Language Learning Blog: What's New on the Walkabout Language Learning website?
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Jan 19, 2012
Read my lips: Speed up your language skills
I had an interesting conversation with a friend when I visited India. He explained that in India it is impolite to show your teeth too much when you speak. His mother had taught him this concept as a young child.
He commented that the people at work who spoke English the best were the ones who showed their teeth. If we can just get over our cultural training of keeping our lips covering our teeth, he explained, we can speak English so much better.
It was an interesting observation. I had never focused on watching the lips during a conversation.
Recent research suggests that the very best language learners -- infants -- do just that. Between six and twelve months, infants shift their gaze from the eyes to the lips to learn how their new language.
Isn't that interesting? Perhaps we as adult language learners can take a cue from the "experts" (the babies) and make sure that watching lips is a tool in our language learning arsenal. Check out the link below to read a summary of this research.
Click for more info
Nov 30, 2011
Because of my Grandfather
The language I would like to learn is Saulteaux, and I would love to learn Saulteaux because it's a part of my heritage. My grandpa could speak it fluently
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Nov 25, 2011
Italian Culture
I spent a year and a half in Italy. I loved it. I loved learning Italian and enjoying all of the culinary delights that Italy offers. I frequently ate
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Nov 9, 2011
Is learning a second language just for fun?
When you decide to learn a second language you will probably have an idea of why you are doing it. Here are more reasons to learn a second language.
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Oct 26, 2011
Language Lore: Culture and Language Stories
Welcome to our Language Lore page. This is the language and culture headquarters. Learn from on our expeditions; share your experiences.
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Oct 26, 2011
Love French Food? Love French Language? Now you can have it all
Researchers at Britain's Newcastle University have recently put a high-tech spin on practical language learning - they've created an interactive kitchen that keeps track of what its users are doing, as it uses the French language to guide them in preparing French cuisine.
Click for more info
Oct 25, 2011
This just in: Wheel "rediscovered"
One of my best experiences in a different culture was witnessing Solomon Islands villagers “rediscover” the wheel as they figured out how to import and
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Oct 22, 2011
Love this VW commercial
Ready for some language learning fun. Great gas mileage means lots of time for language learning.
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Oct 15, 2011
Reading: the Bread of Life
I just read an interesting article from the Jakarta Post. It points out a significant cultural difference between Indonesia and developed countries around
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Sep 24, 2011
Bit disappointed!
It wasn't the book I thought it was! For those having the specific focus of the book it might be of benefit but to me looking for somewhat broader principled
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Sep 24, 2011
A useful first guide to language learning
Despite its age (it was published in 1989), I found this book to be a useful addition to my collection on language learning. I like the fact that it's
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Sep 9, 2011
Free Courses: Talk like a local blueprint
Because you took the initiative to come here, I want to give you one of my free courses, a step-by-step blueprint to talking like a local in another language.
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Aug 25, 2011
Education
If you educate poor people, then they can learn manners and skills that can get them jobs. In this way, the poor families can be fed by at least one member
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Aug 5, 2011
Funny Dictionary
Funny definitions and mispronunciations from my kids: Rubberbam = Rubber-band -- Eli, age 2 Nigrating (rhymes with migrating) = Nigrating means sleeping
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Jun 27, 2011
What do you want to be when you grow up
The kindergarteners of South East Iowa speak up. The newspaper published the aspirations of Creston children and surrounding communities. Here are the
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Jun 21, 2011
A visit to the "meet" market
Just this morning Olivia, my eight-year-old, and I were at the grocery store. She noticed that a boy and his dad were following the same path through
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Jun 15, 2011
Kids Say the Darndest Things
In the late 1990’s, a TV show aired called Kids Say the darndest Things hosted by Bill Cosby. The premise of the show is that kids say funny things, and you can capture funny footage by asking children simple questions.
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Jun 10, 2011
Renée Zellweger
Claim to fame: American actress. Native language: English. Other languages: German. How learned: Family(?) I heard a story that she overheard some
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Jun 1, 2011
Poverty in India: A little TV tonight? Your shelter or mine?
