Anybody learning Korean? Or, does anybody want to? I've been studying it, and I've written a new blog post called "How to Learn Koran in 3 Easy Steps."



Anybody want to come discuss the best way to learn Korean?



http://www.liveinasiablog.com/2011/10/how-to-learn-korean-in-3-easy-steps/



Cheers,



Ryan http://amplify.com/u/a1g815

Some people have great experiences teaching in Korea. Others have an absolutely terrible time. Which way it goes for you depends very much on how you plan your stay overseas. This article is going to give you a 3-step plan to ensure that you have a wonderful stay in Korea

1. Choose a City

Many English teachers live far away from the bright lights of Seoul or Buson. Many think it's great. Many others can't stand it. Almost all, though, have done the same thing. They have simply followed the advice of their recruiter (who needed to place someone out in a rural area). This is a bad idea. Why? Mostly because some people simply can't handle living outside of Seoul or Buson. Others can't stand to be in these cities! Teachers sent out to rural areas often site the lack of Western goods as a major headache.

Learn How to Speak Korean in 3 Easy Steps

New teachers in Seoul often feel like they've never left home, which they find rather disappointing. Stop and think for a moment. Do you need to be in a big city where all the comforts of home are available? Or do you want to live where it's quiet, peaceful and authentically Korean? Neither living arrangement is necessarily best, but they are certainly very different. So, ensure that your teaching in Korea experience is a good one. Do this by making sure that your recruiter finds you a job in a place you'll enjoy living.

2. Get a Suitable Working Environment

Teaching jobs in Korea vary widely. For example, it has been mandated by law that every public school in Korea must have a native-speaking English teacher, which means there are lots of these public school jobs available. These are good jobs that offer security and a decent wage. Working in a school is typically a 9 to 5 affair. Private English language tutoring facilities are also popular. These Hagwon jobs usually have easier schedules and higher salaries. They're not perfect, though. Many teachers report being cheated or mistreated by hagwon owners.

Get a FREE 6-day Korean Course

You can also find English teaching jobs in some of Korea's biggest corporations, like Samsung. You can teach kindergarten students, adults, and everything in between. Choose wisely. Can you cope with a classroom full of rowdy elementary school students? I'd fail miserably because I'm not so great with young kids. How about you? What position with you excel in? Children? corporate executives? Public schools? Private schools? Choose a position you don't enjoy, and you'll be miserable the entire time you're in Korea, and that's not what you want!

3. Back to School

Getting properly trained to teach is important. Here is why. First, the flailing economies of the West are driving thousands of young, college-educated people to Korea to teach English. You need to be at least as qualified as them. Having a TEFL certificate may make the difference between getting the job you want and losing out to someone more qualified.

In addition, what you learn is very useful. Being an English speaker does not make you an effective teacher. In the past, nobody cared. Those days are gone, and now you'll be forced to show measurable results. Also, a little confidence boost goes a long way, and being certified will certainly make you feel better on that difficult first day of class.

I lived and worked in Korea for 5 years? Anybody interested in a great adventure--teaching in Korea?



http://www.liveinasiablog.com/2011/10/teaching-in-korea-how-to-ensure-a-great-experienc/ http://amplify.com/u/a1g3kg

How to Learn Korean: A Simple 3-Step Plan

Original Source: The Live in Asia Blog

Want to Master Korean? I bet you do! Korean is becoming a popular destination for both tourists and for those looking to find overseas work. Korean can be frustating and difficult to master, though, if you don't know what you're doing. Follow the 3 steps laid out below, on the other hand, and you'll learn Korean with ease.

How to Learn Korean Step 1: Master the Korean Alphabet

When I lived in Korea, I met lots of people who had tried to speak Korean without taking the time to learn to pronounce Korean characters. It seems like a quick shortcut to speaking the language. Glossing over Korean characters, though, impedes the learning process greatly. It causes problems because the sounds of English characters do not translate well into Korean. For example, here's how you say, "Korea has four distinct seasons." Hangugeun ne gyejeori tturyeothada. Read that and try to get the pronunciation correct! You're not going to like the results. What will happen is that you'll learn Korean with terrible pronunciation. Correcting bad pronunciation, bye the way, is much more difficult than just getting it right the firts time. So, don't use English characters to learn the Korean language--learn Korean characters now.

How to Learn Korean Step 2: Master Korean Grammar

Learning Korean grammar is essential to speaking Korean correctly. I see you cringing, and I feel your pain, but hear me out. I'm not suggesting that you spend tons of time doing sentence construction drills. What I'm saying is that you should get familiar with the basics. Why? Learning the basics of Korean grammar is necessary because it goes against what you'll "feel" is normal. For example, in English we use the structure Subject + Verb + Object. We would say, then, "I threw the ball."

