Sun, 18 October 2009  Learning a language is like making a long uphill footpath. I use this "footpath analogy" because we can use the idea to help us with language learning. 1."We need to see a destination". In language learning, we need a destination, a direction to go, so we keep going towards this. Some people just call the destination "fluency". I think we can have many such "destinations" able,capable, competent, proficient, adept, skilful, practiced, accomplished 2."We need to go towards our destination and not veer off the path". In language learning, we need to keep our mind focused on the things that help us learn and enjoy language. This keeps us on the path. 3."We need a smooth surface to walk on" We can keep our path smooth by being relaxed and moving carefully along our "path". tranquil, calm, comfortable, restful,stress-free, hassle-free, unpeturbed, 4. "Our path sometimes has little pot-holes and puddles". We can not avoid walking through them. This is like when we make mistakes when speaking, listening, reading or writing. We must remember that "we can get our feet wet in puddles, or trip in a pothole, but it does not stop us continuing to walk along the path." So, thinking of our "path" helps us to keep going and keep learning! Bye for now Alan
Category: Text Blog -- posted at: 5:57 PM Comments[5] |
I don't quite know where these ideas come from in my mind. All I can think of is that they come from the way I have thought about language learning since I started. Because language is part of life, then we can use situations from life as analogies for the process of learning a language. Another thing is that it takes so long to learn a language well, compared with other skills, for example driving a car. So, over many years, there are many pitfalls, obstacles and problems to overcome as well as successes and enjoyment to be had. That is why I always say we should enjoy the language level we have at any point in time, because we can enjoy the skill we have achieved. We always know that we will make mistakes, so it's good to remember that we have success and enjoyment too.
So, relating what I have said to this podcast. At any point on the "path" there is time to stop and see how far we have come along the journey before we get up again and carry on.
I was telling Carrie yesterday that sometimes I take as long to choose an appropriate photo for the textblog/podcast as it does for me to write the article! This is because "a picture says a 1000 words" and I want it to say as much as the podcast itself. 好主意吗？
Bye
Alan
Choosing a appropriate picture is so important for a textblog or podcast on your website. And you always did well with both the texts and the pictures here. The textblog or podcast then becomes perfect ones. And it's really worthy of taking the time to choose them. Yes, indeed, "a picture says a 1000 word."
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