Expand Your French for the Davis Cup: USA versus Switzerland...

The 2012 (tennis) Davis Cup between the USA and Switzerland is taking place in Fribourg in February. I'm just now spending some time in Fribourg, one of the western cantons of Switzerland where mainly French is spoken. Because of its common language, this region is called “la Suisse romande” or “la Romandie” (Romandy). With my knowledge of standard French, I have no problem conversing with locals here. But once in a while, I'm baffled and not sure I'm really getting what's being said. That's because in French Switzerland, some words have acquired a different meaning.

Here are a few Swiss French words and a common expression that I've encountered during my visits to Fribourg. I've also added three numbers in French that have a wonderful simplified Swiss French version.

A "Casual" Language Learner? 3 Ways to Boost Your Progress

There are typical reasons for learning a new language: family/friend, travel, job, research, etc., but the motivation to become fully proficient greatly differs. If your approach to language learning is "casual," then don't let anyone - including us at G4L - tell you that you "must" practice regularly. You may be the quintessential “dilettante,” who loves learning on his or her own terms. Time may be scarce, or there may just be many other things you also want to do.

This sets you apart from the "steady" language learner, who has a fixed goal in mind and advances toward it step by step. You are also different from the "hardcore" language learner, for whom language learning is a major focus in life.

Here are 3 ways a casual language learner can make significant progress:

1) Embrace your image as a language learner "at will." Be positive, forget about the guilt of not being disciplined. Even small forays into language learning are a good thing! Everything you learn will leave a trace in your brain. Be reasonable with yourself. It's good to have expectations, but make them not too high. Expect something "in the middle."

2) Pick a way to learn that syncs with your lifestyle. If you're on the go a lot, get into mobile learning. If you're a just-before-you-go-to-sleep learner, keep a book or an iPad by your bed. If you're super social, find Facebook friends to chat with and write your posts in your new language.

3) Add some fun by doing things you really like. A few foreign language suggestions, starting with activities even a beginner can do:

• Listen to songs
• Research, make, and talk about delicious dishes (lots of sites on the Internet)
• Watch movies, most will have English subtitles (Netflix, Sundance Channel, etc.)
• Read cartoons (Asterix, Tintin, etc.)
• Watch news videos on foreign online newspaper sites
• Listen to audio books
• Play games in your new language (board games, computer games, video games, role playing games

For more suggestions, here's Ryan Layman's list of 25.

And, there is no telling where any of these small steps will take you. One thing, however, is certain: You’ll keep the neurons in your brain working and you’ll expand your world view at the same time...

Online Foreign Language Learning - Pros and Cons

Even the best idea has its pros and cons. We started out with GamesforLanguage.com a year ago as an online foreign language learning program, using a travel story and fast moving interactive games as key teaching tools.

We felt that the combination of a very stable CMS (webiva.com) and a fast Internet connection would work well for many users. Besides, plenty of competitors have moved to online learning. To a large extent, this is because an online system has clear advantages over a CD/DVD or down-loadable program:

Pros for the user:

• Immediate use after sign-up, no installation required
• Fast start-up with only login and password required
• Access from your office and practice opportunity during a “language break”
• Access from any PC (not necessarily yours!) in the world with an Internet connection
• Updates & corrections occur automatically
• (Later, on demand: pronunciation correction of recording practice)

But, comments from our friends and users have highlighted some of the disadvantages:

Cons for the user:

• Access problems with slow or unreliable Internet connection
• Open offices or public libraries make speaking/recording practices difficult
• No ability to use “on the road,” in airplanes, trains, etc. without Internet
• Technical problems w/browser, Flash Player updates, etc. may occur
• User only buys/owns access to website not (physical) CD/DVD

The mobile apps of many competitors provide a solution to some of the above “Cons.” (We’re also working on a mobile app.) Combining a mobile app with an online learning program appears to give the best option to those who can afford the required hardware.

However, even the best technology will not be able to solve the key challenge for a language learner: To find time to learn and practice regularly. Technology can provide added opportunities for those who are motivated and can find time. The ultimate reward - acquiring a new foreign language - not only adds a new skill, but also opens a different window on the world.  

Musings of An Adult Language Learner

When you google something like “language learning boosts the brain” dozens of entries come up. The technology for studying the brain has become quite advanced, so there seems to be some proof. But not everyone has the same experiences with the same results. Here are some musings of mine about language learning.

For me, learning something new or getting better at an activity requires that I engage in doing it. If I don't, I don't progress. For example, I'm a skier and every year in November, I start my first run of the season thinking: “OK, weight on your lower ski, stay away from ice, avoid the moguls for now.” During my first days on skis, I discover muscles I hadn't used for months, I get used to my edges again, I try out all kinds of turns. But, hey, by the end of ski season, I happily head for the moguls, and feel that I could follow Lindsay Vonn down a black diamond. Preferably in Austria.

Something similar is happening with my Italian language skills. For a while, I didn't practice my Italian very much. I was too busy with work! But then I found a way to motivate myself to do a daily practice. What I do is read Roberto Gervaso's daily “Tu per tu” column in ilmessaggero.it and watch an episode of the soap opera unpostoalsole.rai.it right on their web page.

Does this help to keep my brain fit? I think it does. When I can read through Gervaso's article and get the meaning without looking up any words, I get a great feeling of pleasure and boost in confidence. This affects whatever else I do during that day. The same happens when I understand what's going on in an episode of “Il posto al sole.” They speak fast and there's always some kind of underlying scheming going on. I learned Italian from scratch when I was a mature adult. It didn't all come easy. For instance, it took me a couple of weeks to fully learn “pomeriggio,” the Italian word for “afternoon.” With all the claims about how hard it is for adults to learn a language, I feel I've done well.

Emboldened by my success with Italian, I'm now learning Spanish. For obvious reasons, I am using our GamesforLanguage.com Spanish 1 course, and the new techniques and technologies are great. In addition to the language games I am using Twitter feeds for practice. When I'm ready, I'll start skyping with Spanish speaking language partners. For now, my biggest challenge isn't assimilating a word like “pomeriggio,” it's trying not to mix up Italian and Spanish. The two languages are similar and my comprehension of Spanish is good. But when I speak Spanish, Italian gets in the way.

But everyone's different. What about those who say they can't learn another language? That their efforts are doomed to failure because ...? My answer to that brings me back to skiing.

During this week, Waterville Valley NH is hosting the National Adaptive Alpine Ski Races. I've been watching the skiers, many of them quite young, skiing through difficult race courses. Each one of them has a physical challenge, lost limb(s), spinal paralysis. Each one of them skis with such skill, that he or she way outshines the rest of us on the mountain. The pleasure that these skiers radiate makes me appreciate the value of determination and the effort for overcoming challenges.

As the Dutch say: “You must row with the oars that you have.” (Je moet roeien met de riemen die je hebt.) So for language learning, the approach: “I've tried it once and it didn't work” – is not a good one. You've got to have passion, patience, and persistence. And you may find that your brain will thank you for it.