Today, I heard a podcast about language learning mindset which mean is the ways brain approaches learning English, including ideas, attitudes, perspectives, and so on. The host introduces three ways for learning English.
Firstly, it is the wrong way to completely control or pursue perfectly understaning in learning English. We have gotten a lot of training to analyze grammar details and dissect sentences in middle and high school for mastery this language, but perfectly understand how all the details work is not helpful for improving speaking fluency. The host believes that language is not a systematic subject like math so we can't rely on our logical sense. Learner should trust their intuition and repeat what they heard natives speak. Analyzing grammar structures can be supplementary. So in my opinion, that means enough listening input is the basis of speaking fluency. repeatly mimicing the words native speak can help me internalization.
The precondition of second way sounds weird. The host says in some countries, learners refute to say correct pronunciation, because their friends will make fun of correct pronunciation and local people laght at learners who practice authentic pronunciation want to be like native speaker. Although this social bias is unfair to hard-working learners, the host also gives a method to tackle this situation. English learners should break or beyond this bias. they can be a native speaker in their mind, image that they live and talk as an American. This suggestion sounds like a proverb which is fake it till make it.
Thirdly, the motivation of learning is most important factor. If I lack of enough motivation, even if I have a lot of learning tools, resources and in a perfect environment, I still can't learn well in English. Just for fun is not enough for motivating many of learners, including me. Giving a convincing answer about the question why am I learning English? What is my ultimate goal in learning English? I need to fix and focus on the answers. Imaging the day when I achieve my goal and self-inspiring will make all the difference.
In conclusion, more listening, making use of images, and having a self-convincing reason are three ways the host recommends.
Very interesting post! Considering point #1 - there is an app called Glossika that has you practice repeating sentences in your target language, with a similar underlying philosophy - that it is beneficial to become familiar with the sounds and the rhythms of a new language. I completely agree that "perfection" is not a reasonable goal for language learners. Native speakers aren't perfect - we (they) make mistakes all the time. But I do think that systematic study has a role to play in language learning. It is certainly not the only tool to support language learning and maybe not the most important tool - but I think it would be foolish to throw it out completely. I think that top-down (or explicit) learning and bottom-up (or implicit) learning are complementary processes and, as adults, we benefit most when we use them both. Now, figuring out the best ratio and most appropriate use of each is a more complicated question... 😉 Motivation is also an interesting question for me, because I am trying to learn Finnish and there is no good external driver for this goal. I'm not planning to move to Finland, all of my Finnish-speaking acquaintances are fluent in English, etc. Honestly, my motivation to study it ebbs and flows, and it is usually strengthened when I assign external responsibilities to myself, like writing a Finnish post for Journaly each day...😉 I honestly don't know how far I'll get with Finnish, given that my motivation is basically: "just for fun."
@Aloittelija I agree with you that top-down (or explicit) learning and bottom-up (or implicit) learning are complementary processes. The host of this podcast is a English tutor who popularizes of English, at the same time advertises himself and promotes his courses. His points mainly come from his teaching experience and his students. I think he summerizes the most common and difficult issues among his students who have specific expectation in learning Engilsh, such as applying school or getting a job, so his points present the needs of this group only . It isn't the whole picture. I found a YouTuber who come from the same hometwon with me, and she can speak 7 countries's languages and use these languages to do her fildwork researches. Her motivation is her interest. She enjoys herself when she uses different languages to talk with locals. I think the World in her eyes isn't the same as mine. Now, I have to hurry in improving my English, but then I also want to learn different languages in another mindset. I think it will be fun too.
Oh, the story of the YouTuber who speaks seven languages and learns them for fun is very encouraging to me! If she can learn seven languages for fun, then certainly I should be able to learn one! Thanks for sharing! 😊