Polyglot Notes. Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Language

By Yuriy Ivantsiv

Every person has to deal with different cultures and languages at some point in their lives. Knowledge of language greatly facilitates the interaction of a person with another type of culture, improves social status, provides career growth, provides great opportunities for self-expression and dissemination of ideas, opens up prospects for modern education, improves financial situation, contributes to the achievement of your goals and objectives. However, in the process of learning many people necessarily face difficulties, which they lack experience and necessary knowledge to overcome.

This practical manual will become a desktop assistant for a large audience: for those who want to or are already learning a foreign language, do it alone or with a teacher, individually, in a group or educational institution (school, college, university, academy). The guide will help to structure and organize your individual language learning process and will give you the opportunity to independently determine the methodology of learning a language that will be interesting and not burdensome.

The title of the manual reflects its content: current issues and possible solutions. The material is presented in a concise and concrete manner. Each person can select the method that is most appealing to him or her, as well as one that is appropriate for his or her pace and lifestyle, so that language learning becomes a natural and exciting process.

The book addresses such issues as:

What is Language?
Why Cannot You Learn a Foreign Language?
How Much Time You Will Spend to Learn a Language?
The Duration of Lessons
What is the Minimum Foreign Language Vocabulary?
What Textbook Should You Select to Learn a Language?
How to Choose a Teacher?
How to Prepare for the Language Exam?
A Foreign Language for Children
Distance Learning
How to Coach and to Develop Memory
Training
Grammar Study
Phonetics Study
Vocabulary Study
Developing Listening Skills
Developing Speaking Skills
Developing Reading Skills
Developing Writing Skills
Linguistic Environment
Immersion in the Linguistic Environment
Language Interference
Regional Geography
Culture Shock

• Language: English
• Publisher: Yuriy Ivantsiv
• Release date: Apr 12, 2020
• ISBN: 9780463259603

Book preview

Yuriy Ivantsiv

POLYGLOT NOTES

Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Language

Written, cover and illustrations by Yuriy Ivantsiv

Copyright © 2023 Yuriy Ivantsiv. All rights reserved.

Smashwords Edition

Smashwords Edition License Notes

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Thank you for respecting the work of this author.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Preface

What is Language?

Why Cannot You Learn a Foreign Language?

How Much Time You Will Spend to Learn a Language?

The Duration of Lessons

What is the Minimum Foreign Language Vocabulary?

Which Textbook To Choose For Language Learning?

How to Choose a Teacher?

How to Prepare for the Language Exam?

A Foreign Language for Children

Distance Learning

How to Train and to Develop Memory

Training

Grammar Study

Phonetics Study

Vocabulary Study

Developing Listening Skills

Developing Speaking Skills

Developing Reading Skills

Developing Writing Skills

Linguistic Environment

Regional Geography

Culture Shock

Afterword

PREFACE

Every person must deal with different cultures and languages at some point in their lives. Language knowledge greatly facilitates interaction between people from different cultures, raises a person's social status, and helps a person achieve his or her goals and objectives.

This book will become a desktop assistant for a large audience: for those who want or are already learning a foreign language, it can be done alone or with the teacher, in a group, or in an educational institution (school, college, university, or academy).

Our desire to learn a language is heavily influenced by our life goals and circumstances. According to sociologists, the following facts have the greatest impact on a person's desire to learn a foreign language:

Relocating to a permanent address.

Adesire to increase business efficiency.

Advancement on the career ladder.

Obtaining a prestigious and well-paying job.

Passing exams in school, courses, college, university, and academies for international certificates.

Acceptance into prestigious universities.

Studying abroad.

Tourism, travel, and visiting.

Attendance at international conferences, symposiums, meetings, and internships.

Business travel.

Teaching children a foreign language.

Many people face difficulties during the learning process because they lack the necessary experience and knowledge.

This practical guide is intended for anyone who wishes to progress to the next level of language learning:

Learn the language on their own or with the help of a teacher.

Learn to listen, speak, read, and write in individual, classroom, or group lessons.

Increase the level of linguistic culture among people who know a language at any level, from beginner to professional.

Encourage people of all ages to study a foreign language.

The practical manual will assist you in structuring and organizing your individual language learning process, as well as providing you with the opportunity to independently determine an interesting and simple methodology for learning a language.

The practical advice and methodological approaches presented in the manual are based on pedagogical psychology principles. They were developed through practical experience and are still in use today.

