8 Language Learning Myths
We may have heard them, we may have read them, we may even have been taught them; language courses are often replete with tall claims and poorly-researched viewpoints. Here are eight of the most common and often misleading:
1. You can learn another language just by listening to it often enough
Good language learning requires development in many different areas of usage, of which listening is only one (reading, writing and speaking are obvious others). True, listening will help accent and pronunciation, and sometimes be a good indicator of idiomatic usage, but in itself listening is an insufficient means of acquiring good overall language knowledge and fluency.
2. Languages are lots of words, which can be memorized
There is nothing wrong with the part of this claim which tells us that words can be committed to memory, and indeed the better language courses will teach the student how to better remember the vocabulary they learn. But language isn't just words, it's also grammar and syntax and idiom. Language is about how we use words in combination, in phrases and expressions and sentences. Studying a word list at random is not going to have you speaking comfortably with a native, no matter how long or involved the list is.
3. 50% of all languages are made up of just 100 everyday words
This is a very common claim, and I've read it personally in several books. The truth is that many of the words that are used in this list are *extremely* basic: 'a', 'an', 'the', 'it', 'and'. Some of the most important of these, 'article' words ('a' and 'the') for example, do not even feature in languages such as Russian and Finnish. Other examples, such as 'to', as in 'to go' or 'to see', rely too much on the Western-style infinitive being central to all the great world languages. Such lists, and claims, are in fact of only limited value.
4. The beginner should start with basics, such as ordering a coffee, or asking for directions
I don't know about you, but I can't easily recall the last time I needed to use my French or German to ask for a cup of coffee. Especially seeing as coffee is an international word anyway. Stock phrases are the stuff of many beginners guides, but fail to provide the learner with any systematic overview of the language, its usage, how it works, why it works that way, the formation of ideas, complete sentences of opinion or expression etc. Basic stock phrases do not constitute language.
5. Exclusive tuition by a native speaker is always best
Sometimes the learner is lucky enough to have a friend who is a native speaker in the language he/she wants to learn. That's great, and native speakers can be a big help, which is why our courses are supported by native speakers, but it isn't the whole picture. Language learning involves not just the *what*, but the *how* to learn. Native speakers can teach the what, and do so very convincingly, but they are often less aware of some of the real problems a non-native speaker might come across in their attempt to learn the language. These need to be tackled by a broader curriculum of learning than a native speaker on their own can provide.
6. Learners should try to 'pick up' the language over time
There's nothing wrong with process learning, learning over a period of time. That's a good thing. But simply being asked to 'pick up' words and expressions places too great a burden on the learner. After all, just what words should the learner pick up in preference to others? And if the process only ever involves what the learner is exposed to by experience, how can they ever hope to deepen their expressive range and overall fluency levels?
7. Get rid of grammar. It's boring and dry. Stick with phrases and practical vocab.
The trouble a learner will very often find, is that even basic sentences require at least some awareness of grammar. Not knowing how the language operates is one of the biggest hurdles to real acquisition of language and all-round fluency. Grammar, taught over a wider process of learning, and where proper emphasis is placed on strategies such as pattern recognition and connection-building, doesn't have to be either boring and dry. At best, it can serve as the bedrock of your fluency.
8. Find a technique that works, and stick with it.
Sounds good, but in practice, language learning is complex and requires different strategies and approaches to reach good, overall acquisition and fluency. Any one useful technique can play its part, but must do so within the context of other broader skills and ideas.
Language learning is an enriching and exciting process, but it requires real commitment and application. If you're already a student of languages, consider talking over ideas and approaches with your teacher or lecturer. If you're a parent, consider getting your child a good, clearly-designed grammatical guide to complement their studies. And if you're contemplating embarking on a course of language study, most important of all, regardless of course or approach, enjoy and have fun!
More information on languages online:
http://www.languages-on-the-web.com/ - A huge and comprehensive site dedicated to languages, find online links to hundreds of languages and read stories translated into more than 50 languages, including Galician, Wolof and Lithuanian! (***** out of 5)
