Google Alerts as a language learning tool

Google Alerts, according to its Web site, are "email updates of the latest relevant Google results (web, news, etc.) based on your choice of query or topic". See the link below for a complete description.

http://www.google.com/alerts

This little free tool can be useful for language studies. You can, for example, create alerts for terms like "language learning", "Spanish language" or "learn German for free". The Web sites or blogs contained in these email alerts may include tidbits of your target language like "word of the day" or language learning products that might suit your needs. One of the alerts I received included a video that taught me some vocabulary in Spanish about sexuality, for example.

The small important differences between sounds

Many who learn English as a second language find it hard to distinguish between the words "live" and "leave" in speech. Likewise, Spanish learners tend to confuse the "t" sound with the "d" sound which, according to some native Spanish speakers, are noticeably different. To avoid misunderstanding and to acquire the best possible pronunciation and accent, I recommend the following:

1. Imitate the pronunciation carefully as soon as you start learning a foreign language. (See this FAQ for more information.)
2. When practicing speaking in your target language, ask your language exchange partners to correct your pronunciations.
3. Improve listening comprehension so that you can learn more from native speakers.

It is difficult to speak a foreign language with a completely native accent, but the above techniques can help you get closer.

Studying vs. retention

When I first tried to practice Spanish after finishing the Assimil self-study course (El Nuevo Español Sin Esfuerzo or Spanish with Ease), I encountered my share of difficulties. One of them was that there were many words, including some rather basic ones, which I didn't know when I tried to read Spanish texts on the Internet.

I was almost stupid enough to believe that the course was inadequate. However, realizing I had always been forgetful, I went through some of the lessons again and found that many of these words have been introduced in the course, perhaps even several times. The problem was that I didn't remember them.

Simply going through certain materials, like reading an article or hearing them on television, does not ensure retention. In the case of vocabulary, it is important to employ some method, like flashcards, to avoid forgetting everything. You many prefer other methods, such as jotting them down on a notebook or through electronic means, but there has to be some way to enhance your memory. This applies not only to lessons in a self-study course, but also things you learn during classes and when you're practicing in a native environment.