June 9, 2011
Many beginning language learners go through what language researcher Stephen Krashen has termed the “silent period.” He defined it as that period of time when the learner refuses to speak the target language, whether as a result of a general lack of ability or being overcome by fear.
If you’ve studied even one new language as an adult before, you should be familiar with this. For many of us, getting comfortable with the idea of going out and speaking is an important prerequisite before we actually start using anything we learned.
According to Krashen’s theory, the “silent period” is significant because it’s something that must be respected. If you push someone to speak before they’re mentally ready (i.e. have gone past the silent period), you’re only bound to raise their “affective filter,” making them even more nervous about the activity. Instead of getting them comfortable with speaking, it will only create negative associations that can form into long-lasting inhibitions that could hurt them further.
Of course, it is just a theory — one that could very well be correct, but might just as well be missing the mark. At any rate, the “silent period” is an obstacle that all language learners must be able to overcome, lest have it hold back their progress for longer periods than necessary.
If you’re a new language learner suffering from this state, it’s in your best interest to get over it as soon as you can. We recommend doing plenty of low-risk preparation activities that simulate speaking in public, such as visualization, solo practice and talking with imaginary persons. Fact is, if all you do is wait it out, the stalling can build its own negative associations that could make ending the silent period harder. Be more active about it and you just might get over the hump sooner.
March 8, 2011
Memorizing hundreds of words and phrases is great for language learning. Unless you can speak them the way they were intended to be spoken, though, people still won’t understand what you’re saying.
Here are some ways to improve your pronunciation and communication abilities in a target language:
- Speak louder. Because they lack the confidence to use the language, most early learners tend to speak very softly when using it. While I have no qualms against speaking in a gentle manner, it usually makes sense to deliberately speak louder in order to make sure you’re clearly understood. Practice speaking the same way, so you’re more used to it during actual interactions.
- Enunciate your syllables. If you sound like you’re eating your words when you talk, then it’s time to speak more slowly, deliberately enunciating your syllables to ensure clarity in your speech.
- Record yourself speaking. When you record yourself speaking in the target language, you give yourself the chance to hear your own use of the vernacular. That way, you can quickly discover weak areas in your use of the language that you can work on later down the line.
- Learn the right pronunciation. There’s a reason why most people are skipping books and opting for software to use in home-based language learning — you can’t hear new words pronounced correctly in the former. People need proper pronunciation to emulate, lest be left having to make one up for themselves.
February 15, 2010
There’s a lot of controversy surrounding when you should begin speaking a new language. Some people say you should do it early, while others prefer taking a more careful approach.
Generally, we believe people should wait awhile if they are unsure. If they’re confident about speaking right from day one, though, then they should go ahead and do it. How about you? How do you feel about jumping in and using the target language on your first day with a comprehensive language software?
How long should you wait? With most people, holding off on speaking during the month can be a good idea. It should be enough time to get you comfortable with the language, as well as prepare you for the stress that using the new vernacular could entail.
What are the advantages of waiting before speaking?
1. It takes some time before you get used to hearing a new language clearly. If you speak too soon, you aren’t likely to understand what those you’re talking to will say back. Plus, your pronunciation will probably so bad that they won’t understand you either.
2. You could develop some bad habits, thanks to those non-existent pronunciation skills.
3. It’s extra stressful to begin speaking while being as unprepared as you would be during the first few weeks.
February 1, 2010
Why do we have language? So we can communicate. Sure, we can probably understand each other (somewhat) using hand gestures and grunts, but you have to admit – language does allow for a richer, more complex interaction.
Language consists of four main skills: speaking, listening, reading and writing. While each area does help you develop the others, proficiency in one won’t ever guarantee the same level of ability on the rest.
If you want to communicate in a language, you’ll have to learn to speak and write in it. Those two abilities are widely different. In fact, while most second-language learners eventually develop proficiency in the former, many of them never develop skills in the latter. Now, why is that?
Speaking is natural. If you spend time among a group of native speakers of a language, you will eventually pick up bits and pieces of its speech. However, the same isn’t likely to hold true for writing. Putting words to paper, quite simply, is a learned skill – one you should spend considerable time building up.
There are differences in structure and style. When we speak, we rarely bother with formal grammar. In writing, we almost always make sure we write in an organized and structurally-correct manner. Obviously, the former is much less intimidating, making it easier to just dive in and embrace.
Writing is permanent. When you write, there’s a feeling of durability to the form, as the words you commit to paper can literally last a lifetime (and then some). Speaking, on the other hand, is more immediate, allowing you to express your thoughts to people right on the spot.
Understanding these differences helps you gain an appreciation for the learning you’re going to be doing, whether you’re taking language lessons or using a language training software.
December 5, 2009
Speaking and writing, in any language, consists of two very different skills. While one can definitely benefit the other, learning each one is something you will need to pursue independently.
When immersed in an environment where a particular language is used, especially as a child, we pick up the speaking aspect naturally. It’s as good as automatic, provided we have people interacting with us to allow the experience to happen. Writing, on the other, hand has to be taught. Without directed instruction, even in an immersive environment, it’s unlikely you will learn how to put language to paper.
For language learners, this is a very important distinction to draw. If you think you can write in a language without being able to speak a decent amount of it first, you’re kidding yourself. You can’t put your thoughts down to paper simply because you can’t formulate them without having the ability to express yourself in speech.
As such, you have to at least speak at the most basic level, before moving on to reading and writing. Remember that when designing your own language learning lesson plan, so that you don’t end up wasting more time than is necessary.
Most language acquisition software do take this into account. That’s why they integrate different mediums such as audio and video, apart from text. Doing so, you can learn in an immersive manner without being forced to read (or write) materials that you can’t comprehend.
September 8, 2009
When you’re in a foreign country and trying to learn the language, the best way to bring your studies up to speed is to interact with native speakers regularly. Of course, getting locals to tolerate your broken speech long enough to actually understand what you mean is easier than done, especially in many parts of the world where people can handle English in some roundabout form.
Many English speakers in foreign countries just tend to speak English anyway, regardless of what the local vernacular is. As such, people will tend to assume that you’d rather interact in English than struggle in their language, so they put on their own English hat (there are more people using an English learning software than you think) when you try to speak with them.
Rather than carry on doing what’s easy, it always makes sense to just go ahead and ask them if it’s okay to speak in their tongue because you really need the practice. Most people will actually acquiesce. A great majority of people can appreciate a foreigner who makes the effort to speak the local language.
If they’d rather communicate in English because your facility in the language is painfully inadequate, don’t give up just yet. Try engaging them on a more involved level, telling them how you’d like to learn the language because you’ve been hoping to ask a local lass out to dinner or that you’ve been meaning to work there by next year. This way, you’re not only pestering them for practice, but getting them to empathize with your particular story.
In case they want to go the English route because they want to wax their English skills, you can even make a compromise. They speak in English, you speak in their language – benefits both ways. In the event it really just wouldn’t fly (such as when they’re being rude about it), then just speak in English. Just don’t forget to go through the whole thing again with the next local you end up bumping into.
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