Language learning and golf

http://www.lingq.com/

Language learning is fun, or at least can be fun. It is more fun than golf. We need to get away from the idea that we have to learn languages, or only do so if we have to. See article at my blog. http://bit.ly/2jXttD

Category:

Education

Tags:

• linguistics
• language
• learning
• fun
• golf

[robrobbins]

I'm learning French and German. Even though I make considerable effort to make it fun and interesting, it is still tedious and time consuming to build one's vocabulary. But I think the Internet makes it worth while because you have access to other cultures once you can browse their web sites. C'est gentil !

[lingosteve]

What exactly are you doing that is tedious? Yes it takes time, that is why it is important to do things that you enjoy, and, as in the case of listening can be done while doing other tasks.

[owenjd]

Hi Steve. Thanks again for posting an interesting video.

I think there is an interesting parallel between language learning and golf or any number of activities.  What a lot of people fail to recognize is that getting good at anything usually requires deliberate practice. Deliberate practice can be enjoyable or it can be miserable. It mostly depends on how you feel about the activity.

[lingosteve]

No Owen, deliberate practice at golf does not necessarily bring improved performance. The wrong kind of deliberate study of languages does not either.

[owenjd]

Steve, thanks very much for taking the time to respond. I see your point and agree that directed effort alone isn't enough. In your book you mentioned that when going through language learning books you always skipped over the exercise sections that ask you to complete tasks like conjugating verbs etc. Are there other specific methodologies in particular that you think should be avoided? Declension tables and the like :) Thanks again.

[lingosteve]

Some review of grammar is necessary, some study of tables is occasionally beneficial, but there are best limited to minor activities and mostly after extensive input , listening and reading , especially the way it is one at LingQ.

[laoshu505000]

As usual, great video Steve.

[NephilaClavata]

I learn languages because I want to, because I enjoy them/the culture and it's interesting and fun. Zulu has no practicality for me in where I live, and people think that I shouldn't learn it for that reason, but I'm not learning it to be practical. I'm learning it because I just flat out enjoy it and am interested in it. I think that more people should do that, learn things because they are enjoyable and not merely because they must. Learning can be enjoyable, people need to realize that.

[marckami]

You really are frustrated with golf. ;)

Great vid.

[robrobbins]

I create my own custom help files for the languages I'm studying. It is tedious but effective. To enjoy myself I collect movies, books, and music in the target language, stuff that reflects my other interests, but without an advanced knowledge of the language it does little good.

[owenjd]

Steve, I think the way you play golf is the way most people try to learn languages. They don't do it frequently or deliberately enough, they get frustrated, and they miss the point which is to have fun.

Looking forward to your next video!

[laurentius88]

I agree. Is there something in our school system that makes us not want to learn? Very sad, if that's the case! It's like, we enjoy everything that we haven't done at school: drinking wine, playing golf, fixing cars, sudoku... but who would sit down and solve some math problems just for fun? Or learning french?