Posts from the 'Speaking' Category

Amelia on July 11 2010 2

How to Revive “Forgotten” Language Knowledge

Annoying as it is, the old adage “use it or lose it” is particularly apt when it comes to foreign language learning. It’s not uncommon for a person to have studied a language for several years, then stop using it and after a while feel like it’s lost for good. Fortunately, it probably isn’t. The [...]

Amelia on May 05 2010 0

Fear of Speaking a Foreign Language? Consider This When You Travel

Linguist and researcher Stephen Krashen has a theory that most language learners go through a “silent period” during which they either can’t or don’t want to talk. It could last a day or a month or more.

More importantly,

Amelia on April 18 2010 0

Compartmentalizing, Mixing Languages and Switching Languages: How Good Do You Have to Be?

If it hasn’t happened to you yet, it will. You’re minding your own business thinking in one language and someone comes up and says something to you in another language. Maybe you understand, but can’t find the words to reply or maybe you don’t understand a word even if they spoke your native language.
Understandable as [...]

Amelia on April 04 2010 0

Learning a Language in a Bilingual Culture: Getting the Locals to Talk with You

In some places, native speakers of the local language can be pretty insistent on “saving you the trouble” of struggling with their language. Even if you speak fairly well, any sign of hesitation or confusion and people switch to a language they feel would be less of a strain for both of you.
This is [...]

Amelia on November 20 2009 0

The Communicative Approach is Bad?

I recently came across and interesting article at Antimoon’s learn English online site discussing problems with the Communicative Approach to language learning. This approach encourages you to communicate very early in your learning, often from the first lesson.
Now, I do understand what the author is saying—you should get input and lots of it [...]

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