Korean word order, on the other hand, is Subject + Object + Verb. In the example above, then, we must say "I ball threw." Notice also that I left out the article in this sentence. The Korean language does not make use of articles. Now, look at these two simple grammar rules I have given you. Then think about saying a sentence like, "I bought lunch." It's going to be easier knowing the grammar rules I gave you above, isn't it? It's going to be far easier, I'm sure you'll agree.

How to Learn Korean Step 3: Find Someone to Talk to

It's actually a good idea to begin speaking right away. I just want to make a point, though. Of course, my point is that you must learn proper pronunciation and correct grammar from day one. If you don't, you'll suffer from poor pronunciation and terrible grammar. Now you've got a great plan for learning the Korean language. Get to work, and enjoy your new language learning experience.

Want to learn Korean? View this great FREE Korean Course, with over 100 videos!

Teaching in Korea is fun and easy, and you can make a ton of money doing it. Discover it now!

Find Out if Online Learning is the Best Way to Learn Italian for You

Italian is one of those beautiful languages that most of us would like to know. What most of us are not sure of, if we do decide to start learning, is whether we should take Italian lessons online, join an Italian class, or just buy some books and start studying. This post is going to answer the question, "Should I take Italian lessons online?" Do you know the best way to learn Italian? Discover it now!

Are you pressed for time?
One of the biggest benefits of taking Italian lessons online is that it saves you quite a bit of time. How? The most obvious reason is that you don't have to travel to get to class. Your virtual classroom is right in your living room, or, if you have a laptop, on the bus and in your local coffee shop. There's more. When you take Italian lessons online, you also get to download audio files that go on your MP3 player. This saves you time by allowing you to study while you're jogging, commuting, or just relaxing on your front porch. Finally, when taking Italian lessons online, you get to pick what you learn. For example, if you just want to communicate verbally, you can choose an audio course that focuses on speaking Italian, not wasting your time with in-depth grammar lessons that you don't really care about.

How outgoing are you?
I wouldn't really describe myself as a shy person, but I do hate to be embarrassed. This means that if I take a classroom-based Italian course, I'll usually just sit quietly, missing out on valuable speaking practice. And, of course, with books there isn't any conversation practice at all. Things are very different when taking Italian lessons online. When taking Italian lessons online, you use interactive dialogues to perfect your pronunciation and engage in real-life conversations. If you're at all like me, this will be the easiest and most comfortable way for you to master the Italian language.

How much self-discipline do you have?
There are many benefits to taking Italian courses online. To get the most out of them, however, you must make a learning schedule and stick to it. This can be a problem for some people. If you're not the most self-disciplined person, I suggest that you get a calendar and write in the days and times you plan to study. Then ask a friend or family member to help you stick to the plan. Or, if that's going to be too difficult, you may want to take a local course, where your teacher will provide some structure for you.

Are you looking for the most cost-effective way to study Italian?
Another huge benefit of taking Italian lessons online is that it is very cost-effective. And don't let the cheap prices fool you. Online Italian lessons are just as comprehensive as other courses. Why do you get so much for so little? Mostly because you are buying a digital product, and digital products are very cheap to produce. You don't need expensive paper. You don't need expensive classrooms, and you don't have to pay any type of shipping fees--just download and go!

Should you take Italian lessons online?
If you don't think you can stick to a self-designed learning schedule, you may want to think twice about it. Also, if you need lots of social interaction, a classroom-based course may be best for you. On the other hand, if you're looking for the quickest, most cost-effective, and time-saving way to master the Italian language, then you should definitely take Italian lessons online.

Discover the best way to learn the Italian language!

How to Learn Chinese: Are Chinese Online Courses For You?

With a huge portion of the world being native Chinese speakers, and with the commercial rise of mainland China, it's safe to say that learning Chinese is plenty worth our time. And with online language learning improving rapidly, you have to ask yourself, "Should I take Chinese lessons online?" The answer to that question is, "Maybe." This post is going to tell you how to decide if taking Chinese lessons online is the right choice for you personally. To understand your learning situation even better, I suggest that you also read this article, The 3 Types of Chinese Language Programs.

Are you pressed for time?
Most of us have pretty busy schedules these days. If that includes you, you'll want to consider taking Chinese lessons online. Why? Because you can complete your online course from the comfort of your own home, from your office, or from your favorite cafe. Wherever you decide to study, you won't have to commute. You won't have to show up early for class, and you won't have to wait in line behind other students just to get a few minutes of speaking practice with a native Chinese speaker.

Do you want to get the most of your money?
Well, of course you do, but not all inexpensive products are good value. When you opt for Chinese lessons online, this is not the case--they are great value for your money. Why do they offer so much for so little? Because the business model is very efficient. First, the product is digital, which means it takes no expensive raw materials, like paper, to produce. Second, all instruction is pre-recorded, which means that it's not necessary to continually pay for expensive teachers and staff. Finally, there is no need for a classroom, and no expensive rent means much lower costs.

