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How humans build language skills
Audio recordings of language programsstreaminghave an advantage over print or academic classes because hearing is how humans learn to speak. That is how we learned our native tongues, and how we effectively learn second languages. As babies, we listened to our parents speaking. In our hard-wired desire to communicate, we learned our native language by imitating them. According to linguists, babies begin by distinguishing basic syllables, and around 3 months, start to babble, making simple sounds (ba-ba-ba or ma-ma-ma). They also imitate the tonal changes of their parents language. By sixmonths, they can distinguish the sounds of their native language fromthose of foreign languages and begin to practice its sounds, intonations, and rhythms.Most children by the age of 1 year can say a few simple words, even if they arent clear on theirmeanings. At 18months, most children have a speaking vocabulary of eight to ten words. By 2, they begin forming simple sentences. And then language fluency begins to soar.
In the early 1900s, European linguists proposed that language learning would be better if it were conducted in the target language. In this approachcalled the Direct Method (or Natural Method)all directions, explanations, and definitions
are given in the language being taught. In a French class, French and only French is spoken or read. All grammar is learned inductively. While this method most closely imitates the way we learn our first language, it is difficult to teach and can be frustrating and discouraging to learners. Most audio-based language learning programs combine both native and target languages into talking phrasebooks.
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THE VINYL ERA OF WALT DISNEY
The Disney stories are part of our children's music culture, and to exclude it would leave just part of a story told. People of older generation certainly still have nostalgic feelings for these fantastic vintage Children's vinyl phonograph records.
In 1934 RCA/Victor released the first gramophone records of Disney soundtracks. The music from popular Mickey Mouse and Silly Symphony cartoons was recorded by Frank Luther and his orchestra in November 1933. The series also included 'In a Silly Symphony,' 'Dance of the Bogey Man,' 'Mickey Mouse and Minnie's in Town,' and 'Who's Afraid of the Big Bad Wolf?'
Three Little Pigs
In 1965 the Buena Vista soundtrack album of 'Mary Poppins' was a super hit of all times and spent 14 weeks in the No. 1 position on the Billboard chart setting up a company record. The recording won two Grammy Awards, Best Recording for Children and Best Original Score. The sales exceeded 2 million copies.
In 1988 the soundtrack of 'Oliver & Company' marked the end of the vinyl era -- it was the last Disney animated feature soundtrack to be released domestically on 12-inch disk. The CD revolution had arrived.
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