The Way of the Linguist: A Language Learning Odyssey
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The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey. It is now a cliché that the world is a smaller place. We think nothing of jumping on a plane to travel to another country or continent. The most exotic locations are now destinations for mass tourism. Small business people are dealing across frontiers and language barriers like never before. The Internet brings different languages and cultures to our finger-tips. English, the hybrid language of an island at the western extremity of Europe seems to have an unrivalled position as an international medium of communication. But historically periods of cultural and economic domination have never lasted forever. Do we not lose something by relying on the wide spread use of English rather than discovering other languages and cultures? As citizens of this shrunken world, would we not be better off if we were able to speak a few languages other than our own? The answer is obviously yes. Certainly Steve Kaufmann thinks so, and in his busy life as a diplomat and businessman he managed to learn to speak nine languages fluently and observe first hand some of the dominant cultures of Europe and Asia. Why do not more people do the same? In his book The Way of The Linguist, A language learning odyssey, Steve offers some answers. Steve feels anyone can learn a language if they want to. He points out some of the obstacles that hold people back. Drawing on his adventures in Europe and Asia, as a student and businessman, he describes the rewards that come from knowing languages. He relates his evolution as a language learner, abroad and back in his native Canada and explains the kind of attitude that will enable others to achieve second language fluency. Many people have taken on the challenge of language learning but have been frustrated by their lack of success. This book offers detailed advice on the kind of study practices that will achieve language breakthroughs. Steve has developed a language learning system a
About the Author
Steve Kaufmann grew up in the English speaking part of Montreal, Quebec in the 1950s. Although he was taught French in school, he could not communicate in that language. It was only after he left high school that he became interested in learning French and was able to make himself fluent. This experience inspired a life-long interest in the discovery of languages and other cultures. After two years at Montreal's McGill University, Steve hitchhiked on a tramp freighter to get to Europe. He ended up studying in France while supporting himself at various odd jobs. He graduated from the elite Paris School of Political Science, l'Institut d'Etudes Politiques in 1966 and entered the Canadian Foreign Service. As a Diplomat, Steve continued to immerse himself in the culture and languages of other countries. In preparation for the opening of diplomat relations with China, Steve was assigned to Hong Kong to learn Mandarin. During this time he made regular visits to China which was then at the height of the Cultural Revolution. He next served at the Canadian Embassy in Japan, where he made himself fluent in Japanese, essentially by studying in his spare time. While at the Embassy, Steve was heavily involved in developing markets for Canadian forest products. In 1974 Steve left the Diplomatic Service to establish and manage Asian subsidiaries for two major Canadian forest products companies. In the early 1980s he returned to live in Vancouver. In 1987 he founded his own company which today has offices in Japan, Sweden and Canada, and of which he is the President and CEO. Steve is fluent in French, Spanish, German, Italian, Mandarin, Cantonese, Japanese, Swedish and English and is working on two more, Korean and Portuguese. Steve I married with two sons and five grandchildren and lives in Vancouver, Canada. In 2003, Steve decided to write of his experiences in exploring and discovering different cultures and languages in the hope that it would encourage more people to become "
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6 reviews
29 of 37 people found the following review helpful
Page after page of a guy puffing himself up
1 Mar 2010
Format:Paperback
In THE LINGUIST: A Personal Guide to Language Learning, Steve Kaufmann promises to impart to you the insights that he has gained over a lifetime of learning several languages. The way the book was published and the amateur typesetting that greets you as you open the volume don't augur well. And indeed, the author ends up being something of a doddering old man, who goes into long tangents that have little to do with his proclaimed mission of language education, e.g.:
"As a poor student, I did not often have the chance to enjoy haute cuisine. However, it was not uncommon when I was hitchhiking in Southern France for truck drivers to share with me a full course lunch, including wine. How they continued driving after that was a bit of a mystery to me. I understand that the control on drinking and driving in France has become more severe in recent years."
After this there then follows a long explication of his hitchhiking experience with no connection to language learning. Virtually every stage of Kaufmann's life is marked by a long series of reminisces on local cuisine or geography with language learning being an afterthought.
After Kaufmann's biographical and philosophical musings, one finally comes to a chapter entitled "How to Learn a Language". But here the real tips are obscured by what is essentially a long sales pitch for Kaufmann's own website. A 7-page long appendix is just a collection of views on immigration to Canada.
