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Language Practice Are You Talking too Slow or Too Fast?
Foreign Language Practice: Talking Not Too Slow and Not Too Fast
The rate at which you speak is usually something a person does not have to think about in their native language. However, a normal rate of speech may be hard to master when learning a new language. Being able to speak at a normal rate demonstrates your mastery of the language and ability to effectively communicate. Your goal is to find a balance between speaking at a rate that is not too slow and not too fast.

Though speaking slowly allows for clarity, slow speech is often associated with being slow-witted. People commonly speak slowly to babies, those hard of hearing, or those who may be new to the language. Speaking slowly to these audiences enables more time to process and understand what is being said. If you think you speak too slowly, the best way to speed up your speech is through better learning the language and practice. By practicing pronunciations of words and phrases you want to use, you will become more familiar with speaking the language. Constant repetition will enable you to speak at a normal speed. Engage in conservations in the language you want to learn with other people. By doing this, you can ask your partner to critique you and help you with the pace you are speaking at.

Speaking too fast is a problem that even native speakers face. People often speak quickly if they are nervous or excited. But constantly speaking fast is not a good speaking habit. By speaking too fast, listeners will have a hard time understanding you. Consequently, you will be unable to efficiently convey what you are trying to say. Fast speech does not give listeners the appropriate amount of time to process what is being said. As a result, listeners usually ignore or stop listening to speakers who speak too fast because their speech is not comfortable to listen to. Speaking in a fast manner can also show you are hurried, in a rush, or disinterested in the conversation.

If you find yourself speaking at a rate that is faster than normal, here are a couple tips to help slow down your speech. One tip is to practice breathing and take pauses at punctuations. By doing this, you are giving your listeners enough time to process your train of thought. One way to practice this is by reading aloud and being aware of your breathing rate and the pauses you take. Another important tip is to keep eye contact with the person or people you are speaking to. This way you will be able to see whether or not your listeners understand what you are saying.

A great way to learn how to practice speaking at a normal pace is simply by observing and listening. Watch videos of public speakers and take notice of how other people speak when they speak to you. Ask yourself questions like, “Is this person speaking too fast?” “Is this person speaking to slow?” “Do I understand what this person is saying?” “What makes this person a good speaker?” Note these answers and incorporate them into your own speaking habits. Practice speaking in front of a mirror or record yourself so you can critique your own speaking skills. Speak to others and ask for their feedback. By learning the language, observing others, and by constantly practicing, speaking too slowly or quickly will soon no longer be a problem.


Photo Credit: Kevin Van den Panhuyzen
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lrngo users in over 190 countries

Learn Sign Language
Learning ASL (American Sign Language)
Contrary to popular belief, sign languages are not universal. There are over 100 sign languages; it is therefore likely that if you rely on sign language for communication and are moving to the United States that you will need to learn ASL as part of your studying of the English language.

To give a very brief overview of American Sign Language, it has its own grammatical structure that (unfortunately) varies widely from spoken English. Similar to Australian Sign Language, most of the gestures that denote certain words and phrases are completely arbitrary. It is also, unfortunately, completely different grammatically from its geographically close cousin, Mexican Sign Language.

Reasons to Learn ASL

  • Many colleges now view ASL as a complete foreign language. This means that it fulfills language requirements for a variety of different colleges and universities.

  • ASL is likely the most widely used of all of the sign languages. It is used in America, Canada, and a few countries in Africa and Asia.

  • Knowing how to sign makes you very attractive to companies. It helps them be in good favor with such legislation as the Americans with Disabilities Act.

  • ASL is a rapidly growing language. According to the New York Times, the study of American Sign Language in colleges surged by 16% from 2006 to 2009, increasing at a rate higher than other languages such as Spanish or French.

  • Learning ASL makes you incredibly attuned to body language. This invaluable ability to accurately read and communicate nonverbal information will help you immeasurably in many different areas. For example, it will inevitably make you a more convincing and expressive public presenter.

  • As an added benefit, it is the only language you can use effectively while chewing food.

General Notes:
  • The best place to start with ASL is with fingerspelling. Just search for ASL fingerspelling charts on Google to find a plethora of resources. Once you are able to quickly spell out anything, you will be able to struggle by even if you forget specific gestures.

