September 9, 2010
In the grammar-based approach to language learning, primary focus is placed on learning the different rules of grammar that govern the target language. The belief is that, once you have the grammar down pat, vocabulary becomes all that much easier to integrate.
You’ll find this type of instruction prevalent in many language learning books, especially older ones. Some language classes and foreign language programs continue to use them, as well, although most have passed it up in favor of vocabulary-based approaches. Why? Largely, because it takes a while to gain enough grammar knowledge to be able to use the language. With most modern individuals seeking out “quick results,” this approach has fallen to the wayside in favor of others that facilitate instantly-usable lessons.
The advantage of grammar-based learning is its focus on the rules and structures of the language, which helps students develop skills in both reading and writing, aside from speaking and listening. Once you can get enough facility in the rules of grammar, after all, speaking fluently becomes easier – just a matter of plugging in the holes in your vocabulary.
Most sessions using this approach start off with basic vocabulary lessons. Then, using those base words, you then begin getting into the language’s different grammar guidelines. As with your grade-school grammar classes, this usually involves plenty of rote memorization, making it one of the most frustrating approaches for language learning.
September 8, 2010
The vocabulary-based approach to language learning focuses, as the name implies, on vocabulary acquisition. Your goal is to memorize words and learn their associations, so that you may be able to use them during interactions.
Many software programs for language training use this specific approach, largely, because of the ease by which it can be applied in an unsupervised setting. It’s also very effective, as evidenced by the success of many language programs that employ it as their primary teaching strategy.
The most common method in vocabulary-based learning is associating words in the language with pictures. Repeated over time, you end up being able to identify the names for objects on sight, making it easier to use them during conversations.
Some experts claim that this approach is the way we actually learned language as children. As such, it is touted as the natural process of language learning – the same way you would have learned Spanish or Chinese if you grew up in such a household.
One of the reasons people enjoy vocabulary-based learning is the fact that it normally yields very fast results. During the early stages, you can expect acquisition to be rapid, although it does eventually slow down the more of the language you absorb.
The biggest downside is that your focus sits entirely on memorizing new words. As such, it’s very common to find vocabulary-based learners speaking like Tarzan (“Me, Tarzan, you, Jane”). If you want to quickly build up a stock of vocabulary in a target language, though, we can’t imagine a better way to accomplish it.
September 1, 2010
There’s nothing wrong with learning a language from the same resource.
I’ve known people who’ve managed to make serious advancements in their language acquisition, even while studying under one teacher the whole time. Similarly, the first time I learned a foreign language was through six months of work with the same language training program, so I’m not knocking on the single-instructor model.
During a student’s advancement from an absolute beginner to intermediate learner, in fact, we recommend sticking with one teacher. That’s because the focus such a setup promotes will play a big part in your overall success.
Once you’re looking to really get good at a language, though, incorporating multiple sources will probably be your best recourse. Why?
- It helps you experience learning from different perspectives, something you don’t enjoy when sticking with one language program.
- Every language has many subtleties. You learn these subtle differences through learning from different resources, not staying with one throughout the course of your acquisition.
- It exposes you to a wider variety of vocabulary and pronunciation. Not all native speakers use the same language alike. If you don’t seek out other teachers, you’ll be stuck absorbing the default ones you’ve been learning since you started.
Branching out your learning has less to do with the quality of your primary language materials and more to do with experiencing the language in a fuller way. If you’ve gone past beyond the basics of a language, embracing this next step might be very beneficial for your overall development.
August 30, 2010
Sometimes, the small decisions you make can pay off greatly. This is true in many areas of life, just as it is in language learning.
Here are few small things that, if you stick to, can really boost up your language learning without adding any additional stress in your life.
- Be willing to make mistakes. You’re allowed to make mistakes, you know. Most people end up stuck in many of their activities just from the fear of making mistakes. The sooner you embrace this, the faster you can get on with actually learning, so fail those tests, mess up those exercises and falter trying to use the language. It’s all part of the process.
- Embrace your language material. Hopefully, you took the time studying the various offerings out there before settling on a class or a language training software. If you did, then you probably made a good choice, so trust that it can help you get where you want to go.
- Don’t limit yourself to one source. Regardless of how good your primary material is, it doesn’t make sense to limit yourself to just one. Most classes and programs are based around one approach. While effective, integrating others can really work in your favor, especially as you progress towards the intermediate and advanced stages of language acquisition.
August 27, 2010
Experts say people generally learn languages in one of five ways. Which one of these do you think will work best for you?
Word-By-Word Translations. The most ancient of the bunch, this involves literally translating words from your native tongue to the target language, usually by using a dictionary. It’s not the most efficient, but it’s one people have used with mixed success (which means there were positive results) for decades.
Vocabulary-Based Language Learning. Here, language is learned by associating words with pictures and objects they represent. Some people claim this is how natural learning occurs, making it a much-employed approach in many popular language software.
Grammar-Based Language Learning. Like the previous one, this is heavily-used among language learning programs. It generally uses a vocabulary-based strategy at the start, followed by in-depth study of the target language’s grammar.
Communicative Approach. Used by most modern language schools and some advanced language software, this involves communication drills that focus on specific aspects of a language, paired with tightly-focused grammar and vocabulary lessons.
Immersion. The method of choice for free spirits, this involves jumping into the deep end with native speakers and just winging it. It’s incredibly scary and awkward, but if you stick to it, you can develop a thick face quickly. Oh yeah, and some language abilities too.
August 26, 2010
If you’re not ready to invest in a full language program and merely want to pile new foreign words on stock, a vocabulary software might be more along your lines. Rather than burdening you with grammar and other language elements, the only goal for this type of software is to help you memorize and understand individual words and phrases.
Different software titles will have different approaches to vocabulary-building, so it’s best to expose yourself to what’s out there before settling on a choice. Make sure you read about the different options on offer, learning as much as you can about each one.
Personally, I recommend looking for a vocabulary software that has these features, at a minimum:
- It should have a structured method. If there’s no structure or algorithm to the way words it helps you pick up words, you might as well just grab a dictionary and start memorizing it alphabetically. Good vocabulary software will use methods and strategies that can improve and accelerate learning.
- It should track your progress. One of the more significant reasons to use software-based learning is the easier progress-tracking it allows. This is a feature that should be on any type of learning program.
- It should integrate pronunciation practice. What good is memorizing a word if you can’t rehearse it spouting off your mouth?
- It should offer multiple test modes to ensure retention. Tons of vocabulary tests have been devised over the years and the software you use should come with several of them. It’s usually easier to gauge actual retention if you can keep it through varying types of tests.
Those four comprise the bare-basics of what we believe a good vocabulary software should have. Do note that many of the all-around language learning programs come with built-in vocabulary modules, so you may also want to explore that option. At the least, it will save you from buying another piece of software when you decide the embrace language instruction in a fuller capacity.
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