Learn the basics in the language first? Really?

I find that I cannot do it I just forge ahead and learn words and get used to the language? I think we need to cover a lot of ground, some new, some old. We need to exploring new things, pushing the boundaries, while regularly reviewing the basics, many times during the learning process. The basics take a long time to learn.

Category:

Education

Tags:

• language learning
• LingQ

[Iceland1944]

Steve, I can see that you have a problem with how languages are taught in schools. I can also agree with a lot of what you say. The linear approach can limit people in what they learn. I always advise people to go further on their own. The school where I work is definitely not a place where the majority is interested in doing more than is required, though. They are very lazy and apathetic. I have used videos of Moses and some of your videos to encourage them. Nothing works.

[lingosteve]

@Iceland1944 I do not have the experience that you have,but I look at the assignments that my grandchildren get and am not impressed. Right now our teachers are on a work to rule scheme, with no report cards, no Christmas concert, no parent teacher meetings, and they all wear black arm bands to school. What do I think of these work-to-rule, black arm band teachers? Not much. I would fire the lot of them if I could.

[ClanCSF]

Hey Steve,

I was wondering what your opinion on proficiency exams are? You're clearly fluent in the languages you speak but have you decided to take an exam like the JLPT or such? I've noticed a lot of people put emphasis on these and work towards learning languages for the purpose of the exams, and ignore other things. Just wondering if you could give your opinion on them. Thanks

[lingosteve]

@ClanCSF I have no interest in taking these language proficiency exams. I have seen lots of immigrants to Canada with high TOEFL scores who cannot speak English. I only care about what I understand and what I can say in a language.

[blackwaterboy2]

My latin teacher knows over twenty lauangues and he has learned the classroom way.

Is this a common thing?

Do you honestly believe this? it seems pretty extreme to me.

[lingosteve]

@blackwaterboy2 I obviously know nothing of your Latin teacher but I think a majority of learners learn best the way I described.

[KimCyunHi]

@Iceland1944 I think the problem with how languages are taught in schools is that you can't teach someone a language if they don't want to learn it. It's the same as with any other subject, if a person has no interest, they'll get enough of it to get by, and move on, probably forgetting it all.

[ibnalTaalib]

@lingosteve

i agree. These tests can't really test the depth of your learning of the language. The only way that can be proven is by you living your life through the language (speaking to people in it, reading in it, watching tv in that language, etc). That is the real way you can judge your proficiency.

That's why i tell people in my shool who are learning Arabic that there's a major difference between getting an A in the class, and actually learning the language

[amarlopstar]

ESTE SEÑOR LO ADMIRO DEBE SABER LO PRACTICO LO NECESARIO UY QUE VACANO 11 IDIOMAS SABE ARTO

[blackwaterboy2]

@lingosteve Well of couse you probaly wouldent, but have you ener heard of anybody learning that many languages?

And these videos are very intresting, its realy cool how you can be know so much about all these things.

[Iceland1944]

@TheSeductiveArts Well, I work in an environment where excuses are made for underachievers all the time, so I am really not interested in hearing more excuses here. Kids need to be taught that life is hard and that they need to start taking responsibility for their lives. In Germany they have to decide at around age 10 which career path they're going to take. If things don't change here, we're going to have a bunch of ignorant people running things, worse than now. It will get bad.

[TheSeductiveArts]

@Iceland1944, Why would kids have a work ethic when they don't work? Kids are lazy because they don't have real lives as adults do. Because of this fact, perhaps people should think that regimented teaching styles don't work for children that don't have regimented lifestyles. You are a demanding teacher because you are an adult that doesn't have the same regimented orientated life than the child you are teaching. Kids are only interested in things they find personally interesting.

[Iceland1944]

@lingosteve In our school system, the "middle school" doesn't prepare the kids for hard work. Most of the kids are lazy and have no work ethic. Add to that the fact that I am a demanding teacher, and you can see the kind of chaos I have to put up with. I think your philosophy of teaching would work with motivated students who have some degree of education. As for the black armbands and no report cards: RUBBISH, more rubbish from people who don't understand education.