Page 6Winter Holidays around the World

Page 8Materials & Task-Based

What’s inside

Page 2Get to Know Global LT

I’m an adult. Can I really learn another language?

“It’s too late for me to learn English!” Does that sound familiar? Most people assume only kids are capable of learning another language. Well guess what? That’s a myth we are going to bust today.

It’s true that kids have greater neuroplasticity (the ability to form neural connections) than adults. This is why we often call kids “sponges” -- they seem to soak up every bit of knowledge around them. But what people don’t realize is that adults have plenty of powerful advantages in the learning process.

Here’s why you can still learn a second language, even as an adult:

You speak an L1...

You already have one language system under your belt. Don’t underestimate the power of knowing your first language (L1). You are familiar with forms, structures, and word order. You use diverse phrases and rich vocabulary. As you begin to learn a new language (your L2), your brain

identifies connections and patterns with your L1 that accelerate your learning process. Your L1 can help you decode meaning in your L2. For instance, a French speaker would immediately understand asansör, the Turkish word for elevator because it’s the same in French (ascenseur). If you came across the Spanish word civilización, you’d probably think of civilization. Correct! When you encounter an unfamiliar word or phrase, you are able to use context to guess the meaning without panicking or getting stuck as a child often does.

You want to learn...

Kids are often forced to learn another language, which greatly impedes the learning process. By contrast, you have chosen to learn another language for your own reasons. You wouldn’t be reading this newsletter if you didn’t think it was important! You know that strengthening your language capabilities will create more opportunities for you. This knowledge is a powerful motivator.

Page 3Your First Day

Page 4Events & Outings

Page 5Task-Based Learning

ISSUE 2 DEC 2018

by Mary Daphne Root

It keeps you going when the going gets tough. Your positive attitude makes it easier for you to absorb target language input and engage in your studies. It also makes you more likely to apply your new language skills outside the classroom, which is a crucial step for knowledge retention. Couple the desire to learn with a growth mindset and you will be unstoppable. Watch out, younger language learning self!

You know how you learn...

You spent the first 20+ years of your life learning. At this point, you know what types of teaching work for you and which don’t. This allows you to be strategic about your instruction. If you learn by reading,

Global LT Monthly Student Newsletter

Get To Know Global LT

you can spend more time on written materials. If you learn better by doing, you can seek out more opportunities to speak with others in your L2. If you learn by listening, you can learn a song in your L2 or listen to a podcast in the target language. If you learn through error correction, encourage native speakers to point out your mistakes! You may have less free time, but now you know how to use that precious time more efficiently! Kids are still learning how to learn and their cognitive mechanisms are still forming but adults are finely-tuned learning machines.

You are disciplined...

Whereas children are drawn toward instant gratification, as a high-achieving adult, you know the value of hard work. You prioritize tasks that are aligned with your long-term objectives, even if that means missing out on short-term pleasures like watching TV. As we get older, progress toward self-improvement becomes its own reward. The better you become at your L2, the more people you can interact with and the richer your interactions become. Knowing this, you are willing to invest the time, energy, and resources to succeed.

So as you can see, adults have some tremendous advantages when it comes to language learning. You may not control your age, but you sure as heck have a say in what, when, and how you learn. Use that to your benefit. Leverage the mastery of your native language, your determination, your self-awareness, and your self-discipline to blast past your language goals and access the multitudinous opportunities awaiting you in your target language.

Sources

Corder, S. P. (1967). The Significance of Learners’ Errors. International Review of Applied Linguistics in Language Teaching, 5, 161-170.

Dörnyei, Z. (2009a). Individual differences: Interplay of learner characteristics and learning environment. Language Learning, 59, 230– 248.

Gass, S. (2013). Second Language Acquisition: An Introductory Course. 4th. Ed. New York: Routledge.

Krashen, S. D. (1981). Second language acquisition and second language learning. New York: Pergamon.

Krashen, S. (1985). The input hypothesis: Issues and implications. New York: Longman.

Lenneberg, E. H. (1967). The Biological Foundations of Language. Hospital Practice, 2(12), 59-67.

