Learn Japanse online - Konnichiwa Japón

Usually, some post come out talking about web pages to learn different languages online for free. You can also learn about the country where the language is spoken as well as their culture, history, gastronomy and so on. On this post we recommend a site to learn Japanese. If you want to find more sites to learn Japanese read our precvious post Learning Japanese - web pages.

Konnichiwa Japón is a non-profit-making site that promotes the Japanese culture and its language. The site is in Spanish. They try to teach Japanese in a fun way. The page has got resources for those who cannot attend regular classes in a language school, although, those who attend classes can also use these resources to reinforce their study of Japanese.

There ar e 50 lessons in the site. They start right from the beginning. So those who have no knowledge of Japanese can start learning it with Konnichiwa Japón. In addition, they got a section called Mundo Kanji where to learn the Japanese pictograms. Even thoguh, you'll notice that some lessons are still under construction.

Moreover, there's a blog where you can read news and comments about Japan, culture, technology, games, manga, anime... They write about diverse topics which are captivating for those who learn Japanese.

Finally, it is remarkable their video channel in Youtube with lessons. These lessons are presented by Yoshiyuki Kubo and William Ariasin an entertaining way. You can watch the introductory video bellow:



Links to Konnichiwa Japón

• Web: http://konnichiwajapon.com
• Blog: http://konnichiwajapon.com/news/
• YouTube:  http://www.youtube.com/user/konnichiwajapon

Practice and learn languages easily

If you want to make new native friends to learn and practice languages check out Babelan. There's also an area for private lessons, where teacher offer their seervices.

Language exchange with native speakers

First of all, if you want to exchange languages, you have to meet someone. Nowadays, thanks to internet this is not difficult. On the other hand, and not less important, the question is what to do when exchanging langagues. Probably, you might consider these points:

• You should find someone with a similar level to yours. Different levels could fail the exchange.
• Talk about common interests: hobbies, travels, culture, sports... Perhaps, you don't know the other's hobby. Although, asking and learning about it could become interesting for you.
• You can teach some grammar points, vocabulary, pronunciation and help solving some doubts.
• You may also exchange videos and articles that could engage your partner.
• It is also attractive to teach idioms and quotes.
• Correct your partner. Even though, not too much, not all the time. It could be boring and prevent fluency.
• In addition, everyone likes to talk about their countries, habits, people in their countries, popular gastronomy, history...

I hope these tips are a good starting point for you language exchange. If you want to share your suggestions and experiences, just post a comment below.

You can contact native speakers and make new friends from all around the world in Babelan. Check it out.

Documentaries in English

If you learn English, you probably know that there hundreds of sources on internet to listen to English audios and videos. For instace, BBC produces astonishing documentaries which are excellent. And those are great tools to listen to English.

Those who has got an intermediate level or higher and like science and technology will enjoy the documentaries recomended bellow. They are a fair way to improve the listening skills. One of them, 'Wonders of the Solar System', has captions in Spanish.

If you know more interesting videos or podcasts, please, post a comment and leave a link. On the other hand, if you want to meet native speakers and practice languages visit Babelan.


The Virtual Revolution (Web)

The Virtual Revolution is a British television documentary series presented by Aleks Krotoski, which began airing on BBC Two on 30 January 2010. A co-production between the BBC and the Open University, the series looks at the impact the World Wide Web has had since its inception 20 years ago.

Links to watch:
1. The Great Levelling?
2. Enemy of the State?
3. The Cost of Free
4. Homo Interneticus?

Wonders of the Solar System (Web)

Wonders of the Solar System is an award-winning 2010 television series co-produced by the BBC and Science Channel, and hosted by physicist Brian Cox. Wonders of the Solar System was first broadcast in the United Kingdom on BBC Two on 7 March 2010. The series comprises five episodes, each of which focuses on an aspect of the Solar System and features a 'wonder' relevant to the theme. The series was described as one of the most successful to appear on BBC Two in recent years.

Links to watch:
1. Empire of the Sun
2. Order out of Chaos
3. The Thin Blue Line
4. Dead or Alive
5. Aliens

Take advantage of your time learning a foreign language

Learning a foreign language is time consuming. Most of us think that we aren't able to learn because of lack of time. And, as you should know regarding languages, the more you study and practice the more you learn.

Problably, you could take advantage of your spare time. Espacially, when cummuting to work. People who live in large cities spend long hours during the day communting (by undergroud, train or bus) from home to work place.

There are different activities you can do. You can take your class notes and read them. Also, you can read books in your target language. In addition, if you have an eBook or smartphone you can listen and read.

There are some web pages that offer audio recordings with transcripts. Here, you can see some examples for Russian or for English. You should look for suitable recordings for your target language and level.

Then, upload the recordings and transcripts to your eBook or smartphone. During your communting you can listen and read the audios. Later at home, you can search new words and work the grammar points. This way you will improve your listening as well as your reading skills, your vocabulary and your grammar knowledge.

Everyday you could do it for 15 minutes on the train or bus. This, at the end of the month, could be about 5 or 6 hours of extra work. And this will help you to improve faster. Hence, take advantege fo your time... commuting.

Links

Babelan, you can meet people and practice your target language. Check it out.

Lyrics Gaps. A fun way to learn languages

Lyrics Gaps is a fun method to learn and improve languages through music and typing in song lyrics.

On Lyrics Gaps, there are different activities with music videos to practice different languages: karaokes, quizes and fill in the gaps exercices for different levels (beginner, intermediate and expert). With these activites you can improve your listening skills and broaden your vocabulary.

They have got, also, a community, where you can review and add exercises of your native tongue. In additon, there is a new functionality for teachers to create and costumized the exercices.

The languages that you can practice are: Catalan, Chinese, Danish, Dutch, English, French, German, Greek, Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese, Romanian, Russian, Spanish, Turkish and Urdu.

Links

If you want to meet people and practice languages visit: Babelan.

Study Tips: How can I improve my English?

Recently, I read a short but useful post with learning tips. Read the whole post here: Study Tips. There, you'll also find some related and interesting links.

In a nutshell, Melanie (an English teacher) states that:

Learning English takes a lot of time, patience and effort. It’s not always fun and easy! In order to improve your English, you need to make English a part of your life. Do something in English every day!

time + patience + effort = success

Links

If you want to meet people and practice languages visit: Babelan.

Kitabu. Book exchange site for language learners

As you know, Babelan.net is a community where you can meet native speakers and practice languages (language exchange). You can practice your speaking face to face, if you are in the same city, or virtualy (with skype, messenger, etc). Also, you can practice your wirting if you exchange language through a chat or e-mail.

There is another way of free exchange to learn and practice foreign languages. It's a new web page called Kitabu. And in a nutshell is a book exchange site for language learners.

How it works

It's pretty simple. If you have a book in good conditions, just fill in the form in the section "I have a book that you no longer need", and it will be collected.

And if you need a book that is available, you have to order it (in section "I want a book"). You'll just pay the shipping.

You can see that it is really easy. So far, there are books to learn English, French and German. And more will be added.

Reasons

There are different reasons to built a community like this that you can read here:

- Environmental: sharing books, save natural resources such as wood, save water and to prevent its pollution, save energy and prevent pollution.
- Collaborative consumption: there are books than you don't use any longer, but other people could take avantage of them.
- Economic: it's cheaper to share book than buying new ones.
- Convenience: you will receive at home the book your ordered.

Hence, If you like Kitabu join them and share its link: http://llibresidiomessegonama.wordpress.com

Language Exchange

If you want to practice, improve and exchange languages visit Babelan.