How To Use Flashcards For Advanced French

Flashcards are a well-known and popular study aid for many subjects and especially languages. Although cards are often electronic today, the basic principle is the same. One side of the card has a question and the other side the answer. In the case of languages, flashcards are really useful for memorizing vocabulary, with the words and phrases in the target language on the front and the translation on the back.

If you want to take your French up to an advanced level, you should seriously consider putting flashcards into your toolbox. I'll give some tips on how to best use them.

Flashcards can be effective because they are so flexible. You can sort them in various ways, take a few with you and study anywhere. It's also easy to identify those problem areas that may require more study. Those cards can be put aside for special attention.

Many people use the cards in a systematic way called spaced repetition whereby the cards are studied at fixed intervals. Electronic card systems are very good at this because the intervals can be easily programmed.

Digital flashcards are available on computers and on mobile devices. With software such as Anki you can make your own decks or even share decks with other users. One can also find commercial flashcard providers who sell decks or subscriptions to online decks.

Although digital flashcards are wonderful, there is something to be said for the lowly index card or plain paper product. It's inexpensive, quick and easy to make, does not require a device to run on, can be written on and takes up little space. Plain pieces of paper are fine but are not as durable as the heavier cards. Nothing prevents you of course from getting the best of both worlds and combining a digital system with a set of physical cards.

At the beginner French level, cards are used primarily for vocabulary study with a single word on one side and the translation on the back. At the advanced level, you should emphasize entire phrases and idioms in order to see how particular words are used in context. So, the front of the card could have a target word or expression, some conjugated forms if it is a verb and an example phrase or two. The translation goes on the back. Here is an example:

Front side:

Vouloir

tu veux - vous voulez - ils ont voulu - je voudrais

Que voulez-vous que je fasse?

Je veux bien vous aider.

Back side:

What do you want me to do?

I'm willing to help you.

Here is an example of a flashcard for an interesting use of the verb savoir in a reflexive form.

Front side:

se savoir

s'est su -- se sait -- se saura

Avec Internet, tout se sait.

Back side:

With the Internet nothing is secret.

In the course of your reading, you run across some interesting examples of this form. So, you take out your card and add the following examples to the front:

Tout se sait ou se saura un jour.

L'equipe se sait sous pression.

You now add the following translations to the back:

Sooner or later everything comes out.

The team knows it is under the gun.

These are very loose translations of course. You can put whatever you want.

Typically, you use flashcards by looking at the front and then turning them over. An interesting option is to go in the reverse direction. In other words, you look at the English translation and ask yourself how you would say that in French. This is really useful with idiomatic expressions where the French may not resemble the English translation.

Another use of flashcards at the advanced level is as a daily memory aid. Let's say you have identified one or two idiomatic expressions that you intend to use at least five times today. You carry the cards with you and look at them from time to time to remind yourself how the expressions are used. In a meeting you could even discreetly have a few cards in front of you and try to plug the expressions into the discussion.

When you are reading in French, keep some blank cards or pieces of paper handy. If you run across an interesting expression or phrase, jot it down. In a short period you will have a useful deck that you can later review and enhance.

For the advanced language learner flashcards are a very effective tool. Try them.

Stanley Aleong specializes in effective learning strategies for foreign languages. He believes that an effective strategy for achieving advanced proficiency is to work with many carefully selected authentic examples. To learn more about some very effective learning tools based on this principle, visit Advanced French/Spanish

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Comment on French Language Programs on the Internet

I am a French teacher who works to help others learn the beautiful language. I know how hard it can be to learn a new language, and I also know how much success depends on having the right learning tools.

As a French teacher, one query I am often asked is what learning package is the best for grownups or teens wishing to learn and speak French from home. Long ago I set out to discover the answer to this question, and one thing genuinely surprised me when I did. There are too many French learning packages out there that just aren't satisfactory enough.