Although there is a sizeable middle class, and some very wealthy people, poverty in India is an enormous problem. Driving through Delhi streets at midnight gives a glimpse of this level of destitutio
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May 30, 2011
Bilingual Celebrities
What do Monica Bellucci, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Kobe Bryant, Jennifer Connelly, and Will Smith have in common? They are all bilingual celebrities.
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May 14, 2011
The Time the I Got Hit by a Bus
Before I went to India, I heard the tourists in India are most often killed by buses. Not that tourists die all that often in India, but that is the greatest
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May 14, 2011
Havana, Cuba - Walking along the Prado
I was hooked the first time that I encountered a few Cubans in my native country of Canada. Their stories about life in Cuba attracted me and gave me
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Apr 28, 2011
Define language needs: Self-Rating Scale
You’re learning a foreign language. How will you define language needs? Rate your progress? Use this scale to measure your progress.
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Apr 6, 2011
Motivational Public Speaker - Leslie Woodford
Leslie Woodford helps individuals meet their language learning needs. As a motivational public speaker, she instructs a program to guide individuals wanting to learn language and gain cultural understanding.
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Feb 3, 2011
Book Leslie Woodford as a Speaker
Book Leslie Woodford. She helps individuals meet their language learning needs. As a motivational public speaker, she instructs a program to guide individuals wanting to learn language and gain cultural understanding.
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Jan 21, 2011
What Prisoners We Are to Our Past
Back in the 1960's, during the height of the cold war, I was in Kiev, the capitol of the Ukraine. At the time I was working for the United States government,
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Dec 21, 2010
Got a Hit of Air
Call them old wives tales urban legends, folklore, or superstitions, but every culture has some beliefs or stories passed from one generation to another.
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Nov 18, 2010
Medical Emergency in Ecuador
When a pregnant woman falls into a mud puddle, Molly who is particapting in a medical service project in Ecuador, becomes the woman's emergency responder.
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Nov 18, 2010
Travel Bulgaria Where Yes Means No and No Means Yes
Carrie expresses confusion in her travel Bulgaria where they nod their head when they mean yes, and shake it to mean no; its exactly the opposite from her American upbringing.
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Nov 18, 2010
Solomon Islands Culture: Big Feast in the Kwaio
Travel with Leslie to a remote village in the Solomon Islands. Taste of their cultural traditions and enjoy their feast laid on palm fronds on the ground.
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Oct 30, 2010
Throw those (under)pants out the window
Sometimes, even when you speak the same language, certain words have different meaning in different countries. The two stories below illustrate how these
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Sep 4, 2010
Siete Maravillas del Mundo: Místico Machu Picchu
Recien, Machu Picchu era nombrado una de las siete maravillas del mundo. Cuando Ann no pudo subir a majestuoso Wayna Picchu, tenia sus propias experiencias misticas en esta ciudad sagrada...
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Jun 9, 2010
Meet Leslie Woodford
Leslie Woodford brings the perspective of a child learner. As a grade schooler in the Solomon Islands, she learned Pijin from playmates. She is now teaching her toddler English and Spanish.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 123
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 122
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 111
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 110
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 109
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 5
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 4
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 3
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 1
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Excerpts page 2
Look at excerpts from the Whole World Guide to Language Learning.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Table of Contents page 3
See the Whole World Guide to Language Learning table of contents page ix.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Table of Contents page 2
See the Whole World Guide to Language Learning table of contents page viii.
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Jun 4, 2010
Whole World Guide Table of Contents page 1
See the Whole World Guide to Language Learning table of contents page vii.
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Jun 3, 2010
Language Learning Reviews: Whole World Guide
Read the critics' language learning reviews of Terry Marshall’s
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Jun 3, 2010
The Whole World Guide to Language Learning by Terry Marshall
The Whole World Guide to Language Learning teaches a self-directed language learning method. It is great for those living abroad, or anyone interested in learning a new language.
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Apr 22, 2010
Multicultural Education Resources
Browse an annotated bibliography of multicultural education resources and background information supporting Terry Marshalls' multicultural literature.
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Jan 16, 2010
Waiting for a Jewelry Buyer: Chela’s Story
Terry’s going shopping … well sort of. Today he’s watching for a jewelry buyer; he’s sitting in a vendor’s stall practicing Spanish and learning about tourism, politics, and handmade Peruvian jewelry.
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