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Am I Going to be under hypnosis?
That depends on how you define hypnosis. In academic and therapeutic terms, the hypnotic state is described as a relaxed and focused state of mind, particularly beneficial for learning and creating positive changes. That is exactly the state of mind we are working with in this system.
But if you think of hypnosis in terms of some weird, trance-like state of mind, like on stage, when subjects lose their awareness and will, then - of course - absolutely not. You will be relaxed, but conscious throughout the session, actively participating. The nice thing is that relaxation is counteracting stress, therefore you will not just learn more, but also feel better!
Relaxation and visualization are skills, which need to be practiced. We will start easy, in the first sessions with only a bit of relaxation, gradually deepening its level and effectiveness. You will always work at a level you feel comfortable with.
But if you think of hypnosis in terms of some weird, trance-like state of mind, like on stage, when subjects lose their awareness and will, then - of course - absolutely not. You will be relaxed, but conscious throughout the session, actively participating. The nice thing is that relaxation is counteracting stress, therefore you will not just learn more, but also feel better!
Relaxation and visualization are skills, which need to be practiced. We will start easy, in the first sessions with only a bit of relaxation, gradually deepening its level and effectiveness. You will always work at a level you feel comfortable with.
Does this work with the unconscious and conscious mind?
Yes, it does. Most traditional language learning system teach the conscious mind, assuming if we know enough vocabulary and rules of grammar, we know that language. (Painful) practice has shown that this is far from the truth. Years and years of learning a language basic on logic alone leaves many pupils still unable to hold a fluent conversation. In order to master a language, the unconscious mind has to be engaged also: after all language is an automated process. (You don't speak your mother tongue while thinking of verbs and nouns and word order, do you?) Visualization and personal participation engages the unconscious mind, which is absolutely necessary to master a language.
On the other hand, there is no need to exclude the conscious, logical mind either. For example, in HypnoGerman you will get things like grammar and cultural connotations explained in English: so your conscious mind knows what your unconscious mind has been practicing. This helps speed up the learning process and satisfies intellectual curiosity.
It is interesting to note that there was an experiment, conducted in the former Soviet Union, to teach students a new language while asleep. Remarkably, it sort of worked: the material played during sleep was remembered in the morning. However, the experiment had to be interrupted, because the subject started to show (the often rather severe) symptoms of sleep deprivation!
On the other hand, there is no need to exclude the conscious, logical mind either. For example, in HypnoGerman you will get things like grammar and cultural connotations explained in English: so your conscious mind knows what your unconscious mind has been practicing. This helps speed up the learning process and satisfies intellectual curiosity.
It is interesting to note that there was an experiment, conducted in the former Soviet Union, to teach students a new language while asleep. Remarkably, it sort of worked: the material played during sleep was remembered in the morning. However, the experiment had to be interrupted, because the subject started to show (the often rather severe) symptoms of sleep deprivation!
Is it easy to learn like this?
Not easy, but effective! It gives you the strongest possible foundations and allows you to actually become fluent.
Learning a language is never easy in a sense that it is a gigantic intellectual undertaking like getting a degree from university or writing a novel. In our fast-pace, "instant" culture it is a hard sell to tell students to be patient. However, the journey with HypnoGerman is highly enjoyable, varied, and addictive. It won't feel like you are senselessly laboring forever, rather taking ownership over greater and greater parts of the language.
Learning a language is never easy in a sense that it is a gigantic intellectual undertaking like getting a degree from university or writing a novel. In our fast-pace, "instant" culture it is a hard sell to tell students to be patient. However, the journey with HypnoGerman is highly enjoyable, varied, and addictive. It won't feel like you are senselessly laboring forever, rather taking ownership over greater and greater parts of the language.
Is there really "no Translation" At all?
Only mostly. Sometimes translation is useful and necessary, so we don't get rid of it entirely. The principle of "no translation" means that we aim to "switch off" the native language chatter in your brain, while you are learning and speaking another language.
This is the most interesting point: doing research inside the mind of genuinely multilingual people (who effortlessly speak two or more languages) are forever-language-students (those who learn, but never master their foreign languages) has revealed one significant difference. Multilingual people switch off the language(s) they are not using at any given moment. There is one language present in their minds. (Unless they are translating for someone else, but that is no longer effortless.)
The trick is to link new language vocabulary to images rather than words in your mother tongue. You have mastered German, if you look at a chair and think: Stuhl, without bringing the English word chair into your awareness.
