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What is different about our products? Am I too old to learn a foreign language? What is different about our products? International Linguistics Corporation produces an extensive set of materials to acquire the foreign language, especially in Spanish, French, German, and English. It is not a beginning program that teaches a limited number of phrases. It is a full course of study. When purchasing language programs, we recommend that you examine the product to determine whether it is a beginning program or a full course of study. International Linguistics uses a large number of illustrations to enable the learner to think directly from picture to foreign language. Some language programs mix English and foreign words in the same sentence, preventing thinking in the foreign language. Translation decreases the ability to think in the foreign language, whereas the use of pictures increases the ability to think in the foreign language. International Linguistics employs native speakers of foreign languages so that you hear only authentic pronunciation. Some programs may not use native speakers. It is recommended that you inquire whether all the speakers are native speakers before you purchase a language program. Am I too old to learn a foreign language? The language programs developed by International Linguistics are appropriate for children and adults. Children as young as seven years of age and college adults find that they can learn under the same system of instruction. Some of the reasons why the material is appropriate for adults and children are explained below. It is generally believed that children acquire foreign languages more quickly than adults. There is a sufficient number of investigations to indicate that adults when given an immersion experience acquire a foreign language faster than children. However, the majority of adults after the age of puberty may have an accent whereas most young children do not have an accent. Several theories have been proposed to account for the fact that individuals who have acquired the second language before the age of about 12–14 years do not speak with an accent. The theories cite differences among adults and children in the growth and function of the brain. It has also been proposed that there is a difference between the language experience of children and adults. Children who acquire a second language at a young age usually have considerable experience in listening to utterances in the foreign language. In addition to having considerable more listening experience than adults, children, as they are learning a second language, are not placed into a position in which they must talk. As they are acquiring the second language they do little talking. They mostly listen. This period of time, usually six months to one year, is called the silent period. During the silent period, children listen carefully to the meaning of the sentences and to how words are pronounced. When they begin to talk, they have largely mastered the basic fundamentals of the language. Adults often take a conversation class because it is believed that conversational practice enables an individual to acquire a foreign language. However, conversational practice is only useful after an excellent understanding of the foreign language has been acquired. Conversational classes will not enable you to acquire a foreign language because the language you hear is from other students who make many mistakes in pronunciation and speak sentences incorrectly. It is much better to hear a native speaker speak, then, you will hear the correct pronunciation and correct use of sentences. For this reason audio recording, self-study classes can be more valuable than classroom instruction. With audio recordings you hear the sentences said over and over. Most important, if you understand about 90% that is said on the recordings, as you move through the material, you are learning to understand and think in the foreign language. Listening comprehension first, speaking second has provided a model for the language lessons developed by International Linguistics Corporation. It is similar to the way you learned your native language. You listened, absorbed the meaning, and later talked. Talking requires a considerable amount of understanding. Before you can talk, you must understand a large number of words and expressions. By listening and understanding you will acquire a second language.
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