The four steps to learning new vocabulary are:
1. Listening
2. Speaking
3. Thinking (evaluating)
4. Understanding
Listening may seem simple but it is really quite complex. One must consider the rhythm, stress, pitch, inflection, and tone of the voice. One must determine the end of one word and the beginning of the next word (a feat that is truly mind-boggling since people don’t often pause between words). One must pay attention to the nuances of each syllable, consonant, vowel, combination of sounds (i.e. diphthongs, diagraphs, and blends), and much more. Let’s not forget that every language has its own unique sounds. Even sounds that are similar are not exactly the same. They are pronounced a little differently.
Adults tend to have poor listening skills when learning a foreign language. Why is this? It’s because they usually associate sounds from their native language to those of the foreign language, even though they are actually different. Their brains have built many neurological connections (over many years) that process information in their native tongue very rapidly. However, in their haste they overlook the subtle nuances of a foreign language. Kids are a little better at noticing the differences, however, simply because they haven’t practiced their native language quite so much
Through practice, we develop an “ear” for a language. There’s actually a lot of work for our brains to perform when we listen actively. We cannot just put on a CD, go to sleep, and hope to wake up knowing a language. We have to pay careful attention to what’s being said.
With all these factors to consider, it’s no wonder that kids often get stuck on only the first step. It’s also no wonder that kids get tired of listening after several minutes straight. Their brains are hard at work.
Speaking is actually a little less complicated (though no less difficult) than listening. Producing sounds with our vocal chords and mouth comes rather naturally to almost all of us. We can even produce a variety of sounds that are not actually words (i.e. a car crash, an airplane, or a flying mosquito). However, we may need to use our mouths in ways we are not accustomed. We may have to use our muscles or tongues in ways that are not required in our native language. This means we have to train ourselves. Yes, the movements will seem awkward. It’s kind of like learning to write with your left hand after solely using your right hand for many years. It’s not easy at first, but it can be done.
Once the word has been properly heard and spoken, the thinking can begin. What is there to think about? There is so much. Let me give you a few questions that could arise in the mind of a student.
Oh, sure, a person COULD add translation to their list of thoughts, but no one NEEDS translation. We all learn our native language naturally, through total immersion, and there really is no better way. I never needed another language to learn English and neither do you. The problem is that many adults don’t understand this because they (or their children) are in such a hurry to speak English as eloquently as they can speak Chinese (which cannot really be rushed). They also don’t understand the natural process they themselves went through in learning their native language and they don’t know what it would be like to go back to the beginning and learn a new language. They cannot even imagine it. So, what I have to ask of them is to have a little faith. Have faith that, I, as a teacher, can impart knowledge to students in an efficient manner.
There is also the fact that they may have been taught a certain way and may be unfamiliar with more efficient methods. The translation method has been proven ineffective many times over. Therefore, I don’t use it in my classes. If translation were useful, I’d use it in my lessons. It’s as simple as that. I’d try to speak Chinese or I’d have an assistant do it. But, not only is it unnecessary, it can hinder development (by affecting the students’ motivation) and confuse the thought process. The class is much clearer when the focus is on one language at a time.
After listening, speaking, and thinking comes understanding. So many parents are concerned with how well their children understand English vocabulary. What I really want to say is this: RELAX! If your child gets through the first three steps, they’ve already done the hard part. Understanding is EASY! If your child has not reached that final step, it means they are still struggling on the previous steps. The first three steps are actually more difficult and cause for concern. They need more time and maybe even a little help, encouragement, or motivation to get past them. If they speak, listen, and think about what has been presented to them in the class, they WILL understand eventually. There’s no doubt in my mind about that; just as I’ve no doubt that a baby taking his first wobbly steps will eventually be skipping about. It’s natural..
