How much time do you need to spend studying to learn a second language? How should you spend your time? What will produce the best results? What should you focus on as a beginner? As an intermediate student? What is the key to unlocking fluency?
Let’s be smart about this. For thousands of years people have learned a second language outside of their native tongue. Let’s take advantage of their knowledge and experience and make this happen. So, take your time, look around, and identify a few nuggets of information that you can start applying today.
Wyner, Gabriel. Fluent Forever: How to Learn a Language Fast and Never Forget It. Harmony Books, 2014. www.fluent-forever.com/book
from the book: “At thirty years old, Gabriel Wyner speaks six languages fluently. He didn’t learn them in school – who does? Rather, he learned them in the past few years, working on his own and practicing on the subway, using simple techniques and free online resources – and here he wants to show others what he’s discovered.”
takeaways: I read this book my first-year learning Spanish and continue to reread parts of it every year. There is so much important information in it.
#1 nugget: Don’t Review. Recall.
Lightbown, Patsy M., & Spada, Nina. How Languages are Learned, Fifth Edition. Oxford, 2021. https://books.apple.com/us/book/how-languages-are-learned-5th-edition/id1572630689
from the book: “Now in its fifth edition, the award-winning How Languages are Learned has established itself as an indispensable introduction to research in language acquisition and its relationship with classroom practice.”
takeaways: This is a book for second language teachers. Lightbown and Spada are researchers and educators that provide the latest information about second language research and applications to pedagogy.
#1 nugget: The path through language acquisition is not necessarily smooth and even. Learners have bursts of progress. (So don’t get easily frustrated.)
More to come ...
Mahatma Gandhi
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