Are you looking for social interaction?
I tend to learn better when I sit down in a quiet place and study on my own. Others, though, get bored or distracted quickly if left alone. If you need social interaction to learn effectively, you may want to consider taking a classroom-based course. If you're more like me, on the other hand, you'll prefer taking Chinese lessons online. Also, I tend to be a bit shy when learning a new language--I get embarrassed easily. Because if this, I feel much more comfortable practicing my pronunciation in the comfort of my own home. How do you feel? If you're a bit shy or easily embarrassed, you should definitely take Chinese lessons online.

Can you make a Chinese language learning plan and stick to it?
When you take Chinese lessons online, you are not given a whole lot of structure. You study what you want, when you want to study it. For some people this is great. They like to set their own schedules, and they are good at sticking to the plans they create. Others are not so organized. You have to be honest here. Are you going to be able to make a learning schedule and stick to it? If so, then you should take Chinese lessons online. If not, you may want to go with something that offers a bit more structure.

Should you take Chinese lessons online?
If you are an independent person who is capable of making a Chinese language learning schedule and sticking to it, then, yes, you should take Chinese lessons online. If, on the other hand, you are someone who gets bored and distracted easily, you may want to consider a more structured option, or at least ask someone to be your study partner. Whatever you choose to do, I wish you the best of luck.

Stop by the Live in Asia Blog to learn even more--and have a little fun!

Chinese Courses: The 3 Types of Chinese Language Learning Programs

All online and software-based Chinese language program makers claim that their products are best. The fact is, however, that none of them are necessarily the best. Certain programs work better for certain people. And different programs are better suited for accomplishing different learning goals. To get the best program for you, you need to be able to recognize the different types of learning programs, of which there are three. This post will explain the three types of Chinese language programs and make recommendations in regards to choosing a program that is best your own personal needs. Before you read it in full, you may want to check out this article discusses whether or not you should take Chinese lessons online.

1. Audio-Based Chinese Language Programs
As the name implies, these courses are 100% audio-based. These programs do not offer vocabulary lists. They do not provide learning games, and they do not teach any kind of reading or writing skills. What do they do? They provide audio recordings. These audio recordings are designed to teach you Chinese grammar, vocabulary, and sentence structure through total immersion in the Chinese language. They do this by using listen and repeat drills. Learners first listen to and repeat words. Then they gradually move up to listening and repeating phrases and complete sentences. In the end, users have simulated question and answer types of conversations with the software.

2. Activity-Based Chinese Language Programs
These programs employ a learning strategy that is quite different from the immersion strategy used with audio-based courses. Activity-based programs use what I call the busy-work strategy. They provided lots and lots of different types of learning games and activities. These include word puzzles, fill-in-the-blank activities, word-find games, word association games, grammar drills, and sentence completion activities. The idea is to get a good base of theoretical knowledge about the Chinese language before actually trying to use it verbally. If you like busy work, you'll like activity-based Chinese language programs.

3. Consumer-Friendly Chinese Language Programs
Finally, there are what I like to call consumer-friendly language programs. These programs are a bit more balanced in their approach to teaching Chinese. The designers of these programs understand that many people are going to have a hard time learning in a total immersion environment. They also understand that most people don't want to sit around and do Chinese grammar drills all day long. So, what they do is provide interactive dialogues, just like the 100% audio-based courses. But they also provide vocabulary games and grammar instruction at a basic level. The vocabulary lists and learning games, along with the grammar lessons, are specifically designed to help students complete the interactive dialogues--no more, no less. These programs focus on situational communication, for example, "buying a train ticket," or "ordering food in a restaurant."

How to Use This Information
When deciding which Chinese language program to purchase, try to ignore claims made by manufacturers; they all think their learning methods are the best. Instead, think about your past learning experiences. How have you learned well in the past? How do you think you'll learn best now? Then, based on that information, decide which type of Chinese language program would be best for you? Once you make that decision, start looking for a program that fits your learning style and your learning goals.

If you've enjoyed this article, be sure to visit my blog about living in Asia.

Why Italian Language Learning Software is the Best Way to Learn Italian

What's the best way to learn Italian? That's easy. The best way to learn Italian is to use Internet or software-based Italian language courses. Not sure? Read this post and you'll see exactly why. 

Save a Ton of Money

With teachers, tutors, books and supplies, learning Italian can become quite expensive. With online learning, though, you don't need any of those things. Everything you need comes in one software package, including pronunciation and speaking practice with a native Italian speaker. How much does a program cost?

You can get a great software or web-based Italian course for about a hundred dollars. And for that hundred or so dollars you'll get hours and hours of instruction, including, in some cases, live support from a native speaker. So, if you're looking for the best value for your money, computer-based learning is, without a doubt, the best way to learn Italian.

