1.

Using Mnemonics to Link Words

This is a simple extension of the link method. Here you are using images to link a word in your
own language with a word in a foreign language.
For example, in learning English/French vocabulary:

English: rug/carpet - French: tapis - imagine an ornate oriental carpet with a tap as the
central design woven in chrome thread
English: grumpy - French: grognon - a grumpy man groaning with irritation
English: to tease - French: taquiner - a woman teasing her husband as she takes in the
washing.

This technique was formalized by Dr. Michael Gruneberg, and is known as the 'LinkWord'
technique. He has produced language books (an example isGerman by Association) in many
language pairs to help students acquire the basic vocabulary needed to get by in the language
(usually about 1000 words). It is claimed that using this technique this basic vocabulary can be
learned in just 10 hours.

2. The Town Language Mnemonic

This is a very elegant, effective mnemonic that fuses a sophisticated variant of the Roman Room
system with the system described above.
This depends on the fact that the basic vocabulary of a language relates to everyday things:
things that you can usually find in a city, town or village. To use the technique, choose a town that
you are very familiar with. Use objects within that place as the cues to recall the images that link
to foreign words.
Nouns in the town:
Nouns should be associated to the most relevant locations: for example, the image coding the
foreign word for book could be associated with a book on a shelf in the library. You could
associate the word for bread with an image of a loaf in a baker's shop. Words for vegetables
could be associated with parts of a display outside a greengrocer's. Perhaps there is a farm just
outside the town that allows all the animal name associations to be made.
Adjectives in the park:
Adjectives can be associated with a garden or park within the town: words such as green, smelly,
bright, small, cold, etc. can be easily related to objects in a park. Perhaps there is a pond there,
or a small wood, or perhaps people with different characteristics are walking around.
Verbs in the sports center:
Verbs can most easily be associated with a sports center or playing field. This allows us all the
associations of lifting, running, walking, hitting, eating, swimming, driving, etc.
Remembering Genders
In a language where gender is important, a very good method of remembering this is to divide
your town into two main zones. In one zone you code information on masculine gender nouns,
while in the other zone you code information on feminine nouns. Where the language has a
neutral gender, then use three zones. You can separate these areas with busy roads, rivers, etc.
To fix the gender of a noun, simply associate its image with a place in the correct part of town.
This makes remembering genders easy!

Many Languages, many towns

Another elegant spin-off of the technique comes when learning several languages: normally this
can cause confusion. With the town mnemonic, all you need do is choose a different city, town or
village for each language to be learned. Ideally this might be in the relevant country. Practically,
however, you might just decide to use a local town with the appropriate foreign flavor.

3. The 100 Most Common Words

Tony Buzan, in his book 'Using your Memory', points out that just 100 words comprise 50% of all
words used in conversation in a language. Learning this core 100 words gets you a long way
towards being able to speak in that language, albeit at a basic level. The 100 basic words used in
conversation are shown below:
1. A/an
6. Also
11. Big
16. (I) find
21. (I) go
26. He
31. (I) am
36. (I) like
41. One
46. New
51. Often
56. Other
61. Place
66. So
71. (I) tell
76. Them
81. (I) think
86. Up
91. What
96. Why

2. After
7. Always
12. But
17. First
22. Good
27. Hello
32. If
37. Little
42. More
47. No
52. On
57. Our
62. Please
67. Some
72. Thank you
77. Then
82. This
87. Us
92. When
97. With

3. Again
8. And
13. (I) can
18. For
23. Good-bye
28. Here
33. In
38. (I) love
43. Most
48. Not
53. One
58. Out
63. Same
68. Sometimes
73. That
78. There is
83. Time
88. (I) use
93. Where
98. Yes

4. All
9. Because
14. (I) come
19. Friend
24. Happy
29. How
34. (I) know
39. (I) make
44. Much
49. Now
54. Only
59. Over
64. (I) see
69. Still
74. The
79. They
84. To
89. Very
94. Which
99. You

5. Almost
10. Before
15. Either/or
20. From
25. (I) have
30. I
35. Last
40. Many
45. My
50. Of
55. Or
60. People
65. She
70. Such
75. Their
80. Thing
85. Under
90. We
95. Who
100. Your

Choosing the Best Method of Learning a Foreign Language

By Roz Andrews

Learning a foreign language can be interesting, stimulating

and fun. It can also be difficult, frustrating and boring. In order
to maximize your chances of long-term success, it is important
to consider which approach to language learning will provide
you with the most benefits.
Your lifestyle, educational background, current resources in
terms of time and money, and your personality should all be
taken into account when deciding which method of language
learning to pursue.
Consider each of the three main ways of learning a language:
self-study at home using books, CDs, DVDs and other learning materials; attending classes with a teacher
and other students; and online courses using interactive learning materials.
Each of these methods has its own advantages and disadvantages. If you are unable to attend regular
daytime or evening classes because of work or family commitments, self-study may suit you. However, this

