The Gold Medal Guide to 30 Resources for Advanced Language Lessons

The Gold Medal Guide to 30 Resources for Advanced Language Lessons The Gold Medal Guide to 30 Resources for Advanced Language Lessons The first real hurdles of taking on the language challenge are behind you.But the finish line still lies aheadâ€"tantalizingly in sight.Trouble is, you might be running out of steam after leaping over so many hurdles to get this far.Even if youre doing okay, you might need a little coaching to reach your goals and come out a multilingual winner.But theres something missing, isnt there?You want to advance.Master the language.Speak like a native.Excellent goals. And really, which language learner doesnt want to accomplish all of that?Now, the only trick is that theres no one way to move forward.Language learning is one of those seek-and-find adventures. Here well help you seek out the right learning methodâ€"or a combination of a fewâ€"and move forward until you get your desired result. Is Now the Time for Advanced Lessons?Youre pretty sure that youve passed the intermediate level and have a solid grasp on grammar. All good.If you want to know just where on the fluency scale you land , we’ve got you covered. The Common European Framework of Reference for Languages  (CEFRL) is a guide to gauge where you place with regard to language learning. It will tell you when is the best time to consider advanced coursework.So youve checked out where you stand, and are ready to move on?Excellent news! Lets get you up to an advanced level and beyond with your choice of language lessons.The Gold Medal Guide to 30 Resources for Advanced Language LessonsWhat to Expect from Advanced Language LessonsAt this point, there are some fairly hardcore standards.Expect a high level of proficiency to be required in all activities, including communication and coursework. If you struggle a bit at first, thats fine. Don’t give up. Accept the challenge and youll see results.All your coursework will be in the target language. Shelve your native language at the door, because it wont be spoken in these courses!Basically the same tools you used to achieve proficiency to the advanced level are necessary to bring it higher. So dig in and intensify whats already working for you.Advice, Tools and Strategies for Advanced Language LessonsHere are a few tips to help you get started.Practical things, like  browsing the internet  in your target language, advance learning at a rapid rate.Record yourself  speaking. Then, compare your pronunciation and intonation to native speakers. Adjust accordingly, record again and compare. There isnt a deadline on learning (unless you actually have a deadline!) so take the time to perfect your speech.Keep a vocabulary journal to accumulate new words. It doesnt need to be fancy, a simple notebook will do. One of the best ways to advance a language learning endeavor is to increase the number of words available for use. The more you know, the more you can speak, read and understand. So, concentrate on filling that journal.To get you started, here are some advanced vocabulary lists:To bump it up in French, try this flashcard deck on Quizlet. Flashc ards are always a big help!Zip toward your speaking dreams in Spanish  with this advanced vocabulary list on Memrise.You’ll be conversing like a native in German if you integrate these advanced vocabulary words from the Cram site to your learning adventure.Japanese is your target language? Gain proficiency using this advanced vocabulary list on Memrise.Theres a Chinese vocabulary list  here on Games2LearnChinese  list thats  outstanding, and will certainly help fill your word journal.Why not pop in a foreign language film on DVD? Maybe search Netflix for a comedy? Chilling with good movies is an excellent way to bring advanced language learning into everyday life.Turn off the subtitles and make your brain work. Films in your target language force acquisition of conversational skills, as those let-me-think-about-that moments get your brain working overtime. And that can be missing from other types of study. Not to mention, theyre entertaining!Online radio  is another method for bri nging language into your homeâ€"and your mind. Try searching this collection of online radio in foreign languages from Omniglot. The content will bring a bit of culture into your learning adventure. Broadcasts will be current, so youll hear relevant topics delivered in authentic voices.These tips really do help facilitate advanced language learning. I know from personal experience, because Ive used every single one!Moving from proficient to fluent in Italian was not an overnight endeavor. I hit a plateau just past the intermediate stage, and knew Id have to shake things up to get back on track.I used flashcards, movies, music and vocabulary lists. The emphasis on conversationally utilizing the language at home made the advanced lessons sink in more readily.Writing and speaking can be an indication of how well we know a language, so focus on both. Allocate time each day to work on these areas and youll find improvement with less-than-brain-breaking difficulty.So really, dont discount the no-fail methods that got you to the point youre at now. They brought you this far and, if amped up, theyll carry you further.Looking for Local Advanced Language Lessons? Explore:Many cities have classes. With such diverse populations, its just logical that metropolitan areas encourage language learning.There are couple of noteworthy places to study if youre adaptable to changing locations.AbroadI admit, the idea of studying a languageâ€"any language!