🎧Listening & Speaking 

Learning a Language

If you were asked: "Can you learn Russian well enough in 20 weeks to be able to manage your business trip to Russia without an interpreter?" you would probably answer: "Of course not!" And you would be absolutely correct! There is no conventional language training technique that can offer that kind of effectiveness. But by using the non-conventional LANGUAGE BRIDGE method you can prove to yourself and to others that You can learn Russian that fast and you will. It is not effortless but it works like magic. The technique uses elements of behavior modification to form the Russian language center in the brain area next to your native language center. We are all born with the ability to rapidly and effortlessly acquire any language. Children preserve this ability up to the age of twelve: if they come to a new country before 12 years of age they will speak the language of the new country without an accent. Adults lose this linguistic talent and think that this loss is irreversible because it is determined by our physiology. This is a misconception! 

Below I will explain the widespread misconceptions that lead adults in the wrong direction. It is possible to restore the talent to acquire languages if you follow the simple recommendations of the Language Bridge method, based on the latest discovery in the field of brain physiology. This discovery, published in Nature on July 10, 1997, was immediately noticed by the New York Times and was explained in more simple terms in the article: "When an Adult Adds a Language, It's One Brain, Two Systems" (By Sandra Blakeslee). This discovery means that the most common method of learning foreign languages should be dramatically changed because it is based on misconceptions, and that is why it is notoriously inefficient. Unfortunately, this discovery is still ignored by most linguists. It has a tremendous impact on our life since this discovery strongly suggests that to learn a foreign language effectively, one has to be given an instrument for cancelling the habit of subconscious translation into and from English so that one can form a new language center in his/her brain while acquiring a foreign language.

RUBRICS

Culture and communication

Discuss differences among customs and the joys and difficulties of living in a foreign country.

Impact of directness or indirectness of speech

Turn-taking norms within a culture

Orientation to power

Roles and relationships in face-to-face communication

Impact of non-verbal communication 

Challenges of living abroad

People are talking about moving to a foreign country. Would you have any of the same concerns?

One thing that I’d really miss is hanging out with my friends.

Something that I’d be worried about is the local food. I’m a pig eater.

Getting used to a different culture might be difficult at first.

I’d be worried about not knowing how to get around in a new city.

The people that I’d miss the most are my parents. We’re very close.

Not knowing the local customs is something that I’d be concerned about.

I’d be nervous about getting sick and not knowing how to explain my symptoms.

Communicating in a foreign country could be a challenge.

TRAVEL & CULTURE 

PRONUNCIATION Word stress in a sentence

Notice that the important words in a sentence have more stress.

Uruguay is a country that I’d like to live in. 

Speaking a foreign language is something I’d be anxious about. 

Trying new foods is something I’d be curious about. 

EXPRESSIONS Describing expectations 

• You’re supposed to... 

• You aren’t supposed to... 

• You’re expected to... 

• It’s the custom to... 

• It’s not acceptable to... 

Hotels are not supposed to charge you VAT, if you show proof of foreign residence. 

Taxis are more expensive at night, so you aren't expected to tip taxi drivers. 

In Uruguay, it's the custom to eat dinner late in the evening. 

It's quite acceptable to talk about politics, as well as soccer, of course.