Learning Languages for Educators and Cultural Exploration
Language For Learning Examples
Educators need to provide learners with language objectives that support their content-area instruction. This includes teaching the language of learning (language used by teachers in instructional settings) as well as the vocabulary, concepts and sentence forms found in the content areas.
Authentic activities and tasks help students relate the significance of their subject knowledge to their lives. They also encourage productive use of the target language.
Spanish
Learning Spanish is a fun and exciting way to expand your knowledge of another culture. It is also a great way to meet people and make friends. There are many resources available online for those interested in learning the language.
Pronunciation is challenging for non-native speakers because of its rolled “r”s and unique vowel sounds. Its grammatical structures can be complex, with many verb tenses and noun declensions. Vocabulary is vast, with a large number of loanwords from other languages. It is a pro-drop language, allowing subject pronouns to be dropped when they are pragmatically unnecessary.
It is a verb-framed language, with mode of motion expressed in the verb and direction expressed adverbially (e.g. subir corriendo or salir volando). It is also a word-framed language, with two genders and two numbers for articles and nouns.
German
German is one of the most widely used languages in Europe and around the world. It is an important language for people interested in working in technology, engineering, or business. Learning German can also help you travel and experience other cultures.
German is a complex and logical language. Its grammar is not easy to master at first, but with a little practice, you can become fluent in no time. There are many online resources available for learning German. These websites offer free practice and can connect you with other students who are learning the language. This is a great way to make friends and share your language skills with them. You can also use apps like Duolingo or Memrise to learn German. These apps help you memorize words by creating flashcards with text, images, or sounds.
French
French is one of the world’s most popular languages. It’s the official language of France and Corsica, a main or official second language in parts of Belgium, Canada, Monaco, Switzerland, and north and west Africa, and an important international language for diplomacy.
Like Latin, French is a “lingua franca,” used by a wide number of speakers who don’t share the same native language. It’s also a highly analytical language that structures thought, and is a valuable foundation for learning other Romance languages.
Start with the basics, such as pronunciation, orthography, verb tenses and vocabulary. Then move on to the more complex grammatical features, such as the conditional and subjunctive forms. French verbs conjugate based on the subject in a sentence, with regular rules and exceptions known as “irregular.” Learn about these, too.
Russian
Russian is often described as a difficult language and it certainly has its challenges. But, many of these can be overcome with a focus on listening and using simple words. It’s also a rule-based language. For instance, you must memorize the rules for determining the gender of nouns. For example, if the last letter of a noun is consonant or “i”, it’s masculine, but if it’s vowel or “a” then it’s feminine.
Michel Thomas’s series is a great option for beginners and his pronunciation videos are an excellent resource. For a more advanced approach, Pimsleur offers 30 lessons of Russian on CD.
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