Image 4/22 for "Elly Otoguro"

As previously mentioned, Elly speaks quite a bit of Chinese and is currently studying hard at learning more of the lingo. This is a page from her note book. We talked about how important it was to actually speak and write newly learned grammar patterns and words.

I know of many folks out there who just stuff their brains with grammar patterns and words but when spoken to, they throw a blank because they are not used to speaking and need to rummage through their brain through all the words that they have been learning. Its like learning how to program PHP and not actually writing any code. Its also like learning about how to drive from a book but not actually drive.

By actually writing or speaking a language, the brain is able to process new words/grammar and slot them into areas for easy access the next time you encounter those terms. Folks who are learning Japanese for example could be writing a blog in hiragana at least. When learning Japanese back in London, I put a classified ad in the Japan Center looking for language exchange folks - made a few Japanese friends who I could speak to and in return I teach em a bit of English.

For folks who took up a second language to learn, how long did it take you to get to a comfortable level? Will talk more in depth of how I learned the lingo.