Learning a foreign language takes time. It is something that no person can accomplish in a day. And even so, when a second language is being practiced for some time now, let’s say years, the speaker may still stumble in his grammar, vocabulary and other small details. This is the fact with learning another language other than a person’s mother tongue.

Most likely, people who have adopted a second language for learning on their own or through a course would still meet problems which will not surface until later experiences require it. But as a person’s learning capability progresses on, so is his ability to speak the language even more properly. The German language may have many words that are similar with the words of the English language but it does not entirely mean that it means the same thing.

The pronunciation is the key in using the German language. Nobody expects you to be perfect at first try but of course there is always room for improvement if you just let yourself have it. Notice how the letters have their own distinguishing sound in the German vocabulary regardless you are referring to the letter W in English while pronouncing a German word.

One must realize that the German language has extended pronunciation patterns on some of its consonants and on most of its vowels. There are both short and long proper pronunciation patterns on it’s a’s, e’s, o’s and u’s. Aside from this, there are words in German which require Umlauts. These are the letters which has symbols right on top of it.

Though many people focuses on the grammar points in learning a language, the proper way of pronouncing the words of a language also counts. This way, an evident and clear understanding between you and the listener wouldn’t be so difficult to achieve. Learn what you can at first, this of course includes the proper way of constructing the words in sentences. When you are full with what you can, speak it, let it flow out of your mouth and be open to corrections that are bound to be made by listeners and natural German speakers nearby.

“Comment allez-vous?”

Of course you would know right away that the sentence above is the French version for saying “how are you?” in English. Learning the French language can be more challenging compared to other foreign languages that most people find interesting in doing nowadays. The reason that French is challenging compared to Spanish, German and Italian is because it has a completely unique way of pronunciation.

The French language is also tricky with some of the letters, each of which has different functions depending on the position it has on a word or a sentence. You have to be a good observer on this aspect. Not only that, the French language has a certain conversational style that sounds like a slurring sound. This is called liaison. In liaison alone, there are already several conditions which you need to follow and then a few more set of pronunciation rules.

In response to French questions, you will also need to observe your intonation. Most of the time, a rising tone is only applicable for yes/no questions and on other things or simple conversational patterns, intonation goes to the end of the sentence. The only similarity the English and French language has is the number of the letters on the alphabet. Both languages have the complete A-Z alphabet.

The next question is how can you learn and memorize the French language with all the contrasting characteristics the English and French language has? In memorization, there is a technique used to enhance memorization skills. This method can be used perfectly for learning a second language and any language to say the least. An example below shows how the technique works.

Before you get to the other side of the building, you need to cross a long bridge over an extremely wide pond.

The words are bridge and pond. But we used pond only to associate it with the French word pont which means “bridge” because the two words sound alike and the human mind will find it easy to link the two together as one word. The words can be found all in one silly sentence and it’s also great in allowing your brain to exercise, causing it to function and remember things better.

I love a good metaphor. An especially powerful metaphor for me lately has been that of an onion. The Cleveland Method deals with a deep understanding of our core drives and unconscious motivations. When we focus inward, only then can we genuinely understand others.

In recent months I’ve noticed a tremendous amount of growth in many of my students who have been applying persuasion techniques not just to business and sales, but to every facet of their lives.

One of my students, an adviser who is becoming more and more successful in his business and financial life, was telling me on a recent phone call how these skills have not only affected his “bottom line” but they have meant so much to him in other ways. As a result of one technique, he stopped smoking and some other incredibly positive things have taken place in his life. (This is what I live for. When my students have breakthroughs in all areas.)

I have experienced this in my own life as well. After shedding 140 pounds of unwanted fat, and still going strong, I’ve seen the figurative layers of the onion being peeled away in a tangible way. As we peel and change and get to the core of what is important in life, we find even more enhancements and improvements we can make.

Peeling away the layers of the onion, shows us what’s underneath. I peeled away layers of unnecessary padding and found another problem that needs to be addressed. A hernia. And now I’m able to help myself even further.

Metaphors motivate us to understand the power of our unconscious drives and the ultimate motivating factors in life. While m focus in my programs has become more laser focused on how to persuade our affluent clientle and prospects, I see that the bigger picture is fantastically important. We are our own first project in persuasion. When we learn to influence and persuade ourselves, that is the first brick in the foundation.

I can absolutely guaranty you that there’s never been a great persuader on the face of the planet who doesn’t have a degree of mastery over his own life. Before I lost the weight, I had a very conflicted relationship with the thinking, the practice, and the actual doing. Eventually, something clicked. I got it. I understood on another level that as an onion, the first step is to peel away the skin, and to keep peeling through visualization, through tapping, through intention, through coaching, through determination, through the universe system-it all came together as if I were a magician and finally figured out the alchemical recipe for my own self mastery.

This is all a process. I will be the first to say that this cannot be mastered. It would be arrogant to say that I have mastered persuasion or self-persuasion. It can’t be done. The minute I feel I’ve attained the highest I can, what point is there in continuing? Continuing to grow and evolve is what keeps us vibrant. My hope is that while I continue to focus primarily on persuading the affluent, that the bigger picture of evolution, growth and persuasion is really what my students come away with.