When you look at the tools out in the market on the internet, you'll discover software, books, flash-card systems, and more. Sorting through them all is difficult, and selecting one can be even more intimidating. In Advance of getting to my thoughts on any French packages let's first talk about what a French learning package is and isn't.

First, a digital learning package is NOT the only thing you need to master French. You in addition need to take the time to read French publications, to speak to French-speaking individuals, and to make learning (and speaking) french a portion of your day-to-day existence. I can't stress how important this is to speed up the learning procedure.

Secondly, NOT every person needs a French learning package. In fact, if you aren't dedicated to learning the language you likely won't learn anyway. Learning French isn't tough if you apply yourself, but you need to make the decision right now that you are going to spend some time learning.

Third, a French learning program IS the simplest means to get started with the language. It will also cost much less (and take less time) than taking beginners lessons from a community college. The most suitable learning packages can take you right from beginner to advanced French.

Fourth, if don't take the time to buy the correct learning package you will merely make learning French harder. This is really the number one reason individuals don't follow through with their plan to master the language. Too many of the tools out there are actually just a waste of money.

If you've been considering of learning French then you'll be pleased to hear that, along with some of my colleagues, we took the time to evaluate the best four French learning packages in the market place today. We founded our evaluations on the following criteria.

* Level of French Learning - An acceptable French program should cover everything right from getting started levels up to having fundamental conversations with native French speakers.

* Amount of Information - The Amount of learning substance enclosed in the package

* Teaching Methods - Many people retain data better when taught with different methods. A suitable French program should use a variety of methods for teaching/retention.

* Follow Up Substance - Beyond the basic training course is there more substance in the market place to take your learning further?

* Additional Information (Fun Factor) - A suitable learning package should be fun to use. The most suitable programs we evaluated included games that magnified retention and made learning fun.

* Basic Language Abilities - Does the program supply adequate Content (and teach it rapidly enough) that the learner should grasp a basic dialog right after using the program for a while.

* Reading/Writing /Speaking Abilities - Along with speaking does the program teach language/grammar for reading, speaking and writing French?

With our evaluations we actually took two steps. First we evaluated the programs as teachers. We looked at their situation from the point of view of - would they be able to teach our students what we taught them. The next move I took was to in bring the programs into my adult learning classes. I had my grownup students use the programs at home for a period of time and then gave an introductory test to see what they had understood and retained.

The four programs we reviewed are as follows:

1st. Rocket French

2nd. Easy French Lessons

3rd. Lingo Basics

4th. Learn French Program

Buzz Hill - Professional Reviewer of online Products
Want more information learning to speak French go here: http://learnfrenchlanguagereviews.com/

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A Degree In Spanish Can Come In Handy In A Variety Of Career Fields!

?Habla Espanol? If not, you might consider pursuing a Spanish degree, since there are several advantages to it, one of which can greatly benefit your career.

In 21 countries, Spanish is said to be considered the official language. Other than Chinese, in fact, there are reportedly more people who speak native Spanish than any other language. That can make fluency in the language important in a variety of fields and in a variety of locales.

Students who want to pursue Spanish degrees might find them available at colleges and universities as part of a Bachelor of Science in Education. They might otherwise participate in Spanish degrees that are outright Bachelor of Arts degrees. Graduating with either of these Spanish degrees could lead students to work as teachers of English as a Second Language or as teachers of foreign language classes in K-12 schools or at colleges and universities. There are opportunities to enter non-teaching careers as well.

Students with an interest in law enforcement, for example, might consider whether Spanish degrees might help them embark upon careers in areas such as immigration or with the Federal Bureau of Investigation. There are also careers in interpreting and translating, in Foreign Service or diplomacy, and in international relations that might appeal to students in instances where they are considering Spanish degrees.

With Chinese, English, Russian, French, and Arabic, Spanish is considered an official United Nations language as well. That means that these languages are used in United Nations meetings and documents. As the world becomes increasingly global, students who obtain Spanish degrees might also prepare themselves for work in areas such as international banking, trade, or business.

