Learning and teaching languages
After reading about different methodologies not only to learn languages but to learn in general, I feel more motivated to continue teaching Spanish and English. There is nothing new in saying that we all learn in different ways but this is especially true when we learn languages. One more thing that is not new about humans is the fact that events in life, can define who we are and what we like or don’t like.
I can say that the idea of learning languages was first triggered by a Russian family living in Santiago. I was 6 or 7 years-old the first time I heard a language different from Spanish. At home, I had heard French and English before but it wasn’t fluent because my father and mother studied those languages at school. They couldn’t speak French or English; however they knew how to pronounce words, phrases and questions.
Speaking fluently in a language that is not your mother tongue is to be able to expand the limits sometimes we create for ourselves. Some people learn languages easily than others and some other people never learn a foreign language but; considering how many and how different we are, learning a foreign language could be a very good idea if we want to travel, and if we want to meet people. Apart from meeting people, when we speak one or more foreign languages we can understand more cultures. So, the way people think, act, what they believe in and the language they speak can help us learn more about us and our limits.
Going back to Russian, I can’t say I feel frustrated because I don’t speak it fluently because I haven’t been studying it they way I need to. Even though I have nobody to practice Russian with, I really want to learn something else that’s not numbers 1 to 10, days of the week and personal pronouns; so one day I can talk with Russians or with people who speak it as a foreign language, like me.
I think that learning a language can also teach you how your own language works. And I agree with you, that by learning a different language you can understan better a culture. I hope you can find someone to practise russian!!
ReplyDeleteI think that the language and the speaking are the basis of the society so to me is really important that the communication can be concretized. That’s one of the reasons why I tried to do my best learning English because I also feel this as a common language that can be speak in a lots of countries without matter their native language. So, English is like a bridge between different cultures and it’s also like a first step on the languages learning
ReplyDeleteI agree whith you when you say that learn an languague can be a good way for learn more about others cultures and travel. It´s difficult understand the real meaning of the words in each context, because we have to understand the culture.
ReplyDeleteLearning new languages is very difficult for me but I would like to speak english fluently. I believe that with much practice I can achieve it.
ReplyDeleteHi :) I think that learning a new language expands our mind in the same amount that the language we know limits us, and if that is the case, it may be because we confuse the world with its description, as some say.
ReplyDeletebye
i think it´s very difficult to teach lenguages and to me it´s difficult to learn, i think traveling it´s the best way to learn a new lenguage
ReplyDeleteI had never thought lenguage as a way to understand other culture, it is a very interesting idea. In my case, in my school I learnt a bit of english so I can communicate with the natives when I travel or I can read books and papers in that lenguage. I would like to learn anothers, like german or italian, but I don´t know if it would be easy for me at my age, I hope it would be, because learn another lenguage could be very useful in the future.
ReplyDeleteHi teacher!
ReplyDeleteI'm Nuvia
I think that are very interesting the things that you say. I was intrigued about your experience as a child, because I was thinking that many things which are important for me today are related with this young experience. In my case, my concerns for the natural environment are an example. I hope you could make your wishes real!
Really very interesting article. I wait you remain motivated to continuing learning.
ReplyDeleteBye!!
I agree that learning a language helps to expand the limits because I think that language creates reality
ReplyDeleteThis semester I was in a subject named "inclusive education and attention to diversity" and in it I learned that it is necessary to know and act from the fact that we are all different and therefore our ways of learning are different, how good that you as a teacher I know, a big hug!!
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