Comments on: Warning, extended metaphor ahead! Learning a language = swimming http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tesol/warning-extended-metaphor-ahead-learning-a-language-swimming/ Fri, 05 Dec 2008 17:54:57 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.3 By: Alex Case http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tesol/warning-extended-metaphor-ahead-learning-a-language-swimming/#comment-1315 Alex Case Wed, 10 Oct 2007 06:42:56 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/archives/349#comment-1315 "... the older you get..." You're 'aving a larf, you young whipper snapper you! Just you wait... I'm guessing you are at least bi-lingual, do you think that makes the immersion thing easier for you than for some others? “… the older you get…”

You’re ‘aving a larf, you young whipper snapper you! Just you wait…

I’m guessing you are at least bi-lingual, do you think that makes the immersion thing easier for you than for some others?

]]> By: Laurent http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/tesol/warning-extended-metaphor-ahead-learning-a-language-swimming/#comment-1288 Laurent Sun, 07 Oct 2007 17:28:11 +0000 http://www.tefl.net/alexcase/archives/349#comment-1288 I dunno about other people but for me the total immersion thing as always seemed to work quite well. If you can (which is obviously not going to be the case for most people) just immersing yourself in the language without trying to understand every hook and cranny of it or focus on what you know, can really help you move along. WIth trying to learn Japanese I've found that so far it's produced some interesting results. As you said with varying the tasks you use to learn - when i cant be bothered or dont feel like learning consciously I'll just try and read a manga, or switch on the TV and have it in the back so i can hear it, try and read every sign i can lay my eyes on, try and decypher every kanji i see, listen to people chatting, etc.. Of course that one comes only if you've actually moved to the country which language you want to learn but i really think it does work. it's just a shame it gets more difficult the older you get... when i was a kid it was all so simpler! just watch TV for a few years and before you know it you'll be speaking the language! I dunno about other people but for me the total immersion thing as always seemed to work quite well. If you can (which is obviously not going to be the case for most people) just immersing yourself in the language without trying to understand every hook and cranny of it or focus on what you know, can really help you move along.
WIth trying to learn Japanese I’ve found that so far it’s produced some interesting results. As you said with varying the tasks you use to learn - when i cant be bothered or dont feel like learning consciously I’ll just try and read a manga, or switch on the TV and have it in the back so i can hear it, try and read every sign i can lay my eyes on, try and decypher every kanji i see, listen to people chatting, etc..
Of course that one comes only if you’ve actually moved to the country which language you want to learn but i really think it does work. it’s just a shame it gets more difficult the older you get… when i was a kid it was all so simpler! just watch TV for a few years and before you know it you’ll be speaking the language!

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