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Lessons learned from fifty years of theory | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| slucido Bilingual Diglot Senior Member Spain https://goo.gl/126Yv Joined 6677 days ago 1296 posts - 1781 votes  4 sounds Speaks: Spanish*, Catalan* Studies: English | Message 1 of 34 24 October 2010 at 6:08pm | IP Logged | ||
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This is an old FSI document. I think it can be useful for new people.
Lessons learned from fifty years of theory and practice in government language teaching Frederick H. Jackson Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State Marsha A. Kaplan Foreign Service Institute, U.S. Department of State http://www.pseal.org/archives/sla/gurt_1999_07.pdf Lesson 1. Mature adults can learn a foreign language well enough through intensive language study to do things in the language (almost) as well as native speakers. Lesson 2. “Language-learning aptitude” varies among individuals and affects their classroom learning success (but at least some aspects of aptitude can be learned). Lesson 3. There is no “one right way” to teach (or learn) languages, nor is there a single “right” syllabus. Lesson 4. Time on task and the intensity of the learning experience appear crucial. * Learning a language also cannot be done in a short time. * Class size makes a difference. * Focused practice of some kind, including “drills,” appears necessary for almost all language learners to develop confidence and automatic language use. * Immersion experiences, where only the language is used, have great pay-offs in morale, motivation, perception of skill, and stamina in using the language. * There is no substitute for simply spending time using the language. Lesson 5. Learners’ existing knowledge about language affects their learning. All else being equal, the more that learners already know that they can use in learning a new language, the faster and better they will learn. The less they know that they can use, the harder learning will be. Lesson 6. A learner’s prior experience with learning (languages or other skills) also affects classroom learning. * Knowing how to learn a language in a formal setting helps the learner, both cognitively and affectively. In contrast, bilingualism acquired naturally as a child does not, in and of itself, appear to aid in learning a third language in a classroom. Lesson 7. The importance of “automaticity” in building learner skill and confidence in speaking and reading a language is more important than has been recognized by the SLA field over the last two decades. Lesson 8. Learners may not learn a linguistic form until they are “ready,” but FSI’s experience indicates that teachers and a well designed course can help learners become ready earlier. Lesson 9. A supportive, collaborative, responsive learning environment, with a rich variety of authentic and teacher-made resources, is very important in fostering effective learning. Lesson 10. Conversation, which on the surface appears to be one of the most basic forms of communication, is actually one of the hardest to master. 63 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Old Chemist Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 5175 days ago 227 posts - 285 votes Speaks: English* Studies: German | Message 2 of 34 25 October 2010 at 8:47pm | IP Logged | ||
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Thank you, once again, Slucido useful not only to those new to language learning, but also people like me who have been trying for somewhat longer! I think many people on this forum appreciated your efforts to help us all. Thank you!
1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| mauselmaucs Newbie Philippines samuelcamus.wordpresRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 5145 days ago 32 posts - 39 votes Speaks: Tagalog* Studies: English, Latin | Message 3 of 34 27 October 2010 at 1:22am | IP Logged | ||
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I'am the one who appreciate this effort. Thank you for this post. Edited by mauselmaucs on 27 October 2010 at 1:25am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| William Camden Hexaglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6274 days ago 1936 posts - 2333 votes Speaks: English*, German, Spanish, Russian, Turkish, French | Message 4 of 34 01 November 2010 at 4:17pm | IP Logged | ||
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I can't fault any of the analysis. Lesson 10 is especially astute. True conversational grasp is indeed one of the hardest things to master in L2s. Especially if there are several people, the conversation may take off in all kinds of directions, and unless your comprehension is really good, you could easily miss key elements of it.
3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| RogerK Triglot Groupie Austria Joined 5077 days ago 92 posts - 181 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian Studies: Portuguese | Message 5 of 34 22 January 2011 at 5:06pm | IP Logged | ||
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Thanks Slucido.
I agree with William Camden, conversing in a mixed party setting is the most difficult thing to do. Once you have developed a bit of a vocabulary reading isn't very difficult. Having a one on one conversation is a little more difficult but because you can control the topics very managable. Watching TV or listening to the radio are more difficult because you don't know what words will be thown at you but often you know the topic and therefore have a preconceived idea of meanings and direction. Following and participating in a conversation with many people present is most difficult of all because you have little to no control of conversational thread. You can ask one question but the conversation can head West when you wanted to go East. When I was learning German I could have a rough basic conversation after three months or so but it took me a good two years before I could follow the ebbs and flows a group converstions. I don't know if this is normal, perhaps I'm just slow. 5 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| slucido Bilingual Diglot Senior Member Spain https://goo.gl/126Yv Joined 6677 days ago 1296 posts - 1781 votes 4 sounds Speaks: Spanish*, Catalan* Studies: English | Message 6 of 34 22 January 2011 at 6:03pm | IP Logged | ||
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You are welcome.
I think the most difficult skill is understanding a group of native speakers talking quickly. More difficult if you want to participate. Solutions? Edited by slucido on 22 January 2011 at 6:04pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Juаn Senior Member Colombia Joined 5347 days ago 727 posts - 1830 votes Speaks: Spanish* | Message 7 of 34 22 January 2011 at 6:05pm | IP Logged | ||
I find this particularly apropos:
2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| RogerK Triglot Groupie Austria Joined 5077 days ago 92 posts - 181 votes Speaks: English*, German, Italian Studies: Portuguese | Message 8 of 34 22 January 2011 at 9:31pm | IP Logged | ||
Practice. Probably the only way is in the country where the language is spoken as the mother tongue. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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