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Why not try to remember MT material? | ||
Tags: Michel Thomas | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Language Programs, Books & Tapes |  | |
| gravityguy Groupie United Kingdom Joined 4535 days ago 56 posts - 77 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 1 of 39 28 June 2012 at 3:02pm | IP Logged |
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So as above, what is the logic behind not trying to remember what is taught in the MT
courses? Sometimes I find it difficult not to think about when I am sitting around, especially if I have struggled with something contained within the course or if I get something wrong. Logic would say that trying not to remember wouldn't be helpful, but as nobody on here seems to suggest otherwise then there must be logic to it? I just don't know what that logic is. I'm thinking that I may have to listen again to the MT course as I don't feel that all of it is going in. Is this against the general logic also or is this OK to do? 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vermillon Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4676 days ago 602 posts - 1042 votes Speaks: French*, EnglishC2, Mandarin Studies: Japanese, German | Message 2 of 39 28 June 2012 at 3:10pm | IP Logged |
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The "logic" is that there is a semantic difference between "trying not to remember" and "not trying to remember". In your question, you mix both, but MT only asks not to try to remember!..
It doesn't mean you don't remember or that you shouldn't, it just means you do but without trying! That's where MT is great. :) 2 persons have voted this message useful | |
| gravityguy Groupie United Kingdom Joined 4535 days ago 56 posts - 77 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 3 of 39 28 June 2012 at 3:34pm | IP Logged |
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Vermillon, I understand that he says you should not try to remember but my question is,
what harm would it do to try and remember? As it is one of his 2 rules, I would assume that there is a reason for this? I understand that he thinks you will remember even if you don't try to but just want to know why it would be a negative thing to try and remember in the first place. Also, by virtue of not trying to remember, if you do find yourself thinking about what has been taught and thinking about how to say something, then you will have to not try to remember in order to stop thinking about it. I am sure this could get into a very deep conversation but that is not what I was aiming for :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| vermillon Triglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 4676 days ago 602 posts - 1042 votes Speaks: French*, EnglishC2, Mandarin Studies: Japanese, German | Message 4 of 39 28 June 2012 at 4:21pm | IP Logged |
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I think it's a matter of enjoyment. Many people are frustrated with language learning, they have memories of language classes where they were forced to memorize conjugation tables and complicated grammar rules. MT just tells them to relax and enjoy the journey.
I don't think there's any particular harm trying to remember, except that perhaps it will make you nervous and slower. If you consciously try to remember, then probably you're applying a non-MT method, one of those that get so many students quit. :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| gravityguy Groupie United Kingdom Joined 4535 days ago 56 posts - 77 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 5 of 39 28 June 2012 at 4:55pm | IP Logged |
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I see your point on that one and I could see why some people may quite if they had to try
to remember. However for me personally I quite enjoy thinking about things and trying to memorise them, I certainly don't feel as though it slows me down. Either way, I do fully intend to do it using the MT Method as this is the way people suggest is best. I was just wondering what negative aspect there could possibly be by trying to remember. :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| napoleon Tetraglot Senior Member India Joined 5014 days ago 543 posts - 874 votes Speaks: Bengali*, English, Hindi, Urdu Studies: French, Arabic (Written) | Message 6 of 39 28 June 2012 at 4:57pm | IP Logged |
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In an interview, available on youtube, MT explains that the 'not trying to remember' rule is to get the students, (many of whom have had bad experiences with conventional language learning,) to relax.
A relaxed mind should certainly help with learning. Having said that, many of us, (including me,) have listened to the MT course more than once. As a wise man once said, ''Whatever floats your boat.'' :) 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| gravityguy Groupie United Kingdom Joined 4535 days ago 56 posts - 77 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish | Message 7 of 39 28 June 2012 at 5:56pm | IP Logged |
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I'm glad that you have listened more than once as I think this is what I shall be doing.
There seems to be so much information in such a short length of time that it just doesn't all seem to be 'going in'. 1 person has voted this message useful | |
| Majka Triglot Senior Member Czech Republic kofoholici.wordpress Joined 4655 days ago 307 posts - 755 votes Speaks: Czech*, German, English Studies: French Studies: Russian | Message 8 of 39 28 June 2012 at 6:13pm | IP Logged |
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I suppose there is secondary effect to 'not trying to remember' rule besides relaxing the students.
MT expected you to listen to him carefully and to concentrate at the moment - I have met many language students who when introduced to new grammar stopped to listen and tried frantically dissect the rule, write it down or memorize it. And we all know that in some grammar points the logic is hidden deeper than average student can in short time find, or the reason is well hidden in history. Sometimes, simply going with the flow and following the directions in the beginning, not over-analyzing everything - can help learning. And there are enough repeats built in to learn at least half-way. That's why many of us repeat this course at different stages of our learning. MT method is good start but it needs reinforced. There are some grammar points in my native tongue, where all I use is a shortcut as explanation/confirmation that what I write is correct - meaning that the reasoning isn't 100% correct but "well enough" or at least gets me on the right path. And it is quick and short enough for everyday use. And exactly such explanations are hidden in MT method. Back to not remembering - I did partly ignore it. The best for me in French was to write down all the example sentences in different verb tenses given in MT course (it is short part of the course, few minutes at most) and writing Czech translation to it. No, I didn't try to memorize it - but writing it down did help me to see and understand it better. As secondary bonus this brought logical order to the English tenses for me as well (instead going by feeling alone). For this alone, the MT course was worth the money for me. 3 persons have voted this message useful |
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