Can I really learn another language? (Continued) You talk to us on the phone, you read our e-mails,

now meet some of our team!

EmilySr. ClientServiceConsultant

Emily joined Language Training Department in the Global LT Shanghai office as a Language Coordinator in Feb 2014. Before that, she mainly worked in translation and project management/assisting fields. She come from Shaanxi Province and graduated from Huaqiao University, Fujian, China. In her spare time, she loves reading, playing guitar and spending time with family and friends.

Fun Fact: Emily has a brother, a sister, and two nephews and two nieces. Don’t think this is interesting? Well, this is quite uncommon in China her generation!! Most of her peers are the only child in their family.

GaryRecruiter

Gary received his Master’s Degree in Human Resource Management from University of Bedfordshire in 2007. 6 years’ living and working experience in the UK taught Gary many things. One of the biggest lessons he learned with his time at McDonald’s corporate, is what good service attitude is and what that means to a customer. Gary also worked as a Compensation & Benefit Specialist and HR specialist, where he gained sound knowledge in Chinese labor law and legislations as well as hand-on experience in dealing routine tasks in HR function. These past roles helped Gary to improve his interpersonal skills and gain the ability to manage sensitive and confidential matters. Resulting from his effort, Gary earned trust from his colleagues and employers, and was selected as the Employee of The Year in the first year joining Liuzhou railway bureau, following with other honors.

Fun Fact: Gary is passionate about traditional Chinese culture. He has developed interests in seal cutting and Chinese tea at his young age. Now Gary has collected more than 30 Zisha teapots and the number is still growing.

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Are you curious how you can maximize the value of your first class? Knowing what to expect will help you supercharge your learning…

When you meet, your teacher will chat with you to make sure you get what you need. They will ask questions about your daily life and interests to determine the best approach for you to achieve your goals. Together, you will work to plan out how your lessons will look.

First, your teacher will start with the basics. They’ll explain how sign-in sheets and cancellations work. They will confirm the schedule and how to communicate changes. They might ask you follow-up questions. Don’t worry! They just want to make sure they understand what you want so you get the most out of your approved language training hours.

Feel free to ask questions. If something isn’t clear, ask your teacher to repeat and write it down. Restate and reword what they said to verify information. Think of this time as a great opportunity to improve your language knowledge!

How will I use the language that I’m learning?

Next, your teacher will ask more specific questions to understand your precise needs. Give as much detail as you can. The more information they have, the easier it will be to design a language plan especially for you. You’ll hear questions like:

• Where do you use the language? • Who do you speak the language with?• What do you want to do in the language?

-Make presentations at work?-Lead conference calls?-Talk with your child’s teacher at school?-Understand your doctor? -Join a gym?

What kinds of materials do I need?

At this point, you’ll be making progress! Your teacher is getting valuable information. You’ll continue chatting, so they can see what kinds of materials will help you meet your goals. For example, if you want to give better business presentations at work, they’ll avoid overloading you with grammar textbooks which don’t help you attain that goal. If you hate reading but love cooking, they might choose a video clip from a cooking show rather

Getting the Most from Your First Day

than a cookbook. Your teacher might ask:

• Do you like to use lots of different resources with language from your job?

• Do you like learning by role playing? • Do you learn best by doing and by going to

different places and practicing?• Do you want ideas for how to practice on your

own and how to use what you learned in class?

Will I have a language proficiency test?

You will, but it’s not difficult. There are no right or wrong answers. As you chat with your teacher, they’ll be thinking about your current language proficiency level. Based on what you say, they will decide which of the four core skills to assess in more detail; speaking, listening, writing or reading. The process will be informal and practical, aimed at finding your ceiling (the highest level of language performance).

How will I move forward?

The end of your first lesson is only the start. Your teacher will talk with you more the following class. Once they have a clear picture of what you need, they’ll share a plan uniquely customized for you.

Give feedback and ask questions. Your teacher will work with you and offer advice on how to reach your goals. We encourage you to be open to new ways of learning! Don’t feel trapped by what you’ve done before. Remember, you can change anything whenever you want. Your plan is meant to grow with you over time.

