Where to learn a foreign language?

[Aanca]

Many people have learned a foreign language in their own country; others have learned a foreign language in the country in which it is spoken. Which is better? Give the advantages of each and support your view point.

In a word in which the interaction and communication among people has extended over the borders of a country, the learning of a foreign language is not only common but sometime a necessity. People learn it in different ways, some of them in their country, while others learn it in the country where the language is spoken.

For the people who learn a foreign language in their country it is easier to communicate and speak when they visit the country where the language is spoken. Moreover, the cultural shock is minimized; although the differences between two cultures are always present, he would not have to wary about the language; I think that a major difference between two cultures is the language and once this barrier is passed, the adaptation is easier. I remember now how I felt when I have visited Germany; I did not know the language, it was difficult when I went shopping and it happened that someone started to talk with me and I did not know how to respond or what that person wanted; it was embarrassing for me.

On the other hand, if someone learns a language in the country where it is spoken, he will learn it from a native speaker, with a good pronunciation, a good intonation and without an accent. Moreover, the learning process is much faster then in his country; here, all he hears is the foreign language and the willing of interaction and communication makes him to do his best and I would say that what he would learn in his country in a year, he learns it here in weeks. I will give now the example of me in Germany. Because I was so frustrated and willing to interact and communicate, I have started to learn the language and in a month I was able to understand it and to tell what I needed.

To summarize, although there are good reasons to learn a language in the country where it is spoken, I consider that the best way is to learn at least its basis in your country because otherwise the cultural shock is considerable and your frustration can appear.

TOEFL listening lectures: A lecture from a life sciences class (2)

[Kitosdad]

She's little, but she's damned good! :) :)

Kitos.
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