Oftentimes we say that language learning is interesting, fun, and worth our time since it is a wonderful educational experience. There are so many methods in learning languages having studying languages abroad among the best ways to acquire a language through cultural and full language immersion; as well as using other methods and supplements such as audio and video tools, phrasebooks, dictionaries, and a whole lot more. One of the best methods in learning foreign languages is by language exchange. Now some of us may not be fully aware of what language exchange is, so what is it?

Language exchange is when two or more people who speak different languages practice each other’s language. Each person speaks his or her first language and the language the other person is trying or starting to learn. A basic example is when an English speaker who is learning Spanish is doing a language exchange with a Spanish speaker who is learning the English language. If you are serious about learning your target language, this is one of the most challenging things you will ever do in language learning since you would have to create friendships with the native speakers of your target language!

There are many ways to practice language exchange such as participating in a language exchange community either in your neighborhood or online through conversation exchange, correspondence with a pen pal, and text and voice chat.

Conversation exchange within your community. This kind of language exchange is applied by practicing your target language by meeting up with native speakers who live in your area. This is a good form of language exchange since you will be able to hear how the words are pronounced by a native and you will have a chance to meet new friends. You will be able to learn your target language quickly by doing activities with your conversation exchange partners and you will be able to help them learn the language you are fluent with!

Correspondence with a pen pal. This type of language exchange will enable you to improve your writing and reading skills in your target language by corresponding with a pen pal. You can exchange messages online by email or in the old fashioned way by snail mail. However it is more desirable to use new technology such as the internet in order to send and receive messages faster and learn your target language quicker! A correspondence lets you practice your grammatical and spelling skills of your target language and you will be able to improve your skills in your own native language too since you will be able to brush up on the basics as you help your pen pal learn your language.

Text and voice chat. This type of language exchange enables you to practice your target foreign language by chatting with a native speaker and using your instant messenger of choice such as Skype, Yahoo Messenger, Google Talk, Windows Live Messenger, and a whole lot more. You will be able to put into use your reading and writing skills through text chat, and your listening and speaking skills through a live voice conversation.

So why should you choose language exchange? A language exchange can give you the right kind of practice of your target language skills. It is more effective than the other kinds of language learning methods since you will be talking with a native speaker of the language you are learning in a relaxed and more supportive environment where you and your language exchange partner have patience and time to understand each other’s languages. A language exchange is also a wonderful way to learn the real spoken language of the culture even with its informal expressions and colloquialisms. Knowing the informal expressions or slangs of your target language will help you become more acquainted with the language on a closer and more personal level, it enables you to joke around your friends who speak the language and build closer relationships.

So what are you waiting for? Aside from choosing your desired language learning method, sign up for a language exchange! You will be able to learn and know more about your target language from a native speaker and you will be able to meet new friends from various aprts of the world!

Accelerated learning is one of the language learning techniques which are in use nowadays. It implies the use of different methods in education that target accelerated learning or the learning of things in a faster and efficient way. Accelerated language learning has been and is being used by language teachers from all over the world and an accelerated learning language lesson could differ from the traditional language lesson in many ways.

The following are some of the elements and techniques which are used or applied in accelerated language learning:

The learning environment. The learning environment of a language learner is a very important factor in and various elements such as the color of the room, its temperature, the positioning of its furniture, textures, smells, background music, and so much more an affect the progress of the learner. Displays and posters in a classroom can be carefully selected in order to keep to the goal in helping language learners to absorb ideas and vocabulary subconsciously. The presence of posters or other visual aids which contain vocabulary or language elements which are not to be introduced to the students yet can be helpful in making students familiar with upcoming vocabulary lessons and topics.

State setting. This is an important element in accelerated language learning. This is done partly through the learning environment but also through the language teacher’s use of body language and the music used during the language lesson. The tone of voice used by the teacher as well as the mood the teacher creates and the color of presentational materials van influence the language learning process of language learners. The emphasis of this element is on how to make the language learner relaxed, comfortable, and free from stress and anxiety.

