Why You Can’t Speak (But You Understand)

Summary

Michael Campbell, founder of the Glossa language learning app and a polyglot, discusses the challenges of language retention and listening comprehension in foreign languages. He emphasizes the importance of dictation to improve listening skills and suggests using technology to practice. Campbell also shares personal strategies for maintaining language proficiency, such as revisiting materials, engaging with stories in different languages, and maintaining regular exposure to keep languages fresh. He believes that while vocabulary may fade, the underlying language structure remains ingrained, akin to riding a bike. Campbell encourages persistence in language learning and the use of translation as a tool for deeper understanding and retention.

Takeaways

• 😌 Forgetting one's mother tongue is possible if not used enough or if the environment no longer supports the language.
• 📝 Practicing dictation is an effective way to improve listening skills in a foreign language by writing down sentences and checking against the original.
• 🔍 Listening to a foreign language at its natural speed is crucial for understanding allophonic variations and nuances.
• 👂 Dictation helps in identifying word boundaries and small language particles like verb conjugations and prepositions, which are often difficult to catch.
• 📱 Technology can aid in language learning, allowing for easy checking of transcriptions and practice through apps like Glossa.
• 🗣️ Maintaining language skills involves revisiting materials and practicing speaking aloud, even with familiar stories in different languages.
• 🔁 Regularly revisiting and practicing languages, even those not in active use, is essential to keep them fresh in memory.
• 🚴‍♂️ Language skills, like riding a bike, are enduring; it's the vocabulary that is more likely to be forgotten without consistent use.
• 📚 Consuming media in the target language, such as watching TV series or movies, can help keep languages fresh even without active conversation.
• 🤔 The ability to translate between languages is a valuable skill that can aid in understanding and internalizing the structure and nuances of a foreign language.
• 💬 Maintaining an internal dialogue in the target language can significantly enhance language acquisition and retention.

Q & A

What does Michael Campbell believe about forgetting one's mother language?

Michael Campbell believes that it's possible to forget one's mother language if it's not used enough or if there's no environment where the language is spoken.

What is the primary focus of the Glossa language learning app founded by Michael Campbell?

The primary focus of the Glossa language learning app is to help users improve their foreign language skills, particularly in listening and speaking abilities.

What method does Michael recommend to improve listening skills in a foreign language?

Michael recommends dictation as a method to improve listening skills. This involves writing down specific sentences, checking against the original, and practicing to catch the details and word boundaries.

Why does Michael advise against recording sentences at a decreased speed for language learning apps?

Recording sentences at a decreased speed can introduce unnatural and non-conversational speech, which is not representative of how language is used in real-life conversations.

How does Michael suggest maintaining the freshness of learned languages?

Michael suggests maintaining language freshness by revisiting materials, practicing with apps like Glossa, reading stories in the target language, and engaging with the language at least twice a year.

What does Michael believe stays with us even if we forget a foreign language?

Michael believes that the ability to form sentences and the grammatical structure of a language stays with us for life, even if we forget the vocabulary or specific words.

What is the role of translation in language learning according to Michael Campbell?

Michael sees translation as an important step in language learning, helping to understand sentence construction and nuances. It's like training wheels that help learners eventually think directly in the foreign language.

How does Michael maintain his proficiency in multiple languages?

Michael maintains his proficiency by spending a month on a specific language each year, actively using older languages, and keeping an internal dialogue in his target languages.

What is the importance of practicing vocabulary throughout the year according to Michael Campbell?

Practicing vocabulary regularly helps to solidify the language and ensures that both high-frequency and low-frequency words are retained, preventing them from being lost forever.

How does Michael suggest using media to keep languages fresh?

Michael suggests consuming media in the target language, such as watching TV series or movies, to keep the language fresh in the mind and to trigger memories associated with the language.

What does Michael mean by 'internal dialogue' in the context of language learning?

An 'internal dialogue' refers to the practice of constantly creating sentences and talking to oneself in the target language, which helps to make thinking in that language more natural over time.