Hey Elders and Sisters.
We hope you enjoyed our intro video and that
you are excited to get started in learning
your new mission language.
We're going to start off by answering a big question
that you might have about learning a new language.
"If I've never studied a foreign language
before, what is the best way to start?"
Well, I may not be the best person to answer
this one, so I'm gonna pass this one to Professor
Dennis.
Professor?
Thanks, Alicia...
Before you dive head first into a sea of foreign
vocabulary and new writing systems, you need
to build up a base–or what I like to call
your "language nucleus."
Whatever knowledge you already have of the
language, will add to this nucleus,
but whether you are starting with "mucho" or with "nada" the process to build this nucleus is the same.
Start by memorizing simple phrases from native speakers as shown in the dialogues on this channel.
Getting these phrases in your head will give
you more to draw on and make connections with,
when learning in greater depth in the MTC
and mission field.
Okay.
Build up the nucleus.
Got it.
But if you are anything like me, straight-up
memorization can be kinda daunting.
Do you have any tips?
The secret to memorization is focus.
Here’s a short video of my 15 year old granddaughter,
Sydney.
About an hour before she sat down in front of the camera to recite this twenty ­word dialogue
in Japanese from memory, she hadn't so much
as looked at the language before.
Learning a language for the first time is
always a little difficult and discouraging,
but you will be amazed by what you can memorize
if you put your mind to it.
Make sure you have the script in front of
as you listen to the dialogues to compare
the written to the spoken.
Remember to click the sidebars for simple
explanations to each dialogue, or if you are
studying through YouTube instead of the App,
click the "more" section under the viewer
to access deeper explanations in our Glossary.
Remember to listen to these dialogs many,
many times – and practice the dialogs in
your off moments so that they will stick.
We’ll be covering how to most effectively
practice throughout the day in the next video.
In the meantime, good luck with your studies
and good luck with your mission.
