VILA Institute is finally official. Hurray!!!

Hi Language lovers,

I am super excited because one of my greatest ambition was partially launched on Tuesday, 20th November 2018. A free version of  French VILA Training on my WhatApp group chat and I had [V.F.T] 38+ persons in attendance that joined the group prior to Tuesday for the start up.

Classes was scheduled for Tuesdays and Thursdays respectively. Time was slated for  11am to 12:30pm. Then Fridays is for Questions and Answers session same time. Course outline are to be presented on a weekly bases.

You see, I know it's not going to be all rosey. I know there are going to be days that I'll feel like quitting, giving up,  shutting down but I have resolved that no matter what I'll stay put through thick and thin....

I'll keep at it, I'll read, I'll learn new skills. Make more researches, discover better ways to teach a language and learn how to motivate my students to learn a foreign language. Experiment by trial and error.  Most importantly laugh out loud about any and every mistake I make on the journey of teaching and learning languages.

But i'll make absolutely sure I learn from my mistakes. Give people a chance to prove their selves in the process. Help build my students confidence, damage their fears, as we all know FEAR is False Evidence Appearing Real, but I say FAKE Evidence Appearing Real because the fear is only in our head, it's not there it's so FAKE. I'll help create a relaxed and serene atmosphere in class, that will trigger excitement for learning.

Language acquisition should be fun not dull and boring or exhausting and challenging. And I am the opposite of all these negative attributes above. Also language learning should be more of practicals not theories. My language Institute is out to set a pace in the world of teaching languages, achieve feats that has never been accomplished in the history of our great nation Nigeria.

As a linguist and a language freak, I desire to achieve this and much more in the future.

Leave a comment stating if you would like to try our offline or online global or local language programmes.

To your learning
of languages,

FrenchLadyDisi
Your Language Tutor

6 Social Benefits of Learning a Foreign Language

Hi guys,

 In this article, I will be showing you
 6 social benefits of learning a foreign language because despite the evidence that learning a foreign language is incredibly beneficial, many people  remain monolingual. Even with language courses in schools, majority of young adults speak only one language. Learning a language as a child can avoid many roadblocks that adults and young adults frequently face.

Learning a language isn’t just beneficial for practical reasons, like boosting your career options — it’s great for improving your social life too. Now let’s delve into six social benefits you’ll receive from learning a foreign language:

1) Communication
Picture this — you just got dropped off in a country you’ve always wanted to visit. Now what? Are you going to pull out a travel dictionary to find everything you need? You shouldn’t, because a translation book will not benefit your experience at all.
Knowing a foreign language will open up an entire new world for you. Even though English is one of the most-spoken languages in the world, it can be difficult to find someone who can speak English for every situation. One of the greatest joys of learning a language is being able to speak it with the locals. By communicating with native speakers, you’ll learn more about the language, your surroundings, and other people very quickly.
Making connections with others is a big part of improving your language skills. For example, if you communicate with a foreign student, maybe they’ll recommend a class you can take to improve your accent. If you speak to a hotel clerk, perhaps they’ll give you a list of places they think tourists would like to see. You’ll never know what you’ll learn from other people by communicating in their language.

2) Heritage
For families who have ties to another country (i.e. descendants), learning the family’s language can help connect you with your heritage. By learning the “family language” earlier on, children can grow up with a strong sense of pride for their cultural background.
Some cities with high populations of heritage speakers have schools with bilingual or immersion programs in response to growing demand. Some high schools offer courses that allow students to earn credit while advancing more quickly in their target language. These programs also let students focus on elements of the language that may be the most useful for them.

3) Early Career Preparation
Many communities in the United States have become increasingly diverse over the years. The number of foreign-language speakers in the U.S. has increased by 32% since 2000. Hiring managers may prefer (or require) applicants who speak more than one language, especially if a non-English language is prominent in the hiring area.
It’s a good idea to learn another language much earlier than just before you apply for jobs. That way, you’ll have a head start and your proficiency will be higher. Some of the more common languages in the U.S. (other than English ) include: Spanish, Chinese, Tagalog, French, Vietnamese, Korean, Arabic, German, Navajo, and American Sign Language.

4) New Ways of Thinking
Speaking multiple languages means being able to think in more than one way. For students, this flexible way of thinking means schoolwork often becomes more manageable. Research has shown that students who learn a second language jump ahead of their peers cognitively.
According to a study by the National Institute of Health (NIH) , bilingual children can switch between tasks more quickly than monolingual children. The reason is because bilingual brains are wired to toggle back and forth between languages, depending on the circumstances. Therefore, switching between tasks is as natural to them as switching between languages.
An article by The Hanen Centre states that bilingual individuals can focus more easily on specific tasks. Attention and problem-solving increases as individuals become more proficient in another language. In terms of academics, bilingual children tend to outscore classmates not only in language, but also in math and science.

5) Global and Multicultural Perspective
Learning a language often means learning about the culture associated with it. Children who are familiar with several cultures will become familiar with the strengths and weaknesses of each. In turn, they’ll likely find it easier to understand and be more accepting of people from other cultures.
According to a research paper from Osaka Jogakuin College , children who are bilingual and bicultural from a young age may not adopt exactly the same proportions of each culture; rather by trial and error, they’ll decide what works best for them. This process may not always be a conscious decision — they’ll choose which cultural elements to adapt simply by experiencing the elements of both.
Regardless of how they identify with each culture, bicultural children are placed in a unique position — they’re able to connect with groups in ways that not everyone can. Individuals with bilingual capabilities tend to have a larger global perspective than monolinguals.

