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Autodidacticism | ||
Tags: Self-Study | Learning Strategy | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| lady_skywalker Triglot Senior Member Netherlands aspiringpolyglotblog Joined 6889 days ago 909 posts - 942 votes  Speaks: Spanish, English*, Mandarin Studies: Japanese, French, Dutch, Italian | Message 9 of 18 03 July 2006 at 12:40am | IP Logged | ||||||||
I totally agree. Sometimes the pace of classes can put one off, or having to deal with subjects you're not interested in. I personally prefer to work at my own pace and learn what is of interest to me. I think an autodidact's tools should include : + A couple of good textbooks and grammar guides + A good phrasebook to memorise set phrases from + A good dictionary or two (bilingual or monolingual) + Good audio materials (online or otherwise) + Access to a selection of quality websites + Access to online radio and/or TV + Reading material that is of personal interest (eg. comics, books, websites, newspapers) + Access to a native speaker for perfecting listening and speaking skills + Means to practice written skills (eg. forums, pen pals) + Truckloads of motivation and determination I'm sure I've left out some things out so feel free to add to this list. ;) 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Journeyer Triglot Senior Member United States tristan85.blogspot.c Joined 6867 days ago 946 posts - 1110 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, German Studies: Sign Language | Message 10 of 18 03 July 2006 at 10:35am | IP Logged | ||||||||
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I once was going to have a tutor for German, and I think it really would have been a God-send; everything I thought was looking up. The man was a professional teacher, had lived in Germany, gave off the presence of someone who is a gifted teacher, and was willing to teach me for free.
But somehow it just did not work out. We only met once really and that was just trying to get to know each other, but something I guess just didn't click, although I'm not sure what. In someways I think is a bit sad. But that was part of why I decided that perhaps the best way for me to learn is without classes and without a tutor. Even with everything looking good, I think you still must follow your instincts on what will work best for you. Language learning is not stone-breaking, it is an art, and I think that's a crucial point that so many people miss. So not only are we autodictats, we are artists! Edited by Journeyer on 03 July 2006 at 11:50am 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Sinfonia Senior Member Wales Joined 6743 days ago 255 posts - 261 votes Speaks: English* | Message 11 of 18 03 July 2006 at 11:49am | IP Logged | ||||||||
How very true. That goes for teaching too; there are so many bad teachers, whether tutors or courses... 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| CaitO'Ceallaigh Triglot Senior Member United States katiekelly.wordpress Joined 6856 days ago 795 posts - 829 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Russian Studies: Czech, German | Message 12 of 18 04 July 2006 at 2:25pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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I go to a Spanish tutor once a week, and I think it works well for me this time (compared to my Russian tutors) because of my autodidactic approach. We meet in a cafe and gossip for an hour, and she corrects my mistakes, basically. It's fun! :) And I've been working on rewriting some travelogues of mine into Spanish for some aunts in Zaragoza, and she's been "editing" me, which is no easy task! I'm the one determining the pace, however, and I still spend countless hours studying on my own.
This is a huge difference than with my Russian teachers and tutors, before I had developed my autodidactic self. My teachers were the ones determining what it was I'd be learning. It wasn't a complete waste of time - I think I learned a lot! - but if I had to do it all over again, I would take more initiative to study on my own. So I must add to Lady Skywalker's tool list an mp3 player. I finally invested in one yesterday, a Creative Labs model, and now I can take all my audio magazines and podcasts with me where ever I go. I think my commute on the bus and train is going to be so much more productive. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7014 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map | Message 13 of 18 04 July 2006 at 2:29pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
...but I'd like to think that there are more good teachers!
I find that that's when the most productive learning takes place. Edited by patuco on 04 July 2006 at 2:32pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| luke Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 7204 days ago 3133 posts - 4351 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish Studies: Esperanto, French | Message 14 of 18 04 July 2006 at 2:33pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
+ A diary to keep track of your experience.
...and less good students? ;) Edited by luke on 04 July 2006 at 2:53pm 1 person has voted this message useful | |||||||||
| Journeyer Triglot Senior Member United States tristan85.blogspot.c Joined 6867 days ago 946 posts - 1110 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, German Studies: Sign Language | Message 15 of 18 04 July 2006 at 3:00pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Patuco, indeed I am sure there are good teachers. I don't mean to say that there are not. But it seems to me that language is a hard thing to "instruct" and finding a good teacher can be difficult. However, finding a good teacher for anything can be difficult, sometimes.
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| patuco Diglot Moderator Gibraltar Joined 7014 days ago 3795 posts - 4268 votes Speaks: Spanish, English* Personal Language Map | Message 16 of 18 04 July 2006 at 4:04pm | IP Logged | ||||||||
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Journeyer, I didn't mean anything serious by my comment. It was slightly tongue-in-cheek ;)
There are good and bad teachers as with everything in life. I don't want to sound too conceited, but I don't consider myself a slouch in the classroom...maybe it's because I don't teach languages! Edited by patuco on 04 July 2006 at 4:04pm 1 person has voted this message useful |
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