November 5, 2011
When it comes, to language learning, we can all learn something from everyone interested in our target language, whether they be native speakers or students like us. However, it falls on you to take necessary precautions when it comes to heeding advice — not all language feedback is equal, after all. Here are some things to look out for, depending on the source:
- Native speakers. While native speakers are a great primary source for feedback, some of the feedback can be misleading. Many native speakers, though, can set the bar too low for second language learners. As such, your mistakes end up being tolerated, instead of pointed out and corrected.
- Second-language speakers. There are plenty of reasons to prefer second-language speakers as a source of feedback. They’ve gone through the same lessons you’re taking. They’ve ran through the same walls. They can be more sympathetic to your struggles, compared to native speakers. However, almost all second-language speakers have ingrained bad habits. If you can’t tell, there’s a good chance you’ll end up absorbing the same.
- Your co-learners. If you’re studying in a classroom or with learning buddies, take feedback with a grain of salt. Chances are, you’re all on the same level, so feedback can go either way. It’s always wise to verify.
August 6, 2011
Feedback is essential to any form of learning. Without feedback, it becomes impossible to accurately ascertain how well you’re really doing.
That’s why it’s difficult to pick up many skills on your own. While you can, in theory, learn Muay Thai from a DVD training program, you’re probably not going to progress as fast as a guy training at a gym in a rural kickboxing mecca in Thailand with coaches to steer his course and sparring partners to punch him in the face.
Feedback lets you know when you’re doing something right. More importantly, though, it alerts you when you’re doing something wrong, so you can change it. Without feedback, the self-taught kickboxer can be teaching himself all the wrong strikes without ever catching on.
The same is true for language learning. If all you do is take lessons from your language software all day, there’s no objective way for you to check how well you’re progressing. That’s why we stress doing the exercises and putting yourself in situations where you can use the language, as those are the things that can get you feedback.
As you do your language software lessons this week, try to come up with a list of ways that you can get feedback on your progress. Scour your imagination to see what’s possible — getting feedback is worth the trouble.
June 30, 2011
Getting feedback about your language skills isn’t hard. Just ask a teacher or a native speaker what they think, and you’ll usually get an answer. What’s hard to get, however, is real, honest feedback that you can use to get better.
Native speakers can be the worst persons to ask. Since they know you’re a second-language speaker, they tend to simply assume you’re going to suck. As such, when you speak and you only suck a little, they’ll actually tell you that you’re doing amazingly well.
Here are some ways to get useful honest feedback if you’re looking for them:
- Ask for just one thing. Asking people to give you “any feedback” may sound like you’re giving them space to tell you everything. What usually happens, though, is it leaves them uncertain about what to tell you. When you ask them something specific, they can focus their mind on exactly one thing, increasing the likelihood that you’ll actually get a useful answer.
- Ask people who know you. It’s hard for someone to make a decent assessment of your skills if they’ve only known you for an entire 30 minutes. As much as possible, seek feedback from people who can actually take your background into account in their assessment, such as a teacher, a friend or a learning partner.
- Ask groups of people. If you want to get lots of feedback, don’t ask people one by one. Instead, ask them as a group. All you need is for one person to start the critiques and the rest of the crew will start cracking your head with their own.
September 17, 2010
Feedback is valuable in language learning. Without it, you could be running around in circles and not even know it.
But where should a language learner turn for feedback? Here are some ideas:
• Your language software. There are practice exams and exercises in almost every foreign language program out there. Taking all the practice quizzes offer a decent way to measure how much of each lesson you’ve been able to pick up. Occasionally go back and retake previous tests to show yourself the lessons you’ve been able to successfully assimilate.
• Your language instructor or primary resource person. If you’re taking a class or private tutoring, you should regularly seek out feedback from your primary teachers. With their experience in the language, they should be able to point out your development and where you seem to be struggling.
• Your fellow language learners. If you’re in a class, your classmates should prove a valuable asset for this purpose. For those studying on their own with a home language software, finding fellow learners by joining local clubs or online communities should introduce you to a host of language learners on the same path as yours.
Getting feedback is one thing. Putting those responses to good use, however, is a whole other. Make sure to consider all the feedback you get, evaluating whether they’ll be useful or not for your own development. Be realistic in implementing them, though – keep goals to within your reach.
August 18, 2009
How important is it to receive feedback in your language learning? In my experience, it’s irrelevant – if you don’t care about developing your language skills in a timely, efficient and effective manner, that is.
Barring that from your own value system, then feedback is extremely valuable. Just like input from readers is the best way for writers to learn about their shortcomings with their craft, so does the opinion of those you practice the language on matter in gauging what areas you need to improve upon.
Feedback And Growth
While there may be a subset of language learners out there who manage to “grow” even with isolation, it is obvious that they’re few and far between. A student who sits alone with a language learning software for three months will undoubtedly develop far slower than someone who does the same, then goes out and practices with native speakers twice a week. You can’t put a price on the kind of feedback that you can get from natural and organic interactions.
It is for that reason why you can never put enough stress on the importance of going out and applying every bit of skill you learn. Even if it’s just three nouns and two verbs, you should take the leap and use it the first chance you get, as it’s the only way to truly learn in an efficient manner.
Quality Of Feedback
Quality of feedback, of course, is also important. You need to keep challenging yourself around people who know better than you. If you restrict your practice to your classmates who are no more advanced than you are, the quality of the reactions you will get will likely not be all that beneficial.
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