Easiness of learning
December 18th, 2008 by Zeljka
Often I wondered what would be a better method for learning foreign languages, one which would provide easiness and joy? When asked whether they would like to learn one, most people would with excitement in their voices say, “Yes!”.
Those who live in a foreign country often walk around and repeat to themselves: “I want to improve my English, German, French”. New methods, compact discs, iPods, college classes, self study packages… all that is available for everyone, but even with all that I have a feeling majority will give up soon after they start. So where is the problem?
To learn we need to input time, money, energy and will.
Did you ever experience the feeling which comes straight after you put down a language book? Thoughts like; this is too hard, how will I pronounce that, how will I remember all that, oh who cares, I will forget everything by tomorrow anyway.
One common type of learning consists of reading a new text and pulling out the words and phrases which we don’t understand. Then we look up and write down their meanings and pronunciation trying to remember all that.
I tried the opposite way. First I would only skim the text, write down new words and try to remember their meaning and pronunciation. Afterwards I would read the text again and as I would encounter all the new words I was recognizing them. I also felt easiness and a little bit of satisfaction which grew towards the end of reading. At the end I felt good and thought – I knew those words, that was easy, that was fun.
Second factor is regularity because even the best method will not give you results if you do not practice often.
A very important third factor is not to compare yourself with native speakers. You will probably never speak as good as they, but you will progress even if you do not immediately notice it. Compare yourself with someone who is also learning it as a foreign language and that will give you a better answer about where/how you measure up.
At the end, what to say? I’m going to grab my Easy Italian Reader and give it a go.