How to Learn a New Language with a Used Brain

by Lynn McBride

Forced to master a new language when she moved to Europe, American writer and editor Lynn McBride begin delving into the best methods and resources for language learning, gathering data from professors, programs, native speakers, and fellow language learners. This short, practical guide to tackling a new language the most effective way, and with the right tools, is the result of her efforts, and her conviction that foreign language study has surprising benefits for everyone. Written especially for adult learners from beginner to advanced levels who want to successfully learn a new language or revive a stalled effort, the book is upbeat, enthusiastic, and motivating. Included in the –A personal, tailored program for language learning. –Practical tips from other language teachers and learners. –A review of the best language learning resources available–many of them free–covering both traditional methods and the latest online resources for computers, tablets and smartphones. –Ways to make the program fun, and a part of daily life. The structured program in this book offers a great head start for anyone beginning or reviving a language learning effort.

Genres: Language, Nonfiction

102 pages, Paperback

First published May 8, 2013

About the author

When I moved to France ten years ago from Charleston, SC, perfecting my rusty college French became a major hurdle. When I started a blog about life in Burgundy called Southern Fried French (http://www.southernfriedfrench.com/), I discovered that many of my readers were struggling to learn a second language as well-–yet Europeans commonly speak two or more languages with ease. As a writer and editor, I began researching the topic and the result is my ebook, How to Learn a New Language with a Used Brain (http://www.amazon.com/Learn-Language-...).

I discovered there were many benefits to learning a language, beyond cultural enlightenment, self-improvement, and expanding travel opportunities. Language learning actually tunes up the brain and even helps prevent dementia. I also found that to succeed in learning a language, it‘s better if it’s a fun and sociable experience. This book arms language learners with a concrete plan, motivation, and lots of ideas to keep it fun and fresh.

Reviews

[Amy · Rating 3 out of 5]

This very short, practical guide to adult language learning had most of the advice I've read before, but with some new resources to try.

The author moved from the US to France some years ago, so the skew in the book is toward adult learners of French; though the techniques are applicable to any target language, the examples are French. The advice is not new: take a class, don't be afraid to talk, expose yourself to the language on television and print as often as possible, tune the radio to the language you're trying to learn, etc.

Some of the online resources were new to me, which made it worth the book to discover them. Because I already take a class, listen/watch television/read papers and books in my target language, the more advanced resources were very helpful to me toward my goal of getting from textbook to fluency.

This book can be easily read at one sitting, then kept by the computer to start looking up resources you may find helpful. It was encouraging to have the many stories of adults who have successfully added to their languages; if you plan to be one of them, this short read may help you as well.

[Jack · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a book I downloaded onto my Kindle for just a small price and I found some really good advice about language learning, from everything to how to immerse yourself to what resources you can use (all of which are recent to today's current technology due to it being published earlier this year.) I've definitely noted a lot of ones that I want to download onto my tablet. You can really tell that the author of this has a passion for language which shines through, and I love her quotes at the beginning of each section; they just give a further burst of motivation to keep giving it a go!

Although I think this is designed for older people who have maybe previously learnt a bit at school before giving up and now wanting/needing to start again, it's still suitable for anyone that wants to learn a language because the tips are really helpful. Therefore I would definitely recommend it - it's a short and cheap book to download but one that you will love :)

[John · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really excellent, practical guide to learning a second language. Though designed to give guidance to those middle-aged travellers who have left academia behind, the advice and tips would make learning a lot more useful and fun for younger students too. The origins are 'Anglophones in France' but the friendly casual approach is transferable to any language. The book stuffed full of contacts and references, easy to read and so cheap it is almost for free.

[Justin · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great book to give you a foot up into language learning. After being a student of Spanish for 3 years now I still was able to find many helpful tidbits of information I am going to incorporate into my learning journey.

It is a simple read and I recommend it to anyone who has some language learning experience or wants to start learning a language but doesn't know where to start. (All her stories have helped me to want to learn French as my next language.)

[Seawood · Rating 4 out of 5]

A quick and interesting read detailing the many different ways of learning a language. Personally I would add the Duolingo app to her list, which is great for getting you off the ground in a new language, ready to tackle books or a class with a little boost to your confidence. As McBride rightly says, confidence is the biggest barrier and following her tips should get you started.

[Norah · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is on my tablet which has gone away to be fixed so re-marking as 'to be read'

[Doug Lautzenheiser · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a quick read with lots of good information and language resources.