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Intercomprehension

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13 messages over 2 pages: 1
Theodisce
Octoglot
Senior Member
Poland
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127 posts - 167 votes 
Speaks: Polish*, Latin, Ancient Greek, Russian, Czech, French, English, German
Studies: Italian, Spanish, Slovak, Ukrainian, Serbo-Croatian, Greek, Portuguese

 
 Message 9 of 13
02 January 2013 at 3:57pm | IP Logged 
Serpent wrote:
I'd say Ukrainian is actually closer to Polish than to Belarusian ;)


It may be so. I had much more exposure to Ukrainian than to Belarusian and my experience with Russian predates my dabbling with Ukrainian, so I don't think I'm in a position to judge the matter.

Still, there is this specific East Slavic flavor a Polish person has to get used to in order to facilitate (inter)comprehension.

Edited by Theodisce on 02 January 2013 at 3:59pm

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tommus
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Studies: Dutch, French, Esperanto, German, Spanish

 
 Message 10 of 13
02 January 2013 at 4:03pm | IP Logged 
Tsopivo wrote:
The idea is that each person can then speak in his native language - thus being able to express himself in the best possible way - and be understood by the other one.

I think this is a great idea that might work extremely well for language exchanges.

A big problem with language exchanges, especially on Skype, is that language exchanges are hard work, especially if you are in the B2 range. It is hard work to struggle to answer in your L2. In fact, you have trouble listening in your L2 because your mind is trying to compose an answer in L2 while you are trying to listen and understand. Now clearly, those are necessary conversational skills that need to be mastered.

However, if you have very good listening and comprehension skills in L2, speaking will be easier. But maybe listening skills need to be learned first, and then speaking skills will be a lot easier to learn.

So the idea would be that each exchange partner would speak only their L1, and absolutely no L2. Each partner could and would ask for clarification, repeats, explanations, etc. This would be very easy to do in their L1. Each partner could very easily convey to the other just how much they were understanding or not understanding. Speaking only in L1 would greatly lower the tension level, the "struggle" level, and the embarrassment/self consciousness level. It would make the exchange much more enjoyable. The depth of material could be greater, thereby increasing the quality and interest level of the conversation. More diverse topics could be discussed. In other words, the conversation could be much more like a "real" conversation than would be possible by speaking in L2 where the comfort level would be lower. Eventually, each partner would become much more ready to speak in L2.

I'd be very interested in trying this technique in French or Dutch where I am B2 in listening. Any approximately B2-in-English French or Dutch speakers want to give it a try on Skype?


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tarvos
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China
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 Message 11 of 13
02 January 2013 at 5:20pm | IP Logged 
Quote:
A big problem with language exchanges, especially on Skype, is that language
exchanges are hard work, especially if you are in the B2 range. It is hard work to
struggle to answer in your L2. In fact, you have trouble listening in your L2 because
your mind is trying to compose an answer in L2 while you are trying to listen and
understand. Now clearly, those are necessary conversational skills that need to be
mastered.


If you are B2 then you understand practically everything said to you, minus unknown
technical vocabulary that is outside your field of specialisation. If you are B2 you
will probably need to focus a bit to actually answer, but one of the criteria for B2 is
that it makes a conversation with a native speaker flow practically effortlessly. Hence
why I state to be a B2 in German because there is never any "dumbing down" or not
enough to be noticeable. If this does not happen you are not B2.
1 person has voted this message useful



geoffw
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United States
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 Message 12 of 13
02 January 2013 at 6:06pm | IP Logged 
Theodisce wrote:
I strongly believe that after being exposed to a language for a sufficient amount of time one
is simply doomed to learn to use it actively.


Well that's the best news I've heard all day. I hope you're right, since that's my strategy in a nutshell!
2 persons have voted this message useful



Theodisce
Octoglot
Senior Member
Poland
Joined 5886 days ago

127 posts - 167 votes 
Speaks: Polish*, Latin, Ancient Greek, Russian, Czech, French, English, German
Studies: Italian, Spanish, Slovak, Ukrainian, Serbo-Croatian, Greek, Portuguese

 
 Message 13 of 13
02 January 2013 at 6:22pm | IP Logged 
geoffw wrote:
Theodisce wrote:
I strongly believe that after being exposed to a language for a sufficient amount of time one
is simply doomed to learn to use it actively.


Well that's the best news I've heard all day. I hope you're right, since that's my strategy in a nutshell!


This view is reinforced by a lot of research done in recent decades. Stephen Krashen with his theory of comprehensible input develops on that theme in many of his videos, e.g. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=shgRN32ubag .


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