Instant Communications puts into practice some important principles that will help you to communicate in no time. If you need to learn the language more thoroughly, for reading or writing for example, you probably would be better of with more traditional approaches (have you visited your library yet?).

• To deal with basic, everyday situations vocabulary can be radically trimmed down.
• Words or phrases that can be used in multiple contexts are more useful to learn at the outset.
• The skill to prioritise your language needs can accelerate learning greatly.
• Real language learning takes place with real people.
• Learning how to learn a language, during and after "study sessions" is the key to success.
• Learnt language resides in the mind not as a dictionary but as an experience. (Think about that ..)
• Communication is not limited to mastering a language. Context, gestures and pictures, if employed effectively, can also be important elements of "getting the message across".

Assumptions we've made about you ..
(Tick as applicable ..)

• I'm not learning this language for the esoteric pleasure but to survive in-country in everyday situations.
• I'm genuinely interested in the people and the culture that this language serves as medium for.
• I'm (nearly) beyond the feeling embarrassed and self-conscious phase that typically inflicts many once-in-a-lifetime travellers.

Learning tools

In the course of studying with Instant Communications you will be offered some learning tips and tools. Choose only the ones that work for you and keep inventing more:

• Crib sheets to refer to before, and while, you are confronted with a particular situation
  ( I could use crib sheets for: )
• Study sheets to revise and anchor what you know already
• Exercises to apply learnt words or phrases yourself
  (You should note your own ideas for exercises for any word or phrase learnt and try them out)
• Mnemonic tips and suggestions. to anchor learnt vocabulary better.
• Your idea:

Do's and don'ts

• Don't try to learn it all, or even read everything/follow all the links etc.
• Do change the order. E.g. do those exercises first that you think you should, or can, learn first
• Do mark/scribble/doodle in the spaces provided (save the page to your own computer to retain your notes)
• Do improve the contents and layout of study references.
• Don't spend excessive time on inventing ingenious mnemonics, it defeats the purpose.
• Do listen to the language, on television or the radio, any opportunity you get. Listen to the sound of the language (think: "If asked, how would I characterise the sound of it?"). If you recognise any words then that is a bonus. Follow up the suggested radio links.
• Do practise aloud - read, recite, exercise with your voice systems activated.
• Do look at other teach-yourself guides. Instant Communications is only the beginning.
• Do remember that you are different. Everybody has their own way of best learning a new language.
• Do realise that it only takes a few phrases to communicate hugely better than with no phrases at all.
• Don't expect too much of yourself. As a language novice you can enjoy privileges you'll lose later on.

Imagine

Before launching into a section, be it for your first introduction to the vocabulary covered or when you are revising, take 20 seconds - no longer - to imagine yourself in the setting described. Important - focus on all the details: the noise, the smell, the way you and others are dressed, what kind of bystanders could be there etc. - just visualise anything that comes to mind. Also, guess the phrases that you may encounter in that setting.

Then as you concentrate on the new phrases, hear yourself and the imagined characters use these while acting like real people at the same time.

To help you with this, every theme is introduced with one or more "Imagine" situations.

Define yourself

Practice

Before and during the trip, do both 'classroom' style exercises and as-you-go practice. For instance, is someone just passing you a cup of coffee? - What was the word for milk again? How did one say "Thank you very much!"? (So what, if your mother doesn't actuallly speak any Chinese)

Instant Communications will not necessarily spell out all the possible exercises for you. Say you have just learnt the essential phrase of "Which way to the railway station?". The exercise suggest itself: "Which way to the ...?" and insert all the word's you want to master. Anchor the phrases better, by imagining all the details of a situation in which you could be using this phrase. If you happen to be sitting at a bus stop with your notes in hand, even if you're still back home, imagine yourself tapping on the shoulder of that serene-looking old man gazing at the timetables and asking the question.

There are two ways of getting the meaning across:

1) Achieve a perfect translation that incorporates all nuances of situation, level of formality, implied politeness, demonstration of literate prowess etc

2) Imperfect, minimalist, relying on situational context (What would the person behind the counter expect you to be asking at ... a railway information office?), but achieving the desired answer.

Have a go in English - express the following phrases in such a way so as to allow a foreigner with little English to understand the meaning:

Interesting grammar points worth being aware of but not crucial at this stage- and therefore deserving a low priority - are noted {thus}. For example, in some languages THEY-plural distinguishes by gender. But one gender would suffice at the outset and where appropriate you can add explanatory nouns instead. I.e. "The women, where are they?"

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