There is More to Learning a Language than Knowing the Basics
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There Are More To The Basics Than Meets the Eye! Andrew Weiler
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To become successful in learning a language you need to do more than the basics. The basics of learning grammar, pronunciation, grammar and so only results in failure for most people. Successful language learners understand that learning a language is like learning a skill. If you use the right method, you CAN learn what you want. Understanding how a car works will not help you to become a good driver. Becoming more attentive to what you are doing (and its results) and your environment are a key. If learners ( and their teachers) just understood that and knew what had to happen for them to become more attentive, the success rates would markedly increase. Watch this presentation, which was recently delivered online to a group of EAL teachers at the 2nd ELTeaM International Conference in Indonesia
Transcript of There is More to Learning a Language than Knowing the Basics
There Are More To The
Basics Than Meets the
Eye!
Andrew Weiler
What are the basics?
Grammar
Pronunciation
Spelling
Vocabulary
Reading Comprehension
Conversation Practice
Results?
Very poor rates of success in learning 2nd language
Nearly 100% success rate in learning first language
First
Language
Second
Languag
e
Why are rates in
SLA so poor?
Infants are better learners (adults are poorer)
Our brains are not so good, infants fresh and new
We have more problems, infants have none
Etc
BUT!
How about people who learn a second language,
and even more languages with relative ease, to high
levels?
Why?
Are they somehow uniquely talented, whilst the rest
are not?
Or is there something else at work?
Strategies are a key!
Consider cooking nasi goreng.
The ones who make it well, use the right ingredients
and a good method!!
Learning another language is the exactly the same
Ingredient problems
Learning with the intellect,
understanding rules,
memorising content may
work for some subjects but
not for language, which
fundamentally is a skill
We need to use awareness
to drive our learning
Learning to ride a bicycle
Learning to drive a car
Strategy problems
Skill requires that we develop one aspect of a skill and build on that. Skill means being able to do.
Does not mean remember –does mean to do, in a “creative setting”
As skills develop we can introduce others...
Confidence building side by side
Learning Skills
For too long, language
has been taught as
knowledge
This presentation will
examine what we know
about skill learning and
how that can be used to
improve the teaching
and learning process.
Facets of skill development – a)
Learners have a need
What This has to be their need. ( You can take a horse to water but…)
Learners want to do something and they can’t
To give something, to put something, to move something , to describe something, etc
Includes sounding native like, etc
Facets of skill development – b)
Learners look to learn what they need
Their mind changes, they open it up and look…
This is something THEY do. Learners use trial and error to teach them
They try, fall over, get up, fall over, get up – by doing that they can work out what they need to change to so they will not fall over
The teacher has a role here…providing structured situations where they learn what is needed..not at random.
Facets of skill development – c)
Learner decides if they are getting better
No one needs to tell you that you have succeeded, when you are riding a bike...you know it!!
You see that you have succeeded, and from there your confidence grows
With improving skills and confidence, learner feels reinvigorated
Some More Basics!
EVERYONE has the ability to learn languages successfully
Understand that language is a skill
Skills grow best if the learner is in charge
Provide structured learning experiences that enable learners to grow their skills (bit like building blocks)
Provide key boundaries, so learners know if they are getting closer or not.
Issue is not good or bad, but reached or not reached
Andrew Weiler – contact details
Website/Blog: http://StrategiesInLanguageLearning.com
Email: [email protected]
Linked In: http://lnkd.in/wvWzSp
Twitter: @Andrew_Weiler
YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/LearnLanguageCoach
Facebook https://www.facebook.com/Language.Coach.Andrew.Weiler
Book: http://LanguageLearningUnlocked.com
Email me your name and email address (school/personal) if you wish to be informed about or involved in trialling of spelling APP development that
conforms to the ideas I have been talking about.
