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What really matters in language learning? | ||
Tags: Learning Strategy | ||
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 Language Learning Forum : General discussion |  | |
| Zhuangzi Nonaglot Language Program Publisher Senior Member Canada lingq.com Joined 6839 days ago 646 posts - 688 votes  Speaks: English*, French, Japanese, Swedish, Mandarin, Cantonese, German, Italian, Spanish Studies: Russian | Message 1 of 41 05 December 2007 at 1:35am | IP Logged | |||||
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There are 4 key factors.
1) Attitude: The most important factor. Mind over matter. Mind is your will and determination and your interest. Matter is your brain. Your will can influence your brain. Only a small percentage of people are motivated enough to improve. It does not matter where I go, I find the same thing. One need not be motivated to be perfect , or even to be correct, just to constantly improve. 2) The learning method: The second most important factor. This will vary to some extent from person to person, but it has to be based on doing things that you like to do, so that you will put in enough time to really make a difference. 3) The language environment: This is important, but you can influence it. Not all people who live where the language is spoken improve. Many people improve without living where the language is spoken. You can create your own language environment. 4) Your aptitude: This is the least important factor. Aptitude does not matter since there is nothing you can do about it. You can control the other three factors to a large extent. Your aptitude is what it is. Often it is the result of your attitude as much as any inherent aptitude. So work on the first three and forget the question of your aptitude. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Cisa Super Polyglot Senior Member United Kingdom Joined 6230 days ago 312 posts - 309 votes 2 sounds Speaks: Hungarian*, Slovak, FrenchC1, EnglishC2, Mandarin, SpanishB2, RussianB2, GermanB2, Korean, Czech, Latin Studies: Italian, Cantonese, Japanese, Portuguese, Polish, Hindi, Mongolian, Tibetan, Kazakh, Vietnamese, Modern Hebrew | Message 2 of 41 05 December 2007 at 9:52am | IP Logged | |||||
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Hi Zhuangzi,
to me, actually, nothing else, but the joy of the learning process matters. To me, the most important is to enjoy learning the language, maybe be because of it sound, because of little ´successes´ or just because I like a certain culture. Still, to me speaking is a pleasure, but learning is the most exciting. :) Have a nice day, Idril 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| mcjon77 Senior Member United States Joined 6422 days ago 193 posts - 248 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Spanish, Arabic (Egyptian), French | Message 3 of 41 05 December 2007 at 6:57pm | IP Logged | |||||
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Great post Zhuangzi!
Attitude is definately number 1 for me. Specifically 3 of the most important areas that attitude encompass are Motivation, Beliefs, and emotional state. I believe these three areas are most important for learning ANYTHING. 1)Motivation. You have to want to learn this foriegn language. I cannot count how many Native english speakers I know that have lived in Latin America for 5-10+ YEARS and cannot speak or understand the language AT ALL! The fact is these folks have no motivation to learn the language. It just isn't a priority for them. Since they have money and primarily interact with other English speakers, there is really no need for them to learn it. 2) Beliefs. This is CRITICALLY important for learning languages because so many people have been brainwashed through their experiences studying language in high school and college that they just "don't have an ear" for languages. Once I got over my beliefs regarding my ability to learn languages, my progress skyrocketed. I am begining to believe that many (if not most) people in the U.S. would be better off NOT taking a foriegn language course in high school, considering how many people I have met who believe that they cannot learn a foriegn language based on their high school experiences. 3) emotional state while learning. This is actually very important and relates to your previous statement about doing things you like doing. If you do things with an attitude of fun and curiosity, rather than frustration and boredom, you will most definately learn more. This doesn't mean ONLY doing fun things, but rather bringing the fun and enjoyment into what you are doing. Even when I am working in my grammar workbook, I am imagining how I will use this information and how much better I will be the next time I am in a country that uses my target language. Edited by mcjon77 on 05 December 2007 at 6:58pm 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| manny Triglot Senior Member United States Joined 6169 days ago 248 posts - 240 votes Speaks: English*, Spanish, Tagalog Studies: French, German | Message 4 of 41 05 December 2007 at 8:06pm | IP Logged | |||||
This is called "attitude:". :-) 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| virgule Senior Member Antarctica Joined 6651 days ago 242 posts - 261 votes Studies: Korean | Message 5 of 41 06 December 2007 at 3:11am | IP Logged | |||||
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I'd add effort between 1) and 2) or if you want application, dedication. By that I mean spending lots of time, of course with a specific aim in mind. You might include this under 1) motivation, but I think these are different things. I might be motivated and all, but not have/take the time to excel in a language...
1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| leosmith Senior Member United States Joined 6361 days ago 2365 posts - 3804 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Tagalog | Message 6 of 41 06 December 2007 at 5:48am | IP Logged | |||||
According to who? 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| jody Senior Member United States Joined 6049 days ago 242 posts - 252 votes Speaks: English* Studies: Russian, Bulgarian | Message 7 of 41 06 December 2007 at 7:20am | IP Logged | |||||
According to Zhuangzi, of course! :) I think he (or she) summarized it pretty well. 1 person has voted this message useful | ||||||
| Zhuangzi Nonaglot Language Program Publisher Senior Member Canada lingq.com Joined 6839 days ago 646 posts - 688 votes Speaks: English*, French, Japanese, Swedish, Mandarin, Cantonese, German, Italian, Spanish Studies: Russian | Message 8 of 41 06 December 2007 at 10:26am | IP Logged | |||||
Leosmith Unless people quote some other source, why would you not assume that people are just stating their own opinions on this forum. And what is your opinion on what matters in language learning? 1 person has voted this message useful |
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