I'm so excited about this series, Rebecca! Have you ever seen the Friends episode where Joey learns Spanish in his sleep? This article reminded me of it.
I remember a professor saying that quietly playing songs you want your students to learn on loop in the background while they other activities make it stick. I've experimented on this a few times with much success. Somehow it really burrows into their brains. Looking forward to your next post!
Interestingly, there's a lot of talk in TESOL circles right now about creating safe spaces within classrooms for students to practice the language they're learning without worrying about being correct or having to keep up appearances. There might be a bit of overlap there.
Classroom teachings have rarely been much use to me. School teachers were not able to hold my attention. One exception, was my French teacher, a kind and caring man who lived next door to us.
My family regaled me with tales of my deceased father, who spoke seven languages. These two factors shaped my life, my passions. Wherever I have visited or lived, I have immersed myself in the local language or dialect. This has given me a deep insight into how overlapping languages have historically influenced each other.
Some years ago I met an Iranian political refugee, who could not converse in English but wanted to study Medicine. So we shared at flat for 11 months, working 15 to 18 hours a day, finding ways to translate. We were determined to succeed., and we did ! Within nine months, five universities offered courses. Graduation with high marks were duly achieved. My friend is now working as a qualified nurse. I am grateful for the experience.
Modern society does not enable many people to even have the possibility to learn a language via this immersive method. Nor would I recommend it be attempted without total determination.
I'm so excited about this series, Rebecca! Have you ever seen the Friends episode where Joey learns Spanish in his sleep? This article reminded me of it.
I remember a professor saying that quietly playing songs you want your students to learn on loop in the background while they other activities make it stick. I've experimented on this a few times with much success. Somehow it really burrows into their brains. Looking forward to your next post!
Interestingly, there's a lot of talk in TESOL circles right now about creating safe spaces within classrooms for students to practice the language they're learning without worrying about being correct or having to keep up appearances. There might be a bit of overlap there.
Classroom teachings have rarely been much use to me. School teachers were not able to hold my attention. One exception, was my French teacher, a kind and caring man who lived next door to us.
My family regaled me with tales of my deceased father, who spoke seven languages. These two factors shaped my life, my passions. Wherever I have visited or lived, I have immersed myself in the local language or dialect. This has given me a deep insight into how overlapping languages have historically influenced each other.
Some years ago I met an Iranian political refugee, who could not converse in English but wanted to study Medicine. So we shared at flat for 11 months, working 15 to 18 hours a day, finding ways to translate. We were determined to succeed., and we did ! Within nine months, five universities offered courses. Graduation with high marks were duly achieved. My friend is now working as a qualified nurse. I am grateful for the experience.
Modern society does not enable many people to even have the possibility to learn a language via this immersive method. Nor would I recommend it be attempted without total determination.