Over stimulation. In accelerated language learning, the language teacher may shower the student with a lot of language material unlike in traditional language learning. The human brain can absorb about eighty percent more information that we assume that is why it is just fine to be exposed to a lot of material. The use of longer texts, dramatizations and other stuff allows students of various levels of language ability to take what is useful for them at their stage of learning. This accelerated language learning approach allows more chances for students to be exposed to the pronunciation and rhythm of the target language.

Mnemonics. The frequent use of mnemonics to help language students to retain and recall vocabulary is an effective approach. Using creative mnemonics techniques during the introduction of a new topic will be more effective than just relying on vocabulary lists, repetition drills or flash cards. The use of the language students’ imagination to link vocabulary items to body parts or objects will encourage them to actively use their imagination and have fun. This approach usually upholds a free flowing and relaxed language learning environment.

Learning in broad strokes and pattern spotting. Teachers of accelerated language learning usually introduce broad concepts to their students which enable the latter to learn a lot in a short period of time.

Chunking lessons. Cutting lessons into chunks of shorter periods can take full advantage of the attention cycle of the human brain. Humans are more likely to retain information which are presented at the beginning and end of each session. If a lesson is divided into smaller chunks, the brain will be able to increase the amount of information retained.

Application of the theory of multiple intelligences. The Theory of Multiple Intelligences states that there are eight types of intelligence such as intrapersonal intelligence, interpersonal intelligence, bodily-kinesthetic intelligence, spatial intelligence, verbal-linguistic intelligence, logical-mathematical intelligence, naturalist intelligence, and musical-rhythmic intelligence. With the traditional language learning methods, the logical-mathematical and verbal-linguistic intelligences are the ones which are stressed. In an accelerated language learning setting however, the other types of intelligences are activated with the use of other techniques such as the use of music, games, colors, and a whole lot more.

Objective setting. Setting objectives is one of the vital aspects of accelerated language learning. The language student must understand clearly that he or she is going to learn the language in any particular lesson and how he or she is going to learn it. Setting goals will help each student and teacher to work towards a definite outcome and a fulfilling learning experience. Teachers and students should be reminded of the objectives to know how and what to learn.

Language learning is fun, exciting and it can help you reap a lot of benefits and advantages. Learn a foreign language now and try out the accelerated language learning technique!

In this big, wide world, there are currently more than six thousand nine hundred languages spoken.  All these thousands of languages belong to more or less ninety-four language families.  Language families are groups of languages which share the same origins or roots.  Learning foreign languages in the same language family can be easier to do since there are some words and grammar techniques which are related to each other.  However, learning foreign languages is an exciting and fun experience, so never hesitate to try learning languages from various language families!

The following is the list of the top ten language families in the world and the number of people who speak them as native languages:

