Of all the audio based foreign language courses and methods available, the Pimsleur method is generally regarded as one of the most successful. This is certainly true in terms of sheer popularity, but also likely based in its end goal of practical conversational skills.

The popularity of the course is ultimately based on the methdology and research of Dr. Paul Pimsleur whose research focused on understanding the process of language acquisition. His research focused particularly on the process which children experience when learning to speak.

The component of this was the process of learning to speak a language without knowing its formal structure and grammar. The result of his extensive research was the Pimsleur language learning system provides an audio based approach to learning a foreign language with little accompanying written material.

For those interested in the Pimsleur method, we encourage you to visit our store and read more information on the Pimsleur Method.

Also, be sure to check out our previous post on Pimsleur Reviews.

What are your reasons for learning Chinese?

Author: Chris Busch

Learning Chinese is easier with clearly defined reasons

 
Why are you learning Chinese? Whether you are just starting your studies of Chinese language or have been studying for a while, it’s of great importance that you’re conscious of your motivations for wanting to learn the language. The more clearly defined your motivations for learning Chinese, the better you will be at reaching YOUR individual goals. Sure, you may be saying, “I already have reasons for learning Chinese.” You might even have a few apparently good reasons for learning Chinese, such as:
 
“Chinese is the language of the future” or
“Chinese speakers are in high demand”
“China has 1.3 billion people” or
 
I’m not saying these are bad reasons for learning Chinese. They are fine reasons. The problem is that they’re not personal enough. It is crucial to have YOUR OWN INDIVIDUAL reasons for learning Chinese because those are the only ones that will keep you motivated you during the long and occasionally difficult journey of learning Chinese. Also, having more specific reasons is better. A person who’s motivation for learning Chinese is “I’d like to research the effects of China’s Western Development project on ethnic minorities in XinJiang province” will have a much easier time than someone who’s reason is “I like kung-pao chicken.”
 
Having specific outcomes for learning Chinese will also help you to learn Chinese much more efficiently. You see, if we consider the first three reasons given above, we’ll come to the realization that they don’t address a few key questions that everyone should ask themselves when making the decision to learn Chinese. In the coming days, we’ll deal with what these questions are and how to answer them. Right now, we’ll just consider two questions as a way to show how having the right kinds of reasons can help a lot when learning Chinese:
 
1) “Should I learn simplified characters or traditional characters?”
2) “Am I going to just learn conversational Chinese, or learn to read and write too?”
 
If you have clearly established your individual reasons for learning Chinese, answering these questions will be much easier, and thinking about these questions will ensure that your reasons are the right ones for YOU. This way, your progress in learning Chinese will be much quicker.
 
Let’s consider the first question. “I am interested in diaspora literature written by Taiwanese authors” might be your reason for learning Chinese. Well, since they use the traditional writing system in Taiwan you will most likely want to learn traditional characters from the start. Or your reason may be: “I want to find a manufacturer of widgets in China without going through a middleman.” If this is your reason, learning traditional characters might not be so crucial. Many people don’t really think about this question too carefully before deciding on which system to use when learning Chinese. With both systems, simplified and traditional, it can be a HUGE task to go back and re-study all the characters in the other system. So making sure to think about this kind of question early on can really save you a HUGE amount of time.
 
It’s the same when you’re trying to decide if you want to just learn “conversational Chinese” or if you want to learn to read and write the characters as well. Lot’s of people are scared off by the thousands of Chinese characters and choose to stick with “conversational Chinese” and avoid learning the characters. I would say that this isn’t a good decision for anyone who desires to achieve at least an intermediate level of skill in spoken Chinese. It may be the right choice for some people though, in a number of limited cases. Like if you just want to impress your friends by ordering a few dishes in Chinese at the local ‘Sichuan Palace.’ Regardless of what your decisions may end up being, having individual and thought-out goals can assist you in making your choice.
 
These are just a couple ways that having thought-out and personal reasons can help you on the road to learning Chinese. Lot’s of other questions will come up all the time. If you have clear motivations for learning Chinese, you’ll be more likely to make the correct choices according to your own unique situation.
 
Read more about learning Chinese at Chinacopia.
 

