Beginner language content, introductions and the like.

What kind of content do we need when we start learning a language? Can we learn how to introduce ourselves, or what to say in a restaurant, at the train station and other such situations?

I do not think so. I do not think this kind of content is necessary, although there is nothing wrong with it. It really depends on what the learner is interested in. The point is that the learner needs to get used to the language through a lot of exposure. The learner is unlikely to remember a set of phrases for different situations. As soon as a real person talks back, the learner is usually lost. So what to do?

Download Introductions or watch the video.

Comments

[berta]

what a nice idea to make videos instead of audio! this is much more fun

[Katie]

As I think about this, the last thing a beginner should learn are these so-called "beginner phrases." I'm just recalling my beginner's Spanish, absorbed from all three levels of Pimsleur. I learned how to say lots of things, but boy was I in trouble when I took that trip to Spain, and the people talked back!

I liked the Lingq "beginner dialogues" in Italian only because there was obviously some kind of drama unfolding, perhaps an awkward moment, and it was entertaining enough to keep tuning in. I wasn't able to say a thing after completing all 26 lessons, but that wasn't the point. I saw it as just the beginning, and I've jumped straight to the real dialogues. Little by little, I'm piecing the language into my brain. I'm surprising myself, and my Italian speaking friends, with what I am able to say, and especially understand.

So, to answer your question (tho' I have yet to watch the video, and I'm curious to know what you think), I think the beginner dialogues should be clever and gripping, and about a minute or so long, much like what you already have. It'd be nice if the actors felt some passion for the material.

The "travel phrases" should be left to the very end, when you can at last understand the responses!

[Jeff Lindqvist]

"The 'travel phrases' should be left to the very end, when you can at last understand the responses!"

Yes! The local library is full of so called "courses" which in fact are just phrase leaflets and CDs with 50% Swedish audio (each sentence is first said in Swedish and then in the language being taught - what a waste of time!). As for the sentences... topic-based, one-way, no hint of possible answers/reactions.

The person in charge says that they get a 20% on these courses (as if that's a reason to buy them...).

Oh, the humanity.

[Dimoteos Tavit Aznavourian]

I think that some of these beginner phrases are important in so far as they motivate the learner to get excited about the language and the prospect of becoming a speaker of _______. However, a beginning speaker will probably not be able to say anything other than "I want steak" for a long time, and will most definitely not understand most of what is said to him/her. Any program that claims to "prepare you for travel in 24 hours" or even "30 days" is deliberately deluding their customer and they know it. My 2¢.

[Dimoteos Tavit Aznavourian]

Another thing, even after a year or two of devotedly studying a language, there are still many instances where you might not understand what is being said in a particular situation. This is even more proof of the ridiculousness of these beginner phrase programs beyond what should be their main purpose: to provide motivation for new learners.

[KB]

Thanks for your this wonderful information about beginners learning foreign languages. Each time I begin learning a new language, I tend to shy away from phrases dealing with traveling and the vocabulary dealing with restaurants. I want to converse with people, not talk about a train or an airplane! I understand that they are important but I like to form my own sentences. I don't talk about trains and restaurants everyday. Vocabulary not constantly utilized is vocabulary forgotten. :)

[sheonagh]

I recently found your blog and then LingQ and am very inspired. I wish you had Arabic on Lingq but have found Arabic podcasts because of the advice you put forth in your blog. It certainly makes for more fun learning and I agree that you start getting a sense of the language, or familiarity, the more you listen and read content. Thanks so much for revolutionizing language learning!

[Vera]

Hi Steve, thank you for your videos. I like to listen to your audios and videos. But I like to have the audio and the text in LingQ. It would be great if you would offer the articles from your blog as content at LingQ. For me audio is more comfortable because I can listen to audio while doing other things.

[Ana B]

that is so true on the forgetting and remembering about learning i have been doing that with learning polish and then when i have found myself in a conversation fully im completely lost

also i have found i remember the odd words of non importance more often than not but i havent had any initial help from people outside of livemocha that speak one or two of the languages i wish to learn telling me where i am going wrong or pointing out what is wrong which has impacted greatly on my confidence alot

this video is really good and helps to indicate how to learn better in my opinion

oh i stumbled across it via the livemocha page on facebook etc keep up the good work cheers

Learning: Polish (past three years), German, Dutch, Icelandic and Estonian

[Emilio]

Hi Steve,
You always hit the right points.

I totally agree with you. Beginner must search for a constant stream of input, not for a few isolated "utilitarian" examples.

[John Fotheringham]

I studied TESOL and have made my living teaching English for many years, but I am in your corner Steve. It seems that the foreign language teaching/learning establishment is unwilling to take an honest look at what really works and cut ties with that which doesn't. Sadly, most modern "methodologies" are mere band-aids for ineffective methods that should be completely abandoned.