Trot for TBI

“Are all apostles? Are all prophets?
Are all teachers? Do all do miracles?
Do all have gifts of healing?
Do all speak in other languages?
Do all interpret?

But desire the greater gifts. And I will show you an even better way.”

– 1 Corinthians 12: 29 – 31 (HCSB)

Here are three ideas for studying and learning a foreign language while facing a traumatic brain injury.  These are techniques which have helped me immensely in my personal life:  reading, listening and movies (preferably ones originally produced in the foreign language).

Reading can aid in learning grammar and spelling.  When you rad material originally written in the language, it facilitates recognition of errors in your own writing and the work of others because you have immersed yourself in text compiled by a native speaker.  This can also provide you with a better grasp of context, cultural facets and idioms.

Listening is important not only for learning vocabulary but also in improving your comprehension.  Listening to material carted and produced by native speakers also exposes you to dialectal differences and cultural aspects.  You may learn about leaders, the history, and current issues of a region.

Watching movies or TV shows does include listening, but also includes a visual display of culture, dialect and history.  With movies, just as with reading and listening, find films about subjects that interest you.  If you watch a movie or show that is interesting to you, then you will be more engaged with the subject and will learn more.  Anything that you are already interested in will deepen your knowledge of a foreign language & facilitate learning it.

These three techniques can greatly help anyone in learning a language; but they are particularly useful if you also face a traumatic brain injury.