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/what-are-your-reasons-for-learning-chinese-842407.html

About the AuthorChris Busch has spent over three years studying Chinese language and culture and has over two years experience living, working, and studying in China. He is currently focused on running Chinacopia, a resource center for information related to Chinese language, Chinese culture, and China travel.

If you’re interested in learning Chinese, then consider the FSI Chinese Mandarin Course from our store.

Learning Spanish Verb Conjugations

Author: Daniel Major

Spanish Verb Conjugations, where should we start? Well, the first thing we should not do is presume that you know what a conjugation is, never mind Spanish verb conjugations, so here is a brief explanation or definition if you prefer. A conjugation, where linguistics is concerned, is the formation of a specific form of a verb, normally comprising of the stem of a verb and one of various different endings that when attached to the stem indicate the task performer and tense amongst other things.

Another aspect of Spanish verbs you need to be aware of is that unlike English verbs they are not preceded by the word ‘to’, which is what defines a verb in English. In Spanish the ‘to’ part of the verb is at the end of the verb stem, in the example that follows the regular Spanish verb ‘hablar’, is used which means to speak and the stem of ‘hablar’ is ‘habl-’ and the ending, in this case ‘-ar’ is the equivalent of the English ‘to’.

 With Spanish verb conjugations it is far easier to understand who is performing an action than in English; for example if we take the verb ‘hablar’ and compare the Spanish verb conjugations to its English equivalent, you will see that apart from the third person singular there are no changes at all to the English verb stem, making it practically impossible to tell who is performing the task without the use of a pronoun. With the Spanish verb conjugations, however, a specific ending is attached to the stem of the verb to indicate who or what is performing the task.

Yo hablo – I speak Tú hablas – You speak Él/ Ella/ Usted habla – He/ She/ You speaks Nosotros hablamos – We speak Vosotros habláis – You speak Ellos/ Ellas/ Ustedes hablan – They/You speak In Latin and South American Spanish speaking countries it is quite common for the pronouns to still be used all the time, but Castilian Spanish (the base language) tends to longer use pronouns and they are dropped completely other than to avoid ambiguity or if being polite. And that is probably the most basic explanation of Spanish verb conjugations I can give, there are of course regular ‘-ir’ and ‘-er’ verbs that have different verb endings and also irregular verbs that unfortunately must be learned individually as they do not follow regular conjugational patterns.

 If you need help with verb conjugations or irregular Spanish verbs in particular visit Irregular Spanish Verbs here you will be able to gain access to the most comprehensive collection of Irregular Spanish Verbs available on the net today. Or if you want to learn Spanish try out a free 6 day Spanish course at Learn Spanish, where you will be sure to improve your conversational Spanish.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/learning-spanish-verb-conjugations-839138.html

If you’re interested in learning Spanish verbs, nouns, and conversational Spanish, then please consider the Platiquemos Spanish Complete Course from our store.

Also, be sure to visit our post on Learn Spanish CD ROM.

With the current economic challenges, learning a new language like Spanish can be somewhat daunting in light of very expensive programs. There is no question that many of these programs are excellent in content and methodology, but the cost can be prohibitive to someone testing the waters so to speak.

One program to consider which provides the student with a good basic vocabulary (i.e. 450 basic words and phrases) without denting your budget too much is Talk Now Spanish. The program is now available for both “Mexican” and “Iberian” dialects for those concerned with achieving the best option for their needs.

The courses are PC and MAC compatible and provide instruction in a variety of practical categories including shopping, time, food, parts of the human body, etc.

The program also includes a basic, no nonsense, but effective recording feature which allows the user to record their voice and compare their pronunciation with native speakers.

At $29.99, the Talk Now Series is a course to seriously consider. Check out Talk Now Spanish Beginner Software at our store for more information.

Just a short post on a Squidoo page on learning to Speak Catalan. Enjoy.

http://www.squidoo.com/LearnCatalan

Bulgarian like many other eastern European languages suffers from  relative neglect on the part of many language course providers. Luckily there are various courses now available that make the study of Bulgarian much more plausible.

The courses below from our store include software, audio courses, as well as an electronic dictionary for those needing practical translation.

