Friday, March 6, 2020
Audiobook Solutions to 4 Common Language Learning Dilemmas
Audiobook Solutions to 4 Common Language Learning Dilemmas Audiobook Solutions to 4 Common Language Learning Dilemmas Learning a new language isnt all wine and roses.Like any other worthwhile endeavor, it has its challenges.Often, its a stop-and-go adventure. There are times when youre on a roll, just laying down words and phrases as if you were born into the language. Other days its a struggle to find the right verb tense. Three steps forward, two steps back.Weve all been there.We get it. Really, we do.Four major issues pose potential hazards on the road to successful language learning. They all present unique obstacles. Fortunately, audiobooks make it possible to blast through them in a way thatâs individually tailored to your learning style. The Most Common Language Learning Hang-upsYoure probably already familiar with these sticky language learning situations.Time crunch. Letâs face it, weâre all stretched thin, time-wise. Work, school, family, health and social obligations claim most of our waking hours. Throw in a second job or even a travel opportunity, and were toast.Money pinch. Hey , who doesnt feel that? Even if youre doing well financially, you still may not want to spend extra money when you dont have to.Lackluster learning materials. There are times when language learning stalls because we tire of flashcards, repetition and the same old, same old. We need to step away and freshen up our minds by playing around with new methods before we can come back to the repetitive tasks that stick languages in our memories.The dreaded, but almost-inevitable, plateau. Its commonâ"and not just with language learning. When a certain level of proficiency is achieved, learning stalls, leaving the pupil stranded on the plateau. Not the place anyone wants to park, is it?What would you say if I were to tell you that foreign language audiobooks provide epic solutions for each of these issues? Thatâs rightâ"each one!Iâve got your attention now, donât I?Let me show you how to use them to your advantageâ"and solve all four of these learning problems.Audiobook Solutions t o 4 Common Language Learning Dilemmas1. Never Be Pressed for TimeFeeling a big time squeeze? Youâre not alone. We all feel that! This is a portable, on-the-go solution that makes any time the right time for language learning.Foreign language audiobooks solve the canât-find-time-to-learn issue. Throw a few into your insanely packed schedule and customize your learning. Youâre in chargeâ"decide where, when and what you want to hear.Remember, youâre in charge. Got that?One of the perks of foreign language audiobooks is they make practicing a new language almost as easy as catching a plane to somewhere exotic. On a plane or train? No problem, your audiobook is there with you. Adjust the headphones, press play and pick up where you left off.Dont be afraid to interact with the audiobook. If youâre prompted to reply, answer away! Talk out loud whenever, wherever. Believe me, itâs no big deal if youâre the only one whoâs in on the whole conversation. Chances are, people a round you are busy and wonât even notice. So talkâ"and if you make mistakes, thatâs fine too. Audiobooks give you a chance to say, âhey, I missed that the first time around!â Back it up, listen again and nail it the second time.No time to jet off to immerse yourself in a culture and surround yourself with native language speakers? No problem! Language audiobooks bring learning to you. Even China and the Chinese language arenât far at all when you download, listen and learn.2. Study on the CheapLanguage learning audiobooks are often free. And if theyâre not completely free, theyâre cheap.Free and cheap? Whatâs not to love?Remember when you got your first library card? I still have mine. The library is closed now, moved into a big, modern building, but the thrill that little card brought is one memory that will never fade.Most places still have libraries, only now theyre filled with more than books. Thats rightâ"your local library may be the foreign language audiob ook jackpot youre looking for. Grab your card and go browse the audio files, or request access to the librarys online resources. If you dont have a card, thats no biggie, either. It takes just a few minutes to get one. Chances are, youll find enough in the stacks to make your inquisitive foreign language seeking brain stand up and pay attention.The New York Public Library has a virtual warehouse of foreign language learning audiobooks available to card holders. Even if your library isnt massive like the one in NYC, most library systems share resources. Your library has access to much more than whatâs on its shelves, so if you donât see what you want, ask to have it ordered for you.Thereâs no need to keep opening up your precious wallet when there are tons of freeâ"absolutely free!â"audiobooks up for grabs.Studying French? Try Audiocité. Innovative Language can help learners of tons of different languages find great audiobook resources to start listening to. Cant find w hat youre looking for in your target language? Browse this list at Open Cultureâ"Im sure something will pop out at you!3. DiversifyForeign language audiobooks are made for many interests so theres no reason to stay in a rut.If youre not excited by your current materials, prepare to be dazzled! Thereâs no end to the diversity of audiobook offerings.There really is something for everyone. Donât believe me? Check out the huge Spanish-language selection at AlbaLearning. Germans more your thing? Get your German on with Vorleser.Every interest and every personality has optionsâ"and with a click or two of your mouse, youâll find an array of foreign language audiobooks in your chosen language.The Little Prince by Antoine de Saint-Exupéry is available in 253 languages. It has always been one of my favorite books, so every time I learn a new language I buy an audio copy in that language. The story is familiar and easy to follow, and even if I miss a word or two the first few times I hear the German Der kleine Prinz, Italian Il Piccolo Principe or Spanish El Principito, itâs still empowering to hear and learn with something dear to my heart.4. Make It PersonalNo matter where you are on your language learning journey, there are foreign language audiobooks to support your learning.Choose an audiobook thats perfectly suited to your current level so punching through the plateau is almost too easy.Beginners benefit most from short stories or childrens favorites. Audiobooks.com has a huge selection!Intermediate learners should choose audiobooks in foreign languages the way they choose books in their native tongue. Pick a book on Audible based on a hobby or fascinating topic, or learn something new while increasing your language skills!At the intermediate level, itâs not a bad idea to pause an audiobook to check a dictionary for unfamiliar words. Write these words down with their definitions and usage as go you. A journal of new words increases vocabulary a nd hearing the words in context makes it a breeze to use them in dialogue later. A plusâ"the more foreign language audiobooks you listen to, the bigger your journal of new-to-you words becomes! Eventually these new words become part of your foreign language mindset and youâll use them naturally.Anyone at an advanced skill level can benefit greatly from using foreign language audiobooks. At this level, the need for a dictionary is minimal so whatever your listening pleasure may beâ"fiction, non-fiction, self-help or the current bestsellerâ"itâs all comprehensible, and Amazon has you covered with a huge selection of audiobooks!The focus is less on deciphering whatâs being said or learning sentence structure and other fundamentals. Without all these concerns, thereâs room to actually enjoy the audiobook. And we all know that liking what weâre learning makes for a less stressful learning experience, right?This is the same reason why language learners can also benefit fro m listening to podcasts. Theyre similar to audiobooks, and the topics are so varied that there are subjects for every skill level. At an advanced level thereâs learning and listening for the sheer joy of it, because weâve already done the hard work.Learning isnât all wine and roses, but sometimes there are indeed roses.Foreign language audiobooks can be a language learnerâs best friend. They can help banish time crunch, money pinch, lackluster materials and plateausâ"four major language learning problems that most of us experience at one time or another.Who knows? By the time you listen your way through an assortment of intriguing, mind-expanding audiobooks, you might be ready to grab your passport and try out your excellent language skills somewhere warm and exotic!
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