The Linguist On Language

At all times I resent and resist any attempt by teachers to impose precision on me before I am ready. I want the content, the stimulus, the richness. Corrective feedback has to be of a nature that I feel I can cope with. Correction while speaking is difficult to accept, since it gradual y takes away the pleasure (reward) of speaking. On the other hand, feedback after a conversation, with a few things to work on, is OK. Writing correction is OK, if I have asked for it. At least that is what work for me.

Children speak and make mistakes and correct themselves on their own time. Adults do not like being reduced to the status of children. And to fol ow Edelman, the brain's values, its feeling of reward or punishment, influences the selectionist activities of the neurons.

If the learner can be challenged, yet feel that he or she is performing well , learning will take place. It is not clear to me that the classroom can provide as high a quality of stimulus as simply reading or listening to something of interest in a language.

Manfred Spitzer – A German Neuroscientist

One of the most innovative thinkers on language learning is Stephen Krashen, who has pointed out that languages are acquired through meaningful input and not deliberate instruction. His insights are being confirmed by the latest research on how the brain learns, as described in an excellent book by German brain researcher, Manfred Spitzer, Learning: The Human Brain and the School for Life.

Here are six concepts of how the brain learns that I gleaned from Spitzer's book, and how they apply to language learning.

1. The brain can learn, trust it.

The brain learns all the time, and, in fact, is designed to learn. Throughout our lives the brain retains ―plasticity‖, creating neurons, and neural connections, in response to what it sees, hears and experiences. The brain draws its own conclusions from the input it receives, and is better at forming its own rules than understanding logical explanations. The brain is always at work, consuming over 20% of the body’s calories. We can learn languages right into old age, and in fact it is good for the brain to do so.

 The brain develops its own rules, natural y, from the observation of the input it receives.

 The brain takes its time to learn, requiring continued exposure to meaningful and interesting content.

 The brain can prioritize what to learn, dealing with easier subjects first, and more difficult ones later.

2. The brain needs stimulus. Give it massive amounts of meaningful input.

The brain likes things that are relevant and interesting. So if the task is language acquisition, the most important condition is massive and continuous exposure to interesting and relevant language content. At first, when the language is new, it is helpful to reinforce what has been learned by repetitive listening and reading. As we progress we need to find new, fresh, interesting, stimulating and meaningful content.

 We learn better from stories, real conversations, examples and episodes than from rules and facts.

 We learn best from content that matters to us.

 It is easier to listen to and read content when it is at the right level of difficulty, however the interest and relevance to the learner is the most important consideration.

3. We can help the brain notice.

The brain learns natural y by observing, constantly labeling and creating its own rules. But the brain can miss things. We should, from time to time, review grammar rules and tables, focus on mistakes we have made, or study specific words and phrases that we have learned.

We should also attempt to write and speak, if we feel like it. These activities, which dominate traditional language learning, are, however, optional and minor activities in a natural language learning system. They increase attentiveness but should not take away from the main activities of listening and reading.

 Good language output can only come from absorbing massive amounts of language input.

 When we practice output, speaking and writing, or review vocabulary and grammar rules, we increase our attentiveness to the language.

 Heightened attentiveness increases the ability of the brain to notice the patterns and sounds of the language.

4. Engage your emotions in order to increase learning efficiency.

Positive emotions energize the brain, and increase the efficiency of learning. An interesting story, a powerful y narrated audio book, a person we like - these are the things that will engage our emotions. Uninteresting learning tasks, or negative tension, decrease learning efficiency.

 We should stay with content we like and discard content we do not like. We should do those learning tasks we enjoy doing.

 We should always combine audio with text and choose narrators whose voice we enjoy. This will make it easier to listen repetitively.

 We need to like the language we are learning and at leas t some aspects of its culture.