6) Proficiency and Accent
Accents are typically developed over time as individuals increase their proficiency. One benefit of having an accent is being able to deliver clear dialogue to other native speakers. Children have the advantageous opportunity to learn a language to native (or near-native) proficiency and speak with little to no accent.
Many studies on the subject share the theme that “the younger the individual is when he/she is exposed to a new language, the greater the probability of acquiring native pronunciation, as well as proficiency in that language.”
The most well-equipped ages for language learning range from preschool or kindergarten age to around age 12. Older beginners can still learn a language quite well, but it may take them longer, and moreover, their accent will likely never match that of a native speaker. It’s never too early or too late to learn, however, for those who want to benefit from learning a foreign language.

If you know more social benefits of language learning, please leave a comment below stating them.

To your learning
of Languages,

FrenchLadyDisi
Your Language Tutor. 

Top 9 Unbelievable Health Merits of Learning Foreign Languages

Hello language lovers,

In today's blog post, I'll be enumerating a maximum of 9 Unbelievable health merits of learning foreign language:

Language learning can make you smarter, improve your decision-making. So, now is the time to dust off your French JSS or Primary textbook? Now let’s have a closer look at what you stand to gain.

1. Better Decision-Making Skills
Being able to speak another language can help you make better decisions. Studies from the University of Chicago have shown that people who speak another language are better able to pick up nuances and subtleties in any given situation.
A heightened appreciation of the complexities of a situation can lead to more rational decision-making in many areas of life. Monolingual people, on the other hand, tend to base their decisions more on emotions. In other words, speaking another language can improve your life through better decision-making.

2. Improved Memory
Learning a foreign language helps improve memory. A recent study published in the Journal of Experimental Child Psychology aimed to find out what effect learning a foreign language had on a child’s memory.
This study found that bilingual children performed much better than monolingual children on tasks using their working memory. (Working memory deals with the storage and processing of information over a short period of time.) The conclusion of the study was that knowledge of more than one language had contributed to their better working memory.
If you think you would benefit from a better working memory in your education, or daily life, then learning a foreign language might be just what you need

3. Increased Attention Span
But the benefits for your study skills don’t stop there! Speaking a second language helps you focus, and deal with distractions appropriately, according to a study in the journal Brain and Language .
A bilingual person is accustomed to switching between different languages, deciding which is the appropriate language to use in a given situation (and which language should be avoided). This gives the brain plenty of practice in focusing and filtering information.
Basically, a bilingual person will be better at concentrating on what they’re doing – such as studying, reading or writing – and block out any noise or distractions.

4. Improved Ability To Multitask
Related to your attention span is your ability to multi-task. A study by the NIH discovered that because bilinguals have better working memories, can focus their attention, and can disregard distractions, they are able to switch between tasks quickly and easily (just as they are able to switch between languages).
Speaking two languages, and switching between them, makes you better at multi-tasking in other tasks, too.

5. Increased Perceptual Sensitivity
The benefits of multiple languages can start as early as before a baby is able to speak. A psychologist from the University of British Columbia found that babies who are raised in bilingual households are able to distinguish different languages when they are spoken, even if they are not familiar with those languages.
For example, a baby raised in a house where Spanish and Catalan are spoken, would also be able to tell the difference between a totally different pair of languages, such as English and French. Essentially, exposure to two languages early on contributes to a person’s perceptual sensitivity with unfamiliar things.
What this perceptual sensitivity could mean, is that babies raised with two languages will find it easier to learn other languages later in life, as a result of the ability to easily distinguish between different sounds.
So, if you’d like your child to grow up to be a polyglot, start them early on a second language!

6. Better Cognitive Abilities
Bilingual people have also been shown to have better cognitive abilities than monolinguals. Research from the University of Edinburgh suggests that specifically, bilingual people score better on tests of reading, verbal fluency and intelligence, all of which undoubtedly help bilinguals be better students.
Interestingly, this is regardless of what age the person learns the foreign language, so even a person who learns a foreign language as an adult will benefit from these improved skills.
Learning a foreign language can, in this way, help you learn other subjects too.

7. Improved First Language
By learning another language, your mother tongue can improve as a result . As you learn a second language, your knowledge of grammar improves. This linguistic awareness then transfers back to your first language.
With a greater appreciation for the mechanics of your first language, you can become a better writer, speaker, and communicator, with all the benefits that entails.
Want to become more articulate in your mother tongue? Learning another language might be a good first step!

8. Bigger Brain
In fact, as crazy as it may sound, learning a foreign language can actually increase the size of your brain. A group of Swedish scientists did an MRI study which showed that certain parts of the brain were bigger in people who had learnt a foreign language.
In this study, two groups of subjects underwent brain scans. One group did an intensive language course for three months while the other, the control group, did intensive courses in a subject that was not a language. What the scientists found was that specific parts of the language learners’ brains became bigger than those of the non-language learners.
While at the moment it’s not clear what this could mean, I’ll take a bigger brain any day!
[Tweet “Learning a foreign language increases the size of your brain!”]

9. Delayed Onset Of Dementia
Given all the benefits outlined in this article, it’s hardly surprising that learning a foreign language keeps your brain healthy for longer. Scientists, in the largest study yet to study the effects of bilingualism and dementia, have found that people who can speak more than one language tend to develop dementia up to five years later than monolingual people.
Speaking more than one language provides constant exercise for your brain, and keeping your brain active is one way in which to delay the onset of dementia.

Leave a comment below stating which point resonates more with you.

To your learning
of Languages,

Frenchladydisi
Your Language Tutor.