Save a Ton of Time

Time and money, the two hardest things to hold on to. Fortunately, Software and Internet-based Italian courses help you make the most out of both. They save time by allowing you to study at home, instead of having to commute to some classroom. In addition, Italian language learning software programs help you make the most out of what is usually wasted time. How? By providing downloadable audio files. You just load them onto your MP3 player, and then you can listen and learn while riding the bus, driving to work, or walking the dog--multitasking made easy!

Stress-Free Learning

Getting put on the spot in front of a classroom full of people can be quite stressful and intimidating. That's another reason why I think using software is the best way to learn Italian. Sitting in the comfort of my own home, I can use my software program to perfect my Italian pronunciation without worry or embarrassment. With a book, I can't really practice pronunciation at all, and in a classroom, I tend to be a bit shy. Are you starting to see why software and Internet-based Italian courses are the best way to learn Italian?

Highly Efficient Learning

Today's Italian language learning programs are designed using time-tested learning strategies. Then they are taken a step further. They include interactive language learning games that are far more effective than anything used in books or classrooms. Plus they make use of great new technology, like voice recognition software. What makes them most efficient, though, are the fully interactive dialogues--you get to have full conversations in Italian without leaving your house.

My Recommendations For You

Italian language learning software is the best way to learn Italian. There is no doubt about that. What there is some disagreement on, however, is which software program is best. To ensure that you get the best program for you, you need to do some research. Some Italian learning programs aren't all they're made out to be. Others are great for certain types of learners, but not so great for others. In addition, different programs are better for particular learning goals. Consider your learning style, define your learning goals, and then research the top Italian learning programs. You'll be on your way to mastering the Italian language in no time.

Actually, I've done the research for you! Compare the 5 best language programs right now.

Learning Japanese: 5 Tips for Choosing the Best Japanese Learning Software

There are lots of Japanese language learning programs on the market. Some are better than others, and some are good for certain types of people but not so good for other types of people. This article will give you 5 tips in regards to how to choose the program that is best for you personally.

1. Get to Know Your Learning Style

Many popular Japanese language programs were designed with regard to the learning philosophy of a man named Dr. Pimsleur, who believed that the best way to learn a second language was in the same manner that you learned your first. This, of course, is to hear words and phrases and then repeat them, just like a child. This method works very well for some people, people who are auditory learners. If that's you, great. Choose one of these audio-based programs. If you are more of a visual learner, however, or if you like to study written dialogues, be sure that you choose a program that offers instruction in more than one learning style.

Click Here Now to Check Out the Web's Hottest Online Japanese Course 

2. Find Out When the Software Was Updated

I have seen quite a few "premium" Japanese language learning software programs that have not been updated in several years. These programs have fallen behind. Today's best programs have amazing voice recognition features, online forums, exceptional aesthetics, and much more. If a program hasn't been updated in several years, it is most likely not worth buying.

3. Check Out the Online Features

It used to be that you would buy a book or a software program, use it for what it was worth, and then get rid of it (or throw it in the back of the closet). Things have changed. All of the top Japanese software programs today have an online component. Sometimes you get exclusive access to learning forums. Other times you get to upload and download custom data made by both users of the product and by its manufacturer. Most of the top rated programs give you lifetime access to software and program updates. These "extra" features oftentimes prove to be more valuable than the software itself, so be sure to check them out before making a purchase.

4. Read Product Reviews

Online product reviews are something that I both love and hate. I love them because I like to hear what experienced users of a product think of it before I buy it myself. In the end, it matters little how much the company likes its own product, and it matters a lot what real users think of it. I hate online product reviews because they are oftentimes nothing more than sales pitches written by people selling the products themselves. To get around this, I do one simple thing. I only read product reviews that have a walkthrough. If there is a walkthrough of the program, then I at least know that the person who wrote the review has used the product.

5. Take a Test Drive

If a Japanese language learning software program doesn't offer a free trial, I don't buy it. It's as simple as that. This is not really an issue, though, as all of the top-rated programs have them. The problem is that people rarely use them. Instead, they make buying decisions based on marketing campaigns and product reputation. This doesn't work, though, because we all learn in different ways, and just because I love a certain software program doesn't mean that you will.

Summary

Learning Japanese can be fun, or it can be a difficult and frustrating experience. Much of how it turns out for you will depend on which software or online course you buy. Get a high-quality course that fits your learning style well, and you'll have a great experience.

Top 5 Ways to Study Japanese Online

The Internet is a wonderful place to learn Japanese. There’s really nothing in regards to the language that you can’t find or do. In fact, one could argue that there is too much to find and do. There is information overload. This article is going to cut to the chase and give you the top 5 ways you can use the Internet to learn Japanese.

