Language Learning Methods and Motivation

Mounce does a great job of preparing students of Biblical Greek by addressing basic English grammar concepts in Chapter 5. This information is absolutely essential for the acquisition of almost any foreign language. While it is true that children often learn language by simply absorbing the language that is around them, those of us who take on a second (or third) language are sometimes at the distinct disadvantage of living in an environment very much saturated with our native tongue and not the language we are attempting to acquire. This is particularly true for those of us residing in the United States, which in many regions, is linguistically landlocked, for lack of a better expression.

Beyond the geographic considerations, the adult mind functions quite differently than a child's mind. For instance, the adult mind is not going through a process of maturation. Secondly, a child's mind does not have a dominant language to contend with (or work with for that matter). Oh, and don't forget a child's vocabulary is not as robust as an adult's vocabulary. More words equals more time. The comparison really is apples to oranges.

For the adult learner it has been found that languages are better taught in an explicit manner where grammar is openly talked about. This does not mean that simply listening to a recorded passage of the target language is not useful. In fact, it is very important. The human ear needs to be exposed to the target language so that the ear can be trained in making useful distinctions in speech sounds and syllable boundaries; a skill not usually explicitly learned.

While listening and speaking may benefit from a more implicit type of instruction, writing and reading seems to most benefit from an explicit method of instruction. So, if you ever find yourself in a situation where someone looks to you for direction on which methods of language acquisition are the best, you have to ask them what their honest goals are and/or what they think language proficiency is. With their goals known you are much better equipped to suggest implicit or explicit methods or better yet, my favorite, both of them. But before you let them tackle that new language you should take a little time to tell them that, really, the main issue is not the methods that they use, but the constant danger of a ebbing motivation. In my opinion it is more important to keep it fun, keep it lively, and keep it going. Methods don't amount to much if you're no longer motivated to use them.

Areas of Language

Expressive Language

• Oral (implicit)
  
• Written (explicit)
  

Receptive Language

• Listening (implicit)
  
• Reading (explicit)
  

Some Language Program Slogans that are a little off the mark.

"The Fastest Way To Learn A Language. Guaranteed" --speed should not be a preoccupation
"Learn a Second Language Like You Learned Your First" --if you are old enough to fall for this slogan then you're too old to learn a second language like your first. You are cognitively too different.