This article is a continuation of yesterday's "Learn A Language To Increase Your IQ" post.
In that article I revealed how and why learning a second or even third language can increase your IQ and general cognitive functions.
Yesterday I told you about how I'm learning Chinese at the moment. In this article I will tell you exactly how I'm learning it, and also why.
Lately I have rekindled my passion for coding, I want to learn how to code for many reasons and there are many coding languages that I want to master.
At the moment I am learning the library languages of HTML5 and CSS, both of which are used in the developing and design of websites.
Last year I was learning Java and I am also lined up to learn some Python.
The first time you look at code, you're forgiven for wondering what all this gobledy gook in front of you is. It uses language that is at once familiar and obscure.
The concept of coding is also something that can cause great confusion for the novice developer.
Objects, statements, callers, and identifiers have meanings that deviate from the actual meanings of the words.
Add to that the fact that coding anything is a slow and laborious task, and you start to wonder why anybody would want to do this in the first place.
The fact is, I not only love messing about with code and seeing what it can do. I also want to "future proof" myself, and I believe that learning to code will help me do that.
Around two years ago I had a job which meant that I had to ring Germany each day.
The beauty about speaking to the Germans; especially in a business setting, is that most of them can speak near perfect English.
However I felt that the job presented the perfect opportunity to brush up on my school-level German. If not for the sole fact that you tend to get more respect from native speakers if you at least make an effort with their language.
So I set to it, I fired up my app and took German lessons everyday. Each day I would try and incorporate what I had learned into the actual conversations I was having.
My German improved no end, and I enjoyed learning it immensely.
However I noticed an interesting byproduct, my Spanish which I had felt had been severely neglected of late, improved.
I noticed one day when I had to call Spain, and my vocabulary was simply better than I expected.
It turns out that, without taking any brush up lessons, I had remembered previously forgotten phrases, grammar and rules in general.
I realised that this was because I had been learning German, and I was basically working out the "muscle" that allowed me to comprehend language.
Whilst I saw the synergy between European languages, it got me thinking about what other skills that a person might learn, that would translate into a completely different area.
I forgot about this train of thought until fairly recently. I realised that trying to learn an impenetrable machine language, why not learn a human language that was similarly impossible.
That's when I started to gain an interest in learning the Chinese dialect of Mandarin.
Now anytime I want to dive into new code, I try and do at least ten minutes of Chinese beforehand, and lo and behold; it works!
These days there are many routes to learn any given skill that interests you, and language is no different.
The technique you use to learn will largely depend on your reasons for learning it in the first place. For instance if you are about to move to a new country. Then your methods will be much more rigorous than somebody learning the same language for a two week holiday.
I personally prefer the app approach, that way you can completely control your pace of learning, and you can go back to earlier lessons with ease.
The app I use for European languages is Duolingo, I like this app for several reasons.
The functionality of the language it teaches you is high. I once downloaded a Chinese language app, and among the first lessons was exactly how to address your ex boyfriend at his wedding.
Duolingo teaches you stuff you'll actually need to say if you go and visit that country. Also I like the way it structures the lessons in a hierarchical way.
Add to that, it connects to your microphone and gives you pronunciation lessons. Best of all, it's completely free and so you can get up to a decent level for zero fiscal outlay.
I would definitely use duolingo if I was going on holiday to a country whereby I didn't speak the language. However if I was going to move somewhere permanently then I may want something more intense.
There are a plethora of teachers out there, selling their CDs or allowing you to connect to them online, I will mention just two here.
Verbling is a service that I've used to improve my Spanish from intermediate to expert. However I must warn you, it isn't cheap. It is €24 per hour, with a discount if you bulk-buy 10 hours.
For that €24 you get to speak with a native speaker for an hour via Skype. These lessons are great as you get to speak whatever language you're learning for a whole uninterrupted hour.
The second one I haven't actually used, this was recommended to me by a friend who has recently sold up and moved to France.
On my recommendation she used Duolingo for awhile, however, she felt she needed something more in-depth.
So she bought Michelle Tomas's CD, and she is over the moon with it, and she feel's like she is making real progress with her French.
Lastly I'm going to leave you with my favourite app of the moment. Hello Chinese is an excellent Mandarin app.
For quite sometime I have been interested in attempting to learn Chinese. I love the sound of Mandarin, and the seemingly impenetrable nature of it appeals to me as well.
As I mentioned earlier, I had one Chinese app which taught me some very bizarre phrases. However with Hello Chinese, I can already count from 1-99, say very basic things about myself, family, food and other interests, and understand simple questions about those things.
I have had the app for a few months now, and have recently stepped up the amount I'm doing each day.
The beauty about this app is it teaches you how to write as well. So slowly but surely, I am beginning to learn Chinese characters.
Understanding written text is crucial to deciphering any language, so I'm glad that Hello Chinese has a writing element within the program.
All in all I'm happy, I feel that I am actually learning Chinese, while at the same time learning to code; both things are making me a better communicator.
PS: I also thought the logo for Hello Chinese was a bit racist, however I then discovered it was made by Chinese people, so I guess it's OK!
When I have understanding of man, I will have understanding of computers;
when I have understanding of computers; I! Will be the Supreme Being! Ultimate Evil - Time Bandits
HAVE YOU DISCOVERED A LEARNING PAIR? WHAT TWO THINGS (OR MORE) DO YOU BELIEVE CAN BE LEARNED TOGETHER FOR MUTUAL BENEFIT? AS EVER, LET ME KNOW BELOW!