Knowing what to expect on your first day and taking charge of your learning sets you up for long-term success. You’ve begun an exciting adventure even if you might be a little nervous. By being open with your teacher about what you want and need, you’ll maximize your language learning to achieve your goals more quickly and effectively!

Group Outings

English Language Webinars

Click on the links here for more

information or to register! View the event calendar in the GLTPortal OR request an outing

in your area by e-mailing us at

languageouting@Global-LT.com

December 2018All Outings in December will be held in Metro-Detroit, Michigan, USA

Accelerating into English – Friday, December 14th 6:30-9:30 PMEnglish for the Holidays at Greenfield Village – Saturday, December 15th 5:30-10:00 PM

Wishful English at a Christmas Carol – Sunday, December 16th 12:00-4:30 PMBocce Ball English – Sunday, December 16th 4:30-8:30 PM

Nostalgic English with A Christmas Story: the Musical – Friday, December 21st 6:00-10:30 PMStrike! English for Bowling! – Saturday, December 22nd 11:00 AM – 2:00 PM

Shimmering English at the Detroit Zoo – Sunday, December 23rd 5:00-9:00 PMFightin’ Words: The Language of WWE Wrestling – Friday, December 28th 5:00-10:00 PM

Networking in English: Icebreakers, Humor and Cultural Knowledge – Weds, Dec 12th 7:30-8:30 PM

Are You Serious?! (English You Say Without Thinking) – Monday, Dec 17th 8:00-9:00 PM

Choosing Your Words: Political Correctness and Sensitivity – Thursday, Dec 20th 7:00-8:00 PM

Teacher Feature

Group Outings & Content Development Teams

These are the people behind the scenes that work hard to plan,

organize, and manage each and every group outing around the

world! Each outing is planned and each lesson is written carefully with our learners and activities

in mind to create a fun and educational experience for all

ages. Happy Holidays from Katie, Lori, Carlee, Scott, and Michael!

Recent OutingsBoise State Football The Parade Company

This group of sports fans in Boise, Idaho came together to cheer on the Boise State Broncos at a football game

on the teams home turf! They learned English to understand

the basic rules of football, and define footbal idioms! Go

Broncos!

This goofy group of ESL learners joined together for an exclusive,

behind the scenes look at the Parade Company in Detroit. They

got to see the place where all of the holiday parade “magic”

happens while learning English relating to asking questions,

listening to instructions from a guide, and designing their own

fantasy float!

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Global LT Newsletter

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everything you do is targeted and practical.

What can I expect?

When you’re with your teacher, they will introduce language at just the right level. They’ll be careful to push you to learn more without making it too hard. As a beginner, you might play a game to name different fruits and vegetables. If you’re advanced, you might discuss the pros and cons of various marketing strategies. At any level, you’ll get a diverse range of language that builds on what you already know. In the end, a beginner will be able to not only name fruits and vegetables but be able to describe them. An expert would be able to not just name pros and cons but successfully persuade others to one side. Just like native speakers, you’ll learn to communicate effectively and improvise when needed.

No approach is perfect. Everyone is different and we all learn in different ways. Nonetheless, task-based lessons work really well because they are so adaptable. Language is learned through exposure and practice. The more you see, hear, and speak a language, the faster you’ll progress.

What exactly is a task-based language lesson?

Every day, you do tasks. You go to the grocery store to buy food, chat to colleagues at work or read a newspaper. Task-based lessons recreate these “tasks” that you do in your first language and teach you to do them in a second language. It treats language learners like native speakers and mimics the way native language is acquired. You learn what you need and don’t waste time on drills or activities that don’t directly connect to a real-world situation.

At Global LT, we strongly encourage our teachers to use “task-based” instruction.

It’s not the only way to learn but it has some big advantages over other

teaching methods!

Optimize Your Learning with Task-Based Instruction

Task based instruction:

• Uses language people actually speak in real-life situations

• Uses the target language exclusively, so you spend more time speaking in the language instead of speaking about the language

• Uses practical tasks so you can apply what you learn right away

• Puts your personal language goals first so your lessons are more customized, practical and adaptable

• Measures language proficiency more accurately because it’s based on how you use the language in the real world.

