LEARN OR IMPROVE YOUR ENGLISH ...FOR FREE!!

• Busuu es una gran herramienta para aprender idiomas (hasta 12 diferentes). Es una comunidad de nativos que intercambian conocimientos y también tienes unos 150 módulos por idioma aproximadamente para guiar tu aprendizaje paso a paso. Cuenta con aplicaciones para móviles y tabletas para que aproveches cualquier momento y tengas siempre a mano a la comunidad para salvar una duda o para ayudar a un compañero.
• British Council La web oficial del organismo que se encarga de desarrollar la cultura y educación británicas ofrece varios recursos para practicar su lengua: juegos, clases de gramática, tests para controlar el progreso, preparación para exámenes oficiales, desarrollo de vocabulario, consultas gramaticales, etc. Hay un amplio abanico de opciones (desde vídeos escenificando situaciones comunes como una entrevista de trabajo, hasta juegos para niños).
• Elllo: se centra principalmente en la comprensión y práctica oral del inglés. Encontrarás vídeos, textos y canciones para escuchar a gente de todo el mundo hablando en inglés sobre diferentes temas como deportes, viajes, juegos, etc. Bajo el reproductor de audio tenéis las transcripciones de lo que estéis oyendo.
• Live Mocha es una comunidad online en la cual puedes practicar un idioma extranjero (no sólo inglés), hablando con nativos. Hay que darse de alta con un perfil personal para poder interactuar y acceder a las distintas salas pro idioma e intereses.

• Fun Easy English: una web con amplísimos contenidos. Se basa en un canal de Youtube y vídeos explicativos. Hay mucha información y opciones para conocer las distintas versiones locales del inglés: australiano, británico, americano, por ejemplo.
• BBC. La web de la cadena BBC británica tiene un apartado especial para enseñar su idioma. Puedes aprender gramática, vocabulario, pronunciación, y además, puedes hacer un test y aprender también cómo enseñar inglés a otras personas. Se basa en archivos de audio (aunque hay muy buen material para oler y escribir) con cortas grabaciones en audio descargables en los formatos MP3 y PDF.
• Lang-8 es otra comunidad de nativos de diferentes idiomas que te ayudarán mejorar tu inglés. Se basa principalmente en el intercambio de texto, consultas y desarrollo y corrección textos por lo que te será de utilidad para leer y escribir con mayor exactitud. También hay que darse de alta, y puedes aportar tu granito de arena ayudando a otros con su español.
• Vocabsushi es una web que también te ayudará para conseguir mayor dominio del inglés (o de otros idiomas como el italiano, el alemán, el sueco o el turco). Se basa en listados de vocabularios de distintas temáticas. Puedes elegir cualquier palabra, comprender su significado, leer ejemplos, escuchar a hablantes, y luego realizar un test para comprobar si realmente te has aprendido el vocabulario.

Cada día surgen mas ejemplos como estos en la red. Herramientas gratuitas que están al alcance de la mano para aprender o mejorar tu nivel de inglés (o de otros idiomas). Como consideramos que dominar alguna lengua extranjera es una herramienta muy útil para el viajero (y para la vida diaria de cualquiera), queremos dejar aquí nuestro aporte para tu capacitación.

Are you a Good Language Learner?

TEST YOUR APTITUDE FOR LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE

Test your aptitude for language learning by doing this quiz, adapted from The Sunday Times Magazine. Write your answers on a piece of paper, then add up your scores to find out how good a language learner you are.

1. Learn the following Samoan words (Samoa is in the South Pacific):

toalua: husband
tamaloa: man
tamaitiiti: child
taulealea: youth
loomatua: old woman

Did you find this task

a)easy and fascinating?
b)very difficult?
c)not easy; the words look the same?
d)so boring you didn't even try?

2.Exhausted after swimming the river, Fred decided to get some sleep, but the booties made it impossible, and even the smoke from his camp fire didn't keep them away.

What is a booties?

a)a wild animal c) a kind of noise
b)a giant mosquito d) don't know

3.Someone asks you the way in very bad English. When he/she doesn't understand your reply, do you

a)say it again but louder?
b)get irritated and give up?
c)draw him/her a map?
d)find out if he/she speaks another language you know?

4.Here is a new language:

ek kum chuchu - the train is coming
ek namas chuchu - the train is very big
nek kum niva chuchu - the train isn't coming
ek chuchu - it's a train

How would you say 'It's not a train'?

a)nek chuchu niva
b)ek niva chuchu
c)nek niva chuchu
d)don't know

5.How many foreign languages can you greet someone in?