approach to language learning requires a high level of self-motivation and self-discipline. If you decide to
learn in this way, it is a good idea to set yourself a weekly goal, so that your learning will move forward.
The main disadvantage of learning by yourself is that there is no one available to answer your questions.
One way of overcoming this is to make a list of your questions as they arise and enlist the help of a native or
fluent speaker of the language on a regular basis. You may even decide to have one-to-one tutoring to
supplement your self-study.
Learning a foreign language in a classroom setting is probably the most popular option. The regularity of the
lessons will encourage you to attend and you will be able to ask the teacher questions on the spot. In most
cases, the enthusiasm of the other students may also encourage you to make progress, although
sometimes you can be held back by the other students. This is especially the case if you have already
learned several foreign languages and go to an adult evening class where most of the other students have
little or no experience of studying a second language. In this case, you may find the pace of learning slow
and frustrating.
Online learning is the newest method of learning a foreign language. It suits both the self-motivated students
who prefer to learn alone and also the more gregarious students who may prefer to attend a class but who
are unable to do so. The interactivity of online learning makes the whole process more interesting and fun. It
is also often possible to ask questions online and to communicate with other students. Another bonus is that,
in many cases, online language courses cost less than other courses and are sometimes free of charge.
They do, however, have their limitations - most concentrate on the basic level, so you will have to seek an
alternative method of learning once you have progressed beyond the beginners' stage.
Whichever method you choose, keep in mind the reasons why you are learning the language and the future
benefits you will derive from being a fluent speaker. This will help you to stay motivated an

Whatever method you choose, these tips can help you to take your studies more seriously and
learn the language of your choice a little faster. Try to choose several methods that work best for
you and use them continually. If you get bored, devise a similar method that uses the same sort
of principal but provides a new challenge by which to study. .
Youve heard it a million times before. Practice makes perfect. Well it is still as true now as it
was when you first heard it. Practice is the only way to ensure that you can actually put practical
use to the knowledge you gain. Additionally, the confidence you have in yourself will increase and
youll feel much more comfortable using the new language as though it were your own. Try to find
a study partner or native speaker to interact with. By keeping a regular dialogue between you,
you can gain a better understanding of the accent, grammar usage, and other subtleties in the
language which are not so easily gained through book reading or formal instruction.

5. Label key items in your home. This may sound a little tacky, a little cheesy, and maybe a little
childish, however it really works. It you are always seeing this name on the item you will begin to
associate that item with the name posted. You will also begin to see this item when the name is
mentioned. You can use something as simple as a post-it to stick it to the item, or write it on a
piece of tape and stick the tape to the item. Its an easy way to learn vocabulary for common
items around the house. Additionally, this principle works for other things as well. If you want to
learn a new phrase, word, letter, anything, create a post-it or small paper with the new things to
learn printed on it. You can post these in areas you often look. For example on the mirror in the
bathroom, by the door, or in the kitchen over the sink. It may be an embarrassment when people
come over, but it is a sure fire way to learn those new vocabulary words without sitting down and
repeating them for hours on end.

Background Sound. Find a radio station that broadcasts in the language you
want to study. This does not have to be dependent on your geographic location,
thanks to internet radio access. Play this station a half-hour to an hour a
day, without trying to understand what is being said or sung. Just let the sounds

and rhythms "fall" on your ears. The effect is subtle, but sure. If you understand
just one or two words a day, congratulate yourself. You're making progress.
More important, you are wearing down your "aural resistance" to that foreign
tongue as you allow its sounds to fill the space around you.
Sing and Read Along. You couldn't have better [Latin American] Spanish
diction teachers than Gloria Estefan or Linda Ronstadt. Their CDs in Spanish,
along with those of numerous other performing artists, expose the listener to
expressive writing, music, rhythms, and vocabulary, and come with the words
printed so you can sing along.
The key to all these elements is consistency. You need to do one or more of
these at least three days a week, and preferably five. My Spanish fluency
increased by leaps and bounds once I made Spanish a daily activity in my life.
Rewards. If you don't publish in a foreign language, you may be wondering
why you should sing "La Vie en Rose" in the shower, watch a sister scheme
how to steal her sister's suitor, or write grade school- level letters to your
friends.
The rewards are substantial. With this extra linguistic knowledge, you can
improve your research capabilities, as well as your ability to make contacts and
to network. When traveling in a foreign country, you will read street and
warning signs with greater ease, and can feel safer and more confident working
in a foreign environment.
You can make a successful phone call to a foreign company. The person you
need to speak to may speak your language, but the switchboard operator may
very well not. If you receive a letter in a foreign language, you can understand
its content. You may answer back in English, but at least your correspondent
doesn't have to change languages to write to you, which will likely give you
more and better information.
More important than all these rewards, however, is the broadened perspective
and understanding that can come to you and your writing by branching out into
another culture's set of words. Besides, it never hurts for a freelance writer to
know how to say, "You'll pay for this!" in any language!