The Language Learner Guidebook: Powerful Tools to Help You Conquer Any Language

Description

Most people fail to learn a language before they even begin. Want to know why? Go on a journey with Dr. Shane Dixon as he shares stories of successful and less successful language learners. Dr. Dixon will guide you to understand the scientific reasons for both failure and success. The Language Learner Guidebook, through the lens of cognitive science, language acquisition, and practical know-how, provides powerful tools to help you understand how successful learners actually learn a language. Did you know that you can go on language adventures in your own backyard? It’s true! You’ll be introduced to the language learner ecosystem, a powerful paradigm that will help you find and evaluate resources all around you. This book will invite you to join a growing world of modern language learners who understand that a powerful shift has occurred in language learning. Whether you travel to far off lands, or never leave the comfort of your home, you can harness the power of immersion. Dr. Dixon, with more than twenty years’ experience as a professional language trainer, will share his knowledge not only as a fellow language learner but as someone who has witnessed thousands of others go through the process of acquiring a language. Through stories and examples (and a useful workbook section in the back), this guidebook will allow you to take control of your own language learning by connecting you to strategies and resources that only a modern, immersive approach can provide. Foreword I. The Five Questions You Need to Ask Yourself 1. The Very First Thing You Need 2. Wafa’a 3. Outside the Lines: The Language Learning Ecosystem 3.5 Not Even a Chapter, Just a Slight Detour 4. Rosetta Stone is a Bowflex 5. Learning Smart, Not Hard 6. Making and Keeping Friendships 7. National Plans II. Explore 8. How Can Immersion Fail? 9. The Two Traps 10. The Ecosystem: Why? 11. The Ecosystem: What? 12. The Ecosystem: How? 12.5 Not Even a Chapter, Just a Free Offer III. Introspect 13. Innerspace 14. The Long and Short of Motivation 15. Going on Language Missions 16. Strategies for Better Introspection 16.5 Not Even a Chapter, Just Something Cool IV. Flexibility 17. Daisy 18. You Know Enough 19. Choosing 20. Prioritizing 21. Life Preserver Strategies V. Details 22. The Assumption of Equivalency 23. Who Learns Better? 24. Switch It Up 25. The Right Side of the Column 26. The Driver's Seat 27. Details of Self-directed Learning 27.5 Not Even a Chapter, Just a Thought VI. Meaning is Everything 28. Three Young Women 29. Learn a Little, Use it a Lot 30. Building Blocks 31. The Case for Fun 32. A Two-Track Mind 33.5 Not Even a Chapter, Just Some Advice Epilogue VII. Strategy Workbook Explore Strategy 1 Explore Strategy 2 Explore Strategy 3 Explore Strategy 4 Explore Strategy 5 Introspect Strategy 1 Introspect Strategy 2 Introspect Strategy 3 Introspect Strategy 4 Flexibility Strategy 1 Flexibility Strategy 2 Flexibility Strategy 3 Flexibility Strategy 4 Details Strategy 1 Details Strategy 2 Details Strategy 3 Meaning Strategy 1 Meaning Strategy 2 Meaning Strategy 3 References About the Author