Authentic sources (anything meant for native speakers) are used so you’ll see lots of the target language. Plus, what you see isn’t artificial but actual language people use. Every moment is a learning opportunity! Over time, this increased exposure really pays off. After a while, you’ll speak more fluently and natively.

Useful at every level

During a task-based lesson, your teacher will start simple. As you progress, they’ll increase the difficulty of what you do. This naturally pushes your proficiency forward. You will clearly see your progress because you’ll be able to do something specific in your target

language that you couldn’t do before.

For example, when you start as a beginner, you ‘ll cover the

basics. You might need to name fruits and vegetables, so you can go grocery shopping. When you’re more advanced, this is too easy. Instead, you might need to fix an incorrect order at the deli. It’s harder but still applicable in real-life. It can become quite difficult at the highest levels where you might have to defend a dubious company policy on environmentally-friendly food sourcing in the face of a legal challenge – a tough task for even native speakers! Yet, from the lowest to the highest levels,

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Hanukah/Chanukah

December 2nd through December 10th, 2018

Hanukah/Chanukah is the Jewish eight-day, “festival of lights,” celebrated with a nightly menorah lighting, prayers and foods. The Hebrew word Chanukah means “dedication,” and is thus named because it celebrates the rededication of the Holy Temple.

Many Hanukah activities take place at home. Central to the holiday is the lighting of the menorah, an eight-branched candelabrum to which one candle is added on each night of the holiday until it is ablaze with light on the eighth night. In commemoration of the legendary cruse of oil, it is traditional to eat foods fried in oil. The most familiar Hanukkah foods are potato pancakes, or latkes, and jelly donuts, or sufganiyot. The tradition developed in Europe to give small amounts of money as well as nuts and raisins to children at this time. Under the influence of Christmas, which takes place around the same time of year, Hanukkah has evolved into the central gift-giving holiday in the Jewish calendar in the Western world.

St. Nicolas Day - December 6th, 2018

St. Nicholas was a Bishop who lived in the fourth century in a place called Myra (now called Turkey). He was a very rich man because his parents died when he was young and left him a lot of money. He was also a very kind man and had a reputation for helping the poor and giving secret gifts to

Kwanzaa is a seven-day festival that celebrates African and African American culture and history. The name Kwanzaa comes from the phrase ‘matunda ya kwanza’ which means ‘first fruits’ in the Swahili language. Kwanzaa is mostly celebrated in the USA.

During Kwanzaa a special candle holder called a kinara is used. A kinara hold seven candles, three red ones on the left, three green ones on the right with a black candle in the center. Each night during Kwanzaa a candle is lit. The black center candle is lit first and then it alternates between the red and green candles starting with the ones on the outside and moving inwards. This is quite like the lighting of the menorah in the Jewish Festival of Lights, Hanukkah. The seven days and candles of Kwanzaa represent the seven principles of Kwanzaa.

Boxing Day - December 26th, 2018

Boxing Day is celebrated mainly in countries historically connected to the UK (such as Canada, Australia, South Africa and New Zealand) and in some European countries. There are many theories as to where Boxing Day got its name, but it’s not clear which is correct. Boxing Day is a time to spend with family or friends, usually those not seen on Christmas Day itself. In recent times, the day has become synonymous with many sports. Horse racing is particularly popular with meets all over the country. Many top football teams also play on Boxing Day.

Global LT loves our worldwide family of employees, teachers, and consultants! It’s always interesting when you get to interact with so many different backgrounds and cultures every day. This holiday season, we

wanted to share with you some of the winter holidays and traditions we celebrate around the world so that you too get to enjoy the knowledge and fun that comes with interacting with a diverse group of people.

We hope you enjoy!

Winter Holidays Around the World

people who needed it.

In many places St. Nicholas is the main gift giver. In some places he arrives in the middle of November and moves about the countryside, visiting schools and homes to find out if children have been good. Other places he comes in the night and finds carrots and hay for his horse or donkey along with children’s wish lists. Legends say that the tradition of hanging stockings originated with St. Nicholas, small treats are left in shoes or stockings, so the children will know he has come. St. Nicholas evolved to become known by many names throughout the world: Father Christmas, Kris Kringle, and of course Santa Claus. There are many holiday traditions and legends that are said to have originated from St. Nicholas.

