MIT Academy of Engineering ’s Post

I am moving to an English-speaking country😱 . Any English language tips ? This is a question I frequently get from families, professionals, and students. Here are my suggestions for what to do once you've arrived: 1. Keep a record of your English: ✅ Jot down any expressions that confuse you in a notebook. ✅ Learn their meanings and use them in your conversations. 2. Get involved: ✅ Talk to neighbours, join a gym, sports centre, or a club, or enrol in a course. ✅ Leave your shyness behind. 3. Accept and respect cultural differences: ✅ Adopt appropriate eye contact, posture, and facial expressions to show your interest and engagement. 4. Be patient with yourself: ✅ Congratulations on being in the ideal environment to learn English! ✅ Take it slow. You'll be surprised at how fast your skills develop. 5. Create an English-only time and space at home every day: ✅ This method is a highly effective way to accelerate your learning. 6. Embrace mistakes: ✅ Learn from them, laugh about them, and above all, don’t let them deter you. 7. Actively listen: ✅ Pay close attention to local pronunciation and intonation. ✅ If something isn’t clear, don't hesitate to ask for an explanation. 8. Watch local media: ✅ Immerse yourself in the language by watching TV shows, movies, and news channels. ✅ This helps you understand cultural nuances and idiomatic expressions. 9. Don't use slang too soon: ✅ Wait until you've fully grasped the basics of the language. 10. Celebrate your culture: ✅ We are all global citizens, and locals are just as eager to learn about your culture as you are to learn from theirs. Some questions for you: To Native Speakers - What additional tips would you recommend? To Non-Native Speakers - What other language related concerns would you have? #english #esl #culture #language #hongkong #taiwan #china #singapore #learning #communication #expat #travel

I find it hilarious that an article talking about "hubris and arrogance"and the "self-centredness" of Japan, completely fails to realise that a foreign insight into how foreign languages are treated in Japan is peak hubris from the West. May I remind everyone*why* it is English is lingua franca? Did we all forget about colonialism? You know what's peak colonialist mentality? Calling a country that doesn't favour or welcome English as a main language "self-centred". It cannot be denied that the Japanese education system needs reworking but that's not because they need to speak better English. It's because it's currently physically and mentally debilitating *for*Japanese people. I also love the discussion on Japan's "failures" considering Western education systems have spent decades discouraging language learning and devaluing speakers of foreign languages. And also this from a *professor of culture*. Colonialism is systemic, means that people in positions of education and power perpetually reinforce the system precisely because they can't see past the ends of their noses. I speak as a Romanian-NZ academic of Japanese language and culture, who literally grew up being told about "all that's wrong with Japan", in a Western country that was exhibiting those very same behaviours of dismissal, self-centredness, hubris *and* a marked lack of interest or respect in other cultures...and upon leaving high school thinking this attitude was immaturity realised that the "attitude"is privilege+bias+and a healthy dose of colonialist mindset and that it was everywhere in the West. On an individual level far more people in Japan value my skills and are eager to learn about different languages and cultures, even if companies mostly offer salaries that should be considered illegal for the amount of work demanded. NZ also exploits immigrants so I'm not going to hold that against Japan. I will, however, hold articles like these against the people who really should know better.

Every year, I set myself a learning goal. Last year, it was to learn how to build a static site*. This year, I'm going to improve my Mandarin! My Mandarin fluency has always been a source of frustration for me. I'm more advanced than a beginner, but not advanced enough to watch Chinese dramas without subtitles. To make things worse (or, perhaps, more interesting), my Mandarin listening, speaking and reading skills vary widely. For example, my listening skills are at an intermediate level, but my speaking skills is slightly above beginner due to lack of practice. My reading skills? Probably at zero! I've always wanted to improve my Mandarin, but I just didn't know how. Once upon a time, I even took a HSK1 class thinking I could improve my Mandarin that way. It wasn't. Anyway, after spending half of 2023 researching strategies to improve my Mandarin fluency, I now have a plan in place, detailed in this post below. Learning Mandarin is useful eventhough I work in an MNC tech company where the primary language used is English. You can never know what that extra skill will bring you! * I need, to, however, fix my static website and pretty it up a bit lol. So more to do this year. #Languages #Mandarin #Chinese https://lnkd.in/gUHPc2W4

