Overcoming the barrier

So I ended my last post with the question:  How do we as language learners attain the ability and the level of confidence necessary to begin to communicate in a foreign language?

In my opinion, the best way to begin to overcome the tongue-tied barrier I mentioned in other posts, is by putting yourself in familiar situations.  Take note that at the same time, in order to learn, you must also do everything to reach slightly beyond your comfort zone.


So what do I mean by comfort zone? The way I see it, language is very much an exploration; if you venture to far away from your home base, however, you will get lost and it will not be fun.

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Arabic Phrases
Language Social Network










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Post 2: Tongue Tied

At this point in the language learning process, you are either in a structured program or are learning on your own.  Clearly there's a lot to digest when learning a new language, but after months of trying and studying, you find yourself struggling whenever you try to say anything.  As a result, whenever you try to speak to a person in the foreign language, you have resort to speaking English or not speaking at all.

While this may be extremely frustrating, this is something we all experience, but it is also important to recognize that this is one of the most important hurdles to tackle when learning a new language.  If you can overcome this barrier, a whole new world opens up. Even if your grammar is awful and you speak like a caveman, by being able to express yourself you are communicating and it is through the act of communication that we learn language.  The boring language learning process which had once been a fully conscious effort has now gone to the subconscious; essentially you are at a point where you can learn by socializing.

So the real question is, how do you attain that level of confidence and ability? I will address that in my next post.

Language Learning: A first post

Ok, so you've decided that you want to learn a knew language.  Maybe you're learning for fun, for business, or for academic purposes; either way, its not always an easy task and it will require effort on your part.  One of the first questions you should ask yourself is whether or not you want to learn on your own (which is possible in this internet age) or through a structured program at a community college, university or academy.

The first option of learning on your own is possibly the most rewarding but also takes the most self commitment.  By learning on your own, I am really referring to self study programs and/or books and through online resources.  Since I have not really learned a language on my own, it will be hard for me to speak from much experience.  All that I will say is that if you decide to take this route, you must be honest with yourself and ask if you will really be committed enough.  I think that this option is probably only right for a small minority of truly committed individuals.

The second option is to learn through a structured program.  The main reason I recommend a structured program is not really because they teach you anything that you could not learn on your own.  In my experience, learning in school (especially a university setting) sort of takes away a lot of the fun away from language learning.  Nevertheless, they force you to work on improving and unless you enjoy throwing away money, you will feel a sort of constructive pressure that forces you to study and improve.  So with that in mind, I do recommend that most people follow a structured program.

Language Exchange

So I've decided to change the direction of this blog and intend to use it as a guide for others interested in learning a foreign language.  Quite frankly, I am also going to use this blog to help publicize some sites I am creating to help language learners.  I hope that visitors find this information useful.

Por Para

Por Para

Many people ask what the difference is between por and para. This blog is dedicated to just that topic.

Content will be available soon.  However, here is some content from studyspanish.com:

"Por" and "Para"

Notes:

1. The written lesson is below.
2. Links to quizzes, tests, etc. are to the left.

"Por" and "para" have a variety of meanings, and they are often confused because they can each be translated as "for."

Gracias por la información.
Thanks for the information.
Este regalo es para Juan.
This gift is for Juan.

To learn to use "por" and "para" correctly, you need to do two things:

1. Learn the rules for how por and para are used.
2. Memorize model sentences.

"Por" has many uses, and so it is the more problematic of the two.