Talk Now Bulgarian Beginner Software

Talk More Bulgarian Conversational Software

Talk Business Bulgarian Intermediate Software

FSI Bulgarian Basic Audio Course

English Bulgarian Bidirectional Electronic Dictionary

Be sure to visit our post on Bulgarian Language Resources and Cultural Links

The Mysteries of the Basque Country

Author: Nick Cox

The Basque country – otherwise known as Euskadi – lies in the north of Spain. It spans both sides of the French and Spanish borders, but culturally the Basque country is very different from both of its neighbours. 

The countries size and diversity makes it an ideal location for touring  holidays  and short breaks. The three major cities; Vitoria, Bilbao and Sans Sebastian each provide their own unique charm, while the coast has quaint towns and small villages that are a joy to explore. 

It is a country with its own unique identity, beginning with its climate, which is wonderfully mild all year round. It has managed to remain unspoilt from tourism and its age-old cultural traditions have survived unchanged for centuries. 

The Basque people have their own language, Euskara, which is reported to be the oldest language in Europe, although the majority speak Spanish. The country is a place of mystery with little being known of the Basque people’s origins. They have different ancestry to that of their Spanish neighbours and they have blood group characteristics that distinguish them from the rest of Europe. They share many characteristics with the Cro-Magnons, and they are thought to be direct descendents of this ancient race who lived 40,000 years ago.  

The Basque people take great pride in their cuisine and it’s considered by many to be the best in Spain. It is renowned for its freshness and simplicity; no visit to the Basque country is complete without sampling the tapas bars of San Sebastian. 

Another place of interest in the Basque country is the city of Bilbao. This is Spain’s sixth largest city and it serves as a great place to begin your exploration of the Basque country. Many  holidays  to the Bilbao are inspired by the controversial design of the Guggenheim Museum designed by American architect Frank Gehry.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/the-mysteries-of-the-basque-country-324131.html

Be sure to check out the following courses for learning Basque from our store:

Talk Now Basque Beginner Software

Talk More Basque Conversational Software

Talk the Talk Basque Beginner Software

Be sure to check out our post on  a Basque learning course.

How to learn Hebrew: Class? Teacher? CD?

Author: Hebrew Blackboard

In this article we will provide you with general guidelines on how to learn Hebrew, and the advantages and disadvantages of those methods. The main methods to learn Hebrew are:   Learning Hebrew with a private teacher:   Learning Hebrew with a private teacher is probably the best way to learn Hebrew. It is interactive, and tailored to your needs, however it is typically very expensive, and you do not have much flexibility: you need to set appointments with your teacher for each meeting.   Learn Hebrew in a Hebrew class:   Learning Hebrew in a Hebrew class is nearly as good as Learning Hebrew with a private teacher. You may not get the same amount of attention you would get with a private Hebrew teacher, but learning Hebrew in a class with other people can be nicer, and you can learn from the other students too. (sometimes the blind can lead the blind, at least for short distances…). An important advantage of learning Hebrew in a class is that it is usually cheaper than hiring a private Hebrew teacher.   Learning Hebrew from books, CD, Video tape:   The advantage of learning Hebrew with books, CDs, Video tapes is that it is probably the cheapest way to learn Hebrew. The disadvantage is that learning a language from books or CD’s is similar to learning how to swim by reading a swimming instruction book: You need a human instructor, at least during some parts of your Hebrew learning process. However, books, CD’s and video tapes can serve as excellent supplementary aids to other methods of learning Hebrew, such as learning Hebrew with a Hebrew teacher, and attending a Hebrew class.   Learning Hebrew online:   Learning Hebrew online is a relatively new approach, that became available during the last decade due to progress in internet and computer technology. You can learn Hebrew online with a private teacher, or learn Hebrew online by participating in an online Hebrew class, or enjoy interactive Hebrew reading tools such as instantaneous translation, narration and more features which are available online.   Learning Hebrew online is a very convenient method for learning Hebrew, because you can study in your free time, at your own pace, from the comfort of your home. Learning Hebrew by spending time among Hebrew speakers   Learning Hebrew by spending time among Hebrew speakers, for instance, by visiting or living in Israel, is a great method to learn Hebrew. However, for many people this method is impractical, since many people who wish to learn Hebrew do not reside in Israel, nor do they spend their day among Hebrew speakers.     How to learn Hebrew – reading Hebrew:   Reading Hebrew is a great way to learn Hebrew and practice the Hebrew you already know.  A website for learning Hebrew and improving your Hebrew by reading easy Hebrew text is  “Hebrew Blackboard”  website.  Learning Hebrew with  “Hebrew Blackboard”  is fun and efficient. You will save time by using the website online instantaneous word and full sentence translation tools, in addition to Hebrew vowels and narration tools.  “Hebrew Blackboard”  website will provide you a trial period so you can check out this website risk free.       

