Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching...

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Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language Julianne Reynolds, M.A. Weingarten Learning Resources Center University of Pennsylvania June 20, 2012

Transcript of Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching...

Page 1: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language Julianne Reynolds, M.A. Weingarten Learning Resources Center University of Pennsylvania June 20, 2012

Page 2: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Welcome!

Page 3: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Reflection Questions

• What second languages do you speak?

• What second languages do you want to speak?

• What are your purposes for learning another language?

Page 4: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Languages With the Most Native Speakers

Language Approx. #

of Speakers 1. Chinese 1,213,000,000 2. Spanish 329,000,000 3. English 328,000,000 4. Arabic 221,000,000 5. Hindi 182,000,000 6. Bengali 181,000,000 7. Portuguese 178,000,000 8. Russian 144,000,000 9. Japanese 122,000,000 10. German 90,000,000

http://www.ethnologue.com

Page 5: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Historical Overview of Language Learning

• Grammar-Translation Method (1840s – 1940s)

• Direct Method (1880s – 1920s)

• Audiolingual Method (1940s – 1960s)

• Silent Way

• Suggestopedia (1970s – 1980s)

• Total Physical Response

• Communicative Language Teaching (1980s – Today)

• Post-Methods Era (2000s – Today)

Page 6: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth or Reality?

Page 7: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #1: Children are better language learners than adults.

Reality: The human brain can learn and grow at any age. Children may achieve better pronunciation but adults are usually more efficient learners.

Page 8: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #2: Only people with an “ear” for languages can learn a second language.

Reality: Success in language learning is influenced by many factors including aptitude, motivation, learning opportunities, willingness to communicate, strategy use, etc.

Page 9: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #3: Language learners should master basic tasks before moving on to complex ones.

Reality: Second language learning is not a linear addition of one rule after another. New information gets shuffled around with the old information until it all gets sorted out.

Page 10: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth # 4: Studying from books, CDs, and computer programs are effective ways to learn a language.

Reality: Most programs suggest that it is possible to learn a language by reading and listening, sometimes writing. To really learn a language, input, output and interaction are all needed.

Page 11: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #5: The best way to learn a second language is to move to a foreign country to be fully immersed.

Reality: Living in another country does not automatically mean that the local language will be learned. It is quite possible to live somewhere for years and learn only survival language skills.

Page 12: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #6: Speaking with other language learners is not helpful because mistakes will be duplicated. It’s best to practice with native speakers.

Reality: Talking with other language learners provides more speaking opportunities and helps learners practice negotiation of meaning and noticing.

Page 13: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #7: Most mistakes that second language learners make are due to interference from their native language.

Reality: These errors are a natural part of the learning process. Most will disappear over time. There are also errors that learners from different language backgrounds commonly make. This suggests that learners are trying to discover the rules of the target language.

Page 14: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

Myth #8: It’s possible to easily chat with native speakers after learning the basic structure of a language and about 1,000 words.

Reality: Yes, but an understanding of pragmatics (i.e. how to show respect, apologize, make requests, etc.) is required. Cultural differences can lead to major communication breakdowns and misunderstandings.

Page 15: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

The importance of pragmatics…

http://sielearning.tafensw.edu.au

Page 16: Myths and Realities of Learning a Second Language · Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education. Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second

References

Brown, H.D. (2007). Principles of language learning and teaching (5th ed.). White Plains: Pearson Education.

Brown, S. & Larson-Hall, J. (2012). Second language acquisition myths: Applying second language research to classroom teaching. Ann Arbor: University of Michigan Press

Larsen-Freeman, D. (2000). Techniques and principles in language learning (2nd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Lightbown, P.M. & Spada, N. (2006). How languages are learned (3rd ed.). New York: Oxford University Press.

Richards, J.C. & Rodgers, T.S. (2001). Approaches and methods in language teaching (2nd ed.). Cambridge, U.K.: Cambridge University Press.


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