6.Your boss tells you that you have been chosen to go on a six-month course to learn a completely new language. Do you 

a)look for another job?
b)say they've chosen the wrong person?
c)worry a bit but reckon you'll cope?
d)long to get started?

7.You go to an evening class to learn a language. The class lasts two hours a week. List the sorts of practice you might do on your own at home.

8.How good are you at expressing yourself in your own language, both in speaking and in writing?

a)I can always put into words exactly what I want to say.
b)I don't know,
c)It depends on the situation.
d)People sometimes say I am not clear.

9.When did you last read a book for pleasure (in any language)?

a)yesterday
b)I can't remember.
c)last week
d)last month

10.Have you got

a) a bilingual dictionary (English into your language)?
b) a monolingual dictionary (English-English)? 
c) both a bilingual and a monolingual dictionary? 
d) no dictionary at all?

11.Read through this list of words, then write down as many of them as you can without looking.

pin church identify luxury accelerate carefully miscalculate occasional anxious knot daffodil impertinent

12.In one minute write a list of things you could do with a cabbage (apart from cooking or eating it).

13.In one minute write down as many reasons as you can why it might be useful to learn Eskimo.

14.Fill in the blank with one of the words below.

Shakucomespiteare isos wonone ovofef tehe wororolid's grematerest's wrinterners. Hehe
wasis---------onin Staratarafoorrd-inon-Aravont.

a) borotone c) shororit
b) bom d) don't know

15.What is your attitude to learning about British culture (arts, institutions, way of life)?

a)I'm not interested in the slightest. I just need to learn the language.
b)I'm interested a little bit. but only out of curiosity.
c)I'm very interested to find out about the people behind the language.

16.What do the following words in Samoan mean?

loomatua tamaitiiti tamaloa taulealea toalua

17.Are you male or female?

NOW CHECK YOUR ANSWERS
1. a; score 10 points, b: 4 c: 8 d: 0
Good language learners find words fairly easy, and aren't put off by the way they look.
2. a) 5 b: 10 c:0 d: 0
Good language learners are able to make imaginative guesses about the meaning of words.
3. a 0 b 0 c 10 d 8
Good language learners make the most of their skills, and manage to communicate in all sorts of unlikely situations.
4. a: 2 b: 2 C 10 d: 0
Good language learners are quick at seeing patterns in a foreign language. (Negative sentences in this language begin with 'nek'. The last word is always chuchu'.)
5. Two points for each language (dilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUM 10 points).
This question shows how interested you are in languages and communication.
6. a.0 b: 3 c:7 d: 10
Being scared stiff is obviously a bad sign.
7. Good language learners practise a lot on their own. Give yourself two points for each different activity you listed (e.g. listening to cassettes while driving, watching foreign language films on TV). dilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUM 10 points.
8. a: 4 b:0 c: 10 d: 7 
Good language learners think a lot about how they use language.
9. a: 10 b:0 c: 5 d: 2
Good language learners seem to read a lot. (It's a good way of increasing your vocabulary.)
10. a:5 b:8 c: 10 d.0
Good language learners have reference books and consult them regularly.
11. Less than 5, score 0. 6-8, score 5. More than 8. score 10. This test measures your short-term memory. Most people can remember 5 or 6 words out of the list.
12. A point for each idea (dilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUM 10). People who are very rigid in the way they see things tend not to be very good at learning languages. This is probably because they don't like being in situations they can't control.
13. Two points for each idea (dilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUMdilFORUM 10). An important factor in learning a language is motivation.
14. a: 10 b: 2 c:7 d:0
This question assesses how willing you are to take risks in a language you don't know well.
15. a:0 b: 5 c: 10
It is impossible to separate a language from its culture. Good language learners are open to other cultures and individuals, and this creates more opportunities for progress.
16. Two points for each word you got right. This question tests your memory again.
17. Females score ten. On the whole, women are better at languages.

AND FINALLY, INTERPRET YOUR SCORE

0-30 You think you are useless at languages, and can't see the point in trying. Don't give up! Keep at
it!

30—70 Learning a language is hard work for you, but you get there in the end. You probably had a bad experience at school. Just remember that most people in the world speak at least two languages, and lots speak four or five, so it can't be all that difficult, can it?

