The role of foreign languages

2024 Author: James Gerald | [email protected]. Last modified: 2023-12-17 14:00

Today, knowledge of a foreign language is not a luxury, but a necessity. Career growth, new acquaintances, self-esteem … But what should young and modern girls do when phrases like "my mother is a teacher" and "this pencil is green" inspire persistent disgust? Hire a personal translator? Can. But there is another, less costly solution: you need to approach the problem of learning a foreign language from the other end. From the psychological.

Let's try to figure it out: what is the role of foreign languages in modern world?

Prejudices and complexes

At school, rarely anyone is lucky to have talented English teachers: dry old ladies compensate for personal failures by cultivating complexes in students with enviable persistence. Alexei says: “I was kicked out of a prestigious Moscow school with the wording“pathological inability to learn a foreign language.”Then my family moved to the States. In three months I learned to talk passably in English, graduated from a prestigious university. school …"

What is your antipathy to learning a foreign language from your childhood? Give yourself one more chance! To begin with, stop using the phrase "I am not given", as well as the words "did not learn", "write off" and "bad grade".

When the annoying image of Maryvana starts to get on your nerves, use auto-training. Repeat, and better in front of a mirror and out loud: "I am capable. I learn the language in my own rhythm and according to the method I have chosen myself. This process gives me pleasure." Start reanimating the knowledge that was not received at school with a self-instruction manual, and at the same time look for courses that will completely suit you. Consider all the little things. The distance from the courses to the metro and the fit figure of the teacher are also considered.

Goals and means

Your friend met a nice Italian man on the Internet and went to Milan. A colleague learned French and changed your office to a prestigious international firm. To catch up with progressive girls, you decide to immediately learn the language. Any.

Psychologists say that this is an absolutely meaningless act. You will not start speaking in a foreign language until you decide why you need it, what is the role of foreign languages just for you. Success is guaranteed only if learning a foreign language is not an end in itself for you.

Any project needs a business plan: determine what advantages learning a language will give you, how much money and time you are ready to allocate for this, are there any alternative options. It is best if the strategic goal "learn the language" is part of a broader goal. For example, like this: "I want to move to the marketing department of our company. For this I need to: go to business English courses, come up with an original marketing move, convince the management."

Strategic goals are not enough. You've probably noticed that the first six months of language learning are euphoric? You go to class with enthusiasm, you practice your pronunciation vigorously. But soon the enthusiasm begins to decline and turns into apathy. Many at this critical stage of the "half-year" drop out of courses, blaming ordinary human laziness for their failure.

I hasten to please you: laziness has nothing to do with it. When you start something from scratch, the progress is obvious at first. Remember how you greeted your colleagues with a joyful "gutten tag", and each French kiss was accompanied by a declaration of love in French. Now you know how much remains to be done, and the current results seem insignificant to you. To avoid bouts of apathy, constantly set yourself short-term goals. For example, learn 101 new words by Sunday, write the test better than anyone in the group. Learn to "notice" your progress and reward yourself for what you have achieved. The reward is a good film in the language you are learning. Without translation, but with subtitles.

People and types

From the point of view of the ways of perception of the surrounding world

- Visuals have a well-developed visual memory, they receive the bulk of information "through the eyes". During a conversation, the visual always tries to catch the eye of the interlocutor.

- Audials are more important than sounds: they prefer to focus on their ears. Typical audials sit with their heads tilted to the side, as if listening to something.

- For kinesthetics, tastes, smells, and touch are of decisive importance. When they talk, they usually look at the floor, which is terribly annoying for visual interlocutors.

Take a little test. Remember in detail your last trip to the cafe. Remembered? What exactly did your memory "show" to you in the first place? The taste of the cake, the aroma of coffee, the texture of the tablecloth? You are most likely kinesthetic.

Signboard, waiter uniform, menu color? You are probably a visual.

Music, the hubbub of visitors, a friendly "hello"? Welcome to audials!

Knowing which way of perception of information you prefer will help you in learning a foreign language. Such is the role of foreign languages in modern life.

Visuals need to stimulate visual memory:

- Make lists of new words and post them throughout the apartment: in the bathroom, in the toilet, above the stove. You can put tags on all objects in the room containing their foreign name.

- Read foreign authors in the original. Without a dictionary. The context will help you understand the meaning.

- Make cards: on the one hand, the word is in Russian, on the other, in a foreign one. Learn the words on the way to work.

Audials have no problems with the language barrier, they usually have good pronunciation:

- Listen to radio in a foreign language. Translate the songs of Celentano and the Beatles.

- Talk! With your beloved, with your mother, with everyone!

- If you don't have anyone - keep a diary in English, and your secrets will remain with you.

It is more difficult for kinesthetics. They must "feel", "grasp" the language:

- Look for logic in the language. In grammar rules, in the form of words.

- On vacation, go to the country of the language you are studying, and you will understand why all this torment.

- Start cooking foreign cuisine according to recipes in a foreign language.

Abroad will help us:

- ICQ. Do not rush to ignore all foreigners. This is not idle chatter, but language practice.

- Internet. Look for information on the industry in which you work on foreign language sites. Useful at important meetings.

- Mobile. Write sms to your friends and beloved in English. So shorter.