• Indo-Euopean Languages – it is a family of several hundred related dialects and languages and it includes most of the major languages of Europe, Central Asia, the Indian subcontinent, and Central Asia.  The language family spreads from Europe to India hence the name and it has the largest number of speakers of the most recognized language families in the world.  It has more than two and a half billion native speakers which comprise about fourty0four percent of the world’s population.
• Sino-Tibetan Languages – it is composed of the Chinese and Tibeto-Burman languages and some two hundred fifty languages of East Asia.  This language family is composed of more than a billion and two hundred thousand speakers.
• Niger-Congo Languages – this language family is the third top language family in terms of number of speakers and it is the largest language family in Africa in terms of geographical area and number of distinct languages.  It has the world’s largest number of distinctive languages, and the indigenous languages of Sub-Saharan Africa belong to this family.  It is spoken by more than three hundred fifty million people.
• Afro-Asiatic Languages – this language family has about three hundred seventy-five languages and more than three hundred forty million speakers across North Africa, West Africa, the Horn of Africa, northern Central Africa, and Southwest Asia.  This language family has subfamilies which include Egyptian, Berber, Semitic, Chadic, Omotic, and Cushitic.
• Austronesian Languages – it has more than three hundred twelve million speakers and it is spoken in Southeast Asia and the Pacific, and on some parts of continental Asia.  Major Austronesian languages include Malay, Chamic languages, and the Formosan languages.
• Dravidian Languages – this language family has more than two hundred twenty million speakers and it includes about seventy-three languages including Tamil, Kannada, Telugu and Malayalam.  This language family can be found mainly in southern India and northeastern Sri Lanka and in some areas of Nepal, Pakistan, eastern and central India, Bangladesh, and some parts of Iran, and Afghanistan.
• Altaic Languages – the Altaic language family includes sixty-six languages spoken by people in and around Central Asia and northern Asia.  It includes the Mogolic, Turkic, and Tungusic language families.
• Japanese-Ryukyuan Languages - a language family which has descended from a common ancestral language known as Proto-Japonic.  It is spoken by more than one hundred twenty million speakers mostly in Japan.
• Austro-Asiatic Languages – it is a large language family which can be found in Southeast Asia and also in some parts of Bangladesh and India.  Among these languages are Khmer, Vietnamese, and Mon.  It has more than one hundred one million speakers.
• Tai-Kadai Languages – it is a language family with more than seventy million speakers.  It is a tonal language family which can be found in Southeast Asia and southern China.

More than five billion five hundred thousand people speak a language in the top ten language families which means that the list of language families above are spoken by more than ninety-six percent of the world’s total population.  The remaining eighty-four language families are spoken only by four percent of the world population.

Which language family does your native language belong and from which language family does the language or languages you want to learn come from?  It helps if you know these things because you will have a better picture on how many people speak your language, know how many people you will be able to communicate with, and find out where these language families exist in the world.

The world is one big place full of different people, different cultures and different languages.  There are no two people alike nor are there identical cultures or places.  What make us different from each other are characteristics which are unique to what we are, where we are, to how we live, and to how our cultures influenced us.  However, in this time and age of globalization, the more we get to interact with each other, the more there is a need for communication and understanding.  How are we going to go about and have better relations with other citizens of the world?  The answer is simple: by being able to communicate with each other’s language!  Being able to speak other languages is an advantage that we should all take into account for.  Speaking more than one language or being multilingual is an asset that each of us should try to achieve in our lives because the world has thousands of languages and dialects.

The world is linguistically diverse and linguistic diversity is a subject of growing social importance given that all of the living languages in use today are threatened of extinction in the future.  The matter of how to sustain languages is in study and debate among various people.  The changes in the existence of a language have important implications for societies and individuals.  Multilingualism is a widespread and increasing phenomenon in modern society which can be studied from various viewpoints and it is considered to be one of the best options in preserving languages.  The world has around five thousand and seven thousand languages.  It is not an easy task to know exactly how many languages exist because the distinction between a language and a dialect is not always clear.

Multilingualism can be defined as being proficient in two or more languages especially in a native-like manner.  Some define it as being less than native-like but still able to communicate in two or more languages.  Multilingual people have acquired and maintained at least a single language while they were still children and then acquired more languages as they grew older.  Being able to communicate with more than one language can be an advantage for people who are in sectors who are concerned with promoting cultural diversity and interaction.

As individuals, multilingual people have improved intellectual development since studies show that if people learn other languages especially as children, there are more chances that they will have a better mastery of their native language.  Learning a language other than one’s native tongue also allows the language learner to understand the people who speak the target language and their culture too.

In the economic sense, organizations have been created in various parts of the world in order to increase trade among nations.  In that sense, multilingualism is very useful since it helps in the promotion and sale of products abroad.  Being able to speak other languages can surely pump up the tempo in product sales and it can also attract a lot of foreign investors for global trade.

In the political side of things, multilingualism is an asset for politicians and statesmen.  Fluency in various languages is a powerful tool which they can use for diplomatic relations with other cultures and nations.  It is an advantage for state heads to speak more than one language since they play important roles in the global political arena.

