1. How to Learn a Foreign Language—What You “Really” Need To Know
Dr. Michael A. Brookshaw
Department of English and Foreign Languages
Winston-Salem State University
June 28, 2007

2. Goal
To provide basic information necessary for a clear understanding of the “true” nature of learning a second language.

3. Quote
“ A man who does not know a foreign language does not know his own.”
---Goethe

4. Goal of all Foreign Language Study
To communicate with a native speaker of the language

5. What is Language?
Language, the principle means used by human beings to communicate with one another. Language is primarily spoken, although it can be transferred to other media, such as writing.
MSN Encarta

6. General Language Facts…
Over 6,800 Tongues
8 Countries account for more than half of all languages
There are 832 languages in Papua New Guinea
India has 15 official languages
Over 1000 languages are spoken in Africa

7. Most Widely Spoken Languages in the World
1. Chinese (Mandarin) ,075,000,000 
2. English ,000,000
3. Hindustani ,000,000 
4. Spanish ,000,000 
5. Russian ,000,000 
6. Arabic ,000,000 
7. Bengali ,000,000 
8. Portuguese ,000,000 
9. Malay-Indonesian ,000,000
10. French ,000,000

8. Rationale for Learning Another Language?
Knowing another language brings opportunities
Better knowledge of other peoples & cultures
Read and understand more
Employment advantages
The World is at Your Fingertips
You become a Citizen of the World (Globalization)

9. General Reasons People Learn a Second Language…
Personal
Professional
Social
Educational

10. What do People Generally Speak About?
Family
Business
Personal Care
Travel
Food

11. What is language really about?
According to Ricardo Gonzalez it is about patterns, time expression. He notes:
There are 15 ways to express time
A word must be repeated 15 times to be stored in long term memory; a structure 60 times
The Parts of Language Make the Whole
Repetition is the “Mother” of all Learning

12. Second Language Acquisition
An understanding of second language acquisition can improve the ability of mainstream teachers to serve the culturally and linguistically diverse students in their classrooms (Fillmore & Snow, 2002; Hamayan, 1990). While significant professional development is necessary to gain a full understanding of second language acquisition theory, some key concepts can be quickly understood and applied in the classroom.
Current theories of second language acquisition are based on years of research in a wide variety of fields, including linguistics, psychology, sociology, anthropology, and neurolinguistics (Freeman & Freeman, 2001).

13. How Languages are Learned
Learning a Second Language Involves an Understanding of Second Language Acquisition and Includes:
How the First Language is Learned
Theoretical Approaches to Second Language Learning
Factors Affecting Second Language Learning
Learner Language
Second Language Teaching and Learning in the Classroom
Myths and Facts about Language Learning

14. Language Learning Myths:
Learning a language is fast and easy.
Children learn languages better
Adults are too old to learn a language
Fluency is easily accomplished

15. Why Spanish? The historical connection
4th largest Spanish Speaking population in U.S.
2000 mile border with Mexico
Current demographic reality
Continental reality of the Hispanic world
Dissolving Borders: Globalization

16. The Spanish Speaking World 400,000,000 speakers
Venezuela, 21,000,000
Colombia, 35,000,000
Ecuador, 5,000,000
Perú, 23,000,000
Chile, 14,000,000
Argentina, 34,000,000
Uruguay,3,000,000
Bolivia, 7,000,000
México, 93,000,000
Guatemala, 10,000,000
El Salvador, 5,000,000
Honduras, 5,000,000
Nicaragua, 4,000,000

17. The Spanish Speaking World 400,000,000 speakers (2)
República Dominicana, 7,000,000
Puerto Rico, 3,000,000
Las Filipinas, 3,000,000
Estados Unidos, 25,000,000
Costa Rica, 3,000,000
España, 39,000,000
Guinea Ecuatorial, 500,000
Cuba, 11,000,000
Uruguay, 3,000,000
Panamá, 2,000,000
Paraguay, 5,000,000