1. Skype

Skype is the Internet’s best 100% free communication device, having both audio and video capabilities. How can you use it to learn Japanese? It’s simple. Go to a language learning forum and find a native Japanese speaker who wants to learn English. Then do a language exchange. It’s easy. It’s fun, and it’s free. Just make sure that you have a good quality headset with a microphone before you begin.

2. You Tube

You Tube is the Internet’s best video hosting website, and it is loaded with Japanese videos. Some of the videos are instructional, teaching Japanese grammar and pronunciation. Others are TV shows, popular movies, documentaries, and just about anything else that’s been recorded. There is literally, an unending supply of listening practice just waiting for you to come and watch it.

3. Dictionaries and Translators

Want to make your own flash cards? No worries. Just head over to Google Translate and type in the word you want to learn in English. The website will instantly give you the word in Japanese. Of course, Google is not the only one of the sites. It’s the biggest and best, though, so I recommend that you use it.

4. Forums

Japanese language learning forums are easy to find—just do a Google search. Once you sign up for one, you’ll have access to thousands of other people who are either learning or teaching Japanese.  You can get answers to tough questions. You can find language learning software recommendations. As I mentioned before, you can even find language learning partners. In addition, you’ll find lots of great Japanese language learning tips and tricks. Who knows? You may even make some great Japanese friends.

5. Online Japanese Courses

Finally, there are lots of great online Japanese language learning courses. In the past, software and web based language learning programs were a not-so-great option for those who didn’t have the time or money to attend a Japanese class in person. No more. Today’s online learning courses are just as good or better than classroom-based courses. They are well designed, thoroughly researched, highly interactive and very convenient to use.   

Learning Japanese can be difficult, but the Internet is here to help you. Go online and use Skype, You Tube, dictionaries and translators, forums, and online Japanese language learning programs, and you’ll be speaking your new language in no time.  

Click Here Now to View the 5 Highest Rated Japanese Learning Software Programs

Are Audio-Only Chinese Learning Programs Effective?

There is much debate among linguists about how Chinese language learning programs should be designed. One popular, but hotly contested, method is pure audio learning. This article will explain what these programs do. It will discuss their advantages and disadvantages, and it will give advice in regards to who should use them

By far, the most established audio-based Chinese learning software provider is Pimsleur. This is a program that contains no written dialogues, no vocabulary lists, and no pictures. It is simply a collection of MP3s. It was designed by a man named Dr. Pimsleur. It is his language learning philosophy that all audio-based programs are based on. What is the philosophy? It’s simple. Dr. Pimsleur believed that the best way to learn a foreign language was in the same manner that you learned your native language, by listening and repeating. You start with words. Then you move up to phrases, and finally, you graduate to speaking whole sentences. 

Does this method work? Yes and no. Yes, it works if all you want to do is communicate verbally. If you want to read or write Chinese characters you are out of luck. If you want to make connections between Chinese culture and its language, pure audio-based courses are not going to help you much. If, on the hand, you just want to pick up some basic communication skills, this method may work well for you. How do you know if it will work for you? 

Current educational research has shown that people learn in very different ways. Some people, for example, are visual learners; they learn best by using pictures and other graphics. Some learn by acting things out physically. Many, though, are audio learners. That is, they learn best when they hear information, like a lecture, or, as is the case here, an audio based Chinese language program. 

What’s the bottom line?

The bottom line is that if you are a strong audio learner, and if you are not interested, at the moment, in learning to read and write Chinese characters, then an audio based program will probably be good for you. If, on the other hand, you need visual learning aids and written dialogues, or if you want to read and write Chinese characters, you need to get a Chinese learning software program that is much more comprehensive.  

When making a decision about which Chinese learning program you should buy, keep in mind that many of the more comprehensive programs are, essentially, audio-based programs that offer additional learning resources, meaning that, if you buy one, you’ll get the full audio-based learning experience and you’ll all of the additional learning material provided in these packages. If you want to check out a “full-service” Chinese language learning program, check out the Tell Me More Chinese software program. It’s one of the most popular in the world.

Chinese Learning Software: Is It For You?

Is Chinese learning software right for you? Let’s find out. To do so, you need to ask yourself three important questions: “What’s my schedule like?” “How disciplined am I?” And “What’s my personality like?”

What’s My Schedule Like?

Do you work all day? Have family obligations every evening? If so, finding the time to attend a class on a regular basis is going to be difficult, especially if you have to travel far to get there. Trust me, starting a language course is easy, but quitting one is even easier. If you’re pressed for time, do yourself a favor and find some good Chinese learning software. In the long run, you’ll be glad you did. If, on the other hand, you have a bit of free time on your hands (lucky you) attending a course may bring the social interaction and structure that motivates you to keep on learning.

What’s My Personality Like?