Many United States residents speak Spanish fluently, which could potentially enhance career opportunities in customer service, coordinating cultural events, and proofreading and publishing for those who obtain Spanish degrees. Pursing Spanish as part of a dual major or as a minor or major that complements another concentration area could also benefit students in instances where they are considering certain careers - perhaps even those in international relations, international business, or communications.

In Spanish degree programs, students learn to write, read, and speak the language. Their education extends beyond the language itself as well. The programs often offer opportunities also to explore the different Spanish cultures that exist. They might require that students study contemporary Spanish issues, view Spanish films, or read Spanish literature. Some programs might also require community service participation, or they might provide opportunities to study abroad in places such as the Caribbean, Mexico, South America, Portugal, and Spain. These well-rounded programs, as a whole, might better help students come to understand the world from different perspectives.

Although the humanities don't receive as much emphasis these days as engineering, technology, and science degrees do, language studies that are a part of the humanities do have their advantages. The humanities in general, it seems, do as well. For instance, an Ivy League institution in the United States complements its MBA program with an education in philosophy, aesthetics, politics, culture, and the social aspects of business. It is important that other fields see the value of Spanish degrees. Students who are interested in mastering this language can do so by taking online courses!

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How To Describe Past Events in Spanish

Today we will discuss how to describe past events in Spanish. Sometimes you'll run into a old friend who you have not seen for many years. This person knows everything about your life in the past, but he/she has no idea what you are up to right now. In this lesson, we are going to learn to explain things from the past that are still the same and also how to talk about things that have changed.

Take a look at this e-mail from Sebastian, who has not seen Pedro since high school 15 years ago.

Hola Pedro, como estas? Estaba mirando fotos de la escuela anoche, y me acorde de vos y lo bien que la pasabamos en la escuela. Bueno, te cuento, algunas cosas han cambiado un poco. Ya no persigo chicas, me case y tuve un hijo. He dejado de fumar y ya no bebo como antes, aunque todavia me gusta tomar algunas cervezas los fines de semana. Afortunadamente sigo teniendo pelo, y todavia uso gafas, porque sigo sin poder ver los numeros del autobus cuando esta lejos. Espero verte pronto y recordar Viejas epocas. Ya ves, me he vuelto un hombre responsible pero sigo siendo un buen tipo.

Abrazos,
Sebastian

Hi Peter, how are you? I was looking at pictures from school last night, and I thought of you and how what a good time we had in school. Well, I tell you, some things have changed a bit. I am no longer chasing girls, I got married and I had a son. I stopped smoking and I do not drink like I did before, although I still like to drink a few beers on the weekends. Fortunately I still have hair and I still wear glasses, because I still can't see the bus numbers from far away. I hope to see you soon and talk about old times. You see, I've become a responsible man but I'm still a good guy.

Cheers,
Sebastian

As you can see, there are different structures to speak about the different things that Sebastian still does and what he has stopped doing.

Things that he still does

Seguir (conjugated) + Gerund: Sigo teniendo pelo (I still have hair) / Sigo siendo un buen tipo (I'm still a good guy)

Todavia + Present tense: Todavia me gusta tomar algunas cervezas. (I still like to drink a few beers)

Seguir sin + Infinitive (when you didn't do in the past and still don't): Sigo sin poder ver el numero del autobus...(because I still can't see the bus numbers)

The things that he has stopped doing.
Ya no + Present tense: Ya no persigo chicas. (I am no longer chasing girls)

Dejar de + Infintive: Deje de fumar (I stopped smoking)

Volverse (to became, is a change in the personality): Me he vuelto un hombre responsible (I've become a responsible man).

Hopefully this lesson helps you out when you want to talk about things in the past and how they relate to the present.

