Speak Like a Native: Professional Secrets for Mastering Foreign Languages

Discount Price: $19.95

Customer Reviews:

Tips, tricks, and techniques for language mastery  [Posted on 2005-06-11]
Speak Like A Native: Professional Secrets For Mastering Foreign Languages by linquistic expert Michael D. Janich (who worked as a POW/MIA Investigation Team Lader and served as interpreter for official negotiations between American and Vietnamese delegations) is packed with tips, tricks, and techniques for language mastery as used by professionals. Part one covers how to get organized, including ten rules to follow such as "learn your own language well before you attempt to learn someone else's", "success is determined by the goals you set", and "there is no substitute for quality study materials". Part two offers twelve steps for developing a customized study plan tailored for one's goals. Part three offers a wide wealth of strategies and tips for optimizing one's language study, and making the most productive and efficient use of one's time. Black-and-white photographs illustrate this absolute "must-have" reference for not only foreign language students in schools and colleges, but also business travelers, diplomats, and others who need to assimilate new languages quickly and efficiently, or who are striving to reinforce and improve their command of a second language. Recommended!

Outstanding resource for ANY language learner... [Posted on 2007-05-17]
I have been studying languages (other than my native tongue) for about the last 10 years. I have never (until now) taken any structured classes, doing the studies all on my own. However, this is not recommended as I feel that a lot of what progress I have made could have been amplified by using a book like Janich's in order to structure my learning, and to focus my learning. There is no other book out there that I'm aware of that does such a good job of making SPECIFIC recommendations on how to get the most out of study time, setting priorities for yourself, and developing a course of study that will be efficient and show results.

If you're serious about learning ANY language, this book is a must.

Learn a Foreign Language [Posted on 2008-03-22]
This one of three books I have read about learning foreign languages, and by far this book is the best for the cost. The book contains practical and useful information for anyone interested in learning a foreign language. There is little fluff contained in this book, and the author stays on topic with personal experiences interspersed into the text. His experiences tend to drive home a point.

The author starts with how and why establishing goals for your target language is essential, and progresses to 50 tips used by language learners. The author used many of the tips to learn two languages -- Chinese-Mandarin, and Vietnamese.

This book makes no guarantees, and points out that learning a foreign language takes work. The author ensures the fledging language learner understands the fact that learning a language will require effort.

This book contains quality information for learning a foreign language, and the book is easy to read. Overall a quality buy for learning quality tips and tricks on improving your odds at effectively learning a foreign language. I highly recommend this book to anyone seeking to learn a foreign language!

Useful Ideas [Posted on 2008-06-01]
I found this book to be outstanding. It is divided into a series of topics that are subdivided into 1-2 page pointers on various aspects of language. The main utility is the author's clarity of thought that rubs off on the reader. I came up with many useful ideas that I'm not sure I would have come up with on my own, including purchasing a tape recorder to record your conversations with natives so that you can replay it later and think of better responses you could have made, or to practice translating conversations you were exposed to but didn't pick up everything the first time. His suggestion to create your own course of study because you will not find a perfect course anywhere was also spot on.

He covers beginning steps in a language to organization of your study materials to advanced techniques, and I found most of the information applicable to the language I am studying. Some of the advice only makes sense for particular languages, but it is still interesting to see the techniques. I definitely think the book will improve your language learning ability and I recommend it wholeheartedly. This book is really how to think about language, instead of actually on a language itself.

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