The book's title reflects its content: current issues and potential solutions. The information is presented concisely and concretely. The methods presented in the book can be used in linguistic practice right away. Each person can select the method that is most appealing to him or her, as well as one that is appropriate for his or her pace and lifestyle, so that learning the language becomes a natural and exciting process.

Return to the Table of Contents

WHAT IS LANGUAGE?

«Language is the most effective medium for establishing friendship and harmony.»

Erasmus of Rotterdam

Humankind has used language to transmit lessons learned and learn new knowledge since its inception on the planet Earth. As a result, linguist scientists are constantly asking, What is language?

Language is a system of sound and written symbols that people use to express their thoughts and feelings; it is a system of signs, means, and rules of speech that all members of a given society share.

Language is a competent social structure that serves the following primary functions of language:

Communication function–language as a means of interpersonal communication It is the primary purpose of language.

Thinking (verbal) function–using language to think through words.

Cognitive (gnoseological) function–language as a means of cognition of the world, knowledge accumulation and transmission to other people and future generations through oral traditions, written sources, audio recordings, and so on.

Learning a foreign language entails developing specific skills that represent a specific set of language acquisition tools:

Hearing comprehension (speech listening).

The spoken language.

Reading.

Awritten speech.

These abilities can be developed either individually or collectively. Thus, the goal of language learning is to develop language skills rather than to learn words and grammatical rules, as many people mistakenly believe and do. In other words, you must be able to apply four language skills: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. As a result, you must constantly practice the following skills: speaking, listening, reading, and writing in the foreign language you are learning. Your goal is to know how to do things, not to conduct philological research. You should devote approximately 30% of your study time to theoretical material (grammar, vocabulary, phonetics). The remaining 70% should be spent honing your skills in the areas of speaking, listening, writing, and reading. You should practice the material you have as you learn the language.

You will need to learn the following language components as you study the language:

Grammar (morphology and syntax) is a branch of linguistics that investigates a language's grammatical structure, or the patterns of constructing correct meaningful speech sections in that language (word forms, syntagms, sentences, texts). These regularities are expressed in the grammar as general grammatical rules.

Lexicon refers to a language's vocabulary or the vocabulary of an individual or group of people. The lexicon is the fundamental component of language that nicknames, forms, and transmits knowledge about any object or phenomenon.

The language's vocabulary is the most open and dynamic part of the language, changing over time: some words appear (neologisms), while others gradually fade away (archaisms and historicisms).

The continuous enrichment of the language's lexical vocabulary with new information, knowledge, discoveries, and technologies in various fields of activity, education, and sciences leads to an increase in the language's lexical vocabulary. This is one of the most visible manifestations of the new type of modern society (informative), in which a new language style – the style of the information development era – has emerged.

Phonetics is a branch of linguistics that studies the sounds of speech and the language's sound system (syllables, sound combinations, regularities of sounds join-ing in a speech chain).

Phonetics is the study of the close relationship between oral, internal, and written speech. Furthermore, phonetics investigates the material aspect of its subject: the operation of the speech system, as well as the acoustic properties of sound phenomena and their perception by native speakers.

Nothing is more important in language learning than grammar, vocabulary, and phonetics. Your speech's lexicon is its wealth. Grammartics enables you to create proper logical structures for your thoughts. Phonetics will assist you in communicating information to your interlocutor. These three elements of language are inextricably linked.

A person can learn an infinite number of languages at various levels throughout their life. There is a limit to the number of words in your active vocabulary, regardless of how many languages you learn. The rest will remain inactive, but you can restore them in a relatively short period of time if necessary.

In practice, every person learning a foreign language is frequently asked, What languages do you know? That doesn't seem right. Linguists inquire about language skills, such as conversation, reading, writing, and translation abilities. International organizations use special questionnaires to assess each language's skill level. You may be able to write but not read correctly, you may be fluent in conversation but not able to write, and you may be able to talk but not hear anything.

T

here is also a knowledge level scale for each language, which includes general language competence provisions. As an example, consider the CEFR system for determining students' knowledge and skills. The CEFR (Common European Framework Reference) is a language proficiency level system used throughout the European Union. The CEFR system's main goal is to provide an assessment and learning method for all European languages.