Anna Rivera is a native Spanish speaker from Buenos Aires, Argentina. She is also a Spanish instructor and the author of 2 learning Spanish books. If you would like to get FREE instant download access to the MP3 audio and PDF transcripts to her Spanish lessons absolutely free AND read her reviews of the most popular learning-Spanish products, then visit her web site now in order to: learn Spanish online That's http://LearningSpanishProductsReviews.com/

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Free Spanish Lessons Online

With the advances in the availability of video and audio software online there is now a huge wealth of free Spanish lessons available over the internet. These Spanish lessons can take you through from the very beginning and cover a range of different topics. There are however only a few series of free Spanish lessons I would highly recommend and in this article I will point you in the right direction to find these.

Practicing speaking with free Spanish lessons?

There are basic Spanish vocab and grammar lessons, beginner conversation lessons and further, more advanced, free Spanish lessons to help across all parts of your Spanish. I will say before we start that sometimes however, especially for speaking, it is advantageous to go to a Spanish class where you can interact with others. To overcome this problem, most practically at a more advanced level, Spanish software like Live Mocha allows you to construct a Spanish conversation exchange over the internet. At a beginner level you really do need to make sure though that you are constantly practicing your speaking - this isn't particularly easy but just talking to yourself, friends and family helps you to improve. One good way to learn Spanish using free online courses and lessons is therefore to do so with a practice partner - if you want to be speaking with a real teacher there are also Skype teaching programmes available at competitive prices.

Is it worth buying a Spanish language Course?

My second recommendation is to purchase a Spanish course if you possibly can - it may be possible to learn Spanish for free online but it really is a lot easier to follow a structured course all the way through. The online marketplace for these courses is extremely competitive so you can get a great bargain and excellent course if you shop around. In my opinion, for the purposes of a beginner, the Rocket Spanish and Rosetta Stone courses are excellent.

1 - Spanish Dict

The first free course of Spanish lessons I recommend is the Spanish learning videos available from Spanish Dict. These lessons focus on expanding vocabulary as a beginner and then building up your grammar and vocab skills as the course progresses. If you complete all four categories of 15 ten minute lessons you will have mastered communicating in a range of tenses with an intermediate vocabulary - the teacher is excellent and the free lessons are very clear. I would recommend repeating lessons to make sure you really master the material and make sure you practice as much as possible.

2 - Real Spanish, 123TeachMe and StudySpanish

If you want more specific vocabulary themes and more in depth written lessons around the grammar there is also good material at Real Spanish, 123 Teach Me and Study Spanish. These lessons do not have an audio teacher which is a great advantage of the Spanish Dict course. However there are good quizzes and games accompanying the wide range of lessons so these lessons are really good practice (and free as well) - it always helps to be doing different kinds of lessons and learning in different ways so these Spanish lessons are highly recommended.

3 - Check out YouTube

You will have to search them out but there are some great courses available on YouTube with free Spanish vocab and grammar lessons. The problem with these is the field is very saturated and you need to make sure you find a good teacher with clear lesson plans and content. There are also a lot of English speakers out there teaching Spanish and I'm afraid to say a lot of these don't have an authentic enough accent to be teaching others (at least to an advanced level). Also many of these courses are taught in different ways - for instance the Master Spanish course on YouTube simply repeats Spanish phrases rather than actually teaching any Spanish as such. This sort of video can help and watching them won't do any harm but really the websites mentioned above offer a far more professional and useful content in their Spanish lessons.

4 - Notes in Spanish Podcasts

In terms of listening just watching the lessons available on YouTube mentioned above is going to help. However I would also recommend the Notes in Spanish Podcasts - these are not so much lessons but allow you to listen to realistic Spanish conversation designed specifically for different levels of Spanish ability. These were one of my personal favourite ways to develop my listening skills moving from beginner to intermediate and then advanced level Spanish.

Go to http://www.topspanishtips.weebly.com/ for a collection of the best free Spanish resources on the internet. If you're learning Spanish from beginner to advanced level we provide those websites to help improve grammar and vocab, reading and writing and even you're listening and speaking online.

