I have not yet been able to install Language Bridge as I need to first get a copy of Windows (which I can run using Parallels) but I hope to do so soon. Once I get things installed, I am looking forward to making serious progress in Russian!
]]>I really liked this interview with my compatriot Arkady Ziberman (thank you, John!!) And I absolutely agree with things Arkady says: our native language prevents us from speaking fluently. For example, before uttering something in English I say to myself how it would be in Russian and then TRANSLATE it into English (word after word). But ideally I should think something and say it in English right away (i.e. fancy –> English word)
I have read in the Internet testimonials conserning Language Bridge program, and people say it really works! English words arrear in your head of itself (subconsciously). So that I want to try Arkady’s approach.
By the way, John, you wrote you’d like to try Russian for English speakers materials of “Language Bridge”. How is your progress?
Best regards,
Julia.
Motivation, volition, and attitude toward the language, the culture, and one’s ability to succeed are extremely important. But methodology is also key and I think Arkady provides an interesting approach to tackling the common pitfalls of adult language acquisition. I will be beginning his Russian for English speakers materials soon and will report back on how things go.
Keep up the good work on Leaky Grammar; I’ve added it to my RSS feed.
]]>Gavin
]]>Unfortunately, Language Bridge does not yet have a Chinese for English speakers version (only an English for Chinese speakers version). But I am sure that Arkady will expand the list of offered languages going forward.
]]>http://orangeeasy.blogspot.com/2011/06/crosstalk-update.html
I though I’ll give Arkady’s bridge method ago with my Chinese if I understand it right. It’s difficult and but it certainly getting me speaking faster and funnily enough I feel that I’m hitting the tones more.
]]>Glad to hear the Dutch experiment is going well. I look forward to hearing more about how things go.
]]>With regard to cross translation (especially as used on flash cards), I have found that translating to and from one’s native language “feels” faster in the beginning, but like you, does not lead to natural usage of the words or phrases as well as L2 to L2 cards.
And thank you for linking to the article: lots of great resources there for Chinese language learners (or really learners of ANY language). I definitely agree that we far too often try to think our way through a language instead of just letting the brain do what it has evolved to do on its own given proper input and output opportunities.
I’ve added your feed to my feed reader; I look forward to more great content!
]]>Why 95% of language learners fail has also interested me a lot. I like Arkady’s explanation. It something I haven’t thought off but it does tie in with what other people are saying about ALG. Also his explanation that many language learners “add the new language onto their existing language” ties in with what David Long said about “traditional language learning”.
Language Bridge reminds me of Professor Arguelles (right?). Though, biting the tongue to switch the “mode” of your mother tongue into the visual mode is a new detail for me.
I’ve only recently tried out “crosstalk”, the ALG method of individual getting “input” without speaking the target language. So far, I’ve only got 5 hours of intensive crosstalk in but I think this method also switches off cross translation as you’re engaged in a conversation. It’s certainly an interesting experience, using English with the other person using Dutch and I’ve been surprised at how flowing the conversation has gotten at times (I’ve also got about 320-350 hours listening in already).
Update on Dutch experiment
I’m up to roughly 320-350 hrs of listening. I’m not speaking (except hello, thank you etc).
I can understand a lot of what is said on kid’s TV now and bits and pieces when adults are talking on TV. I understand some overheard conversation. With these two, I do feel that I translate in my head.
I’ve listened and read along to a Roald Dahl novel for kids, Danny the World Champion. I found the story easy to understand and I can work out the meaning of commonly used words (I don’t use a dictionary).
When I read without audio I get the feeling whether the sounds that I make in my head are right or wrong. A lot of it now sounds right.
David I’ll have a look at your entrance on visualisation a bit later.
Thanks John for another fascinating post.
]]>Thanks so much for this interesting article!
I’m watching Mr. Zilberman’s introductory video/PowerPoint on Language Bridge at
http://blip.tv/learn-english-4-times-faster/learn-english-4-times-faster-introduction-2212871
right now and I must say that I agree with much of what he’s saying about what NOT to do when learning a language: don’t cross-translate, don’t “memorize” words as translations, don’t “learn” grammar rules, don’t study vocabulary lists, and don’t use translation drills and flash cards.
I don’t do any of these things UNTIL I’ve listened to a few hundred hours of audio content in a target language, but I wonder now if even that can be detrimental to your fluency on some level. For example, using Anki you can greatly speed up your vocabulary learning and retention rate (I use it only for German and Spanish, my two working languages), but perhaps I should put German->German / Spanish->Spanish dictionary explanations on the “backs” of the cards, rather than the English translations?
I know, for example, that the German words I learned THROUGH German i Germany (that is, they were explained to me in German and were readily comprehensible, so that I never thought about the English translation) are the ones I use most naturally, and they’re also the ones I typically get caught out on because I can’t immediately translate them into English!
And lastly, on the subject of visualization, I actually talked about using it to remember conversations “episodically” in this post on my blog last year
Best Regards from San Diego
David