18. The Spanish You Already Know
Mosquito
Chocolate
Banco
Radio
Discoteca
Vitaminas
presidente
mamá
animal
especial
constitución
ángel

19. More Spanish You Already Know
Montana
Nevada
Colorado
Arizona
Florida
California

20. Spanish in the last 10 years…(1)
Surge in the Spanish population nationally
Spanish is more of a necessity than a choice
Spoken by 39 million Hispanics
Not speaking Spanish can be a handicap
There is nothing foreign about Spanish anymore
Spanish dominates all other languages in the public schools I

21. Spanish in the last 10 years…(2)
The need in the workplace for Spanish is tremendous
The president,himself, gives his radio address in Spanish
Language and culture of Latin America have flooded the nation
83% of college students study Spanish
Demographics demand that you learn Spanish

22. Spanish Facts… (1) The second language of the U.S.
Hispanics are the largest minority
The U.S. has the 4th largest Spanish population in the world.
Hispanics are becoming politically and economically powerful.
The U.S. is being “Hispanized”

23. Spanish Facts… (2) The U.S used to be Mexico until 1848
The U.S. has a intimate history with all things Spanish.
Hispanic language, art, culture have exploded.
Our heritage is locked in Spanish
The U.S. has always had Spanish influence

24. What a Good Language Learner Needs to Have for a Successful Experience
Basic Understanding of and information about Language
Positive Attitude about Second Language Learning Process
A Desire to Communicate with Someone who Speaks a Language Different from your Own
Commitment to the Language Learning process
A Basic Language Foundation (words )
Appropriate Strategies and Techniques (method)
Time to Learn and to Practice
Memory Ability
Realistic language goals and objectives

25. What Can Learning a Second Language do for Me?
Improve Analyzing Skills
Enhance creativity
Increase English Vocabulary
Change Cultural Attitudes
Augment Higher Order Thinking Skills
Enhance Memory
Improve Writing in English
Improve Test Taking Abilities
Enhance the Learning of the Native Language & Culture
Enhance Knowledge of Cultural Diversity

26. A view on language learning…
“Many of us have the experience of trying to learn another language and then giving up because it is too demanding, which translates into not making the progress we expect.
This is why you have an enormous advantage as soon as you realize that learning a language is not straight-forward. This understanding means that you can actually start to learn it without being discouraged when your progress is slower than you want it to be. You can improve because you are in the position to set yourself realistic and achievable goals, and you can reach these precisely because they are realistic.
Learning a language is a long term occupation and you have to return again and again to words, expressions and grammar that you have already learned and then forgotten. It is true that there are exceptional individuals who soak up new languages easily as adults, but they are in a tiny minority.”

27. The Tongue-Tied American Congressman Paul Simon, 1980
“The United States has fallen far behind other nations in foreign language skills and this decline creates certain problems and challenges.”
“At every port of entry into the United States we should erect a sign:
-WELCOME TO THE UNITED STATES-
WE CANNOT SPEAK YOUR LANGUAGE

28. John Naisbitt (1982) Megatrends
Thinking Globally…
For Americans, it is self evident that this is the time to learn another language--and learn it well. The size, proximity, and economic promises of Latin America make Spanish an attractive choice…. To be really successful, you will have to be trilingual: fluent in English, Spanish, and computer.
--p.78

29. Review Goal: Basic Information on Language learning
Definition of Language
General Language Facts
Rationale for Language Learning
The Nature of Language
Second Language Acquisition
Language Myths
The Reality of the Spanish-Speaking World
Traits of a Good Language Learner
Benefits of Learning a Second Language

30. Final Quotes…
“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.”
-Nelson Mandela
“The illiterate of the 21st century will not be those who cannot read and write, but those who cannot learn, unlearn, and relearn.”
-Alvin Toffler
“We must be the change we wish to see.”
-Gandhi