Video Review: How to learn any language in six months?

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Based on the TED talk video, Chris Lonsdale talks about the ways to learn a new language in just six months. He mentions the effectiveness of applying the 5 principles and 7 actions in learning a new language. The 5 principles, as shown in the figure below, priorities the need to focus on the language content and to use the language as a tool to converse from day 1, in which I feel is vital steps in picking up a new language. When we use the language to communicate daily, we have to understand the meaning of it too, as said in the Principle #3. Hence, the last two Principles (#4, #5) highlights the pyscho-psyiological matter, which means to make use of our facial muscles to pronounce new words which I strongly believe that it will help in improving pronunciations of a new language. 



The 7 actions that Chris Lonsdale discussed about are as shown in the figure below. I agree that these 7 actions, if practiced regularly, will make a person earn the ability to speak a new language within 6 months. We have to listen to the language a lot, be it from the people that converse in that language or from entertainment such as movies and songs. Then we should focus on understanding the meaning, which can be acquire by observing the body language of the person when they are speaking the language. Thirdly, we can start mixing the words we learned, as Chris Lonsdale said, it doesn't have to be perfect, as long as we can make it work and it is understandable. Then, we should focus on the core; basic words. See it as a tool box that is vital in speaking the language. Hence, we need to get a language parent that can guide us and so that we can copy the way they speak a certain word of the language. Finally, the last action that Lonsdale mentioned, to me, is the most important part as he said that we should direct connect words to mental images. Doing this, to me, is very useful in memorizing new words. Thus, I will try to apply the 5 principles and 7 actions in learning Chinese language.



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