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/languages-articles/how-to-learn-hebrew-class-teacher-cd-1030186.html

If you’re interested in learning Hebrew, then be sure to check out the following courses in our store:

Biblical Hebrew Software

Welcome to Hebrew DVDs

Modern Hebrew Software

Be sure to check out our post on Learn Hebrew Alphabet.

Hungarian – An Introduction

“After studying the Hungarian language for years, I can confidently conclude that had Hungarian been my mother tongue, it would have been more precious. Simply because through this extraordinary, ancient and powerful language it is possible to precisely describe the tiniest differences and the most secretive tremors of emotions.” Such a compliment by the Irish noble-prize winner writer, George Bernard Shaw elegantly points out the uniqueness of the Hungarian (or as the Hungarians call it, Magyar) language. It is unique, for that Hungarian is an isolated language, having no relatives in Europe. Where are the roots of this weird and wonderful language then?

Hungarian belongs to the Finno-Ugric branch of the Uralic language family. Finnish and Estonian are also members of this group. To prove their common origin, Estonian philologists discovered a sentence which shows sings of similarities among these three languages:\

  ‘The living fish swims under water.’
  Estonian: Elav kala ujub vee all.
  Finnish: Elävä kala ui veden alla.
  Hungarian: Eleven hal úszik a víz alatt.
Despite these visible links, Hungarians do not understand any Finnish or Estonian and vice-versa. This then suggests that Finnish and Estonian are not the closest relatives of Hungarian.

Following deeper investigation, it was concluded that Hungarian is much more strongly related to the Mansi and Khanty languages, which originate from Siberia and the Ural Mountains. Predictions are that Hungarian broke its bonds with these Ob-Ural languages about 2500-3000 years ago when Hungary’s ancestors settled down in the Carpathian Basin. Even before this, Hungarian was influenced by Iranian and Turkic as a result of the ancestors’ interaction with these nations during their quest for a homeland. Throughout the following centuries, due to historical consequences, it picked up words from other languages such as from German, Italian, French or English as well. The 152 years of Turkish rule between 1544 and 1686 further expanded the Hungarian vocabulary to include Turkish words. For example, the sentence ‘I have a lot of small apples in my pocket’ is very similar in these two languages:

  Turkish: Cebimde cok kücük elma var
  Hungarian: Zsebemben sok kicsi alma van.
Moreover, Hungary’s geographical position means that it gathered several words of Slavic origin. However, these neighbouring countries have also been influenced by Hungarian. There is evidence for this in Croatian and in Serbian:

  Boots- in Croatian it is cizma whereas in Hungarian it is csizma
  Spade-in Serbian it is asov while in Hungarian it is aso.
The most important English word from Hungarian origin is ‘coach’ after the Hungarian village of Kocs where coaches were invented and first used.

The very first piece of written Hungarian was composed in 1190. It consists of a 26-line speech written for a funeral and a 6-line prayer for the dead. The first evidence of Hungarian poetry is dated from 1300 which is also the oldest remaining Finno-Ugric poem. Since both the funeral speech and the poem were translated from Latin using the Latin alphabet that only consists of 26 letters, reading these pieces is very difficult for modern Hungarians. The first book written entirely in Hungarian was printed in Kracow in 1533 and it contains the translations of the letters of Saint Paul. (Nevertheless, these facts do not necessarily prove that Hungarian literature did not exist before the 12th Century.) It is claimed that by the 17th Century, the Hungarian language reached the form that more or less resembles the one spoken today. However, in the following century, due to a major reformation movement by writers, it further developed and modernized. During this phase Hungarian vocabulary was significantly expanded, many of the already existing words were altered and some of the ancient and unknown words were brought back into use.