70— 100 You're an average sort of learner, not brilliant, but you manage. You're always willing to have a go. Surprisingly, it usually works, too! Add some systematic study to this, and a bit of practice, and you'll be able to cope in most situations. 100-140 You can probably get by in one or two languages already, and learning a new language holds no terror for you. Don't give up when you feel you're not making progress. A bit more confidence, and some concentrated practice, and you could easily start feeling really at home in your foreign language.

140-170 You are an outstanding language learner. You enjoy using words, and language is a constant source of delight for you. You don't learn a language to go on holiday - you enjoy going abroad because it gives you an excuse to learn another language!

DO YOU AGREE WITH IT?

Adapted from a quiz by Dr Paul Meara of Birkbeck College. London.

SELF-ASSESSMENT TO DISCOVER YOUR LEARNING NEEDS?

Use these interactive self-assessments to discover what you're good at and where you may have room for improvement. Identify the things that interest you and get some ideas about careers to explore.

Based on what you learn about yourself, you can pursue educational and career goals that bring long-term satisfaction.

• What Kind of Student Are You?

  Rate yourself on your study habits and in-class behaviors to see where you rank as a student.
• test here to find out

• What's Your Learning Style?

  Discover your learning style and find out how it influences the way you understand information and solve problems.
• find out here:

• Which Study Habits Can You Improve?

  Start by identifying the strengths and weaknesses in your current study habits.
• check here to know

Are you a Good Language Learner?

1.  Do you like working

a.  with other learners in pairs or groups? 

b.  on your own/alone?                

2.  During the lesson, are you usually  

a.  relaxed and comfortable?

b.  anxious and uncomfortable?            

3.  While speaking English, are you

a.  confident and relaxed?   

b.  inhibited & shy?             

4.Do you

a.  look for opportunities to use English in and out of class? or

b.  forget all about English when you leave school?     

 5. Do you

a.  prefer not to wory about grammar rules? or

b.  worry about grammar so much that you can’t speak?      

 6. Do you

a.  Keep a well-organised notebook from which you can revise easily? or

b.  often have to ask your friends for their notes?    

7.  Are you

a.  Aware of your own mistakes? or

b.  Unaware of your mistakes ?      

8.  Are you

a.  Able to notice others’ mistakes? or

b.  unable to spot them?              

9. Do you feel

a.  relaxed about making mistakes? or

b.  worried about making mistakes?        

 10. Do you

a.  recognise similarities and differences in language or

b.  is this difficult  for you?         

11. Do you learn better 

a.   by seeing words and pictures or

b.  by  listening to the language or is this a mystery to you

 12. How do you feel about learning English?

a.  You enjoy it  

b.  You hate  it

13.   Do you 

a.  enjoy participating in classroom activities or

b.  do you prefer to just watch and listen?        

14.   Do you prefer

a.  challenging activities or

b.  easier activities?      

15.   Do you prefer to

a.  experiment with language or

b.  repeat only sentences you were taught?         

16.   Are you 

a.  prepared to take risks or

b.  do you avoid  risks and prefer to be safe?       

17.   Are you 

a.  prepared to be playful and not serious or

b.  are you afraid of appearing foolish?            

18.   To understand a message do you feel

a.  Comfortable if you don’t know all the words or

b.  Uncomfortable unless you know all the words

19.    Do you attempt to communicate orally

a.  even if you don’t know every single word, or

b.  only when know all the words  

20.   Do you 

a.  feel comfortable in your new class or

b.  miss your previous teacher and fellow students?         

21.Are your feeling towards native English speakers

a.  a.positive?

b.  negative?

22.    Are you

a.  an adolescent/adult or

b.  a younger or very young learner?     

23.   Do you know if you are

 a. an analytical learner or 

 b. not sure of what type of learner you are?         

24.   Are you better at

a. listening orb. reading? 

———————————————————————————————————-

Your Score

Quite obviously, the more  a answers you have managed to collect, the closer you tend to be to the ideal profile of the Good Language Learner. Most Good Language Learners average a score of about 70%.  If you have scored more than 90%, well then, you are a rare creature indeed!

If you did not score high

If your score is less than the Good Learner average, identify the areas of difficulty and plan a course of action for yourself.

For instance, if you answered B for Question 23, make it a point of training yourself to be a better listener by listening to more tapes, switching regularly to watching English speaking TV  channels, You Tube videos and films, listening to TED talks on topics of interest.