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How To Say Freckles, Pimples, Dimples, Cold Sore, Blackhead and Warts in Spanish

Today we will learn how to say freckles, pimples, dimples, cold sores, birth mark, mole, blackhead, and warts in Spanish. I will begin by telling about an experience that I had here in Medellin, Colombia that made me realize that it is important to know how to say these words in Spanish. This story will also help you learn these Spanish words.

Yesterday, I was supposed to start "terapia" (therapy) for my "hombro" (shoulder). I injured my shoulder here in Medellin, Colombia doing a sport called Brazilian Jiu Jitsu (or in Spanish "Jiu-Jitsu brasileno"). If you are not familiar with BJJ (Brazilian Jiu Jitsu) you can think of it as a combination of "lucha libre" (wrestling) and judo.

When I arrived ready to begin my therapy session the receptionist told me in Spanish that she had no record of my appointment. I told her that I had walked-in a few days ago when I was in the area and made my appointment in person with a completely different receptionist. But she insisted that there was no record of my appointment to begin my therapy session and that it would be necessary for me to make another appointment to begin my therapy and come back another day.

That's when I asked her was there anything that I could do considering that she was unable to locate any record of my appointment and that I had traveled quite a distance to begin my therapy sessions.

And she then asked me about the other receptionist, the one who made the appointment for me. ?Como es? ?Como se ve? (What does she look like?)

That's when I told her in Spanish that the receptionist who made the appointment for me had freckles, dimples, and a mole. Actually, I thought the mole was kind of cute so I told her in Spanish
that the other receptionist had a beauty mark on her face. She also had an awful cold sore on her mouth but I didn't bother to mention that in any language.

With that description the receptionist was able to locate the other receptionist (who was on a different floor at the time),and finally confirmed my appointment so that I could begin my therapy immediately and not have to return another day to begin.

That's when I realized how important it can be to know how to say freckles, dimples, pimples, cold sore, etc., in Spanish. So I want to share these words with you so that you will know them in case you ever need to use them.

1. Dimple - Hoyuelo

Cuando Claudia se rie se le forman unos hoyuelos en las mejillas.
When Claudia laughs dimples form in her cheeks.

By the way, the word that people use for dimples in Colombia is "huequitos" instead of "hoyuelos." "Huequitos" literally means "little holes." Here in Colombia, they also tend to use the word "cachetes" instead of "mejilla" for the English word cheeks.

2. Pimples - Granos

Ese adolescente tiene muchos granos en la cara.
That adolescent has a lot of pimples on his face.

Depending on how a pimple looks and where it is located on the body, Spanish speakers may also use the words "barro" and "barrito."

3. Birth mark - marca de nacimiento

No puedo ver tu marca de nacimiento.
I cannot see your birth mark.

Instead of "marca de nacimiento" you may also hear Spanish speakers say "mancha de nacimiento."

4. Freckles - Pecas

La mesera tiene pecas en la cara.
The waitress has freckles on her face.

5. Mole - Lunar

El lunar de ella es una marca de belleza.
Her mole is a beauty mark.

6. Fever blisters or cold sores - Llagas

Ella no queria besarlo porque tenia llagas en la boca.
She did not want to kiss him because he had cold sores on his mouth.

Besides "llagas" a very formal phrase that you may hear, especially in Spain, is "herpes labial" (literally, "herpes of the lips"). I never use the term "herpes labial" for obvious reasons...

That's because if I had a cold sore on my mouth I'd prefer for someone to tell me that I had a "llaga en la boca" instead of "herpes labial."

Now let me give you a very informal word for cold sore that you may hear not only in Colombia but in other parts of Latin America:

Fuegos en la boca (literally, "fire on the mouth") or just "fuegos" for short.

By the way, I have heard that Mexicans use the word "afta" for fever blister but you may want to confirm this with someone from Mexico because my Spanish dictionary says that an "afta" is "an ulcer of the mouth."

7. Mark - mancha

Ella tiene una mancha pequena en la frente.
She has a small mark on her forehead.

8. Blackhead - Espinillas

Me salio una espinilla en la espalda.
A blackhead came out of my back.

