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The two most important lessons … | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| Ari Heptaglot Senior Member Norway Joined 6584 days ago 2314 posts - 5695 votes  Speaks: Swedish*, English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Mandarin, Cantonese Studies: Czech, Latin, German | Message 1 of 2 10 February 2010 at 9:46pm | IP Logged |
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… that I've learned about learning languages:
Number one: Find a method and stick to it. When I started learning Mandarin, I got half a dozen different resources and tried to use them all at once. It didn't work at all. I got distracted, divided my attention, didn't follow any sensible plan and ended up learning very little. It wasn't until I chose one single method that I started to actually learn. Get a routine and go through it systematically. Number two: Switch methods when it's not working anymore. My greatest moments of exhuberance in language learning have been when my current method has started to be seriously affected by the Law of Diminishing Returns and I've decided to do it differently. It's important that you don't switch methods willy-nilly (see above), but when you feel you're reaching a plateau, find a different method. This has several advantages: 1: You get a fresh way of working with your language, which will renew interest and motivation. 2: You can use the knowledge about learning that you've collected lately and maybe find a better, more efficient method. 3: Every method has strong points and weak points. By switching methods you'll start to work more on something that's a bit underdeveloped, since it's been neglected by your current method. This will cause rapid improvement in this area, since the rest of your abilities are further along and can help the weak area catch up. I thought this might be of use to someone. I just switched methods and I'm very happy at the moment, so I thought I'd share. 6 persons have voted this message useful | |
| psy88 Senior Member United States Joined 5593 days ago 469 posts - 882 votes Studies: Spanish*, Japanese, Latin, French | Message 2 of 2 10 February 2010 at 10:38pm | IP Logged |
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I agree with you. It is important to stay with a single systematic approach, but it also wise to know what to "shift gears" and try something different.Knowing when to shift can be tricky. I have found that when things were getting difficult I would be tempted to abandon what I was using in favor of some other material that offered the promise of an easier, less effort approach. If you are lured away, the new material may indeed, at first, seem easier and perhaps more effortless, but it may be due to the work you did with the first program that makes it seem that way. The temptation to seek out another program may arise when you again reach a plateau with your learning.
I guess the challenge is to be able to discern if you need to shift because of the Diminishing Returns Ari cites, or, if it is due to some-dare I say it?- laziness on your part. When done for the proper reason, a shift adds a great psychological boost to your studies and helps you to progress. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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