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How to get to fluency faster

  Tags: Fluency
 Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies Post Reply
77 messages over 10 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 ... 1 ... 9 10 Next >>
maestromap
Newbie
United States
Joined 6095 days ago

38 posts - 38 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 1 of 77
12 July 2008 at 10:30pm | IP Logged 
Which would help me reach fluency faster more FSI and FSI like courses, i.e. Pimsleur, Michel Thomas, or more emersion, i.e. reading & listening?

Michael
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Paul999
Newbie
Czech Republic
Joined 6082 days ago

12 posts - 14 votes
Speaks: English

 
 Message 2 of 77
13 July 2008 at 2:06am | IP Logged 
(Concerning fluency)

I am fan of "listening only approach" and it takes me to the stage when I am virtually fluent in English, but most importantly my listening comprehension is very good (one of the major problem that learners have)and I enjoy listening (It's extremely simple to do nothing and just listen ,isn't it ?)I like it, because I am able to understand well over 95 % of the information and my pronunciation is good (if I do say so myself)

I admit it. My weakness is vocabulary, I do not use "fancy" words and such:)

so, in my view, listening is better - if you can understand what is going on.
Of course, reading is also very important and I am certainly going to read more in English , but LATER...
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Emerald
Triglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
languagedabbler.blog
Joined 6273 days ago

316 posts - 340 votes 
Speaks: Hindi, Gujarati*, English
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 3 of 77
13 July 2008 at 4:42am | IP Logged 
I think it depends on your learning style.

As Paul999 mentioned, his listening skills are excellent. Mine on the other hand are not. If I am just listening to something, I always find somewhere for my eyes to wander, and something for my hands to do. I just cannot sit still and listen (at least not easily), so I prefer FSI, Pimsleur, MT type courses.


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Cainntear
Pentaglot
Senior Member
Scotland
linguafrankly.blogsp
Joined 6039 days ago

4399 posts - 7687 votes 
Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic
Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh

 
 Message 4 of 77
13 July 2008 at 9:30am | IP Logged 
You cannot acheive fluency by doing courses. You cannot acheive fluency by listening. You can only acheive fluency by engaging in conversation frequently.

If you can't find any Spanish speakers near you to speak to, use somewhere like polyglot-learn-language.com to set up a language exchange over Skype.

I wouldn't recommend either Pimsleur or FSI, but if you would describe yourself still as a beginner, I would very strongly recommend Michel Thomas (which is very clearly *not* FSI-like!) as a good way to prepare yourself for normal, general conversation rather than the highly specialised "exchanges" used in most language courses.
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maestromap
Newbie
United States
Joined 6095 days ago

38 posts - 38 votes
Speaks: English*
Studies: Spanish

 
 Message 5 of 77
13 July 2008 at 9:42am | IP Logged 
Thanks for the responses.

Out of curiosity what is Skype exactly and what does it do to your computer?

Michael
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LilleOSC
Senior Member
United States
lille.theoffside.comRegistered users can see my Skype Name
Joined 6719 days ago

545 posts - 546 votes 
4 sounds
Speaks: English*
Studies: French, Arabic (Written)

 
 Message 6 of 77
13 July 2008 at 10:24am | IP Logged 
Cainntear wrote:
You cannot acheive fluency by doing courses. You cannot acheive fluency by listening. You can
only acheive fluency by engaging in conversation frequently.

Actually, I think most people on this website achieved fluency by using several speaking courses and listening.

maestromap wrote:
Thanks for the responses.

Out of curiosity what is Skype exactly and what does it do to your computer?

Michael

A language exchange program that allows you to text, call, and talk with other users.
1 person has voted this message useful



Volte
Tetraglot
Senior Member
Switzerland
Joined 6467 days ago

4474 posts - 6726 votes 
Speaks: English*, Esperanto, German, Italian
Studies: French, Finnish, Mandarin, Japanese

 
 Message 7 of 77
13 July 2008 at 10:27am | IP Logged 
LilleOSC wrote:
Cainntear wrote:
You cannot acheive fluency by doing courses. You cannot acheive fluency by listening. You can
only acheive fluency by engaging in conversation frequently.

Actually, I think most people on this website achieved fluency by using several speaking courses and listening.


Really? I was of the impression that very few people achieved fluency without the aid of conversation. I've heard of some, but not many. What are you basing your statement on?



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