#2 Introduction to The Linguist and LingQ

Let's talk about The Linguist system and how to use it. Welcome to The Linguist. Today I am meeting with one of our learners.

What is your name?

My name is Fumiko.

My name is Steve, and I developed The Linguist language learning system. I am glad to meet you.

I am glad to meet you, too.

I think you speak English very well.

My English is OK, but I want to improve. Can you help me?

The Linguist system will help you. The Linguist is a complete system. If you do all the different parts of The Linguist you will develop the attitude you need to learn a new language like English.

Many learners do not have the right attitude towards learning languages. Many learners have poor learning habits. The first step towards success in language learning is to have the right attitude.

Is it enough to have a good attitude and good habits?

No. But it is very very important, perhaps the most important thing. You have to be confident that you can change. You have to believe that a complete system like The Linguist can make you fluent. I know you can do it.

Many learners like to complain that English is difficult. But it is not really difficult if you want to succeed. If I promised you a million dollars if you spoke English more like a native speaker, you would do it. You would find a way to overcome the difficulties. You would not just rely on your teacher and your textbook.

The Linguist will train you in the right attitude. It also will give you another important thing. An efficient method. You will learn a complete method of language learning that you can use your whole life. But for it to work you have to do all the activities. There is a reason why there are eight different activities on our Task List. You must do them all for best results.

What exactly do I need to do?

Mostly you must listen and read a lot. As we talk about The Linguist system our conversations are recorded so that you can listen to them over and over again. You can also read the texts of these conversations again and again. That is what you need to do to get used to the language. You do not learn a language like you learn mathematics. You get used to a language until it becomes a part of you. That is the basic principle of The Linguist system.

As you read these texts you may find words that you do not understand. Double click on them and then click on "save word/phrase" in the upper right hand corner. You will see the meaning of the new word in English and in your own language. Save the word. Save all words that are new to you, or words that you are not fully familiar with. Once you have saved all these new words you will be asked to "update known words" at the bottom of the page. Please do so. This will tell the system that you already know all the words that you did not save. You are building your personal language profile. This is important as you will soon understand.

After you have saved your new words, you can read the text again to save phrases that you want to learn. I will explain more about the importance of phrases later. After you have saved phrases it is time to start listening over and over to this conversation to really make it a part of you.

Go to LISTEN in The Linguist system and download the sound file of this conversation and listen to it many times to get used to it, even though you basically understand it. This way the language will slowly become natural to you.

Then what do I do?

Once you are familiar with one content item, you should go on to the next. Go to CHOOSE in our system and click on it. This will take you to the Linguist Library. Pick another item to study. We recommend you first complete the section called About The Linguist. This will help you properly understand what to do in The Linguist and why it will help you become a natural speaker of English.

Is that all I have to do?

Yes, just follow the instructions on The Linguist Task List. You will notice that there are eight steps to success in learning English on The Linguist task list: CHOOSE-READ-LISTEN-REVIEW-WRITE-SPEAK-PRONOUNCE-MEASURE. Do them all for the best results. The Linguist program is carefully integrated. These steps are all connected in The Linguist system. They are all important. You should do them all. You should make a weekly plan with the amount of time you will spend on each activity.