Rule: to express gratitude or apology
Model: Gracias por la ayuda.
(Thanks for the help.)
Rule: for multiplication and division
Model: Dos por dos son cuatro.
(Two times two equals four.)
Rule: for velocity, frequency and proportion
Model: Voy al restaurante cinco veces por semana.
(I go to the restaurant five times per week.)
Rule: meaning "through," "along," "by" or "in the area of"
Model: Andamos por el parque.
(We walk through the park.)
Rule: when talking about exchange, including sales
Model: Él me dio diez dólares por el libro.
(He gave me ten dollars for the book.)
Rule: to mean "on behalf of," or "in favor of,"
Model: No voté por nadie.
(I didn't vote for anyone.)
Rule: to express a length of time
Model: Yo estudié por dos horas.
(I studied for two hours.)
Rule: to express an undetermined, or general time, meaning "during"
Model: Se puede ver las estrellas por la noche.
(One can see the stars during the night.)
Rule: for means of communication or transportation
Model: Prefiero viajar por tren y hablar por teléfono.
(I prefer to travel by train and speak by phone.)
Rule: in cases of mistaken identity, or meaning "to be seen as"
Model: Me tienen por loco.
(They take me for crazy.)
Rule: to show the reason for an errand (with ir, venir, pasar, mandar, volver, and preguntar)
Model: Paso por ti a las ocho.
(I'll come by for you at eight o'clock.)
Rule: when followed by an infinitive, to express an action that remains to be completed, use por + infinitive
Model: La cena está por cocinar.
(Dinner has yet to be cooked.)
Rule: to express cause or reason
Model: El hombre murió por falta de agua.
The man died for lack of water.
Rule: "estar por" means to be in the mood, or inclined to do something
Model: Estoy por tomar café.
(I'm in the mood for drinking coffee.)
Rule: in passive constructions
Model: El libro fue escrito por Octavio Paz.
(The book was written by Octavio Paz.)

"Por" also appears in many idiomatic expressions:

por adelantado
in advance
por ahora
for now
por allí
around there; that way
por amor de Dios
for the love of God
por aquí
around here; this way
por casualidad
by chance
por ciento
percent
por cierto
certainly
por completo
completely
por dentro
inside
por desgracia
unfortunately
por ejemplo
for example
por eso
therefore
por favor
please
por fin
finally
por lo general
generally
por lo visto
apparently
por medio de
by means of
por lo menos
at least
por lo tanto
consequently
por mi parte
as for me
por ningún lado
nowhere
por otra parte
on the other hand
palabra por palabra
word for word
por primera vez
for the first time
por separado
separately
por supuesto
of course
por suerte
fortunately
por todas partes
everywhere
por todos lados
on all sides
por último
finally

"Para" -- in contrast, has relatively fewer uses.

Rule: to indicate destination
Model: El hombre salió para Madrid.
(The man left for Madrid.)
Rule: to show the use or purpose of a thing
Model: El vaso es para agua.
(The glass is for water.)
Rule: to mean "in order to" or "for the purpose of"
Model: Para hacer una paella, primero dore las carnes.
To make a paella, first sauté the meats.
Rule: to indicate a recipient
Model: Este regalo es para ti.
(This gift is for you.)
Rule: to express a deadline or specific time
Model: Necesito el vestido para el lunes.
(I need the dress by Monday.)
Rule: to express a contrast from what is expected
Model: Para un niño lee muy bien.
(For a child, he reads very well.)
Rule: "estar para" to express an action that will soon be completed
Model: El tren está para salir.
(The train is about to leave.)

It is quite important to learn to use these two prepositions correctly, because if you inadvertently substitute one for the other, you might end up saying something altogether different from what you had intended. Study the two examples:

Juan compró el regalo para María.
Juan bought the gift for Maria.
(he bought it to give to her)
Juan compró el regalo por María.
Juan bought the gift for Maria.
(he bought it because she could not)

"Por" and "para" can also be used in questions. "¿Por qué?" means "Why?" (for what reason) while "¿Para qué?" means "Why?" (for what purpose).

¿Por qué estudias español?
For what reason do you study Spanish?
Possible answer:
Porque es un requisito.
Because it's required.
¿Para qué estudias español?
For what purpose do you study Spanish?
Possible answer:
Para ser profesor de español.
In order to become a Spanish teacher.

Learning a new language can be difficult. For now, I recommend you check out Foreign Language Exchange sites like LinguaBrain.com