CIA seeks to broaden foreign language skills - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com

Hi Globalers. Below is a link to good article about the importance of knowing a foreign language. In fact, many of you in my classes are speakers of the critical languages needed by the CIA. I call you English Language Agents in my classes for a good reason: I think, in order to maximize the degree of English acquisition and acculturation you would need to practice our class code is LOE--Listen and Observe Everything. In a sense, then, you are spies collecting linguistic evidence in English and American culture practices, so to say. In addition, I really want to emphasise the value of training and disciplining yourself to think in English. Moreover, you need to "eavesdrop" around Americans, for example in restaurants, just like a spy would do and try to analyse and understand what English speaking Americans are saying. Do the same thing when you are watching News, TV, on the Internet, on planes, trains, ships, boats etc. Then, too, don't forget watch me too! I am kind of a typical American, an image which I suppose has changed over the years...In essence, though, I encourage you to train your ears to listen to and observe everything including what you are not looking for--just as a spy would do, and in the event that you discover any idioms and strange vocabulary you don't understand text them or record them on your cells or iphones or blackberries or other e-devices---or memorise them and then ask a friendly native speaker--including your English teachers--to explain them to you. Afterwards, use the words and idioms in real-time over and over and over and over again until they belong to you and not just the Americans who so casually express them with ease and linguistic confidence....Okay, I am starting to "bird walk"..I better sign off...seaya on Monday ELAs!

CIA seeks to broaden foreign language skills - Politics AP - MiamiHerald.com