The Least Efforts & Best Wishes
Artyom Chelpachenko
© Artyom Chelpachenko, 2024
ISBN 978-5-0062-5785-6
Created with Ridero smart publishing system
A.G. CHELPACHENKO
Getting languages easier to learn
Language is not a genetic gift, it is a social gift. Learning a new language is becoming a member of the club -the community of speakers of that language.
Frank Smith
Preface
The book is intended for all those who wish to learn foreign languages both independently and in courses. It contains the author’s observations and expertise on the methods and ways of learning foreign languages. It describes the difficulties faced by any foreign language learner, both in groups and independently, and suggests ways to achieve the desired success.
Challenges in language learning are most often represented by mastering spoken conversational skills and understanding the language, acquiring translation skills, and organizing the learning process as a whole.
Being a third-year student of a linguistic college, studying three foreign languages, teaching courses, as well as observing teaching errors of many lecturers and gaps in the education system, the author has developed effective methods of language learning and selected teaching aids that help everyone to learn any language independently.
The author warns that if you do not aim to learn a foreign language or learn it for the sake of a «brush-off», then everything that will be described in this book will seem meaningless and incomprehensible to you.
The book is structured into three main chapters, divided into «defining problems», «proposing solutions» and «applying solutions in practice».
The book aims to support beginners in language learning and to encourage them to become proficient in speaking skills. Advanced language learners will discover a wealth of tips on how to make their lessons productive and rewarding.
Author
Table of Contents
Chapter I
Challenges in learning languages
– Memo to foreign language beginners;
– Is it possible to learn languages on your own?
– To learn a language or to study it?
– Grammar and vocabulary – theory and practice;
– Is it possible to forget a language?
Learn a language, and you’ll avoid a war.
Arab proverb
Memo to foreign language beginners
I would like to start my book with the features of a language that anyone who takes up the task of learning it should be aware of. They say that you have to have a talent for languages, just as you have a talent for math, physics, and other exact sciences. I don’t argue, it’s not difficult to determine the talent for something, but to develop it you have to make an effort. Let there be a statement that languages, mathematics, chemistry, and physics are not given to everyone, one should have a special gift, abilities, etc. Sometimes you can agree with it, and sometimes you can disagree with it, but if you are forced to learn a language and you have never been successful in it before, I hope that after reading my book you will find it easier to learn languages, you will become interested in them, and the ways to achieve perfection in all endeavors will open up. I still believe that if you are determined to learn a language, if you are confident and hardworking, everything I will share with you in this book will benefit you.
Those who have already studied a foreign language, be it English, German, or French, will certainly spend less effort, and time and achieve the desired success. On the contrary, if you have already studied English in an educational institution or course, but are not satisfied with the outcomes, you have a chance to make up for lost time, and it will not be so difficult.
Well, for those who are studying their first foreign language from scratch, and decided to take a course or study individually with a teacher, my book will serve you as a companion to achieve success. For those who take up language learning on their own, I suggest not to lose courage, despite the psychological resistance and difficulties you may encounter.
Remember, never give up, and see it through to the end. There are times when you have neither desire nor time to learn a language; don’t force yourself to do it, believe me, it won’t do you any good. The fundamental principle of language learning is DESIRE.
Remember the saying, «You can’t force a favor»? It’s the same here. What you need is to sincerely want to learn a language, and then it will be all yours, and the process of learning it will be a pleasure. Studying a language, you as if mentally, conclude an agreement with it: «the «Learner» undertakes to devote time to regular classes of the «Language», and at least once a week to speak it, while fulfilling the above obligations sincerely, with the Soul and with Love. And in turn, the «Language» undertakes to give itself completely to the «Learner».
Maybe the reader thinks to himself now «What an absurd agreement», but just try to study the language with reluctance and neglect, irregularly, even forcibly, so to speak, and see how far you will advance…
These seemingly ridiculous terms must be observed while learning a language, otherwise you will not learn it. If you are not satisfied with the above position, you will not learn the language, no matter how much you want to and no matter how hard you try. A vivid example of this: is the students who decided to study to become translators. There were only 10 out of 100 students who wanted to learn the language and become true translators. They studied hard, always attended classes, passed all the exams perfectly, and it was these ten who learned the language quite well and became specialists, while the rest just got certificates for «box-ticking». And you can draw your conclusions.
To learn a language is to have one more window from which to look at the world.
Chinese Proverb
Is it possible to learn languages on your own?
The answer to this question I would like to start with a small excerpt from my autobiography, and you will judge for yourself. I have never had the desire to learn foreign languages on my own. I always wanted to put my laziness on someone to teach me something, to chew everything up and put it in my mouth. Nothing to say, in my 16—19 years I, as well as everyone my age, had a principle: they give me tasks – I do them, they tell me to learn – I learn it. Everything went its way, I was comfortably given knowledge, and I acquired it until the education system cracked… It all started when I was in my second year of college. My French teacher left. The hours allocated for the second foreign language were cut due to the crisis, and the French teacher was not found. I had no choice but to find out the phone number of my old teacher and take private tutoring with her. So I went to classes for a year, and during this time I learned not only the language but also the manner of teaching. A year passed, and then the summer internship started. I, as a successful student, was offered an internship in an international hotel, and this is where I learned my profession and determined what I should strive for.
Thinking about the future, I realized that it is necessary to improve and that the knowledge of two languages does not surprise anyone now (not to mention the skill of translation), and that’s when I came up with the idea to study a third foreign language – a Spanish one. As is customary, I started calling courses, looking for teachers, and native speakers (with whom I could practice the language), and then I was disappointed… The courses were too expensive, I could not find any Spanish teachers, and there were no native speakers. Well, the desire to learn Spanish