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| | Language LearningLanguage learning methods, the best and most effective way to master a foreign language.The power of Attitude in language learningI am learning a lot from observing people. I have always been fascinating by bilingualism and multilingualism ... In history, we have so many polyglots, hyperpolyglots ... people who have mastered so many languages like Uku Masing (1909–1985)who was fluent in 65 languages, Harold Williams (1876–1928)in 58, Ziad Fazah (1954– )who can reads and understands 58 languages. How did the hyperpolyglots from the last century were able to speak so many languages, whereas they didn't have all the methods and the technology that we have now. Where I come from, I remember having a conversation with a Chinese girl. I was so fascinated by the good quality of her French, she had been in my country for only 3 months and she was able to handle a conversation with me. At a conscious level, I just wanted to have a conversation with her but at a subconscious level, I guess, I tried to have some clues about languages acquisitions ... know how well she understood French and how fluent she was, then she has been tested on different levels, on various subjects ... and she did pretty good. She owned a restaurant with her husband where I went to eat during my lunch time, so I saw her regularly. Fascinated by her language skills, I asked her what was her language learning methods. She didn't have any. She learned only by interacting with people. She didn't have time to take classes, she didn't have money to buy expensive methods since she was an immigrant, she was in a "sink or swing" situation. She was in a survival mode, so her first priority was to find a way to eat and pay the bills. She had a such wonderful personality, extrovert, she was friendly and approachable, customers were talking to her all the time on various subjects and she took a little time to listen and to interact with her customers ... she was very good at customer service. I was observing recently another young lady that I know is self-studying Spanish. She is using primarily an expensive software but she doesn't interact at all with Spanish speakers although she has the opportunity to do so. We are in an environment where it's not difficult to find Spanish speakers. I knew six month ago that she's learning Spanish but I don't know when did she start ... now, she is at a very low level. It will take her a while to become fluent if she keeps doing the same thing and if she doesn't change her approach because I don't think that interacting with a software will help her a lot. Children learn by interacting: my son is fluent in French and English by interacting with me ... he's 3 years old, he can't read a book and he can't use a software, but he can interact with French and English people in their respective language. The difference between the Chinese girl and her is the approach and the attitude. The Chinese girl was consistently practicing the language, she has immersed herself in the culture instead of dealing only with Chinese people like her. She took a step further, she broke out of her comfort zone. She had the right approach ... socializing with natives. Anyone know a good german language learning method?
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