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Coursework only goes so far

 Language Learning Forum : Learning Techniques, Methods & Strategies Post Reply
11 messages over 2 pages: 1
Raye
Diglot
Newbie
United States
Joined 5146 days ago

37 posts - 51 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish
Studies: DutchB1

 
 Message 9 of 11
31 March 2011 at 8:00pm | IP Logged 
Abrown wrote:
I have taken 4 years of Spanish which includes 2 semesters of college Spanish. I have also taken Live Mocha's most advanced course and passed with flying colors. But from all of that I have a moderate fluency at best.


This is the point where "junior year abroad" was supposed to kick in and give people the finishing touch. Always a bit of a luxury. But if the language is Spanish and you're in the U.S., maybe you can create your own (Internet-enabled) immersion experience.
1 person has voted this message useful



amethyst32
Diglot
Senior Member
United Kingdom
Joined 5641 days ago

118 posts - 198 votes 
Speaks: English*, Spanish
Studies: Portuguese, French

 
 Message 10 of 11
01 April 2011 at 1:25am | IP Logged 
Abrown wrote:

Has anyone else noticed that independent study seems to substantially outclass formal coursework?


Definitely! I always felt like I made more progress outside of the (rather pedestrian) Spanish classes that I took last year. Looking back I don't feel as if I really needed them, or that they taught me anything I couldn't have learned more efficiently on my own. I don't mind though because my main reasons for attending the class were for the social aspect and the end certification. With self study I found that it wasn't so easy initially getting started (since Spanish was my first foreign language), but making much faster progress once I got going compensated for the time lost.

Edited by amethyst32 on 01 April 2011 at 1:41am

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Li Fei
Pro Member
United States
Joined 5115 days ago

147 posts - 182 votes 
Speaks: English*
Studies: Mandarin
Personal Language Map

 
 Message 11 of 11
01 April 2011 at 3:07am | IP Logged 
I enjoy classes and learn the kind of stuff I dislike studying on my own, like grammatical structures. I also get the
chance to practice speaking and listening to a native speaker. Another benefit of classes is that the teacher usually
shares cultural information spontaneously and on an as-needed basis, and that's valuable. Finally, I like classes
because I am not always as motivated as I should be, and the structure of having to attend class helps me get
through a slump. With a hard language like Mandarin, I fear I couldn't get through the rough patches alone.

Even with all of those advantages, however, I learn a lot more on my own, outside of class. In addition to my formal
class that meets 3X per week, I do Pimsleur, lots of SRS, and supplemental reading and listening. That all loops
back to make my work in class that much more stimulating and understandable.

I like the combination of learning tools because I'm easily bored and I feel I need all the variety and support I can
get to insert Mandarin Chinese into this 51-year-old brain.


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