Written by Miranda González
Language research has shown that immersion is the best way to learn a new language. And what is immersion? It means being totally surrounded by your target language. You listen to music, watch TV and films, read articles, browse foreign language websites, and more—all in the language you want to learn. But, while it’s true that these activities can help you develop listening and reading comprehension, sticking with them exclusively means missing the most important part of the equation: engaging in active, two-way communication. You’ve got to interact with others as much as possible in your target language.
Chatting with native speakers
A crucial part of the immersion process is talking with (and writing to) to native speakers of your target language—and that’s where it gets tricky. Or, should I say, it used to be tricky. Before the Internet exploded (it’s hard to remember that far back, huh?), if you wanted to talk to native Mandarin speakers, you had to hop on a flight to China. Or, at the very least, you needed to take up residence in Los Angeles County, which is home to highest population of Mandarin speakers in the United States. But not anymore. All you need is a computer with a decent Internet connection and a headset. You don’t have to live in a foreign country to learn your new language. With some basic equipment, you can talk to anyone in the world!
Finding a language partner
How do you locate a native speaker to give you feedback? What’s the trick to finding a person who’s interested in conversing, learning, and helping you—and who has the time to do all three? In order to have a successful arrangement, it has to be a mutually beneficial exchange. Both you and your new partner should spend equal time speaking and writing to each other—in your native language and in his or hers—with the goal of helping each other achieve your respective language-learning goals.
If you think that finding the perfect language partner is impossible, think again. With Livemocha’s new platform, when you help others with their language-exercise submissions, you’ll be able to find someone who speaks your target language and who is also learning your native language. A perfect fit! And, to boot, every time you help someone, you get virtual coins that you can redeem for more online lessons in your target language. If you’re willing to help others, your language learning is completely free!
It’s a win-win. Try it now!
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