Newsgroups: sci.lang
From: Andre@shappski.demon.co.uk (Andre Shapps)
Path: cantaloupe.srv.cs.cmu.edu!das-news2.harvard.edu!news2.near.net!news.mathworks.com!udel!gatech!howland.reston.ans.net!news.sprintlink.net!pipex!peernews.demon.co.uk!shappski.demon.co.uk!Andre
Subject: Re: Shortwave radio as language-learning tool
References: <Ja1Zl9K.padrote@delphi.com>  <howYcXA.padrote@delphi.com> <3j1ptp$mnk@lyra.csx.cam.ac.uk> <846530592wnr@shappski.demon.co.uk>
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Date: Sun, 5 Mar 1995 20:05:54 +0000
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In article: <Ja1Zl9K.padrote@delphi.com>  John Ayala <padrote@delphi.com> 
writes:
> 
> Andre Shapps <Andre@shappski.demon.co.uk> writes:
>  
> >I can't see how much you could learn with radio as your only reference. 
Perhaps 
> >you'd end up imposing your own meanings on words and phrases. Maybe you 
would 
> >happily listen to the radio, oblivious to the fact that you've developed a 
> >completely coherent, yet incorrect, interpretation of the language in 
question. 
> >Unlikely I think.
>  
>    I never suggested that a foreign language could be learned *solely* by
> listening to shortwave radio. A book on grammar and a dictionary are also
> required, of course.

OK, then I'd say that at at worst it can't do any harm and at best, which is 
what I'm banking on because I do a lot of listening, it may do at lot of good.

  [snipette]

> Nowadays I suppose the same thing could be done with television, given all
> the satellite broadcasts available. Nevertheless I think a lot of expensive
> equipment would be required, whereas a cheap shortwave radio can be 
purchased
> for under $100.
>  
> John

Well that's an unfortunate geographical reality for people 
living on  your side of the atlantic. As I said, we get 
plenty of foreign TV (and radio) channels on cable here and 
if you don't have cable, a simple satelite setup that only 
points to one, or possible two satelites costs around $200 
.. $300. Even this opition give you French, German, 
Spanish, Italian, Arabic (various dialects) Japanese, Dutch 
and a few others. This is a basic satelite installation 
that most people get just to watch MTV and a few sports, 
news and movie channels (including some rather interesting 
Dutch ones).

It's a shame, there's nothing much you can do about it. I 
must say, though, that every time I visit the States I see 
more and more foreign language TV on cable. I think if you 
know what's on when, it's worth setting the vid.

Oh - and we get all the American Breakfast shows too 
(around lunchtime) for what it's worth!

-- Andre Shapps

