|
 |
Flow as a source of motivation | ||
Tags: Motivation | ||
Share with:
| ||
 Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies |  | |
| s_allard Triglot Senior Member Canada Joined 5416 days ago 2704 posts - 5425 votes  Speaks: French*, English, Spanish Studies: Polish | Message 25 of 27 27 September 2011 at 4:57am | IP Logged | ||
|
To come back to the OP, I think that what is referred to as the flow, especially with reference to oral performance in the target language, is really a state or level of performance that is very satisfying and pleasureful because of a feeling of mastering the language. My own observation conforms to what others have mentioned here and goes something like this:
Let's say you haven't spoken your target language for a while and you now find yourself in a conversation with one or more native speakers. In the beginning you find your own speech a bit clumsy. You're searching for words, making silly mistakes, your pronunciation is off. Then what happens is that you self-correct by hearing what others say. For example, you say something in a rather awkward way or use the wrong word. The other person then either corrects you or just spontaneously says it the right way. Then you start using the right form. If there are multiple native speakers present, you can observe how they interact and you can imitate their speech patterns. After 15-30 minutes of all this--and if, a big if here, you have strong enough passive skills in the language, it all starts to come together and you feel more at ease in the language. Things start to fall in place. It all comes together. This in my opinion is the flow. This why is applies more to advanced speakers than to beginners. And also this is why it concerns speaking and not so much reading. 2 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Cainntear Pentaglot Senior Member Scotland linguafrankly.blogsp Joined 5997 days ago 4399 posts - 7687 votes Speaks: Lowland Scots, English*, French, Spanish, Scottish Gaelic Studies: Catalan, Italian, German, Irish, Welsh | Message 26 of 27 28 September 2011 at 11:38pm | IP Logged | ||
That is one manifestation of flow. However, it is not the only one. Flow is a state of efficient thought, and can be achieved while learning. A flow state is a state with minimal frustration or confusion. Some teachers genuinely believe in "no pain no gain", but I've experienced (near) painless learning and every time it has been far more efficient than trying to force learning in. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| Andrew Coach Diglot Newbie AustraliaRegistered users can see my Skype Name Joined 4791 days ago 17 posts - 18 votes Speaks: English, Hungarian | Message 27 of 27 03 October 2011 at 2:41am | IP Logged | ||
|
Being in the flow applies to any level of learning, it just looks different from the outside. From the inside, the
flow can be typified by having a flow of energy which at the same time as nourishes you, it motivates you. So in the beginning levels the needs to have this dynamic is equally as important. The problem, as has been said elsewhere in this discussion, is that many times teachers and learners believe in the "force it" method of learning. This method basically ignores the need for the learner to be engaged. So for beginners the need is to do those things that keep them at the edge of knowing and not knowing, based firmly in production of language ( not on passive input). For this to happen learners need to have a degree of self awareness and understanding at some level that they need to stay engaged in what they are doing. The kind of engagement that people experience when they are playing video games! :-) The trick is to keep looking for those kinds of learning where this happens. The transformation to that happens when the learner gets the taste for that kind of learning. Once you know the taste, then you keep looking for it. If you don't know it, you need to get it! :-) If teachers understand this, they can transform their classes into places where learners feel drawn towards learning, and energised by it, rather than places where they feel they have to drag themselves towards the exercises, etc. 1 person has voted this message useful |
If you wish to post a reply to this topic you must first login. If you are not already registered you must first register
|  | 
Printable version
|
| Copyright 2024 FX Micheloud - All rights reserved No part of this website may be copied by any means without my written authorization. |