I’ve taught lots of language courses over the years, and one thing has always been true--about 10% of the people in a classroom do all of the talking while the other 90% sit quietly, hoping not to be called on. You need to be honest with yourself here. Are you going to be embarrassed to make verbal mistakes in front of others? Are you going to sit quietly and hope that the teacher doesn’t call you on? Or are you going to be one of the people who speaks up? If you’re the latter, a classroom-based course is good for you. If you’re the former, however, you will get much more out of Chinese learning software. Today’s language learning software programs are highly interactive and will provide you with all the speaking practice you need right from the comfort of your own home.

How Disciplined Am I?

Learning Chinese is not easy, and to master the language you need to be disciplined. If you attend a class, you’ll have a regular schedule. You’ll have assigned homework. You’ll have goals and expectations given to you. If you use Chinese learning software, you’ll get none of that. It will be 100% up to you to ensure that you are defining goals, studying regularly, and monitoring your real learning progress. If you are a disciplined person, this will not be a problem. If, however, you are someone who is easily distracted, has a string of unfinished projects, or is not very organized, a software-based program may not be best for you.

Is Chinese learning software for you? Take into consideration your schedule, your personality, and your level of personal discipline and then make a decision for yourself. If you decide that a software-based program is best for you, check out these packages. They are the best selling Chinese learning software programs on the market.

3 Must-Follow Tips For Learning The Japanese Language

Japanese, with its completely unique alphabet and complex sentence structures, can be quite a challenge for Westerners to discover. Like just about all learning endeavors, though, you can make the task much simpler and a lot more efficient by doing a little organizing before you dive in. On this page I am going to explain to you several things you need to do to make your Japanese language learning experience a pleasant, efficient and rewarding one.

Discover Your own Learning Strengths

Current research based on Howard Gardner's Theory of Multiple Intelligences demonstrates that there are 7 specific types of learning styles: visual-spatial, bodily-kinesthetic, musical, interpersonal, intrapersonal, linguistic, and logical-mathematical. Before you jump into Japanese do yourself a big favour and find out what kind of learner you happen to be. To uncover whether you're a linguistic or a logical-mathematical learner, simply take one of the numerous 100 % free tests on the Internet. To do so, just stop by Google and type in "Theory of Multiple Intelligences free test," and you'll locate one.

Click Here to visit my Rocket Japanese review!

Look at a few and use the one that comes with the most questions; you'll get the most complete results that way. While carrying this out, do not forget that you won't be just one single style of learner. You will have a great deal more strength in some areas, though. Look for your strengths and then design a Japanese language learning system that is ideal in your case.

Begin With the Katakana Alphabet

You might not realize this, but the Japanese writing system has more than one alphabet. One is referred to as Katakana. It is the simplest alphabet, and it is used to spell out international words and phrases, to dictate the names of plants, animals, and minerals, and also to type out specialized and scientific terms.

Also, it is regularly used to post the particular names of foods, which makes it very useful for you to learn. Additionally, it's actually a phonetic alphabet, so it is not too difficult to learn. If you study hard, you'll be able to master the sounds of the forty-eight characters in the system in an evening or maybe two. So, before you go out and trying to tackle Kanji, the way more challenging system of characters that make up the primary written form of the Japanese language, get comfortable with Katakana. This will ease you towards success, one step at a time.

Converse With a Native Speaker From the Beginning

When discovering a foreign language that utilizes the identical alphabet as the one your used to, for example, if you are a native English speaker studying The spanish language, it is easy to learn quite a lot just by altering your own pronunciation. When learning Japanese, though, you will find yourself making sounds which are totally and completely different than anything you are used to. Due to this, it's very important that you start using a native Japanese speaker from the start.

Luckily, achieving this is as simple and easy as ever. You've got several opportunities. One is to see a local Japanese speaker and talk with her or him in person. This is a very good solution, but it is usually the most pricey. The next method is to use language learning software or online instruction. These kinds of applications, in the beginning, weren't really good. In these days, however, you'll find high-quality, entirely interactive language learning programs taped by native speakers for less than a hundred dollars. This is a whole lot cheaper than employing a private Japanese instructor, and you can do lessons repeatedly until you are satisfied that you have perfected them.

Lastly, if you want a no cost alternative, you can do a language exchange via the internet. You simply head over to a language learning forum and locate a native Japanese speaker who's looking to teach you Japanese the Japanese language in return for you teaching her or him your native language, whatever it may be.

It doesn't really make a difference which option you ultimately choose. Just make perfectly sure that you're talking to a native Japanese person right from the start; it is really a great deal harder to repair awful Japanese pronunciation than it is to simply learn it correctly from the beginning.

Studying the Japanese language may be tricky for Westerners, but, with a spot of preparation, you can have an excellent learning experience. To ensure success, find out what kind of learner you are, learn the Katakana alphabet, and work with a native Japanese speaker from the get go.

Japanese VS English: How to Use English to Master Japanese

Japanese is a superb language to discover, but it can be tough, especially for native English speakers. Still, you can make the whole process far easier by simply understanding three significant distinctions between English and Japanese. This article is going to talk about those variances.

