Learning a Language, What's Your Opinion
I live and teach in a very small area. My high school has just over 100 kids, draws from 6 towns and surrounding countryside. We have 4 kids enrolled that are not white. We have no kids that speak anything other than English. So when I hear statements made regarding foreign language, I don't know if it is valid or not. I'm not one to accept much of anything at face value. So here goes... Do you agree with,or disagree with the following information, and why: (I've paraphrased because I may or may not remember the exact wording.)
[For about 25% of the population, a second language is nearly impossible, or extremely difficult to acquire.] This is paraphrased from an article that ran in Reader's Digest maybe 15 years ago.
[It takes at least seven years of intensive study to become fluent in a foreign language.] Taken from the Spanish Syllabus at one of the high schools in Wichita, KS several years ago.
[At around the age of 9 a brainwash occurs that washes away unused synapses. The effect is that every year after about the age of 9, a second language becomes more difficult to acquire.] This was something our grade school teachers were told at a workshop they went to.
7 Answers
Just my two cent's worth- from my experience volunteering in ESL classes, it is my opinion that anyone, of any age, can at least learn the basics of a foreign language. With age, this becomes more difficult, as I am finding out with my attempts to learn Spanish.
The second issue is a little cloudy. First, you must define what "fluent" means. If you mean " indistinguishable from a native speaker", then that is a very high bar, and probably will not be achieved without immersion in a country that speaks the language in question. If you mean "can communicate and understand normal day - to - conversation", then that is more achievable.
Once you have your definition, then it isa matter of how much time and effort you are willing to invest in study and practice. Personally, I don't think you can make a blanket statement of "seven years". The goal is learning, not in an imposed schedule.
It seems apparent to me that children do indeed have an inate ability to learn language, although I am not personally aware of the specific age where that changes.
Again, the important thing is to realize that studying a language is the best way to understand other cultures. Even if you never become fluent, you will certainly gain appreciation for other human beings in this diverse world in which we live.
Wow! That's quite an insightful posting, which I appreciate. I grew up speaking both English and Spanish and picked up French, Italian and Portuguese in college and living abroad. I can tell you that mastering a language is no easy task and it requires patience, practice, taming your ego, and being willing to try even if you make a horrendous mistake.
In my very tiresome quest to speak French like a native I sought multiple resources including my teachers at the university. Some of my French teachers in Paris used to say that they loved people who spoke French with a foreign accent. When asked why, they responded: "Because that's a clear indication they speak another language, and we find that fascinating".
In a word: Not Valid.
Here are my, somewhat cheeky yet authentic, responses to your questions.
After childhood, learning a foreign language is extremely difficult for 100% of the population. Of course, it can be extremely fun too. By no means is it impossible, but of course it depends on what you mean by 'learn' a foreign language. Does that mean learn 100 words, learn to travel to another country successfully, or becoming fluent?
As a teacher, at the end of the day, I don't see why everyone would not want to adopt the basic idea of, "Learning a foreign language takes time and commitment, most everybody has the potential with time and commitment to become communicative in a foreign language, and there are ways to make learning a foreign language fun and interesting."
As a trained researcher, I can tell you that at this point, nobody can scientifically claim that the above 'facts' are true. (Although if seven years ends up being around 10,000 hours, then that may be close.) To me, the claims you cite sound more defeatist, than encouraging (like, what's the point of studying a foreign language?). That's why I would advocate for a 'foreign language is difficult but possible for everyoneand can be extremely enjoyable' approach. Rather than something that is more negative.
What do you think?
In a language school in Bolivia I taught as if a student failed the weekly or monthly tests the teacher was held to be to blame.
That way the school owners could tell whoever was paying for the lessons that it was not the school's fault - or sweet little Juanito's fault either.
One student was upgraded to a monthly pass grade because she said her teacher was not speaking "American English" and therefore she could be expected to pass. (I was not the teacher)
Every thing that school did demotivated the teachers - it was part of a plan to "fine" teachers and put the money into the back pockets of the owners.
As for the stats above It takes at least seven years of intensive study to become fluent in a foreign language
What a load of cobblers - all of us were fluent without "studying / learning" by the age of 5.
There really is an awful lot of crap written about learning a language. It all comes down to opportunity and inclination.
Language is just part of the learning. The culture, current events, literature, and land area contribute to the "understanding" of the language. I am 62. To me, this endeavor isn't any more difficulte than becoming a paramedic or histologist in my medical days. The process is longer; however, there is a ferverant vib here, possibly from my father's mothers blood, which builds enthusiasm when frustration raises an ugly head. I would suggest vocabulary is to be learner more times in phrases or whole sentences because context appears to be everything.
I just want to add one more thing to this discussion concerning how the perspective about my own relationship with Spanish has recently shifted.
I've lived in Guatemala and Spain (albeit many years ago, to study Spanish), finished the entire Rosetta Stone course, completed all 60 lessons on the SpanishDict website, and just this week decided to change my 'self described level' from intermediate to beginner.
I had to think of Socrates: the more you know, the more you know you don't know.
[For about 25% of the population, a second language is nearly impossible, or extremely difficult to acquire.] This is paraphrased from an article that ran in Reader's Digest maybe 15 years ago.
To me this seems a pointless statement. What could it be used for? There are those who do not or cannot learn a second (aka foreign) language and perhaps this can provide some comfort to them. But if the goal is to encourage people to learn I would them extrapolate that for 75% (that's above the failure grade) it is possible and not difficult.
[It takes at least seven years of intensive study to become fluent in a foreign language.] Taken from the Spanish Syllabus at one of the high schools in Wichita, KS several years ago.
Some people never learn to use their own language in a way that communicates literate, complex, or specialized knowledge. Yet they communicate what is important or essential. Fluency is too lofty a goal to use as a reason to study and learn another language.
[At around the age of 9 a brainwash occurs that washes away unused synapses. The effect is that every year after about the age of 9, a second language becomes more difficult to acquire.] This was something our grade school teachers were told at a workshop they went to.
Brain research is helpful but too often these scientific facts (sometimes peer reviewed anecdotal observation and/or theories) can be examples of that old axiom: A little knowledge is a dangerous thing. The brain can continue to develop and grow. Remember Einstein failed Algebra in high school.
Finally, Thanks for this discussion! Beware! Living in a "very small area" has the danger of creating "very small minds". Don't let this happen to you or to your students! I wish could give you more votes. AND I agree with those comments before mine: As Kurt Vonnegut said "Panegyrics and encomiums all around" Wampeters, Foma and Grand Faloons.