Another word for blackheads that is commonly used in Latin America is "punto negros," literally "black spots."

9. Wart - Verruga

Yo tenia una verruga en la mano.
I had a wart on my hand.

Pat Jackson is the Founder of Learning Spanish Like Crazy - the only learning Spanish method that teaches real authentic everyday conversational Latin American Spanish. Pat presently lives in Medellin, Colombia - the City of Eternal Spring. If you would like to get FREE Instant access to the first 2 MP3 audio lessons of Learning Spanish Like Crazy and get FREE instant access to 10 learning Spanish videos from one of our BEAUTIFUL native-Spanish speaking Latina instructors, then go here now: Learn Spanish online That's http://www.LearningSpanishLikeCrazy.com/

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Mandarin Chinese and English: What Are the Differences?

Mandarin is the not the Chinese language, rather, it is one of the many Chinese dialects. Around seventy percent of Chinese speakers use Mandarin. It is not only the accepted written language of Chinese, but it is also considered as the business language of China.

Many non-native Mandarin speakers believe that Mandarin is a very difficult language to learn, especially for those who are used to speaking the English language. But why is this so? Is Mandarin so different from English? Let us compare them.

Difference in origin

The English language is closely related to Flemish, Dutch, Low German and Frisians, which belong to the Germanic language family. Mandarin, on the other hand, evolved from Old Chinese and Middle Chinese. The fact that Mandarin and English originated from different language families might explain the major differences between the two tongues.

Difference in Alphabet

While the English alphabet is composed of twenty-six letters, Mandarin, on the other hand, does not have any. Instead, the Mandarin written language is composed of characters. Mandarin's logographic system is composed of about 10,000 characters, of which an average Mandarin speaker needs to know only about 3,000 to communicate with the language well. While in English, you need to put the letters together to form a word, in Mandarin each character corresponds to a word, which can be combined to form more complex words or concepts.

Difference in Phonology

Mandarin is a tonal language, which means it uses pitch to convey word meanings. In English, changes in pitch help express sentiment. Mandarin has four tones, high level, rising, dipping and falling; the neutral tone makes the fifth. These tones render different meanings to words.

In addition, English vowel sounds are more numerous as compared to Chinese. For example, words like full/fool and fit/feet are typically mispronounced by Mandarin speakers. Dipthongs, like the long vowel sounds, are usually shortened to make a single sound.

Difference in vocabulary

The combination of particles with short verbs to create phrasal verbs does not apply in Mandarin. In English, this is very common with verbs like "look up to", "give in" and others.

Difference in Grammar

Mandarin is not an inflected language. The sentiment is communicated through adverbials (such as time or manner), word order or contextual meaning. Different verb forms and tenses do not convey the perception of time in Mandarin. This is dissimilar to English where much of the idea is expressed through the use of verb tense and auxiliaries, such as in walk/walks/walked or is/was/are/were. Basically, the verb system of English is more complex than that of Mandarin.

Modal verbs (can, will, should, etc.) are limited in Mandarin. English, meanwhile, makes use of modals to express varying intensities or meaning. That is the reason why, for instance, Mandarin speakers may seem to be dictatorial when they make recommendations, requests and appeals.

The word order is also different between English and Mandarin. In questions, English inverts the subject and the verb, while Mandarin expresses this by adding words to indicate a question. In Mandarin, adverbials come before verbs; whereas there are many rules that direct their position in English sentences.

Indeed, there are significant differences between Mandarin and English. But this should not hinder you from learning Mandarin (if you are an English speaker) or English (if you are a Mandarin speaker) as learning both tongues brings so many benefits.

Daniel C Howard is a language teacher living in Asia. He has over a decade of experience teaching all ages a variety of subjects. For free info and lessons on Mandarin Chinese, please visit his blog here.

You can also sign up for a newsletter full of free language tips from Daniel's many hours in a class. And as a bonus, stay updated on all the new information on http://www.learnmagnificentmandarin.com/.

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