In the previous post on “How to start a bilingual conversation”, I have written about the role of the subsconscious mind as a guide to help the mind produce an action by means a conscious decision and action. Here are two methods used.

Read With Meaning

If you come across a word you are not familiar with, you can follow these steps:

1. find the meaning of the word with your bilingual dictionary
2. then pronounce the word in the foreign language

Step number one is used variably for different approaches to teaching and learning languages. Instead of using a translator or bilingual dictionary, a diagram or picture is placed next to the phrase you are learning. So you can see immediately what it means without reference to your bilingual dictionary. This is called abstract approach. It is used at pre-schools but even at the adult level, we still need to practise this step when we learn new foreign words. Step number 2 helps you remember the sound of the foreign word, the meaning of which is already found in step 1.

Read Out Loud

Read out loud with a recorder . You can record, playback your recordings and compare your pronunciation with a native speaker. If you feel confident with your listening skill, you can make corrections appropriately. Record your readings again until you are satisfied. Try to read so you can hear yourself loud and clear.

These two basic methods are enough to get you through the first part of your bilingual conversation exercise.

When you are ready, you may start to learn to write the foreign word to reinforce the vocabulary learnt. At this stage, you must be aware that writing a language is only possible if you have already learnt the basic strokes: alphabets for English, Indonesian, Malay, strokes for Mandarin, Japanese and Korean etc.

The idea of reading fluently is to maintain consistency when we read. People who are fluent in their spoken languages do not deliberately slow down when they speak to others because they speak to express themselves in the best way they know how. Unless the listener needs to verify or clarify what is spoken, the speaker does not necessarily want to slow down for the sake of doing so. The need to clarify or verify any statement has to come from the listener, not the speaker. In other words, it is necessary for the speaker to articulate and express himself clearly in order to be heard and understood.