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Should we criticise language learners? | ||
Tags: Polyglot bashing | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : Polyglots |  | |
| leosmith Senior Member United States Joined 6549 days ago 2365 posts - 3804 votes  Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 17 of 20 12 September 2011 at 12:54am | IP Logged | ||
To me, unfounded positive comments are just as bad. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| Solfrid Cristin Heptaglot Winner TAC 2011 & 2012 Senior Member Norway Joined 5333 days ago 4143 posts - 8864 votes Speaks: Norwegian*, Spanish, Swedish, French, English, German, Italian Studies: Russian | Message 18 of 20 12 September 2011 at 1:29am | IP Logged | ||
Siberiano, I am not the one you asked, but in my book the three first statements are o.k., the two last are not. I think you can go a long way in giving both positive and negative criticism, as long as you stay polite. I agree with Torbyrne, that people who are selling a product open themselves up for more criticism, but even in those cases I see no need to say hurtful things. At the risk of sounding naive, I would wish that we all would comment on Youtube and in here, like we would to a friend. Honestly, but wording negative criticism carefully in order not to hurt their feelings. That people behave as brutes on Youtube doesn't mean that we have to. 3 persons have voted this message useful | |||
| portunhol Triglot Senior Member United States thelinguistblogger.w Joined 6251 days ago 198 posts - 299 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Portuguese Studies: German, Arabic (classical) | Message 19 of 20 12 September 2011 at 2:12am | IP Logged | ||
"I don't understand you and you sound stupid." may be quick and to the point but it is also offensive. People become defensive instead of open to influence. If someone were to say something like that to you, would you're reaction be, "Huh, I never thought of it that way. Maybe I do sound stupid! I'd better go listen to the radio like that guy said."? Saying something like, "You know, I've been listening to you speak language X and I can tell you really like it. I have a tip that can help you sound more natural/native-like/professional/help take you to the next level, etc. Would you mind if I shared it with you?" is much more likely to be accepted by the other person than a quick, cutting remark. 1 person has voted this message useful | |||
| egill Diglot Senior Member United States Joined 5695 days ago 418 posts - 791 votes Speaks: Mandarin, English* Studies: German, Spanish, Dutch | Message 20 of 20 12 September 2011 at 1:01pm | IP Logged | ||
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I think a lot of this hinges on what one considers criticism. Sometimes people also
conflate negative criticism ("that's the wrong ending") with negative tone in criticism ("that's the wrong ending, dumbass"). I'd say that having a positive tone is always appropriate, but that it shouldn't hinder useful negative criticism, which is far more useful than positive criticism. The latter is nice as it can reinforce correct behavior (not to mention ego boosting), but all too often is vacuous—borne from politeness rather than sincerity. The former can be hurtful, but is usually a legitimate complaint, and therefore useful. 1 person has voted this message useful |
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