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4myfriends
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A Beginner's Guide to Learning French: Part 7

Brain Training

Do you think that all Todai students can speak English? The answer is, "NO". Even among Todai students there are some who can't speak English. But given that you have to learn thousands of English words and master English grammar before you can enter Todai, how can this be the case? The answer lies in the mysteries of the brain. This area is still being researched, but it appears that people who can speak both Japanese and English, use one part of the brain when they speak in English, and another part of the brain when they speak in Japanese. Whereas in the case of those Todai students who can't speak English, the same part of the brain is being used for both languages. In other words, they use Japanese logic to understand English. You can say the same thing about French. The part of the brain being used should be different when you use French and when you use Japanese. Using the same part increases the amount of extra work being done by the brain.

So, how do you go about developing the brain? Well, this involves a bit of "muscle training" for the brain, and requires the body being made to remember things bit by bit. For example, when you hear the phrase, "I love you", do you understand it by translating "I" into" 私", "love" into "愛している" and "you" into "あなた"? I think that most people would probably understand "I love you" just as it is. "I love you" has become so normalized that there is no need to translate it within the brain, which is the ideal situation.

How long do you think it takes to translate an ordinary word or phrase? For example take the French word for 75, "soixante-quinze ". It's long, isn't it? An absolute beginner in French takes about 15 seconds to process the number 75. So, for example, it would take up to 15 seconds to recall "soixante-quinze" if it appeared in the middle of a conversation. Not something you're really going to be be able to use, is it?! In an actual conversation, if you can't comprehend soixante-quinze in under a second, the conversation is not going to go anywhere. In order to cut the 15-second recall time down to 5 seconds, you need to repeat it over and over again in your head. If you can get it down to 5 seconds, next work on reciting it over and over again until you get it down to within 3 seconds. This is training for the brain. The time it takes to remember the meaning of words will have an impact on all the words you learn from now on. If it takes you 5 seconds to comprehend the word "manger" when it is said to you, it's not something you're going to be able to use. While you're busy recalling it, the person you are speaking to will have already moved onto another word. You need to be able to recall it within 0.5 of a second. Brain training involves striving to cut down the recall time of a range of words. Just as you do with the phrase "I love you", you can gradually come to comprehend French in an instant without having to translate it into into Japanese .

Recordings

  • A Beginner's Guide to Learning French: Part 7 ( recorded by JabberVox ), North American Standard

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    A Beginner's Guide to Learning French: Part 7

    Brain Training

    Do you think that all Todai students can speak English? The answer is, "NO". Even among Todai students there are some who can't speak English. But given that you have to learn thousands of English words and master English grammar before you can enter Todai, how can this be the case? The answer lies in the mysteries of the brain. This area is still being researched, but it appears that people who can speak both Japanese and English, use one part of the brain when they speak in English, and another part of the brain when they speak in Japanese. Whereas in the case of those Todai students who can't speak English, the same part of the brain is being used for both languages. In other words, they use Japanese logic to understand English. You can say the same thing about French. The part of the brain being used should be different when you use French and when you use Japanese. Using the same part increases the amount of extra work being done by the brain.

    So, how do you go about developing the brain? Well, this involves a bit of "muscle training" for the brain, and requires the body being made to remember things bit by bit. For example, when you hear the phrase, "I love you", do you understand it by translating "I" into" 私", "love" into "愛している" and "you" into "あなた"? I think that most people would probably understand "I love you" just as it is. "I love you" has become so normalized that there is no need to translate it within the brain, which is the ideal situation.

    How long do you think it takes to translate an ordinary word or phrase? For example take the French word for 75, "soixante-quinze ". It's long, isn't it? An absolute beginner in French takes about 15 seconds to process the number 75. So, for example, it would take up to 15 seconds to recall "soixante-quinze" if it appeared in the middle of a conversation. Not something you're really going to be be able to use, is it?! In an actual conversation, if you can't comprehend soixante-quinze in under a second, the conversation is not going to go anywhere. In order to cut the 15-second recall time down to 5 seconds, you need to repeat it over and over again in your head. If you can get it down to 5 seconds, next work on reciting it over and over again until you get it down to within 3 seconds. This is training for the brain. The time it takes to remember the meaning of words will have an impact on all the words you learn from now on. If it takes you 5 seconds to comprehend the word "manger" when it is said to you, it's not something you're going to be able to use. While you're busy recalling it, the person you are speaking to will have already moved onto another word. You need to be able to recall it within 0.5 of a second. Brain training involves striving to cut down the recall time of a range of words. Just as you do with the phrase "I love you", you can gradually come to comprehend French in an instant without having to translate it into into Japanese .

  • A Beginner's Guide to Learning French: Part 7 ( recorded by 4myfriends ), Australian

    Download Unlock

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