Active language learning

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One of the reasons why traditional language learning is so often ineffective is that it assumes that the learner is passive. The teacher decides on what to read or listen to, what to study next, and what activities to do. Anyone who simply accepts the idea that the teacher is in charge of language learning will have a hard time trying to learn English or any other language.

Take the corporate learner who is asked to go to school or attend language class. The corporate employee is busy. His or her focus is not on language learning, it is on work. Traditional language teaching is a distraction and will not work. Mobile learning which takes advantage of his or her interests and initiative will work.

A housewife (or househusband) is busy. Today's typical housewife not only has her hands full looking after the family and home, and children's activities, but there is no shortage of interests and activities that can occupy her. She has choices. If she is passive she will not take advantage of these choices, and probably not be an effective housewife either. The busy and effective housewife is precisely the kind of person who can be a good language learner using moblie learning methods like The Linguist.

Immigrants often have to struggle to make a new life in their new country. Immigrants face cultural obstacles that native born people do not face. Those immigrants who struggle to succeed by overcoming those difficulties are active and busy. They will find the way to be good language learners. Those who give in to their difficulties will not be good language learners.

Language learning needs to be designed for active positive people. Of course that is how The Linguist is designed. Our learners are all active positive people. They are also busy people. But they are able to direct their own learning. They study when they want, learn what they want, and learn how they want. They are able to use moments during the day when they find the time to listen or read, wherever they are. Their learning is self-activated and mobile. That is why they succeed.

Some people criticize the mobile learning model of The Linguist. They say that a learner needs the discipline of a teacher and school, or that they need the obligation to go to school at a certain time. I say that kind of learner is a passive learner and will not improve, even if he or she shows up for class.

Comments

[Maggi]

I am finding your site and blogs fantastic.
I too have been developing online programs for learning English.
Maggi

[githeschandran]

informations u r given are not enough to tosatisfy a student like me, i want to know more about the learnig techniques which an individual can apply in his/her daily practices