My training is in linguistics and I travel most of the year seeking out new languages to learn, but I try to give only vague answers when asked by others what languages I speak for a number of reasons, among them 1) retaining a language after you've learnt it is a lifelong effort and your skills can atrophy without you even realizing it, and 2) the matter of what is really means to speak a foreign language fluently is difficult to pin down -- for example, I might comfortably immerse myself in village life in many languages, but the language's literary standard may remain a challenge. Presenting yourself as an authority on language learning is just to invite people to find cracks in the facade -- certainly for all my own personal achievements, I too would ultimately sound ridiculous if I wrote as Kaufmann does.
I suspect that this book will be of little use to most linguaphiles, who tend to establish their own methods through their own personal experience and not that of others. The general public wouldn't even ever come across this.
"As a poor student, I did not often have the chance to enjoy haute cuisine. However, it was not uncommon when I was hitchhiking in Southern France for truck drivers to share with me a full course lunch, including wine. How they continued driving after that was a bit of a mystery to me. I understand that the control on drinking and driving in France has become more severe in recent years."
After this there then follows a long explication of his hitchhiking experience with no connection to language learning. Virtually every stage of Kaufmann's life is marked by a long series of reminisces on local cuisine or geography with language learning being an afterthought.
After Kaufmann's biographical and philosophical musings, one finally comes to a chapter entitled "How to Learn a Language". But here the real tips are obscured by what is essentially a long sales pitch for Kaufmann's own website. A 7-page long appendix is just a collection of views on immigration to Canada.
My training is in linguistics and I travel most of the year seeking out new languages to learn, but I try to give only vague answers when asked by others what languages I speak for a number of reasons, among them 1) retaining a language after you've learnt it is a lifelong effort and your skills can atrophy without you even realizing it, and 2) the matter of what is really means to speak a foreign language fluently is difficult to pin down -- for example, I might comfortably immerse myself in village life in many languages, but the language's literary standard may remain a challenge. Presenting yourself as an authority on language learning is just to invite people to find cracks in the facade -- certainly for all my own personal achievements, I too would ultimately sound ridiculous if I wrote as Kaufmann does.
I suspect that this book will be of little use to most linguaphiles, who tend to establish their own methods through their own personal experience and not that of others. The general public wouldn't even ever come across this.
16 of 20 people found the following review helpful
Inspiring reflections from a world citizen
26 Mar 2008
Format:Paperback
This inspiring memoir celebrates the power of languages, and the learning of languages, to bring people together, share insights, and create new connections. A global nomad long before this phrase became a popular cliche, the diplomat-businessman author Steve Kaufmann provides practical tips for becoming a world citizen, master of languages, and staying sane. This book should find a small, loyal audience among linguists, language teachers, and travelers.
5 of 7 people found the following review helpful
Great Motivation for Potential Linguists
1 Jan 2010
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Steve Kaufmann's book offers great insight and motivation as to how anyone can become fluent in foreign languages. Throughout the book, Kaufmann details his personal experiences with language learning, the struggles he faced, and how he ultimately prevailed in becoming fluent in an ever-increasing list of languages.
Perhaps most importantly, Kaufmann explains that the attitude of the learner is paramount in achieving foreign language success. Without inherent motivation, dedication, and desire to become fluent in a foreign language, few learners succeed in achieving foreign language fluency. Kaufmann also points out that self-study, rather than classroom teaching, is the key to truly learning languages.
For anyone interested in achieving foreign language fluency, Kaufmann's book is a breath of fresh air. His suggestions are simple and his methods plentiful. Combined with self-discipline and a positive attitude, Kaufmann's book is a valuable aid for all potential linguists.
Perhaps most importantly, Kaufmann explains that the attitude of the learner is paramount in achieving foreign language success. Without inherent motivation, dedication, and desire to become fluent in a foreign language, few learners succeed in achieving foreign language fluency. Kaufmann also points out that self-study, rather than classroom teaching, is the key to truly learning languages.
For anyone interested in achieving foreign language fluency, Kaufmann's book is a breath of fresh air. His suggestions are simple and his methods plentiful. Combined with self-discipline and a positive attitude, Kaufmann's book is a valuable aid for all potential linguists.
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