David Long on the ALG Method, Part 1

Automatic Language Growth (ALG), is an effortless proven method of achieving fluency in a different language. ALG has been in proven in practice for over 20 years. For more information on the Automatic Language Growth method, history and school locations, please visit www.algworld.com

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[jeminijem1]

OK, let's say you've acquired 1000 hours of "happenings" and you understand 70-80% of what you hear, how do you deal with the speaking part? I believe there will be problems in the beginning and it will take some time to speak fluently. Should you accept help from others when you make mistakes? Should you at this point use any additional aids (books , grammar, making speeches, etc)? What if you don't know the word for something, should you ask?

[algworld]

@jeminijem1 In exactly the same way as you did everything else. Speaking is 'largely' the natural result (by-product) of enough input. Regarding the correction of mistakes, what I found personally and many others have confirmed is that it simply doesn't make any difference. I could 'hear' the problem before they could correct it [provided I was speaking from a source of enough input.]

[sonicfox]

How would one explain why people who have lived in this country (I live in the US) for YEARS still speak in broken English and act like they don't even *understand* you? They have constant exposure to the language, but aren't fluent as you imply they *should* be.

[algworld]

@sonicfox Of course this is the most common thing we observe. There are two main reasons: 1) people usually "study" before hand which actually limits what they will then learn naturally, and 2) adults are generally focused on what the words they're trying to hear or say, the amount of other input is minimal. For a detailed explanation of this, read Dr. Brown's book "From the Outside In" at algworld dot com/archives.

[p99foster]

The problem is this: children learning English always learn it perfectly, inlcluding the redundant grammar bits, like the 's' on the end of third person singluar. But adullts learning English do not pick up these things even after years of massive exposure and high levels of understanding. This is not because adults are anxious or embarrassed and somehow block out bits of grammar. It's because children have an implicit language learning ability that works on all the input, and adults do not.

[algworld]

In the Thai program, our experience has been that adults do indeed acquire all the redundant grammar bits, etc., but only when they don't use the adult ability of working out the language explicitly.

Perhaps we don't have any test cases where adults have had this opportunity in learning English.

[puppetseo]

Why is this guy laughing? Because he knows its a scam.

[puppetseo]

@Troisiak Mr. Long is incorrect. Children's language level is actually quite low and takes years. They do acquire new words fairly rapidly in a particular phase of development (4-6 years of age). This is generally correlated with brain growth at that time. There is no science here.

[puppetseo]

There is no science here. And this speaker has fairly poor English skills. Doesn't give much confidence.

[worldtravel101]

@algworld that is the most awesome book ever on the topic. anyone interested in studying other languages should definately check it out! dr brown knows whats up!

[dancupid]

I have to agree that this is the best language method, but it's quite impractical in reality, because most of us simply don't have the time/money/access to study in this way - I'm studying Chinese and live in China and am married to a Chinese woman. I've been 'studying' Chinese for 5 years. Most Chinese people still struggle to understand me - I still find it maddeningly difficult to function. If I could find a way to be exposed to all the language I needed I'd be very happy, but from where?

[sonicfox]

@algworld Thank you for your reply. I'll definitely check out Dr. Brown's book. Your method is interesting, and actually seems like common sense.  I wish there was a course such as yours taught around here. I hope you can someday offer distant learning courses. Thank you again.