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Children’s books - a valuable resource? | ||
Tags: Book | ||
 Language Learning Forum : Books, Literature & Reading |  | |
| xtremelingo Trilingual Triglot Senior Member Canada Joined 6278 days ago 398 posts - 515 votes  Speaks: English*, Hindi*, Punjabi* Studies: German, French, Arabic (Written) | Message 1 of 23 10 September 2007 at 7:24am | IP Logged | ||
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Accelerated Reading.
Lets pretend your target language is French and you are brand new to this language. A good way to practice your reading, which you should do simutaneously as you learn to speak (that should be first priority, but don't forget the importance of reading, many beginners will overlook this due to their desperations of speaking sooner.) Many people that read alot in their native tongue also tend to converse articulately well. Hence the term.. "The man is well-read", that often suggests articulation and intellect in the way he speaks. Grab a few french children's books, from Grade 1 all the way up. When you're in the library, read the books there to get a sense of what "Grade" level you would be in the french world. This will prevent you from wasting time picking up books that are way too easy for you. It shouldn't take long, if you can read the books easily then move on to the next grade level until you have reached a point where you no longer can comprehend what is written. Once you have determined the grade level, borrow books from that level upwards, make sure they are children's books designed to teach french children how to read french. Not french books designed for non-french speaking people who want to learn french -- big difference. Children's books are designed to teach children in very simple ways. Swallow your pride and arrogance and consider them. The power of these should not be underestimated. You will also find that children's books are also pretty entertaining, funny and full of pictures that will help. Much better than jumping into the deep end into a novel, getting stuck and then becoming demoralized when you do not understand anything. Keep progressing with your regular learning methods, while reading these books to supplement your education. Another benefit is if no french-language kids books exist in your area, they are usually cheap to buy off the internet. You could probably buy a whole set of 30 books for very cheap. Or you could goto french-language websites designed for children -- another good idea. After this is done. Focus on READING SPEED with comprehension accuracy. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| edwin Triglot Senior Member Canada towerofconfusi&Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6455 days ago 160 posts - 183 votes 9 sounds Speaks: Cantonese*, English, Mandarin Studies: French, Spanish, Portuguese | Message 2 of 23 10 September 2007 at 9:22am | IP Logged | ||
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One problem though. Be ready to pick up many vocabulary which are not very useful in your daily-life. You will be learning all the names of the animals and insects, from a bee to a donkey, as well as items such as a balloon, kite, and teddy bear.
I recall some years ago, my wife and a few friends hired a Mandarin teacher to teach them Mandarin. She found a teacher from Beijing working in a kindergarten. One day, I took a look at her materials, only to find out that the teacher was reusing the same materials from her work. My wife was learning sentences like “Papa goes to work, Mama goes to cook”! My suggestion is that read children's book only if you enjoy them. I like children's book, as I have a 2-year-old daughter myself. But if they don't turn you on, find some books that would. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| CaitO'Ceallaigh Triglot Senior Member United States katiekelly.wordpress Joined 6848 days ago 795 posts - 829 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Russian Studies: Czech, German | Message 3 of 23 10 September 2007 at 11:19am | IP Logged | ||
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Unless you're talking about books for very small children, the writing for kids or young adults isn't necessarily going to be any simpler than writing for adults. It's the themes that differ. I was lucky enough to attend a children's writing workshop, with real pros in the field, and learned the best do not simplify their language for kids. You're going to need a dictionary no matter what.
One advantage of children's writing, though, is that the authors have to get to the point quickly. They're going to start with action. So, in that regard, I think they're especially good for language learners, because they can keep your interest level high. I'm currently reading Isabel Allende's "El bosque de los pigmeos (Forest of the Pigmies)", a children's book, and I'm getting a whole lot more than a language lesson. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| OrlMoth Groupie United StatesRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6355 days ago 77 posts - 83 votes 2 sounds | Message 4 of 23 10 September 2007 at 11:19am | IP Logged | ||
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I recall when learning English I did that. You learn a lot of "unnecessary" words, like edwin said, but those words come in handy in the most unlikely moments.
I for one started with kindergarten level books, and moved on to sixth grade books in less than a Month. It was okay for me, though, because I was 12, and I was around the age those books were meant for. So, on my quest to read harder and harder stuff, by the time I was in 10th grade I was reading science books, and by 11th I was reading books from the 1800s that even native speakers have trouble with. I eventually learned some "useless words", slang and many archaic words. Later, I somehow thought it was fine to use them in my everyday conversations, and instead of looking like a foreigner trying to learn English I ended up looking like an English scholar wanna be. (In the words of an English speaking friend: "Non natives tend to speak a more proper English than natives.") However, when I relaxed and "balanced" my English, I found out I could impress people explaining obscure words that showed up in movies, and could help native speakers with their English homework. My final thoughts: If you're trying to learn the "basics" of one language, stay off this method, but if you're hoping to achieve native level, work yourself down from the easiest to the hardest books. After all, natives are supposed to know all these "useless" words. 4 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| skeeterses Senior Member United States angelfire.com/games5Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6609 days ago 302 posts - 356 votes 1 sounds Speaks: English* Studies: Korean, Spanish | Message 5 of 23 10 September 2007 at 11:37pm | IP Logged | ||
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Children's words do come handy here and now. One of the things about getting up to fluency in a foreign language is that if you want to become fluent, then you need to do more than the basics like ordering a meal or asking for directions. And definately, you need to be able to talk about more than the everyday things like the weather or your job.
For instance, if you want to talk about your children or the kids that you may be teaching English to, then knowing some children words will help you talk about their interests and hobbies. Children's books will help you get there. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| CaitO'Ceallaigh Triglot Senior Member United States katiekelly.wordpress Joined 6848 days ago 795 posts - 829 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Russian Studies: Czech, German | Message 6 of 23 11 September 2007 at 9:48am | IP Logged | ||
Just out of curiosity, what are "children's words"? 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| reineke Senior Member United States https://learnalangua Joined 6438 days ago 851 posts - 1008 votes Studies: German | Message 7 of 23 11 September 2007 at 10:27am | IP Logged | ||
These are all very basic and necessary words that children's books drill very well. You'll find most of them in adult conversation (ballooning budget deficit, insignificant insect, monkey's uncle, go fly a kite, busy as a bee, I got stung by a bee, help me I'm dying...) Some children's books are more complicated reads than others. Edited by reineke on 11 September 2007 at 10:29am 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| edwin Triglot Senior Member Canada towerofconfusi&Registered users can see my Skype Name Joined 6455 days ago 160 posts - 183 votes 9 sounds Speaks: Cantonese*, English, Mandarin Studies: French, Spanish, Portuguese | Message 8 of 23 11 September 2007 at 10:49am | IP Logged | ||
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I am sure the words found in children's books would be useful somehow, in somewhere, under some circumstances. The same applies to law books and physics books. But I would rather start picking up vocabulary which seem to be more relevant to myself.
Given enough exposure, one would pick up vocabulary from all areas, not only children's books, law books, and physics books. I am not against the idea of reading children's books. I just think we can speed up the learning process a bit by reading more books belonging to your own age group, or those which interest you more (to some, these could be children's books). 1 person has voted this message useful |
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