Levels of Formality

When speaking English, it is perfectly okay to speak the same way to most people, within reason. As an example, you'd say the words "Good morning," to your husband or wife, your employer, your buddies, and to a complete stranger. Things are entirely different in The country of Japan. There, you have to speak differently to different people, according to their age and their connection to you.

To demonstrate, I am going to discuss the following Japanese morning greeting:

"ohayo" (informal) or,
"ohayo gozaimasu" (formal)

When you wake up and see your sons or daughters and your wife or husband, you should say, "Ohayo." When you have arrived at your office and see your employer, conversely, saying that could get you dismissed! To your manager, you should use the much more formal, "Ohayo gozaimasu."

How about one's colleagues? To nearly all of them, you should speak formally, saying, "Ohayo gozaimasu." To the people you've made close relationships with, however, you might drop the formality and say, "Ohayo." If speaking to people you just met, always use the more formal variant.

How essential is this? Very! Speaking informally to unknown people, your boss, or those significantly older than you is reasonably rude. To secure a greater understanding, suppose that you've got a teenage daughter.

Read my Rocket Japanese Review now! It's full of pictures and analysis!

Now suppose that she brings a teen boy to your home for dinner. This young man comes into your home, approaches your aging father, and spits out the sentence, "Hey gramps, what's up." What would you think of this boy's manners? I suspect that although you might not throw him out immediately, you almost certainly wouldn't ask him back again either. Understanding the way to speak Japanese using appropriate formality will probably ensure that you do get invited to come back!

English VS Japanese Word Order

With The English language, we sequence our sentences like so:

Subject + Verb + Object.

As an illustration, we will evaluate the simple sentence, "I love you." In this short sentence, the verb is "love." The subject is "I," and the object is "you."
As a result, we write the sentence. I (subject) love (verb) you (object). Japanese sentence construction is a little different. In Japanese sentences, word order is as follows:

Subject + Object + Verb

The above mentioned sample sentence would be composed in this way (Romanized).

Watashi wa (Subject [I]) anatao (object [you]) aishiteru (Verb [love]).

Understanding this one important distinction between English and Japanese will significantly boost the pace at which you understand Japanese grammar--remember it well.

Marking Subjects and Objects

This is relatively simple. Japanese has subject and object markers, while the English language does not. Using these types of markers correctly is very tricky. In this article, though, I will simply give you the fundamental principles.
We will consider the example sentence, "I ate Japanese food." The markers we will use, in Romanized form, are "Wa" and "Wo."

English language word order: I ate Japanese food.
Japanese langauge word order: I Japanese food ate.
Japanese word order with markers: I wa Japanese food wo ate.

"Wa" marks the subject "I," and "wo" marks the object "Japanese food." As you get deeper into the Japanese language, you'll discover more about exactly how these types of markers can be used to make fine modifications to sentence connotations. For right now, though, just be aware that they are there, and make an attempt to use them properly whenever conversing.

Closing Thoughts

Getting the hang of the Japanese language can be challenging. We can easily make it far less difficult, however, by comparing it directly to the English language. Don't forget the difference in word order, the use of object and subject markers in Japanese, and the numerous formality differences between the two languages and you will definitely have great achievements studying the Japanese language.

Read my Rocket Japanese Review now! It's full of pictures and analysis!

Learning Chinese: The 3 Steps You Must follow to Master mandarin

Mandarin is an ancient and interesting language, and the benefits associated with mastering it today are numerous. Mastering this language, however, is not simple and easy, predominantly due to the fact that it lacks a phonetic alphabet. Don't worry. I have lived, and learned, in China for several years, and I am going to share some information that will help you accomplish your Chinese language learning goals. In order to be good at learning Mandarin Mandarin you need to follow these three important steps. Read my Rocket Chinese Review if you want to check out the software I used to master pinyin.

Step One: Get a Good Grasp of Pinyin

What is Pinyin? As I stated previously, Chinese characters, in general, aren't phonetic, meaning they have no sounds attributed to them. Instead, they are pictographs, symbols that represent distinct thoughts and ideas. These pictographs are very effective for the purpose of communicating visually, through reading and writing. For instance, if I draw a stick figure in the shape of the human form, we can both look at it and understand that I am communicating something about a human being. The problem occurs anytime people from completely different geographical territories get together and make an attempt to communicate verbally.

Why is there an issue? Because in my town people may see the aforementioned stick figure and enunciate it "person." In your village, on the other hand, people may see the identical figure and enunciate it "potato," which makes it very hard for us to communicate verbally. Pinyin was developed to resolve this issue, and it is the only way for you to understand how to properly pronounce words and phrases in Mandarin Chinese. So, prior to studying how to read, write or pronounce Chinese characters, you have to learn pinyin.