The CEFR system categorizes students' knowledge and skills into three broad categories, each of which is further subdivided into six levels:

A Basic User

A1 Beginner

To comprehend and use familiar phrases and expressions in your speech that are required for specific tasks. Ability to introduce and represent others, as well as ask and answer questions about residence, acquaintances, property, and so on. The ability to take part in a simple conversation if the other person speaks slowly and clearly and is willing to assist.

A2 Elementary

Understanding individual sentences and frequently used expressions in relation to major life areas (e.g., basic information about yourself and your family members, shopping, job placement, etc.). The ability to carry out tasks involving the simple exchange of information on familiar or everyday subjects. Be able to briefly describe yourself, your family, and friends, as well as the main facets of daily life.

B Independent User

B1 Intermediate

Understanding the fundamental ideas of certain messages written in literary language on a variety of topics that typically arise at work, school, leisure, and so on. The ability to communicate in most situations that may arise while studying a language in another country. The ability to communicate a clear message on well-known or particularly interesting topics. The ability to describe impressions, events, hopes, and aspirations, as well as present and justify your opinion and future plans.

B2 Upper-Intermediate

Understand the general content of complex texts on abstract and specific topics, including highly specialized texts. Oral communication is fast and spontaneous enough that both parties can communicate with native speakers all the time. The learner can give specific, detailed presentations on various topics, present his or her point of view on the main issue, and demonstrate the benefits and drawbacks of various points of view.

C Proficient User

C1 Advanced

Understanding of voluminous complex texts on various topics, as well as recognition of hidden meanings Speak spontaneously, quickly, and without difficulty with word and expression selection; flexible and effective use of language for communication in scientific and professional activities. Have the ability to create an accurate, detailed, well-structured message on complex topics, demonstrating mastery of text organization models, communication tools, and its integration.

C2 Proficiency

Understanding of virtually any oral or written report, as well as the ability to create a coherent text from multiple oral and written sources. Even in the most difficult cases, speak spontaneously with a high tempo and a high degree of accuracy, emphasizing shades of meaning.

Thus, when discussing the levels of foreign language proficiency assigned, it should be noted that this division is rather conditional, based not so much on the volume of language units (i.e. knowledge of a sufficient number of words and grammatical constructions) as on the readiness to solve communicative tasks of varying complexity levels. The degree of mastery of a foreign language is difficult to quantify, let alone determine its level. However, it serves as a foundation for establishing a common educational space in the field of language education development, allowing for the determination of the true level of mastery of a foreign language, as well as the understanding of strengths and weaknesses in oral and written speech, as well as receptive and productive speech activities.

Many people strive for the convenience and functionality of learning a foreign language. The ability to understand, speak, read, and write a foreign language without difficulty, without fear – this is the ultimate goal of learning a foreign language. To accomplish this, the learner should progress to the point where the necessary grammatical constructions appear automatically in the head. Then everything is dependent on your vocabulary and your ability to use it.

You don't want to get lost in a community of people speaking a language you don't understand? Understanding a language allows you to move freely in international space, changing cultures, countries, and communities.

Return to the Table of Contents

WHY CANNOT YOU LEARN A FOREIGN LANGUAGE?

«Speak, so that I may see you.»

Socrates

To clearly understand why you are having difficulty realizing your dream of learning a foreign language, you must follow the specified action algorithm. You will eliminate these problems once you have identified them for yourself. You must create your own individual learning system that is tailored to your daily routine, area of activity, life rhythm, interests, and so on.

We will attempt to provide you with a list of the most common reasons.

Too much time spent preparing for language learning

For the process of learning a foreign language, carefully select notebooks, notebooks, pens, daddies, and other office supplies. You select the most appropriate language course, textbooks and tutorials, and dictionaries. You spend hours on the Internet researching effective methods, popular schools, online learning, and so on. Seeking miraculous courses based on cutting-edge psycholinguistic technologies, through which little green people install a foreign language in your brain with no effort on your part. This is how they pass the hours, days, months, and years... As a result, a person accumulates a large number of textbooks, courses, manuals, disks, and stationery specifically designed for language learning. The computer contains several GB of data in the form of files, etc. You never started learning a foreign language after reading hundreds of pages about the correct method.

