Two Ways To Speak
As I was reading Ben Slavic's blog (www.benslavic.com), I came across Steve's blog...in particular this one entitled The Seven Principles Of Input-based Language Learning:
blogs.com/how_to_learn_english_and/2009/10/-seven-principles-of-input-based-language-learning.html
There is a great deal to think and write about here....but I was drawn to the discussion of the role of speaking in the comments that follow.
I think that there are at least two different ways to begin to speak a new language....
A) To learn words and rules necessary to produce verbal communication in a new language
To acquire the language though comprehensible input combined with the need/desire to verbally communicate a new language
Those of us who began a new language after childhood most likely used version a.
It required a lot of thought. Often it takes so much thought, that by the time we were ready to spit out a question or a response, the moment to use that utterance had come and gone. We remembered individual words, searched our memories for the correct stems and endings, felt around for the correct positions and phrasings and tried it out in our heads to see if it needed to be corrected.
Those of us who did fairly well at it brought those skills with us to a place where we could be immersed in the language.....using what we had learned in version a....to progress to version b.
Those of us who began a new language as infants or young children, went right to version b.
If versions A and B don't look much different to you, go back and read them again.
Version A is nearly totally cognitive and dependent on a strong ability to memorize. Version B is cognitive and emotional and relies on the natural ability of the brain to absorb and manipulate the patterns of language.
Both A and B are possible and valid.
Only B works for everyone.
But because we struggled our way through version A, there is a part of us that believes that everyone must pay those dues. That's too bad. It's not true.
Now, if someone wants to become a linguist, I would suggest a tour of version A. But maybe after a few rounds of version B, so that there is language to associate with the patterns studied.
Either way, speaking is hard. In any language...and naturally occurs AFTER listening.
with love,
Laurie
blogs.com/how_to_learn_english_and/2009/10/-seven-principles-of-input-based-language-learning.html
There is a great deal to think and write about here....but I was drawn to the discussion of the role of speaking in the comments that follow.
I think that there are at least two different ways to begin to speak a new language....
A) To learn words and rules necessary to produce verbal communication in a new language
To acquire the language though comprehensible input combined with the need/desire to verbally communicate a new languageThose of us who began a new language after childhood most likely used version a.
It required a lot of thought. Often it takes so much thought, that by the time we were ready to spit out a question or a response, the moment to use that utterance had come and gone. We remembered individual words, searched our memories for the correct stems and endings, felt around for the correct positions and phrasings and tried it out in our heads to see if it needed to be corrected.
Those of us who did fairly well at it brought those skills with us to a place where we could be immersed in the language.....using what we had learned in version a....to progress to version b.
Those of us who began a new language as infants or young children, went right to version b.
If versions A and B don't look much different to you, go back and read them again.
Version A is nearly totally cognitive and dependent on a strong ability to memorize. Version B is cognitive and emotional and relies on the natural ability of the brain to absorb and manipulate the patterns of language.
Both A and B are possible and valid.
Only B works for everyone.
But because we struggled our way through version A, there is a part of us that believes that everyone must pay those dues. That's too bad. It's not true.
Now, if someone wants to become a linguist, I would suggest a tour of version A. But maybe after a few rounds of version B, so that there is language to associate with the patterns studied.
Either way, speaking is hard. In any language...and naturally occurs AFTER listening.
with love,
Laurie
I kept trying to label the versions A) and B ) but it keeps showing up as a smiley face...after a while I decided I would just keep B that way.
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