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In today's competitive world, it is not a surprise to see the marketplace inundated with self-improvement products. But did you know that learning a foreign language, such as French, is one of the most overlooked means to improve oneself in North America. And the interesting thing about this is that learning a language has so many benefits that it boggles the mind as to how we fail to see the obvious. We all have our reasons to learn how to speak French online but why not remind you of the obvious and the not so obvious reasons so that you can improve yourself by learning French and go beyond the workplace to enrich your life experiences and join our global community.
The first "obvious" is that second language learning is more of a cognitive than linguistic activity. Research shows that children who learn French, or any foreign language, out perform their non-foreign language-learning peers in verbal skills and in problem solving activities such as math. It also increases a child's critical thinking skills, creativity and flexibility of mind. Most of the people that speak more than one language, have acquired fluency from childhood. And haven't you noticed that their pronunciation is native-like pronunciation and intonation? But anyone, regardless of his or her age, can learn a language such as French and improve their cognitive skills because we all know that the single-most determining factors in achieving fluency in are desire and drive.
The second "obvious" is that learning French opens the doors to a new culture and hence new experiences. Yes, you can get a promotion or an increase in income if you speak French, not to mention, the admiration of your peers, friends and family. If you learn to speak French fluently, you will have the freedom to travel abroad and not feel imprisoned or alienated by your inability to communicate with the native French speakers. In this way you will be breaking the stereotype of a typical Anglophone tourist in Paris, for example, and be a welcomed citizen of the world.
The last "obvious" is not so obvious. Recent studies suggest that individuals who speak more that one language have a lower incidence of senility compared to individuals who speak only one language. Also one of the preventive measures for Alzheimer's is mental stimulation. What better way to exercise your brain than to learn French online at your convenience and on your own terms?
In whatever way you are improving yourself, whether it is mind, body or soul you will reap the benefits. So on you way to Yoga class or while you are going for a run or a walk with the dog, you should remember to bring your iPod with you and learn French and exercise your brain. It will not only be your brain that benefits but the 'whole' YOU and your life experiences. Do not forget the obvious. Learn to speak French fluently. Exercise your brain and change your life.
Culture shock is a perfectly normal but inevitable part of the adjustment process whenever a person enters a new culture. If you are going to spend more than a few weeks in any French-speaking country, with these 5 important forget-me-nots you can minimize the signs of culture shock such as the feeling of homesickness, frustration, alienation, resentment and anger to name a few, to help you through the phases of feeling comfortable when living abroad.
1. Communication Breakdown: You should learn French online simply because it is convenient and caters to the individual. Communication is paramount when it comes to getting to know and to feel more comfortable in your new surroundings. This is true for both adults and children. When you learn French fluently, you will be better able to deal with the day-to-day activities (your system of paying bills, shopping, getting medical help, dealing with transport, administrative affairs, etc) that are apart of daily living. You should also make a conscious effort to observe how French people communicate with each other, in this way you will learn French fast and feel less alienated and more connected.
2. Don't Know Much About History: You need to complement your French lessons by learning about the country, the people and their culture. By having some history in hand, France and the French will seem less foreign or threatening.
3. Monkey See, Monkey Do: In your environment you should try to mirror the behavior of the French people you want to get to know. For example, never assume that the social etiquette in the workplace among colleagues is the same at your job back home. Observe constantly and do not hesitate to ask questions about things you are not sure about, you will be appreciated more for being open to learning and respecting their social manners.
4. Time Is On Your Side: Give yourself time to observe and discover how the French themselves deal with the routines of daily living. No doubt there will be things you had back home you do not have here, especially your family and network of friends. But rest assured that when you return back to normal life at home, you will see how much you have gained from experiencing other ways of dealing with these necessities of life.
5. Birds Of A Feather Flock Together: Find comfort with fellow expatriates. Because expats have gone through the same process of adaptation, they can be a good source of advice and comfort to help you assimilate into the culture more quickly. You can find clubs and organizations in France, for example, where you can speak English or whatever other mother tongue you may have.
Learn French fluently and get the most out of the time you have there to accumulate memorable experiences and make life-long friends. It is obviously much easier to survive, adjust, and integrate into French society if you speak French. Do not forget these 5 tips and in time and with patience you will find your niche and culture shock will be less of a hindrance and only a small learning curve.