You want to improve a foreign language proficiency level (in French, Russian or Ukrainian for example) but you have only 15 or 30 minutes per day to dedicate to it. According to your field of specialisation or topic of personal interest, you can do it with quality media in the target language.
For example, for Business French (or Russian or Ukrainian) you can choose a media channel which provides a short business news bulletin from 2 minutes up to 5 minutes. Ideally, you would need to find a website which proposes also a translation of the same bulletin or programme in your native language.
This methodology will suit learners starting from A2 to B2 on the CEFR proficiency level (Common European Framework of Reference for Languages).
This methodology also allows working on all language aspects: grammar, syntax, phonetics, new vocabulary acquisition, comprehension, as well as improving your writing and speaking skills.
1) First watch and listen to the video for the first time. There is nothing wrong if you have just got a few words.
2) Then watch and listen to the video for the second time. Write down or type on the computer the information that you have heard. Depending on your memory capacity that could be several words or the whole sentence. With the help of the stop and start button, you can work according to your rythme and divide the video into numerous parts which would be comfortable for you.
3) Then watch and listen to the video for the third time. Try to fill in the gaps. Listen to the video as many times as needed and as your time allows.
If you still have the gaps, don’t worry, you can use Voice Recorder Speech-to-text App (for Android) or its equivalent for iOS (Apple). This App of your smartphone will record the voice and simultaneously convert it to on-screen text. Even though, the App can misunderstand some words, it can be very helpful.
4) Have you finished transcribing the text?
Check the spelling using a dictionary and identify the new vocabulary and the grammar points you need to learn or to revise.
5) Translate the text into your native language.
6) You have translated the text. You can now work on your prononciation.
7) Repeat after the journalist and try to reproduce his/her accent as closely as possible.
8) Then learn the new vocabulary items.
9) Repeat to a member of your family, or a friend what you have just learnt as information, trying to rephrase the text.
Well done. The work is finished. What will this work allow you?
– to improve your proficiency in business French, Russian or Ukrainian
– to learn new information in the field of your interest/specialisation
– to improve your short and long term memory
– and finally, to avoid the ageing process of your brain.