How to Learn a Language: INPUT (Why most methods don't work)

Summary

This video script delves into effective language learning strategies, emphasizing the importance of comprehensible input and context for acquisition. It challenges the traditional reliance on flashcards and dictionaries, advocating for maximizing exposure to the language through media and books without constant lookups. The script introduces the concept of 'focused' and 'diffuse' thinking modes, suggesting that subconscious pattern recognition plays a crucial role in language acquisition. It also touches on the benefits of shadowing for pronunciation and phoneme perception, offering a fresh perspective on mastering a new language.

Takeaways

• 😀 Language acquisition is a natural, intuitive process that occurs subconsciously, as described by Stephen Krashen.
• 📚 Learning a language effectively involves understanding messages, or comprehensible input, rather than rote memorization.
• 🔍 The difference between acquisition and learning is like getting a joke versus understanding why it's funny; acquisition is subconscious.
• 🎓 Krashen's hypotheses suggest that language ability improvement is dependent on acquisition, not learning.
• 📺 Watching television series without subtitles in the target language can provide a large amount of comprehensible input for language acquisition.
• 🚫 Looking up every word while reading can slow down language acquisition, as it limits the brain's exposure to new words and phrases in context.
• 🧠 Our brains have two thinking modes: focused and diffuse. The latter allows subconscious pattern recognition, aiding in language learning.
• 📚 Reading books without constantly referring to a dictionary can help in subconsciously absorbing language patterns and vocabulary.
• 🗣️ Talking out loud is not the same as practicing language acquisition; understanding language is key, even without speaking.
• 🎧 The technique of shadowing, or mimicking native speaker pronunciation and intonation, can improve pronunciation and phoneme recognition.
• 📈 Studies show that shadowing significantly improves phoneme perception, which is crucial for understanding natural speech.
• 🌟 The script emphasizes the importance of context, input, and positive learning experiences in language acquisition.

Q & A

What is the first language the speaker learned as a toddler?

The speaker's first language was English, which they learned when they were about 2 years old.

How did the speaker's mother help them learn English vocabulary?

The speaker's mother helped by making flashcards so they could memorize vocabulary and spent hours helping them get different verb tenses right.

What significant achievement did the speaker accomplish in Japan?

The speaker took and passed the highest level of the Japanese Language Proficiency Test about two years after arriving in Japan.

What is the concept of 'comprehensible input' as discussed by the speaker?

Comprehensible input is a concept where language acquisition occurs when learners understand messages or what they read, which helps in subconsciously picking out vocabulary and grammar patterns.

According to Stephen Krashen, what is the key to language acquisition?

Stephen Krashen posits that the key to language acquisition is receiving messages that are comprehensible to the learner.

What is the difference between 'acquisition' and 'learning' in Krashen's hypotheses?

In Krashen's hypotheses, 'acquisition' is a natural, intuitive, and subconscious process, whereas 'learning' is a more conscious understanding of the language, such as knowing the definition of a word.

Why is watching television series without English subtitles beneficial for language learning?

Watching television series without English subtitles exposes learners to a large amount of words, phrases, and grammar in a short time, allowing the brain to subconsciously pick up patterns and meanings.

What are the two modes of thinking explained by Professor Barbara Oakley?

The two modes of thinking explained by Professor Barbara Oakley are the focused mode, where one is actively trying to figure something out, and the diffuse mode, which operates in the background and helps make connections at a subconscious level.

How does the speaker suggest using a dictionary while reading a foreign language book?

The speaker suggests not looking up every word while reading, as it can slow down the process and prevent the subconscious acquisition of language patterns and meanings.

What is the 'Aha!' moment in language learning, and how does it relate to the speaker's experience?

The 'Aha!' moment in language learning is when a learner suddenly understands or acquires a new word or concept, similar to getting a joke. The speaker experienced this when they learned the casual verb 'kuu' and connected it to 'kuttaro'.

What is the technique called 'Shadowing' and how does it help in language learning?

Shadowing is a technique where learners listen to a native speaker and mimic their pronunciation and intonation. It helps improve pronunciation and the ability to recognize phonemes in natural speech.

What does the speaker suggest about the necessity of speaking out loud for language acquisition?

The speaker suggests that speaking out loud is not technically necessary for language acquisition, as demonstrated by the case of a boy who could understand spoken English but couldn't speak due to a medical condition.

What is the importance of positive learning experiences according to the speaker?

The speaker emphasizes that ensuring the experience of learning is positive can enhance the language learning process, although the script does not provide specific details on how this is achieved.