I Think I'm Learning Japanese.

Ohhhh! So, you want to learn a new language? Great idea. Learning languages exercises the brain and expands your horizons. Although I would not presume to tell you which tool would work best for you, I will give a brief rundown of the kinds of language learning tools are available and how they work. While reading this, please keep in mind that I am not a language teacher. I am not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist. My comments are opinion based on observation.

Auditory Learning Tools

As the category implies, these tools are things that you listen to. They include language tapes, CDs, songs, the radio and vocalization games. Generally, these focus on the language as it is spoken, with conversations dominating the lessons. These are probably the most common tools around. I am using a set of Pimzleur's Japanese Language CDs to learn that language. I listen and repeat on the way to work. This works fairly well as they employ people who sound as though they are native speakers. I suspect that they are native speakers, but have not researched the company's hiring practices. These tools work because your ear becomes accustomed to hearing the words spoken a certain way. You train yourself to pronounce the words properly through repetition. They are usually organized in progressive lessens that build on what came before. Sometimes, they include a great deal of repetition. Also, when using them you are engaging the two centers of the brain that govern auditory and vocalization activities. All auditory tools work the same way and, I suppose one is as good as another. Choose the one that you like.

The down side to these is that they typically do not include a written component.

Written Language Tools

This category of tools includes all of the correspondence style classes, classes where essays in the new language are assigned and any others where correspondence between a student and teacher dominate the learning experience. These teach the language from the point of view of a writer, journalist or other semi-passive observer. They teach students how to write in the language but unless they are held in a classroom with a native speaker, fall short on pronunciation. These engage the logical centers of the brain and those that govern fine muscle control). I am not sure what other center(s) of the brain may be activated.

The down side to this style of teaching/learning a language is that the student is seldom, if ever, exposed to proper pronunciation.

Learning Styles

Now, it is clear that people learn differently. Some like to read and memorize. Some like hands-on and active. Some learn by being shown. The first step in finding a system that works for you is to understand your personal learning style. While an excellent reader with a reasonable vocabulary, I do not learn most effectively by reading. I like it when people show me, then let me do it for myself. This is very frustrating to those trying to teach me things, believe me.

Once you have ascertained your learning style, it is time to find something that utilizes those strengths.. If you learn by reading, auditory lessons may be less than useless to you. If you learn by doing, being told how things work is annoying. Insisting that one form be used, regardless of the person's learning style can cause resentment, mental blocks and, ultimately an inability or subconscious unwillingness to learn the language..

Interestingly enough, most people seem to learn best when more than one kind of learning center of the brain is engaged. Therefore, any system that has you listen, repeat, then write your responses is excellent. Baring that, the ones that have you listen and repeat are better than those that have you only listening.

I hope that this helps.