Forget about it all! All of the information you are interested in will be of no use to you until you understand it. This knowledge will be useful to you when you begin learning a foreign language directly in practice and select the most appropriate method of learning for yourself. Do not overcomplicate things when it comes to office supplies. Begin learning the language with textbooks, a notebook, and a pen. You will understand what you require as you learn the language. Each individual organizes his or her learning in a unique way. Remember your college days... Some students had everything in perfect order: all the lectures were in separate notebooks and daddies with materials, various bookmarks, stickers, files, lines of various shapes and sizes, a pencil case with clearly arranged writing instruments, and a pencil case with clearly arranged writing instruments. And someone went to lessons with a single shabby notebook that was worn, shut behind a belt of pants, with a gnawed pen in his pocket, or even without both.

You must begin learning the language with what you already possess. Everything you believe you will require will be purchased directly as you learn.

You put learning the language off until later

I'll start learning a foreign language next Monday, next month, after the holidays, in the next year... Someday. I don't really need a foreign language yet.

If you truly want to learn a foreign language, you should get started right away. Get rid of all your doubts and fears. Take it and do it!

Lack of motivation and enthusiasm for learning the language

It is a significant psychological impediment to learning a language. If you study on your own, you will quickly grow tired of this moral mockery of yourself and leave. If you are 'terrorized' by a foreign language in school, college, or university, you will usually feel psychologically damaged and will remember this period of your life with an unpleasant emotional draught in your soul for the rest of your life. If you attend a paid course at a language school or with a tutor, after some time of boring study you decide to continue learning the language later.

First and foremost, ask yourself, What do you need this foreign language for? and What will it give you and how will it change your life? If you understand the benefits of learning a foreign language in your life – personal, professional, creative, scientific, information dissemination – you will be motivated to learn it.

Interest in learning the language is determined by how interesting and lively the information is. Remember your professors and teachers. You literally fell asleep in some classes due to boredom and tedium, while in others you listened to lectures with lively interest and performed some tasks with sincere interest. You must develop a personal interest, something you will enjoy doing. Communicative teachers who use a variety of interesting methods, communication clubs, hobby information, and entertainment in a foreign language in their classes.

It should be noted that you must make learning a foreign language a habit. You must always interact with it. Even if your interest and motivation to learn the language declines, having a habit and working hard will ensure your success. To force yourself to study at a specific time, you will need time and self-discipline. The first week or two of learning a foreign language on a regular basis may appear simple to you. The following weeks may be mentally taxing for you. You may be reluctant to study, force yourself to rest, and make excuses, but you must remain committed to your goal of mastering a foreign language, despite difficulties and hardships. Second nature is habit.

You have no idea how to start learning a language

Gather your learning materials as soon as you decide to learn a foreign language. So you're at a loss as to where to begin or how to learn it all. Everything appears to be important to you, and you feel compelled to learn everything.

If you don't know where or how to begin learning a foreign language, or if you lack self-discipline, the simplest solution is to find a competent teacher who knows the industry. If you haven't found one, the practical advice in this book may come in handy.

You forget to learn the language in time

Everyone has many responsibilities in their lives that they must fulfill. As a result, in the midst of daily life and chores, people frequently neglect their studies. However, you will recall the start time of the course for which you paid a significant sum of money. That is the monetary motivation. You'll be sorry for losing your money.

Everyone owns a cell phone, a smart phone, a tablet, or a watch with an alarm clock. Set your alarm for a time during the day when you will learn a foreign language. All you have to do now is be disciplined. Every time the alarm goes off, study the language.

You don't have the tim

Many people do not have time to learn a foreign language because of their hectic schedules. According to statistics, an average person spends approximately 8 hours per day sleeping, 8 hours working, and 8 hours doing everything else: traveling, housework, entertainment, and so on.

Sleeping time should never be reduced under any circumstances, because sleep deprivation causes attention loss, poor memory, and inhibited mental activity. Sleep is a means of replenishing human life resources. Depending on your job, you may be able to devote some time to improving your language skills. For example, if you spend a lot of time driving, you might be able to listen to radio, audio books, and songs in a foreign language. A dishwasher in the catering industry can learn words,

Reviews for Polyglot Notes. Practical Tips for Learning Foreign Language

[Nomayne McIntosh · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

This book and its author are worth more than all the gold and bitcoins! I’m a linguist and an avid explorer of pedagogy. This book echos everything I believe in about how to learn a foreign language. Currently learning Greek!

[Ангелина · Rating: 5 out of 5 stars]

Great book! Thanks to this book I understood how to effectively learn foreign languages. The material in the book is clearly structured. The book motivates me to learn languages. I am going to order this book in paperback, because I really need it while learning a language!