Step 2: Start Communicating Verbally

As soon as you understand pinyin, you need to use it, accompanied by a native Chinese speaker, to learn how to properly pronounce Chinese, including getting the hang of Chinese tones. I know, you don't have enough time to head over to The far east and learn with a native Chinese person. Don't worry. There are a number of software packages and web-based courses out there that have recordings made by Chinese speakers.

It's essential to take advantage of these courses. It is extremely difficult to sit and learn how to pronounce Chinese tones without listening to them spoken by a native Chinese speaker. How essential is it to get the tones correct? A lot of Chinese words have four different definitions, each of which is expressed by a change of tone. If you don't master your tones, you won't be able to converse effectively using the Chinese language.

Step Three: Dive Into Chinese Characters

Once you've perfected pinyin, you'll be able to progress to studying Chinese characters. Why should you do this last? Because when you memorize the meaning of a Chinese character, you'll naturally assign a sound to it. Of course, in the beginning, you will simply translate the meaning straight into your own native language. As you progress, though, you will want to develop the ability to "hear" the appropriate sound, in Mandarin, in your head. In addition, if you plan on utilizing your ability to read Chinese characters in a functional setting, in a diner, for example, you'll have to have the ability to pronounce them properly, and the only way to do that is to first master pinyin and pronunciation.

Conclusion

Mandarin is the most spoken language worldwide, and, with the financial and political rise of Mainland China, learning the language has many practical advantages. Sure, it's a somewhat challenging language to understand, but if you carry out the three steps outlined above, your improvement will be swift and painless.

Best of luck to you!

Ryan Wiley
The Live in Asia Blog

Learning Korean Step By Step

Korean is a remarkable and pleasurable language to sit and learn, and the Koreas, both North and South, are often the subjects of today's global headlines, South Korea for growing into a strong economic and technological powerhouse and North Korea, of course, for its controversial political structure, making Korean quite a relevant language to learn. Getting to know the Korean language may appear difficult when first approached, due to its unfamiliar written characters. If you stick to the three steps stated below, however, you will have no trouble at all getting the hang of this interesting and increasingly important language.

Step One: Study the Alphabet

In the beginning, the Korean language looks quite difficult to learn, but it is not. Its entire alphabet is made of 14 consonants, 10 vowels and 11 diphthongs. Diphthongs, for people who do not know, are sounds created when 2 vowels are combined, like the "oi" in the English word "boil." Altogether, that is just 35 characters that you need to understand, unlike a language like Chinese where it's important to learn about thousands of characters.


Check out my Rocket Korean Review Now!

In addition, although the letters of the Korean alphabet appear very different than the letters used in English, they sound very similar, making understanding how to read them fairly simple. So, your first task is to master the pronunciation of the Korean alphabet.

Step Two: Understanding Korean Sentence Structure

There is a great deal of debate between linguists regarding the significance, or lack thereof, regarding mastering grammar when discovering a second language; many say it is essential, others mention the point that wholly uneducated native speakers of a language are able to communicate without being familiar with their own grammar. When it comes to learning Korean, though, trust me, it is vital to be familiar with the grammar. One reason is because Korean grammar is so different than the grammar we use in English, and trying to make sense of Korean by using what you feel are natural sentence patterns is a recipe for failure and discouragement.

An additional good reason is because Korean grammar structures are quite uncomplicated and logical, a direct result of the whole language being created by a small group of scholars, compared to other languages that have developed and evolved over a large number of years--not always in uncomplicated and logical ways. So, after you get good at the Korean alphabet, get yourself a good grasp of Korean grammar.

Step 3: Learning to Speak out Naturally

Of course, the objective of studying a language is to be able to communicate verbally in your target language, and there isn't a better way to achieve that than to talk to native speakers. You could go to Korea, assuming you have the time and resources, but the majority of us don't, so I'll recommend some more practical options. First, there are many Korean language-learning software programs that include recordings of native Korean speakers.

These software programs are a good place to begin. You can Check out my Rocket Korean Review if want to see a good one. Additionally, you can search out and use a Korean tutor. This is a fantastic solution for individuals who reside in larger metropolitan areas that have substantial Korean populations. Last but not least, it is easy to engage in an Internet language exchange. Just visit a language-learning discussion board and locate someone to talk with; you teach him or her English, and he or she teaches you Korean. I recommend that you take advantage of the totally free communication software program Skype for these types of lessons.

Final Thoughts

The Korean language is intriguing and enjoyable to master, and it is getting increasingly relevant as we push further into the 21st century. It can be a complicated language to learn, or a relatively simple language to discover, depending on your own language learning strategy. To experience a successful learning experience, first get good at the Korean alphabet. Then progress to studying sentence structure, and, finally, perfect your speaking by training with a native speaker.

All the best, and enjoy a new language learning experience.