Education
Fluency on the Fly: Language Learning Tips for Business Travelers
By
Sep 17, 2005, 16:50

(ARA) – When foreign news correspondent Dr. Bob Arnot travels to the world’s latest hot spot -- be it Iraq, Sudan, Afghanistan or the Congo -- he needs to learn the country’s language, and fast. How does he do it? With the same innovative program used by the U.S. State Department, NASA and millions of individuals in countries around the world.
Dr. Arnot frequently traveled the world as a medical correspondent for NBC and became a foreign journalist after 9/11. Without the luxury of spending arduous hours on conventional language-learning techniques, he sought a faster, easier and more convenient way of learning new languages “on the fly.” While on assignment in Iraq he discovered Rosetta Stone, an interactive CD-ROM language-learning program that replicates the way native speakers learn languages as children.

“I began using the Rosetta Stone Arabic program right there in Baghdad and was thrilled with the result,” says Arnot. “Since then I’ve purchased half a dozen languages and am currently studying Pashto for an upcoming trip to Afghanistan.” Dr. Arnot also appreciates the confidence gained from the one-on-one interaction and instant feedback he gets with Rosetta Stone programs.

While not everyone covers news in far-away countries, virtually all traveling professionals can benefit from speaking and truly interacting with local populations. Here are some tips for making that “leap to fluency” with a new language.

* Befriend a native speaker

While translators and tutors can be helpful, having a friend to engage in casual conversations can make the difference with an immediate, direct connection.

* Practice pronunciation

Few people learn to speak a new language through reading and memorization. Conversation requires mastery of the spoken language, including pronunciation. Rosetta Stone, using native speakers, develops natural, native pronunciation with immediate feedback every time you speak.

* Be fearless with opportunities to use what you know

The greatest obstacle to fluency is fear of making mistakes. But mistakes can be a great teacher, often allowing you to make a correction on the spot.

* Break study time into smaller chunks

Shorter, regular study periods yield greater results. Rosetta Stone, for example, offers language programs in progressive levels with incremental exercises that can be visited and revisited as busy schedules allow.

* Focus on your interests

Practice in settings and with topics that interest you. For example, rent a foreign movie to hear the sound of a new language.

* Maximize your language exposure

People fluent in more than one language will tell you that immersion is the key to success. By relying on sounds and images without English translation, Rosetta Stone’s programs provide a truly immersive setting.

Sample lessons of Rosetta Stone are available online at www.RosettaStone.com/ind/free_demo and at retail kiosks located in select malls and airports throughout the United States. A complete list of specialty retail locations is posted on the company’s Web site. To obtain more information or to purchase the program, call (800) 788-0822 or visit www.RosettaStone.com. Courtesy of ARA Content

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