Difficulties in Language Learning

While Duolingo and Rosetta Stone can be helpful in their own respect, language-learning strategies differ from language to language, and gaining access to diverse teaching approaches as well as practice with native speakers is imperative to success in learning. Memory strategies and language learning can only go so far in a bubble, and those who truly wish to expand their lexicon in multiple languages (and speak as a native) must immerse themselves in that language’s culture, history, and current dialogue. The best way to do this is to have regular conversations with native speakers during lessons until comfortable with basic discussion. Students without access to these learning strategies will often find themselves lacking true fluency, further reiterating the need for real-world application and regular practice. 

As mentioned, some languages are created through entirely different means, meaning hopping from one to the other can be far more difficult. It’s easier for an Italian speaker to learn Spanish than it is for a German speaker to learn Mandarin or Arabic. For this reason, different languages take different approaches, especially depending on the student’s native language. This is why self-directed language learning often falls short on the list of language-learning methods. In reality, flash-card and memorization tactics can only go so far.

One of the issues with memorization is the lack of implementation; one might be able to identify key phrases but not connect them to form basic thoughts. One might conceive the definitions behind words but not understand them in context within a sentence. This is why learning a language can be so difficult; not only does a student have to learn their vocabulary but, just as the language they learned growing up, they need to practice in conversation and communicate daily in that language. 

Another aspect of language learning that many find difficult is the lack of prior experience. Although many countries around the world enjoy a multilingual society, fluency in multiple languages isn’t global. For instance, most Americans speak a single language. When one can only think and speak in a singular language, learning a second can be difficult. Multilingual people often learn new languages easier than monolingual people, and that’s because their mind has been trained to comprehend differences in languages, so pivoting to new concepts surrounding grammar and syntax is far easier for their comprehension.

Progress in Language Education

New programs for language learning offer a self-directed approach that has become available to the masses. For some, this approach is extremely helpful, and many have enjoyed the benefits of online language programs. These programs often take the process of memorization and shift it toward application, starting off students with vocabulary lessons that eventually transfer to conversations with native speakers. Although language courses like these have helped mold the landscape of language learning in the past 20 years, many struggle to reach proficient levels. 

Globalism has contributed greatly to the necessity of language learning, and as cultures continue to communicate on greater levels, so will the need for multilingual speakers throughout societies. For instance, Spanish has taken center stage in America within the past 20 years due to demographic change, the internet, and cultural shifts. With so many Spanish speakers in a predominantly English-speaking country, the need for translators and language educators has risen. This isn’t an American phenomenon; across the globe, cultural exchange has ramped up, and second-language acquisition has become vital to progress in our modern age. 

Language Learning at Gale

Gale supplies educators, students, and researchers with invaluable teaching materials. When it comes to language learning, a strong foundation is important for the road to proficiency. Everyone has a different learning process, and that’s why it’s vital to create a selection that encompasses every style of learning—allowing potential multilingual aspirations to come to fruition with detailed and vibrant lessons that improve grammar and pave a foundation for conversational ability. 

Gale supplements support in language learning using flexible lessons and teaching materials, allowing each learner to further their skills in a foreign language. These lessons optimize language learning, so each student can engage with cross-cultural content that promotes both an understanding of the language and its respective culture. 

Promoting Better Language Learning with Gale Courses

Gale provides nearly 360 instructor-led online courses, supplementing libraries with accessible learning opportunities for community members. Gale Courses involves six-week courses, with two lessons offered per week, paving a path for supplementary learning opportunities in technology, professional development, and personal enrichment.  

These 24/7 courses are taught by college professors, and new six-week-long courses begin each month. Curriculum is enhanced with videos, games, and images—supporting a variety of learning styles and assisting a self-paced learning environment with one-on-one student-instructor engagement as well as weekly discussion boards. From expanding skills in communication, marketing, and manufacturing to technology, art, health and wellness, and everything in between, these courses instill crucial support for students at any point in their academic career. The approximately dozen language classes found in Gale Courses support all kinds of learning styles with interactive and interdisciplinary materials, allowing consistent practice and familiarity with a new language and ample opportunity to improve proficiency levels at every turn. 

Polish Professional and Academic Skills with Udemy

Gale Presents: Udemy supplies accessible learning for required skills—giving academics, professionals, and lifelong learners the chance to hone their abilities and grow in their field. These video courses are taught by world-class instructors and contain 75 categories surrounding business, design, technology, language learning, and more. Content is consistently fresh and replaced with new material monthly, with over 65 percent of the collection entirely updated in the last two years. 

These courses aid in learning a new topic or skill in a learner’s native language, driving efficiency for aspiring language learners, with access to 13 different languages taught by native speakers. 

Gale Presents: Udemy offers hundreds of language-learning courses, including test preparation for the IELTS and TOEFL tests. With languages like Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Italian, Chinese, and Arabic, these courses allow for a flexible approach and the ability to select specific content and professors that best reflect the user’s needs. This can range from learning preferences and styles to topic choice, levels, duration, and more. Smart recommendations also aid the user, personalizing each experience with relevant suggestions for new activities. Tools like this allow learners to focus on specific needs, uplifting individuals everywhere with the education they need throughout their learning process to move forward in their careers, research, and interests. 

Expanding Childhood Education with Miss Humblebee's Academy

Perhaps one of the most integral moments in time to learn a new language is during childhood. Children greatly benefit from a second language, and metacognitive and proficiency learning can do wonders for growth. To learn a new language, children need access to the latest language-learning methods and strategies. 

Gale Presents: Miss Humblebee's Academy supplies an intuitive, interactive academic tool to prepare children ages three to six for kindergarten. Hundreds of lessons encompass all academic areas, providing assessments and progress reports throughout to measure each student’s progress and proficiency. 

The extracurricular learning tool offers supplemental content in Spanish, with a multilanguage learning experience that includes printable worksheets and materials, eBooks, and teacher-led videos with Spanish subtitles.

These lessons are informed and created by concepts based on Head Start Child Development, the National Association for the Education of Young Children, the U.S. Department of Education, and other academic organizations. Lessons are interdisciplinary and include various approaches to learning, like sound, video, visual cues, and more. 

Gale Presents: Miss Humblebee’s Academy creates a learning environment in which students can learn on the go and stay focused on subject matters with engaging material. Each child builds a foundation of knowledge, moving onto the next learning objective as they master each lesson. Every student is also assessed prior to beginning lessons, ensuring they start at a level that’s tailored to their needs. Parents can measure success through progress and performance reports, and can access the program through phones, iPads, tablets, and computers and laptops.