In the social aspect, multilingualism helps promote relations between different linguistic communities even though it may not always assure that it can create harmony between communities.  Communities may not always be in harmony but nevertheless it aids in interactions between them; it allows the exchange of ideas and information and it helps in the development of social objectives.  If we learn languages other than our own, it could mean that we are indicating that we want to be become cultural mediators who want to create connections and abolish divisions.  Once people are able to communicate clearly through common languages, we will be able to understand, accept and eventually tolerate our cultural differences.

Given the advantages of multilingualism, it is easier to bridge gaps among the billions of people on our planet if we speak more than one language.  We should start learning languages other than our native tongues and help uphold understanding among the entire human race.

The world is a very big place and it has a lot of places to go to and see.  As you aim to visit as many places in the world as you can, there are other things you should consider.  Aside from seeing the attractions and experiencing the culture of the places you want to see, you should try interacting with the people who live in the place in order to have a better understanding of it. 

Traveling is one exciting activity; you can learn a lot from every journey not just the usual cultural and historical stuff, but also about some things which are not so usual at all.  If you would want to know the soul of a place, you better look at it though the eyes of the locals.  The local folk are the ones who most probably know the place better than anyone else since they live most of their lives in it.  If you can befriend the local residents of the place you are visiting, you will most likely have a better experience than those who travel but never interact with the people.  If you interact with the locals, your travel experience will be more authentic, fulfilling, memorable, and unique! A place’s people mean a lot to its culture and history as well as its present situation.  How are you going to interact with the local folk of the places you want to see?  Learn their language!

 The following are some tips you can use in learning languages as you travel:
 Learn to speak through your stomach.  Yes, through your stomach!  Food is essential to your body that is why when you travel you should know what are the words for certain kinds of food you want to eat.  Better do some research on what the local language is for fruits, water, vegetables, and local delicacies so that you will not have a hard time taking your fill.  Since eating is vital, better interact with the locals so that they can help you which food to choose from a restaurant.  Also learn the local word for delicious and never hesitate to say the word after your meal.  Who knows, you might befriend more people and they can help you teach more local words in their vocabulary besides food, and maybe even invite you to their homes for authentic local cuisine.  
 Befriend locals through laughter.  No, it does not mean that you laugh your heart out just like that.  Make people laugh by telling a joke in their local tongue or make yourself funny to laugh at by attempting to speak their language regardless of what you really want to say.  Laughter can break a lot of barriers and it can help you earn new friends too. 
 Go shopping.  You will be able to interact with the locals when you shop and learn more about their language through constant interaction; and it helps if you already know some useful phrases before you attempt to buy.  If you have already befriended a local, ask him or her to teach you how to say it’s too expensive or I want the local price so that shopkeepers will not think of you as a clueless tourist they can take advantage of.  Maybe if you attempt to speak the local language, you can become somebody’s favorite frequent customer and be given discounts!
 Avoid tourist hangouts.  It does not mean that you should avoid the place’s wonderful tourist spots but it means you should try to avoid the places where the majority of tourists frequent.  Instead of hanging out with fellow tourists, go to places where the locals hang out and interact with them.  You will be able to befriend locals if you show interest that you are really interested in their language and their culture.
 Create your own language phrasebook.  There are many available phrasebooks in bookstores but there’s nothing more helpful and creative if you will create your own.  Make your own lists of words and practical phrases in the local language.  If you have your own phrasebook, you can write down the words in the way that they sound to you or you can pick out phrases which will be very useful to you.  When locals see that you are making an effort to learn their language by writing things down, they might be eager to help you learn more words and phrases!         
 Give something in return.  It is not necessarily an amount or an object that you should give but the gift of teaching the locals your language!  One way to show your thanks and kindness is by reciprocating whatever the locals share with you.  Teaching them your language will be very interesting for them and perhaps you can make life-long friends through the act!

Enjoy seeing different places and meet new people!  Learn new languages too!