â€"in a foreign country  is a dream come true. This can also be quite realistic. LSI Paris offers courses in a number of foreign languages. If you take a course through IES Abroad Paris, there are summer courses available, so when youre not working you can stroll the cobblestone streets or visit the Louvre. Tres chic!Many major cities in Europe and the world at large have their own language institutes, devoted to teaching numerous languages. Well introduce you to some institutes in American cities below, but you can rest assured tha t any mid-sized city will have some options available to you. Just run a quick search online!BostonBoston, steeped in rich historical allure, is also home to great advanced language learning resources. CBS Boston has compiled a nice list of top-notch language schools in the area.Los AngelesLos Angeles  has great programs for language learning, like the Beverly Hills Lingual Institute. And who knows? While youre there studying, you might run into a foreign film star or twoâ€"a perfect moment to strut your language skills.Additionally, many universities and libraries offer courses in all levels of language learning. The views are spectacular and the campus is beautifulâ€"UCLA offers advanced language courses that will take your skill to a higher level.ChicagoSummer learning programs in the Windy City at the University of Chicago  cover several languages. Theyre worth checking out if youre nearby or planning a move!New YorkIn the Big Apple? New York University  has top-notch programs, and CBS New York can help you identify more options in the area.Resources for Finding Advanced Language LessonsThere are tons of resources for advanced language lessons online. A few clicks of your mouse, and youre in business!French Need online French help? Try the site French-Exam as well as French By French. Both offer outstanding resources targeted to more advanced and nearly-fluent language learners.Spanish Online materials for studying Spanish are extensive, even at the advanced level. Practical Spanish  is worth checking out. Lengalias Spanish course even offers a placement test to determine your correct level of study before you get started.The Study Spanish  site is filled with resources, including a word-of-the-day link (think vocabulary building and that word journal!), podcasts and free tutorials.German German study help is readily available online. Free German lessons keep the learning ball rolling with ActiLingua Academy. Utilizing the advanced-level worksheets on deut schdrang.com  is  a clever tip for facilitating study, and they’re not available everywhere so this is an interesting find. And if you need to concentrate heavily on grammar, there are some outstanding resources for German learning on  free-german-lessons-online.com.Japanese Searching for advanced Japanese learning online? This  Ninja guide to Japanese  looks very comprehensive, is a minimal investment and seems designed to hold any learners attention.Chinese Chinese language learners will get advanced help from Chinese Pod. The site is interesting and materials are easily accessed.Udemy is an online resource that offers all levels of Chinese learning, including advanced lessons. (Udemy is worth checking out for other languages as well, and is a great way to find affordable video courses for specific language subjects.)If the language youre studying isnt listed already, dont despair! There are plenty of free advanced learning materials online for a variety of languages! Try Open C ulture, Duolingo, BBC Languages  or the Foreign Services Institute  for an extensive variety of advanced language lessons.Youve Got This!Acing advanced language lessons is in your wheelhouse if you follow the tips, find a suitable course and apply yourself.Nail one languageâ€"then begin the next! And One More ThingAdvanced learners love learning languages with FluentU. FluentU makes it possible to learn languages  from music videos, commercials, news and inspiring talks.With FluentU, you learn real languagesâ€"the same way that real people speak them. FluentU has a wide variety of videos, like movie trailers, funny commercials and web series, as you can see here:FluentU App Browse ScreenFluentU has interactive captions that let you tap on any word to see an image, definition, audio and useful examples. Now native language content is within reach with interactive transcripts.Didnt catch something? Go back and listen again. Missed a word? Hover over or tap on the subtitles to instan tly view definitions.FluentU Interactive TranscriptsYou can learn all the vocabulary in any video with FluentUs quiz mode. Swipe left or right to see  more examples for the word you’re learning.FluentU Has Quizzes for Every VideoAnd FluentU always keeps track of vocabulary that you’re learning. It uses that vocab to give you a 100% personalized experience by recommending videos and examples.