  • Learning ASL is a commitment. Becoming “fluent” in ASL will most likely require the same amount of dedicated work that it would take to learn any other language. It does, however, takes significantly less time to be able to stumble your way through conversations with a combination of signing gestures and fingerspelling. This rudimentary form of communication, however, by no means signifies that you are “fluent” in ASL.

  • If you are new to sign languages in general, an important thing to emphasize is that sign languages rely not only on hand gestures but also on facial expressions. For example, you do not want to use sign a funny story with a frown on your face.

  • Continual practice is an absolute must. Learning sign language is not like riding a bike; it is very easy to forget signs for certain words.

  • Always be aware that people you may watch in online videos or see in person may not be signing correctly. Make sure to get as many viewpoints as possible to make sure you have proper form.

Free Resources

At first glance, it is difficult to find free online resources to learn ASL. What follows is a list of my personal recommendations:

  • SignSchool - is a free resource with videos and interactive exercises, games and a searchable dictionary.

  • https://www.lifeprint.com/asl101/pages-layout/concepts.htm - another good beginner site. It includes a list of basic, important words with accompanying videos.

  • Youtube- There are a variety of YouTube Channels that you can check out. I would recommend Bill Vicars. He has a few videos you can watch where he is in conversation with other people. It is very helpful to be able to watch an actual conversation.

  • https://www.lifeprint.com/ - American Sign Language University has a variety of different resources, including a series of good assessment quizzes.


Other Resources

  • Check out smartphone apps. Both the Android App Store and the Apple App store have a variety of options to choose from. These should be no more expensive than a few bucks.

  • https://www.start-american-sign-language.com/sign-language-book.html - This site provides a plethora of different hard copy sign language books to choose from. I would recommend the Webster's American Sign Language Dictionary , which is one of the more robust dictionaries with very clear illustrations.

  • https://www.startasl.com/sign-language-book/ - provides another excellent list of books. I would recommend the Basic Course in American Sign Language book.



Photo Credit: Valerie Everett
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lrngo users in over 190 countries

Helsinki Cathedral in Finland
Get a Grip on Finnish Language and Culture
As a part of the Nordic countries and a member of the EU, Finland has a unique identity that stems in part from its historical relationship with both Sweden and Russia throughout various periods of its history. If you’re interested in becoming more familiar with Finland, its culture, and its language, consider pursuing studies in Finnish—whether at a university, with a tutor, or on your own. Finnish social studies assist students in broadening their perspective of Finnish culture while learning the cadence of the language, greatly expanding their breadth of knowledge.

Fun fact: Did you know that the famous Finnish epic Kalevala, with its tempo and rhythm, became a source of inspiration for the American poet Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem Hiawatha? The interconnectedness of language spans throughout the times and the world, and the more you know, the more you get to be a part of that interconnectedness and draw inspiration from others.

Courses in Finnish social studies, language and culture are presented in ways that help students to grasp the rich heritage of the Finns. Did you know that there are only 11 universities within the USA where you can study Finnish language and culture? The following list includes a few of these universities:


Finnish social studies and language students will often be a diverse group, each interested in the courses for different reasons. You may find yourself amongst linguists, economists, computer engineers, scientists, environmental ecologists, designers, and artists as you embark on your studies.

There are also a variety of online resources and opportunities available for you to gain a better understanding of Finnish language and culture. Consider connecting with a learning exchange partner at LRNGO, where you can find a native of Finland who can guide you in your language studies and help you gain an understanding of Finnish culture. You can connect locally or online via the web, giving you ample opportunity to find an exchange partner who is right for you.

There are also opportunities for you to learn online for free. Sites like Live Lingua Project allows you to access free lessons and practices to help strengthen your Finnish. Finnish 101 gives you access to Finnish radio, vocab lists, and exercises so that you have ample opportunity to dive into the language aspect of your studies. Finnish Pod 101 hosts both a YouTube channel and a podcast that will help you get foundational Finnish language skills, and Digital Dialects gives you useful exercises for practice.


Photo Credit: Dennis Jarvis

lrngo users in over 190 countries

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