Christmas - December 25th, 2018

Christmas, a Christian holiday honoring the birth of Jesus, has evolved into a worldwide religious and secular celebration. It incorporates many pre-Christian and pagan traditions. Christmas is celebrated with many different traditions and practices throughout the world. In some areas it is customary to give gifts to family members and loved ones. Christmas carols are popular during the time surrounding Christmas, a Christmas or Christmas Eve mass might be attended, and parades or feasts may take place.

Kwanzaa - December 26th, 2018 through January 1st, 2019

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Boxing Day is also a time when the British show their eccentricity by taking part in all kinds of silly activities. These include bizarre traditions including swimming the icy cold English Channel, fun runs, and charity events.

Winter Solstice - December 21st, 2018

Winter Solstice is the shortest day of the year and the longest night in the Northern Hemisphere. According to the astronomical definition of the seasons, the winter solstice also marks the beginning of the season of winter, which lasts until the vernal equinox (March 20 or 21 in the Northern Hemisphere, or September 22 or 23 in the Southern Hemisphere). After the solstice, the days get longer, and the day is celebrated in many cultures as a time of rebirth.

St. Lucia Day - December 13th, 2018

Is a festival of lights celebrated in Sweden, Norway, and the Swedish-speaking areas of Finland in honor of St. Lucia. One of the earliest Christian martyrs, St. Lucia was killed by the Romans in 304 CE because of her religious beliefs.

In Scandinavian countries each town elects its own St. Lucia. The festival begins with a procession led by the St. Lucia designee, who is followed by young girls dressed in white and wearing lighted wreaths on their heads and boys dressed in white pajama-like costume singing traditional songs. The festival marks the beginning of the Christmas season in Scandinavia, and it is meant to bring hope and light during the darkest time of the year. Schools generally close around noon on the day of the festival so that families can prepare for the holiday. Families observe St. Lucia’s Day in their homes by having one of their daughters (traditionally the eldest)

and continued in that role until his death in 335. His feast day falls on December 31 and is celebrated in Austria, Germany, and Switzerland. Since Silvester Abend, or “Sylvester’s Eve,” is also New Year’s Eve, many Germans and Austrians hold late night parties. In Germany these festive gatherings may include drinking, eating, dancing, singing, and fortune-telling.

Chinese New Year - January 28th through February 19th, 2019

Chinese New Year is also known as Spring Festival in China and is the most important of the traditional Chinese holidays, marking the end of the cold days. It’s the longest holiday and falls on different dates each year according to the Lunar calendar, ending with the Lantern Festival on the first full moon of the year. Each year has a different animal from the Chinese Zodiac associated with it, and 2019 is the Year of the Pig. The festival began as a way to give thanks to gods for a good planting and harvest season. Traditions include visits to friends and family, fireworks displays, burning paper money, giving children red envelopes of money, and many superstitions and legendary tales. The color gold is said to bring wealth, and the color red is considered especially

lucky. The New Year’s Eve dinner is very large and usually includes fish, noodles, dumplings, and symbolic

dress in white and serve coffee and baked goods, such as saffron bread (lussekatter) and ginger biscuits, to the other members of the family. These traditional foods are also given to visitors during the day.

New Years Eve December 31st, 2018

New Years Day January 1st, 2019

Civilizations around the world have been celebrating the start of each new year for at least four millennia. Today, most New Year’s festivities begin on December 31 (New Year’s Eve) and continue into the early hours of January 1 (New Year’s Day). Common traditions include parties, feats, making resolutions for the new year and watching fireworks displays or countdowns.

Three Kings Day - January 6th, 2019

For many Christians in Spain and Latin America, the holiday season officially ends on January 6, which is the 12th day of Christmas known as Three Kings’ Day. The holiday celebrates the biblical tale in which the Three Kings, or Three Wise Men, visit baby Jesus after his birth.