Hungarian is the official language of Hungary, a small country in the heart of Europe with a population of approximately 10 million. However, it is also spoken in Romania, Slovakia, Ukraine, Austria, Serbia, Croatia, Slovenia and, due to a significant amount of immigrants, in North America. Overall it is estimated that only 15 million people in the whole world have the ability to communicate in Hungarian, considered by foreigners to be one of the hardest languages. This is because of its complex grammar and unusual letters that can be difficult to pronounce.

Neil Payne is a writer for the translation agency Kwintessential. For more information on their services please visit [http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/translation/hungarian/translation-service.html]Hungarian Translation

Article Source: [http://EzineArticles.com/?Hungarian---An-Introduction&id=1214412] Hungarian – An Introduction

If you’re serious about learning Hungarian, please be sure to checkout the following programs from our store.

Vocabulary Builder Hungarian Software

Talk Now Hungarian Beginner Software

Talk More Hungarian Conversational Software

Also, please be sure to checkout our posting on Basic Hungarian Course.

Why Should You Travel To Finland?

Author: Gordon Warre

Finland may be in the most northerly corner of Europe, but it is easy to reach. As well as Finnair, which flies non-stop from cities across Europe, Asia and North America, many other airlines fly to Helsinki Vantaa International Airport. Alternatively, you can take your own car on one of the many ferries that cross the Baltic from Sweden, Germany and Estonia, or catch a train to Helsinki from Russia.

Below is a list of potential airlines and ferries. For centuries Finland was either part of Sweden or Russia.

Its position between these two larger countries has inevitably shaped its development. Today it has a culture, language, and personality all of its own. Finland declared its independence in 1917, establishing its present constitution and status as a republic in 1919. This independence was successfully defended in WWII.

Finland became a member of the United Nations in 1955 and the European Union in 1995.

During the summer, there is a multitude of music, dance, and theatre events staged in the most imaginative locations. The artists represent the best local and international talent, yet ticket prices remain affordable. It is no wonder that the events attract over a million visitors a year.

Folk culture

The Kalevala, the national epic compiled by Elias Lnnrot in 1835, is the driving force behind Finnish culture. Besides stimulating Jean Sibelius, Finlands greatest composer, it encouraged a whole range of 19th century artists such as the painter Akseli Galln-Kallela. Even today modern music played by folk groups such as Vrttin and Loituma finds its roots in the epic.

Kalevala also helped the creative endeavours of non- Finns, such as the English author J.R.R Tolkien. His famous book, the Silmarillion, was partly inspired by the epic and he even based the elven language he created on Finnish.

Today, the Finnish Folklore Archives are the biggest in the world. Even without including sound recordings and videos, they still fi ll 47 metres of shelf space. Folk culture is not, however, only to be found in archives. Every summer, the Kaustinen Folk Music Festival attracts thousands of performers and an audience of over a hundred thousand from both Finland and abroad.
Architecture and cuisine Finlands past has left it a unique architectural heritage.

There are a number of old wooden towns scattered along the coastline, including Porvoo, Tammisaari, and Raahe. Another, Rauma, has even been declared a UNESCO world heritage site. Besides witnessing the neoclassical influence of the Russian era, particularly in Helsinki, you will be able to admire some of the fi nest art nouveau and functionalist architecture in Europe.
This cocktail of east and west also adds its distinctive flavour to Finnish gastronomy.

Dishes in Finnish restaurants range from meatballs and smorgasbords to blinis and fi sh roe, spiced with the latest trends in international cuisine.

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/travel-articles/why-should-you-travel-to-finland-386625.html

About the Author:
Gordon Warre writes about  cheap homes in Bulgaria

If you want to learn to speak Finnish, then consider the following courses from our Finnish store:

Talk Now Finnish Beginner Software

Talk More Finnish Conversational Software

Talk Business Finnish Intermediate Software

Be sure to check out our post on Learning Finnish Language.