Learning Styles? (Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies) Language Learning Forum

Learning Styles?
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Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies

42 messages over 6 pages: 1 2 3 4 5 6 Next >>

hrhenry
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Message 25 of 42

10 March 2011 at 5:32pm | IP Logged

Arekkusu wrote:

It's often been asserted that we don't learn language the same way as babies as we do as adults.

However, as I said before, humans learned eachother's languages by listening and speaking only for millenia before the advent of writing, so this is no doubt an ability all humans genetically possess. Moreover, that is STILL how a very large portion of humanity learns languages, as we are not all literate, far from it.

True enough, but this forum probably doesn't compare to illiterate peoples. Most people here are learning a language not just to speak, but to appreciate literature written and handed down through the ages, as well as current developments that an illiterate popluation might ignore.

And if we're talking about mastering a language outside of daily, routine things, there's most likely some reading and writing being learned.

So yeah, while we *initially* learn aurally/orally, we develop our language skills with reading and writing.

Edited by hrhenry on 10 March 2011 at 5:34pm
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Arekkusu
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Message 26 of 42

10 March 2011 at 5:46pm | IP Logged

Iversen wrote:

As I stated in a short message which I now have removed: I doubt that Cainntear and I will ever agree on this. But we can probably agree on the desirability of trying out a wide array of methods to find those that give results - even if they only benefit a subset of the population. If they actually benefit most student then hurray, let's spread the news so that more people can try them out. What happens after that must be their own decision.

I'm not rejecting the possibility that the majority of what works in language acquisition would work optimally from everyone, but that a small set of parameters will vary from person to person. I'm pretty sure you and Cainntear could agree on certain parameters being universally optimal.
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FrostBlast
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Message 27 of 42

10 March 2011 at 5:56pm | IP Logged

Arekkusu wrote:

FrostBlast wrote:

I would tend to agree that it simply took them longer to reach that specific proficiency, but then, in a different society, maybe the brain (which can change and adapt) worked in a slightly different way to make learning by ear easier.

Why would it take longer?

I'm refering to the idea that the larger the number of senses that are stimulated during one's learning process, the more likely it is that one will successfully learn something.

I'm also assuming that the eyesight can in no way be as significantly stimulated without the presence of a writing system as it can be with the presence of such a system, thus creating a learning handicap inherent to the the absence of a writing system.

Arekkusu wrote:

FrostBlast wrote:

[...] millennia of using writing as foundation for thought [...]

You are confusing the advent of writing and the use of it by the general population, the latter being a very recent innovation. In France, it wasn't until the turn of the 19th century that a majority of people could read and write (evaluated on the basis of their ability to write their name). There are still today many countries where the literacy rate is below 50%. Genes simply don't change that fast.

Point taken.

Edited by FrostBlast on 10 March 2011 at 5:58pm
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Arekkusu
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Message 28 of 42

10 March 2011 at 6:01pm | IP Logged

FrostBlast wrote:

I'm refering to the idea that the larger the number of senses that are stimulated during one's learning process, the more likely it is that one will successfully learn something.

Learning language through human interaction stimulates all senses.

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Iversen
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Message 29 of 42

10 March 2011 at 6:05pm | IP Logged

People walked on their feet for millions of years until cars were invented. That doesn't mean that we should stop using them and revert to our carless childhood. Mankind was never intended to drive around in cars, but now that we have got them we should use them.

It's the same thing with writing.

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Arekkusu
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Message 30 of 42

10 March 2011 at 6:10pm | IP Logged

Iversen wrote:

But it's still easier to remember a street name when you're walking on it and can smell it and feel it.
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hrhenry
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Message 31 of 42

10 March 2011 at 6:13pm | IP Logged

Arekkusu wrote:

But it's still easier to remember a street name when you're walking on it and can smell it and feel it.

Try walking through a souk or any street/alley in an ancient medina. Often your only clues are visual.

R.
==
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Arthaey
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Message 32 of 42

10 March 2011 at 8:32pm | IP Logged

kmart wrote:

Arthaey wrote:

But for me to actually learn a new word and remember it, I need to see it.

No, you just think you need to see it, but you don't. I am absolutely certain of this, even though I've never
met you. And I can prove it.

How did you learn your native language? Did you see it first or hear it?

I learned my native language by doing being immersed in a monolingual environment, with no responsibilities
other than eating, sleeping, and playing with other monolingual speakers.

That does not exactly describe my current environment for learning German. :P I am in a nearly-monolingual
English environment, with only an hour or so of time each day available to devote to language learning, with no
real need (only personal interest) to speak German.

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