Today, children celebrate Three Kings’ Day by receiving gifts of their own. Children in Spain and Latin America are instructed to leave their shoes by the door of their house so, like Santa Claus, the three kings can come and leave them presents. Many families also leave gifts of salt or grass for the camels that the Three Kings are said to ride in on, like the milk and cookies kids leave for Santa Clause during Christmas.

Saint Sylvester’s Day - December 31st, 2018

On December 31 the Roman Catholic Church honors St. Sylvester, a Roman Christian who became pope in 314

Sources:https://www.chabad.org/holidays/chanukah/article_cdo/aid/102911/jewish/What-Is-Hanukkah.htmhttps://www.myjewishlearning.com/article/hanukkah-101/http://www.stnicholascenter.org/pages/around-the-world/https://www.history.com/topics/christmashttps://www.whychristmas.comhttps://www.thespruce.com/what-is-boxing-day-435060https://www.britannica.comhttps://www.history.com/topics/holidays/new-yearshttps://www.newsweek.com/when-three-kings-day-and-how-it-celebrated-epiphany-772690https://encyclopedia2.thefreedictionary.com/St.+Sylvester%27s+Dayhttps://chinesenewyear.net

Snowman and Santa Scavenger Hunt

Hidden throughout our De-cember Newsletter and within the GLT-Portal are friendly

little snowmen and Santa’s (we gave you one right here). Find

them all and you could win a $50 Ama-zon Gift Card. Count them all up and enter your guess at www.

Global-LT.com/happy-holiday-2018. Winner

will be picked at random from all correct entries

on January 4, 2019. These are easy, but you

might have to look a little harder in the GLT-

Portal.

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8

a new country and you want to practice with your teacher before you go. They’ll think about what you’ll need. Among other things, you’ll have to know some parts of the mouth and commands like “open” or “close.” The dentist will want to know about how you take care of your teeth. Of course, you’ll have to ask follow-up questions if you don’t understand something the dentist or hygienist says.

To prepare you, your teacher might use a picture of a mouth or have some brochures on oral hygiene from a local dentist office. If the lesson is at your home, your teacher might ask you to get a toothpaste tube, floss, and an unopened toothbrush from the bathroom, so you can read the information on the packaging and learn new words. They might even show you a funny clip on YouTube of a person going to the dentist! Believe it or not, humor helps you remember new words better and makes lessons easier to recall later.

Using a variety of resources that reflect how people actually speak is an easy way to improve your learning. As you go about your daily life, use everything you encounter as a tool to learn. If there’s a specific item you find useful, share it with your teacher so they can incorporate it into your lessons. Think beyond the textbook and you’ll see an immediate connection between what you do during your lessons and what you can use in the real world. Instantaneous and useful feedback that you can build on to reach your goals more quickly and with better results!

Materials and Task-Based Language Learning

Thinking Beyond the Textbook

hese days we’re very lucky to live in a time with so many resources available to us. Information is

abundant and everywhere. However, it can be difficult to decide which sources are the best for you.

Your teacher will work hard to choose the right materials to support you. They’ll choose

resources based on your language goals…and what a variety they can choose from! Literally anything and everything made for native speakers can be an invaluable

learning tool. A TV series, a song, a newspaper, a work email, an electricity bill, even a toothpaste tube can be a highly useful source of language. You might see some unusual items but they’re always there to give you real-world language, so you can improve your fluency.

That doesn’t mean you’ll never see more typical learning materials. A textbook focusing on a specific skill can sometimes be a great reference. However, you shouldn’t use them as your primary resource. If you rely too much on textbooks, you’ll miss out on extra listening practice you can get from watching videos or listening to podcasts. Also, very few reflect the way native speakers actually speak so what you learn is not easily useable in your daily life.

What might a typical lesson without textbooks look like? Imagine that you have your first dentist visit in

T

Haley SmithNicole WagnerLori FennekenKatie WilliamsMary Daphne RootLisa KoziolScott Dombrowski

Nicole Wagner

1871 Woodslee Drive, Troy, Michigan 48083 USA

Issue 2Vol I

Dec 2018

Content

Production

Address

Newsletter Team