February 10, 2011
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how to learn a language
- 1 – be exposed to it (a lot)
2 – use it for real communication (a lot)
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so easy
but very time consuming.
frequently frustrating. also frequently rewarding, fun, and SO good for your brain. for humanity. and the general good.
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you want to speed up the process, do more of each, more of the time.
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(i wanted to post some new photos but somehow, can’t)
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how to ‘teach’ a language: – forget teaching – work on facilitating the learning of a new language (this is a little more complicated to do well)
provide exposure to the target language (lots and lots) – preferably make much of it challenging but not TOO challenging, just above the level the student can produce. provide models of what they might need to express. make it interesting. make it intriguing. make it real.
provide opportunities for real communication (lots and lots) – make it fun. make it exhilarating. make it useful. make it real.
facilitate the breaching of any gaps between what is intended and what is produced.
provide opportunities to reflect on successes and failures of attempts at communication.
provide your students tools and strategies to go about communicating despite any lacks.
motivate them to practice outside class, to find ways to increase their exposure to and use of the language.
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there is more, so much more, for good language teaching
and
learning can be speeded up in various different ways.
but basically it comes down to maximize exposure to target language, and maximize your use of it.
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Comments (3)
having an exchange student highlights the difference between “correct, grammatical English” and the English that everyone in a given area speaks on a day to day basis. Alex has an excellent grasp of technical English but is weak on conversational English. the modern electronic communication tools like the computer allow him to go to his room and return to Brazil in all but physical location. so yeah, it is hard! peace, Al
@pukemeister -
yep. of course Alex’ case, and anyone living in the target language environment, the whole process of doing 1 and 2 are so much easier, or at least more inevitable – they’re living and learning a second language, not a foreign language, its all real, immediate and in their face, even when they get sick of it. the little withdrawal to some down skpye time is totally necessary and understandable! =P I’m sure alex will do great. how much longer is his stay?
its a much harder task to master a ‘forgeign’ language where its all so much more distant and put-off-able… that’s where we need to work really hard, both students, and teachers, if we want to see real progress…
he’s here until early June – 10 months – i think i’ll miss him! more peace, Al