Ever tried learning a language by watching music videos?

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Ever tried learning a language by watching music videos?
Youngsters are picking up languages through apps and speech recognition technology

Youngsters are picking up languages through apps and speech recognition technology Youngsters are picking up languages through apps and speech recognition technology

By Rachel Dawson

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Published: Mon 11 Dec 2017, 3:18 PM

Last updated: Mon 11 Dec 2017, 7:16 PM

Bill Gates recently expressed regret at his failure to study a second language. At a Reddit Ask Me Anything (AMA) session, the Microsoft co-founder voiced his desire to learn French, Arabic or Chinese, and highlighted the importance of investing time in acquiring a new tongue. Linguists around the world nodded their heads in agreement with the philanthropist.
Today, being bilingual goes beyond a hobby - it qualifies as a valuable job asset. The mention of fluency in Arabic or French adds weight to a resume. It also pays big bucks. According to Salary.com, employees with a specialisation in more than one language earn 5 to 20 percent more than the position's base rate.
Technology has enhanced how a language can be acquired. Today, we have speech comparison tools and virtual peers onboard that provide an immersive experience in the comfort of your living room. This is in addition to formal online classes and apps. 
A review by Edtech reveals that the past few years have seen a spike in the language learning techniques available around the world. 
Hear it from the young linguists
"An interest in languages is part of who I am," says Alyazya, student, American University of Sharjah, majoring in International Relations and Journalism with a minor in English Literature and English-Arabic Translation. "In addition to constantly participating in programmes that improve my Arabic and English language skills, I'm fond of most languages I come across and often face a dilemma over which one to prioritise." Having learned beginner's level French for four years at school, she is keen to master it with formal classes; she says, "It is a craving I need to satisfy."
Alyazya is also interested in learning Japanese, Korean, and Hebrew. She attributes her interest in these countries and their respective cultures to the growth in their entertainment industries. "Both countries have rich cultures very different from ours and the West. The most attractive feature of both Japanese and Korean is their distinction between formal and informal language. This speaks volumes about their cultures." Grace Royal, a Dubai-based student, shares similar views. "Despite my mother tongue being English, over the past few years, I've learned Japanese, French, Spanish, and Arabic. Learning a new language helps develop my communication skills and allows me to experience the world in a different manner."
The tools in vogue
Alyazya says: "Currently, I'm using DuoLingo to learn French. The free app allows me to strengthen my vocabulary, grammar, and sentence structure. I've learned words and phrases, and how to pronounce them correctly; however, it does not develop my conversational skills." She prefers "to speak to someone who's fluent in the language rather than speak into a phone."
Elaborating on the benefits of this top-ranking app, she shares, "The beauty of this linguistic app is that it allows you to pick up from where you left off. This allows me to strengthen my skills before moving on. It is not a substitute for a traditional class setting, but a good starting point. However, I feel it will be a helpful learning device outside of class and stress-free when I begin learning Japanese."
There are other ways to learn a new language besides downloading an app. Let's look at some of the popular language learning trends amongst youngsters today. 
Binge on foreign films
Movies with subtitles in your native language provide a hands-on experience with the sounds, patterns and rhythm of the language and gives a feel of the language in question. This form of edutainment provides for a rich source of study material. If you're interested in Spanish, films like Tres Metros Sobre el Cielo (Three Meters Above Heaven) and El Carro (the Car) have easy plots for beginners to follow. For more complex Spanish sentence construction, there's Como Agua Para Chocolate (Like Water for Chocolate). If you're interested in French, starting with classic films like La Marche de l'empereur (March of the Penguins), Banlieue 13 and Les visiteurs is a good place.
Play a game in Spanish or Arabic
What's better than learning a language in a gaming format? You get awarded points and badges with every new term you learn. A favourite game among language lovers to help absorb Spanish is KLOO; it comes with a setting that encourages mistakes with positive reinforcement. What's better is that this app allows you to challenge your buddies with linguistic face-offs. So, gear up!
Watch a Chinese or Japanese music video
Who would've ever thought that learning to converse with an entirely new set of vowels and vocabulary could be as fun and simple as watching music videos, movies trailers, news and inspiring speeches? FluentU is a website and app that brings literature to life with the inclusion of real-world multimedia.
Cook with a recipe in a second language
For the food enthusiasts out there, try a recipe tutorial or book in a foreign language. This way you'll learn the style of speaking and acquaint yourself with the terms in a recipe. What adds to the learning experience is the images, repetition of words and active engagement with the new vocabulary. This most definitely creates a memorable experience. 
Try speech recognition technology
Go beyond diction with apps like Babbel that help you focus on the more relevant aspects of the language. There are interactive dialogues and feedback available, and with speech recognition technology, you'll be on the right track - you don't just learn to read, but speak the language. The analogue way to do this is to find a bilingual friend to give you constructive criticism on your progress, help you to pronounce certain words, and provide valuable insights.
We're moving towards a future wherein more languages are in circulation - the techno-savvy generation of today is leading the way to a world that is truly global in scope.

"Television shows, movies, and music may contribute to learning more for some than others. I don't find them helpful past picking up on a few phrases here and there. This is because when it comes to Asian culture specifically, television and music do not communicate the ground reality even when it comes to spoken language. Nonetheless, I believe that these shows and music allow us to at least familiarise ourselves with the language."
- Alyazya, student, American University of Sharjah


 
 
 
Games and apps to learn a language 
MindSnacks
It provides for a mobile learning experience to learn Spanish, French, Italian, Japanese, German, Mandarin and Portuguese.
Busuu
This is a social network to learn a language. Made up of 70 million users, busuu comes with exercises to read, write and speak twelve different languages.
Babbel
This provides for a comprehensive learning system that brings together interactive online courses with state-of-the-art-technology to strengthen vocabulary.
Duolingo
Ranking as the world's most popular way to learn a language, this is a 100% free, fun and practical guide that will help you master most languages.
Memrise
With games, humorous chatbots and over 30,000 native speaker videos, this app will encourage you to learn with a community of native speakers.

"I have a few students who learn to speak Japanese after watching anime. It's heartening to see people transcend beyond the comforts of their own cultures."
- Elsa Ashish Thomas, assistant professor, Manipal University, Dubai
 


 
 
 
 
The question now really is - how do you plan to learn your next language? Tell us at letters@khaleejtimes.com


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