen to know Korean, you will learn Japanese just about as easily as an English speaker learns German. Otherwise, it will take you longer than it would to learn a Romance language such as Spanish or French. How much longer? I’ve heard the Foreign Service ranks it along with Chinese in the “most difficult” category, just above Russian – more specifically, learning Japanese supposedly takes you 3 to 4 times the amount of time it would take you to learn the “easiest” languages (French, Spanish).
If you want to find out more about the Japanese Language and what it takes to master it please visit at http://japaneselanguagecenter.blogspot.com/ Thank you!!
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How Long Does It Take To Learn A Language?
This is the question I’m asked most often as a language teacher. Inevitably, it leaves me dumbfounded, yet my answer might determine whether someone will or won’t embark on a language learning adventure.
“How long will it take me to learn Spanish?” (You may substitute the language of your choice for Spanish)
I wish there was a formula that I could use to give you a meaningful answer. Since there is no such formula, I can at least give you a list of the variables that would make it up.
1. What’s your native language and which language do you want to learn?
If your native language is English and you want to learn Spanish, you will have an easier time than if you were learning Chinese. Spanish is relatively close to English, so you don’t need to learn a new script, nor do you need to learn a whole new way of looking at the world. For a native Japanese speaker, on the other hand, it will be easier to learn Chinese than to learn Spanish, as he already knows some of the characters and is somewhat familiar with the culture.
2. How many languages have you learned, and which ones?
If you have been monolingual until now, learning a new language will require more of you than of someone who already knows one or two other languages. Multilinguals have already compartmentalized their brain to create a dedicated space for each language. Plus, they acquired the ability to think in different languages, which is essential for them to be operational in each language.
It’s an ability that has little to do with how many grammar rules you know and how many words you have learned – it’s almost like a personality shift. There are techniques that will accelerate this process, but unfortunately, far too little time is spent on this in the traditional language classroom.
Now, if you are learning Spanish and already know French or Italian, you have a better idea of how the language works than if you had previously learned Russian. You’ll recognize some vocabulary, a few sentence structures and be familiar with some idioms, as Spanish, French and Italian are all romance languages.
3. How much time will you spend on your learning?
You realize that learning is ultimately your responsibility. There will obviously be a positive correlation between the time you invest in your learning and your progress. Just showing up for class, regardless of whether it’s a group class or individual coaching, will not do the job. In my opinion, the teacher’s function is to give you outstanding materials to work with, show you how the language works and give you opportunities to practice conversations with a native speaker. Apart from that, you’re on your own!
4. Which learning strategies are you using?
This is a variable that does depend on your teacher. If you are learning with someone who only teaches you grammar rules and asks you to memorize pages of vocabulary, chances are it will take you FOREVER (if not longer!) to master the language. If your teacher knows smart and efficient learning strategies, you may be able to hold conversations in your new language within a few weeks.
If you have a choice, find teachers who are learning a language themselves. They understand what it takes to reorganize a brain to be able to converse in a new language and they’ll relate to your challenges as a student!
5. What level of proficiency are we talking about?
Do you want to travel to the country and be able to buy potatoes at the local market and ask where the bathroom is? Do you need to negotiate a business deal? Do you need to write a dissertation in your new language? These are widely differing skill levels, and reaching them will take more or less time.
In short, there is no straightforward answer to how long it will take you to learn a language.
A guideline that might be helpful comes from the Foreign Service Institute (FSI) in Arlington, VA. This is the institution that trains American diplomats to learn languages for their foreign assignments. The FSI organizes languages into three categories, according to how difficult it is for a native English speaker to learn them.
You need to know that most students at the FSI know one or more other languages, study in classes of six, have 25 hours of class a week and about three to four hours to study on their own every day.
Here are the categories. (The timeframe listed is required to reach a Level 3, or General Professional Proficiency, in Speaking and Reading.)
I. Languages closely related to English (Dutch, French, Spanish, etc.): 23-24 weeks (575-600 class hours)
II. Languages with significant linguistic and/or cultural differences from English (Russian, Persian, Thai, etc.): 44 weeks (1100 class hours)
III. Languages which are exceptionally difficult for native English speakers (Mandarin, Arabic, Japanese, etc.): 88 weeks (about half that time preferably spent studying in-country)
German is listed under “Other Languages” and would take about 30 weeks.
Is the FSI methodology the most efficient around? After looking at one of their courses, I am not entirely convinced, but it is certainly one of the best and most comprehensive approaches–and it seems to work for the diplomats!
Want to learn a language fast? Nathalie Fairbanks publishes “Language Learning Express” to show you how. Subscribe today and get your FREE e-book “The 7 Language Learning Secrets Your Teachers Can’t Share With
You” at www.SpeakEZLanguages.com.
How to Improve Your French – 6 Stunning Techniques to Get Better at French
How to Improve Your French – 6 Stunning Techniques to Get Better at French
By Jack Jimmy
1. Online Learning
Online learning is the hot trend in language education. There are now hundreds of different programs, courses and websites offering various French courses from beginner right up to advanced training.
2. Think in French
Without realizing it, we are always talking to ourselves in our head. Stop for a moment and listen- hear that voice? No you are not crazy; those are just your thoughts. Well, what if your thoughts were in French instead of English? You can practice French in your head wherever you are.
3. Practice your vocabulary
The saying practice makes perfect is not a myth, imagine speaking French everyday. This would have such a positive effect on your learning that it’s invaluable. Compared with someone who rarely exposes himself or herself to French, hearing, speaking and writing it on a daily basis is the only way to train your brain to think of it as natural.
4. Do your homework
Most online courses and software will set homework tasks for you (of course, you are already working at home). These are simply tasks to do away from the computer and generally involve writing or speaking to other people. By completing these tasks you enhance your skills and start getting into the groove of using French away from your computer.
5. Read French
Buying French newspapers and books is a great way to expand your learning. Obviously you need to be an intermediate French speaker at this stage but you’ll quickly advance your skill if you are regularly reading French publications. Most public libraries have selections of novels and non-fiction books in various languages. Watching French movies is also a fantastic way to pick up new words and usages.
6 Go to France
Obviously going to France or another French speaking country is the best way to learn more French in its natural environment. By speaking to native French speakers you will learn new words and ways of using words and sentences that can only be learned by being there. Once you have completed several French courses this is the next step.
Improving your French is important. It is not enough to merely complete one course and then stop using French; you must use it everyday and surround yourself as much as possible with the language in all its forms – print, television and in person.
You can learn how to speak French using a program called Rocket French and if you would like to find out more about it you can do so by Clicking Here Now
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The Benefits of Learning Spanish
There are many advantages to learning Spanish. Firstly Spanish is one of the most widely used languages in the world, being spoken in both North and South America and Europe, and is one of the most adopted languages in politics and perhaps more importantly in international commerce.
Being able to add a language such as Spanish to your resume is particularly beneficial, as research has shown that bilingual speakers are in such demand that companies are willing to pay workers more if they speak a second language, some as much as 20 per cent more.
Learning a language is also great for keeping your mind active and stimulating intellectual growth at any age. It opens the doors to speaking to people of other cultures and nationalities and allows you to learn about stunning Spanish culture and literature.
Surveys of dating agencies have also found that people who speak a second language are more sought after, so not only do your job prospects increase, you’re richer and you are also now seen as more attractive. A win, win, win situation in anyone’s language.