This is the most interesting point: doing research inside the mind of genuinely multilingual people (who effortlessly speak two or more languages) are forever-language-students (those who learn, but never master their foreign languages) has revealed one significant difference. Multilingual people switch off the language(s) they are not using at any given moment. There is one language present in their minds. (Unless they are translating for someone else, but that is no longer effortless.)
The trick is to link new language vocabulary to images rather than words in your mother tongue. You have mastered German, if you look at a chair and think: Stuhl, without bringing the English word chair into your awareness.
Is there homework?
Yes, and even tests! As the Germans say: Ordnung muss sein! (There must be order!)
You will even be asked to keep a folder with all your materials organised. (After all, this is German we are talking about here... Italian you might be able to learn from scribbling down notes on a serviette over a glass of red wine... but wait, this is bad marketing for German, isn't it?)
Anyway, some things are just really useful. Plus, they give you a wonderful sense of achievement.
(Erfolgserlebnis = an experience of success)
You will even be asked to keep a folder with all your materials organised. (After all, this is German we are talking about here... Italian you might be able to learn from scribbling down notes on a serviette over a glass of red wine... but wait, this is bad marketing for German, isn't it?)
Anyway, some things are just really useful. Plus, they give you a wonderful sense of achievement.
(Erfolgserlebnis = an experience of success)
How long will it take me to learn german?
With HypnoGerman, you will be able to hold your first conversation (getting to know each other) after 8-10 sessions. After one year, you will be able to speak about every-day topics, you'll be able to go shopping, buy food and get around in a German speaking country. After another year (deepening and immersion) you will be able to speak and read about most topics you are interested in, while still building your vocabulary.
HypnoGerman is designed to give you a very solid foundation, whether you want to learn tourist-German, or progress until you can read Goethe's Faust in original (highly recommended, albeit that will take years - after all, even German native speakers take up to 12 years of age (!) to master the entire grammar, including passive voice.)
HypnoGerman is designed to give you a very solid foundation, whether you want to learn tourist-German, or progress until you can read Goethe's Faust in original (highly recommended, albeit that will take years - after all, even German native speakers take up to 12 years of age (!) to master the entire grammar, including passive voice.)
What are the Advantages of learning another language?
Taking into consideration the great intellectual challenge learning a language constitutes, this is a justified question, especially for English speakers, whose mother tongue is so widely spoken.
Yet, the demand for languages is greater than ever: the world is becoming increasingly more globalized, and computers still cannot translate language. Multilinguals earn more and get jobs easier...
Having said that, the benefits are much greater than economic: Learning a language means to penetrate into a culture from within, and creating genuine links to its people. When you learn a new language, in many ways you become a new person. You can experiment with sides of your personality you have not known before and feel more free and fulfilled as a result.
Language learning is also the best training for the brain. It is a myth that the adult brain cannot learn or change as well as children's: what makes it usually rusty is that we do not use it in new ways after a certain age. A new language forces your brain to build new neuronal connections, stay fit and flexible, and combat forgetfulness. (Studies have shown that multilingual peope suffer significantly less from dementia and related illnesses.)
Yet, the demand for languages is greater than ever: the world is becoming increasingly more globalized, and computers still cannot translate language. Multilinguals earn more and get jobs easier...
Having said that, the benefits are much greater than economic: Learning a language means to penetrate into a culture from within, and creating genuine links to its people. When you learn a new language, in many ways you become a new person. You can experiment with sides of your personality you have not known before and feel more free and fulfilled as a result.
Language learning is also the best training for the brain. It is a myth that the adult brain cannot learn or change as well as children's: what makes it usually rusty is that we do not use it in new ways after a certain age. A new language forces your brain to build new neuronal connections, stay fit and flexible, and combat forgetfulness. (Studies have shown that multilingual peope suffer significantly less from dementia and related illnesses.)
What about online Translators?
Avoid them like the devil avoids holy water. Computers still cannot translate between languages or "speak" to any satisfying extent. (Attempts to create artificial intelligence are still limited to feeding the machine pre-arranged sentences and phrases.) That shows how complex the skill really is! So, and online translator will inevitably teach you the wrong things, which you want to avoid.
The hearty advice is to use dictionaries for your studies, for example LEO.
The hearty advice is to use dictionaries for your studies, for example LEO.
