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#Post#: 19947--------------------------------------------------
Just starting a new thread on language immersion and if learning
a foreign language is good for your
By: SHL Date: June 20, 2020, 9:30 pm
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.....brain.
Since I started this discussion so long ago, the board alerted
me to start a new thread. That’s why I’m doing so here.
I asked a medical doctor I know online if learning a foreign
language is good for your cognitive skills, and he said it was.
That, and learning music. He identified a specific area of the
brain affected. I know it’s been said for years that this is
true, and he wasn’t suggesting this immunized anyone from early
onset dementia or Alzheimer’s disease. I really don’t think the
two are in any way related. And, we know the age at which one
starts learning a foreign language is a factor. The younger the
better. So, teens will do better than people who start in their
30s and beyond.
I did want say I liked Martin‘s remarks. He made some really
good points. Total immersion I think only works after the first
two years of conventional language study (mixed native and
target language with basic vocabulary and all essential
grammar). I know that worked fantastically for me.
As to the th sound, it shouldn’t be too hard. You just put the
tip of your tongue between your front teeth and make a „uhh“
sound. That’s why even native speakers missing their Front teeth
have trouble making the th sound, I’ve noticed. Plus, if you
think English is bad for th‘s, listen to Icelandic. I think they
have a th in every word and sometimes multiple th‘s in one word!
As to the American „r“, it really isn’t very pretty. It sounds
like a growling grizzly bear noise. The English accent of
England is one even Americans love. Not the Scottish, but only
the English. There’s an old joke that if you have an English
accent, Americans will always add 10 points to your IQ
automatically.
#Post#: 19948--------------------------------------------------
Re: Just starting a new thread on language immersion and if lear
ning a foreign language is good for
By: Aliph Date: June 26, 2020, 5:54 am
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[quote author=SHL link=topic=1440.msg19947#msg19947
date=1592706652]
Total immersion I think only works after the first two years of
conventional language study (mixed native and target language
with basic vocabulary and all essential grammar). I know that
worked fantastically for me.
[/quote]
Hi SHL, I must disagree about the total immersion theory. It
works, or at least it worked for me. I didn’t study English at
school, since I was busy with several other languages. When I
was 17, I was informed that I was accepted for a language
program of one year in a High School in the States. I took six
(6) English lessons with my sister’s piano teacher who
was...Hungarian, before leaving my country. Two weeks later
school started, I was enrolled as a senior student. Nobody,
absolutely nobody spoke any foreign language where I was. I
listened and listened. I had headaches every evening but after
three months I could hold a conversation and be an active member
of the local “debate club”. I never opened an English grammar
and started to write in English only when I joined the other
language board where we all met. So I probably do many mistakes.
My accent must be terrible. I found your remark very funny about
how Americans value the British accent. I am trying to improve
my IQ, sorry I wanted to say my pronunciation. I watched the
series “The Crown” on Netflix about Queen Elizabeth and the
Royals. They all have a gorgeous accent. Netflix wrote recently
that a new season will be streamed very soon. I am looking
forward!
#Post#: 19949--------------------------------------------------
Re: Just starting a new thread on language immersion and if lear
ning a foreign language is good for
By: SHL Date: July 6, 2020, 9:54 pm
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Well, Nobody, I‘m not against any particular language method. We
are all different , and what works for one person may not work
well for others. So, I say, try any number of approaches.
Whatever works most efficiently for you is something you should
stick with.
Certainly living for an extended period in a county where your
target language is native is a HUGE advantage, especially if you
are free from „helpful“ natives who want to practice their
foreign language skills by testing them out on you (they
actually would be doing you more of a favor by not trying).
Then you are forced to speak the target language and read and
write it whether you like it or not.
It's fairly well-known that Americans adore English accents
(from England, not so much from Ireland and Scotland). They
often say, „You make our language sound so pretty.“ Ironically,
the Brits think that Americans make English sound horrible, but
I don’t think most Americans know that. I think it was the late
Christopher Hitchens who might have said, „If you have an
English accent, Americans will automatically add 10 points to
your IQ no matter what you say.“ Well, it’s kind of true.
There’s a funny clip on YouTube about a fellow from Britain
speaking with a thick British accent and using atrocious
grammar. It’s a bit of a joke. That fellow would surely have 10
points taken from his IQ by anyone paying any attention.
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