First of all, did I want to express my deepest sympathies and,  offer my condolences  to the families of the hundreds of casualties left after the terrorist attacks in Paris. No excuse whatsoever justifies the use of such violence so as to make a point. Having been the most affected areas Saint Denis, where a soccer game was taking place; and Bataclan, where a rock concert was being held. Anyhow, let us just hope that the violence starts tapering off as more and more safety measures are taken by the authorities.

 

Anyhow, today I wanted to talk about how important it for language learners to interact with native speakers when learning a second language. For instance, in my case, only a few times do I hesitate to strike up a conversation with a tourist. Of course sometimes, one needs to momentarily scrutinize the people you are going to speak to. Albeit, is it easier when one joins conversation clubs and social gatherings where one can speak the target language.

 

The more you practice, the easier it gets to understand the target language. Still and all, getting the ears used to a new language is not always easy. Hence, listening to music and watching movies in the desired language is always helpful. Despite the fact that nothing can replace human interaction, hands-on experiences are not always at hand. For people who do not live in the country where the target language is spoken that is.

 

Lastly, I would say that it takes years of practice to master a language. Be that as it may, the satisfaction you get from it is quite rewarding. Thus, do not get discouraged next time you are taking a up a second or even a third language, and do not see results straight away. I gush with emotion almost every time someone praises me for my English . It could be you next time. Consequently, do not get asleep at the wheel on your next English (or whatever language you are learning) class.