Chinese language proficiency contests held in Namibia - Xinhua: Chinese language proficiency contests held in Namibia  Xinhua

🌟 New Article Release on Southwest Journal: "English-Speaking Asian Countries: A Surprising Discovery!" 🌏 Dive into the Linguistic Landscape of Asia: Join me in exploring the fascinating world of language diversity with my latest article, "English-Speaking Asian Countries: A Surprising Discovery," featured on Southwest Journal. 🔍 Unexpected English Enclaves: Uncover the intriguing presence of English language in various Asian countries. This article sheds light on the historical, cultural, and economic factors that have shaped these unique linguistic environments. 🌐 Cultural Connections and Global Opportunities: Discover how English serves as a bridge between cultures and opens doors to global opportunities in these Asian countries. Whether you're a traveler, expat, or international businessperson, understanding these English-friendly destinations can be invaluable. 💼 Enhancing Business and Travel Experiences: Learn how English proficiency in these countries influences business relations, tourism, and day-to-day interactions. This insight is essential for anyone looking to connect, work, or explore in Asia. 📚 Your Guide to Navigating English in Asia: Don't miss this informative and eye-opening article for a comprehensive understanding of English's role in the Asian context. It's a must-read for linguists, travelers, and anyone interested in the global reach of the English language! 🔗 Read the full article here and discover the unique blend of languages shaping Asia today: English-Speaking Asian Countries: A Surprising Discovery. #LinguisticDiversity #EnglishInAsia #CulturalInsights #GlobalBusiness #TravelAsia #SouthwestJournal #LanguageExploration #EnglishLanguageGlobalImpact

Besides the ‘growing popularity’ of foreign languages, learning how to speak a foreign language fluently could also open you up to be more accepting of the culture and traditions of others. Which in turn can help you tap into opportunities for diversified business and educational pursuits in countries that have hitherto been out of your reach? So in this article, we’d be looking at the three benefits a foreign language could bring to your business and personal life.Forbes , Forbes Romania

If you're just starting your Mandarin journey and aiming for advanced proficiency, you've probably heard of the HSK, but do you know why it's essential and how its levels measure fluency? Our latest blog has all the answers, covering everything from structure to real-life applications. Explore the secrets of the HSK certification with us! Ready to take your Mandarin skills to the next level? Contact us to excel in your language journey! #Nihaoma #MandarinLearning #HSK #LanguageProficiency

Today is International Mother Language Day. The theme of the 2024 International Mother Language Day is "Multilingual education – a pillar of learning and intergenerational learning". A language is much more than just a way of communicating. Language, and particularly our mother tongue, is an important part of our culture. Some people even think that our language can change how we see the world. Nelson Mandela once said, "If you talk to a man in a language he understands, that goes to his head. If you talk to him in his language, that goes to his heart." At least 43 per cent of all languages are endangered, and fewer than 100 of the world's languages are used in the digital world. Most internet communication is in one of the following languages: English, Chinese Mandarin, Spanish, Arabic, Portuguese, Indonesian, Malayan, Japanese, Russian and German. But everyone has the right to use their own mother language, and to keep the memories, traditions and ways of thinking that their language represents.  And this is what International Mother Language Day is all about. #MotherLanguageDay #DiaLenguaMaterna #dagvandemoedertaal #alegretranslations

Thanks so much for writing this piece, Mark Vanhoenacker!

Loved this article and this advice from the author: "I think having clear expectations of when students can use translanguaging (i.e., during turn and talks, when they are taking notes, when they are doing interpretive reading or listening tasks) and when they are expected to use the target language (when they are doing a speaking assessment in the target language or when they are doing a writing assessment in the target language) can be helpful."