Language Maintenance
Why is it so difficult to maintain your knowledge of a foreign language?
How can you keep learning English and not loose fluency?
What are some learning habits you can continue? What would you enjoy?
Reading Habits
Best Sellers
Audiobooks
Wired for Books, free audiobooks
Audible.com, purchase current bestseller audiobooks
RSS feeds
see rss-feeds for info
Cinema
Video
Watch English-language DVDs set to original language with subtitles
Follow English-language tv series that you enjoy
Listening:
Study with your family:
Stone Soup, stories for young people, read by young people with text to read along
readings of children's classics, including the Tale of Peter Rabbit, Alice's Adventures in Wonderland, and The Wizard of Oz]
- Make one day a week English day. Try to speak only English.
Meetups:
Online services:
The Web 2.0 phenomenon is all about social networking and communities. These sites are for language learners who want to connect to others, to use community as a part of learning. This can be particularly helpful if you want to find speaking partners. All require registration, but are free.
LiveMocha — a highly recommended language course site plus community. Connects learners all over the world as language partners for chat, messaging, etc.
Busuu — a very nice site for basic situational language. Lessons go from vocabulary, reading, writing, and then talking with others.
Italki — recommended language networking, but with no lessons. Good for speaking partners. Connects learners all over the world via Skype, chat, etc.
Kantalk — another excellent way to connect to other learners. Organized by topic, discussion of set questions with other learners online at the moment.
For a review of various services available see Michele Gallen's e-learning blog.
