Learning languages

Learning languages

Listen to Simon talking about how he learned several languages in a variety of different ways.

Do the preparation task first. Then listen to the audio and do the exercises.

Transcript

I've lived in many different countries, both in Western Europe, Middle East and now here in Hong Kong. And during all of that time, I've learned five or six different languages to one degree or another. I love learning languages. Not only are they important when you move to a country, I just find them fascinating.

Before I came to Hong Kong, I lived in Barcelona, Spain, for ten years. And when I first arrived, the most important thing was being able to communicate with people locally. I don't attend classes. I don't think I'm particularly good in classes. I prefer to learn by just talking to people, finding out what I need to say, by looking at dictionaries and listening carefully.

Other things that helped me when I first moved to Spain were watching the typical kinds of programmes we see every day on channels around the world, for example the weather. This is great, because they always say the same things, so you can really quickly hear the same words repeated again and again. And the pictures help of course.

Other types of programme that helped me learn Spanish quickly were things like game shows, where the same thing happens. They have a catchphrase or a slogan that they repeat endlessly when contestants win or when they are called to compete.

As well as that, I used to pick up the Spanish newspapers. First of all, I just accepted there was no way I was going to understand anything but one or two words. But gradually, I found that I learned lots of new things about this. I was interested because I wanted to know what was happening in the country I lived in. But I also knew that I could learn a lot of language this way. So I'd take a dictionary with me sometimes, or I'd notice a word and I'd ask other people what … it meant.

Anyway, by far the best practice I ever had was just talking to people in the street or in shops, where I'd rehearse in my head what I wanted to say beforehand, before I went in. Usually, I made a right mess of it first of all, but after you get over the embarrassment, it's quite funny really. And people are very sympathetic and supporting in most cases. 

It took me a long time to develop a good level of Spanish. I lived there for ten years, and I think I'm very fluent now. But I think for the first two years that I was there it was quite a struggle to hold a decent conversation. There were always lots of words and expressions that I didn't pick up on. In particular with the colloquial expressions, idioms, that kind of thing, that people use in everyday talk, but you don't necessarily see written down. I didn't find those very easy to learn at all. But it was a lot of fun. And people, as I said, are really supporting when they know that you are genuinely interested in learning their language.

Discussion

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Average: 4 (52 votes)
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Profile picture for user Samer.Zydia

Submitted by Samer.Zydia on Thu, 14/03/2019 - 14:12

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From my perspective, I think it depends on your target of learning a new language if it's for fun the casual ways may work, but if you need its for academic purposes classroom and courses are a must. To be honest, I didn't find an effective method to improve my Englis level from intermediate level to advance, so I am still searching and I appreciate any useful suggestions.
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Submitted by shapoor on Tue, 12/03/2019 - 09:04

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Hello Dear all staff of Learn English! thanks alot for good services and helpful site
Profile picture for user David

Submitted by David on Sun, 03/03/2019 - 14:47

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Hello teacher, You are right.I had guessed that what those are, but I wanted to be sure.However, I have a suggestion.Please consider that , there is possible to add a feature on the platform so when I log in ,it tells me "You have a new message".It would be excellent. Thank you very much of you and your partners. Sincerely David,

Hello David

Thanks for your suggestion -- we will take it into consideration.

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

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Submitted by David on Wed, 27/02/2019 - 11:47

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Hi sir, I realized there are some numbers like a sing in the right hand of the topics. For example 0 or 365.What are exactly those ?Are those useful things for leaner? please describe those. Thanks,
Profile picture for user Kirk Moore

Submitted by Kirk Moore on Thu, 28/02/2019 - 07:49

In reply to by David

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Hello mdaivid

Do you mean the small numbers above and to the right of the picture? If so, those are social media buttons -- they show how many times the page has been shared in Twitter, on Facebook, etc. You are welcome to use those buttons, but they are not important for learning from the page.

If those are not the numbers you meant, could you please describe where you see them?

All the best

Kirk

The LearnEnglish Team

Submitted by Eva suhaila on Sat, 23/02/2019 - 13:43

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Well, I think the faster way to learn English is to spend time talking to native speakers, so lucky for those who intend to travel to a country, that speaks English and learn from people who lived there

Submitted by Ewutek on Tue, 08/01/2019 - 22:33

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Hi, I'm a new website user, and only have listened to a few podcasts, but so far I enjoyed it. I think for a start is good to do the test and see what level you are on, then try to find activities. Anyway this is how I have started. :-)