The Linguist - language learning should be fun

LingQ meets The Link (on Radio Canada International)

Tomorrow I will be interviewed on The Link a radio program for immigrants broadcast by Radio Canada International. I am being interviewed live at 9.15 am Pacific time which is 12.15 pm Eastern Time.

I am still angry at government language waste. A letter to a newspaper

Government language waste in Canada is colossal. It really rankles me. Here is a letter I wrote to a columnist at a leading Canadian newspaper. Probably a waste of time.

The Gun Registry gets a lot of media attention. What about the language waste that exceeds a billion dollars a year and produces fewer and fewer bilingual Canadians, and more and more immigrants whose English is so poor they cannot function effectively in our society?  Should this not be of interest to Canadians?

There is much discussion today about the wasteful gun registry, which is finally being disbanded. There is another field where bureaucracy is wasting billions of dollars with little benefit to Canadians. This is the publicly funded official language teaching industry. I am not against language learning, far from it. I speak 11 languages. I am against the deliberate waste of billions, where teachers and translators are able to hide their ineffectiveness and wastefulness behind an unassailable and lofty ideal. This is the same pattern as  the case of the gun registry.

Official language instruction, whether for immigrants or in the pursuit of bilingualism for Canadians, is controlled by the established language teaching industry, who want all learning to take place in a classroom. In fact, as someone who has learned 11 languages, I know that you do not learn a language in a classroom. But you can try to teach a language in a classroom, or get paid to do so, and that serves the interests of existing teachers.

A recent report by the US Department of Education, indicates that elearning is more effective than classroom learning. The Internet abounds with language learning resources that are more effective and cheaper than government subsidized classrooms. But government inflexibility wants to shut off innovation.

Here are some examples.

1) The Feds introduced a voucher system for immigrant language learning. I approached the Immigration department  (CIC) to find out how our own online language learning community, LingQ, could qualify under this voucher program. I was told that ALL immigrant language learning has to conform to the Task Based Language System approach. This form of language learning is not particularly effective, nor widely used elsewhere in the world, and can only be carried out in a classroom.

2) Recently the government announced a Canadian Language Portal, ostensibly to "provide Canadians free access to the language tools that will enable them to use and understand both official languages more easily". In fact, this portal is a 16 million dollar white elephant, of no use to Canadians who want to improve their language skills. It is just a place to promote the publicly funded Canadian language industry. When I applied to have LingQ listed on this site, I was turned down because LingQ charges a fee. In fact all of the public institutions listed on the portal charge a fee or are funded by government. On the other hand, most users of LingQ do so free of charge. Only our elite users pay.

It rankles me that the fact that I have invested a large amount of time and money, and never dipped into the public trough, should disqualify me from participating in any government funded language learning initiatives. It also rankles me that an outdated "1990s vintage portal", that should cost a few thousand dollars to put up, apparently had a budget of 16 million dollars. This is all part of a billion dollar plus boon doggle called the Roadmap to Linguistic Duality.

The issue is not whether immigrants should be helped to learn our official languages, nor whether bilingualism is a worthwhile goal. The issue is the power that is given to the public sector to shut down innovation in an important field, language and the Internet.

I know that I have a vested interest in this, Of course I do. On the other hand, I have been a lumber exporter for over 35 years. I have developed markets for Canadian lumber in the Far East. I have paid millions in taxes. It is only because of my interest in Canada, and in the integration of new immigrants that I got involved in this venture. I did not need it. But now my entrepreneurship and innovation and willingness to take risks, without clamouring for funding, makes me a pariah?
 
The parasitical bureaucracy is choking off, and not encouraging, innovation in Canada. In the future it will be innovation, not natural resources, nor politically correct smugness, that will determine the success of countries and economies.

I have attached a brief description of LingQ, and a recent comment that I received on my blog about LingQ for your reference.

Thanks for your patience.


Steve Kaufmann

Hi , Daniel Poole (danielpoole06@gmail.com) has left you a comment: Personally, in finding LingQ I truly believe I have saved myself a great deal of time..and possibly even failure. It just works, and the podcasts and advice from Steve have made me aware of the fact, the FACT, that at no time during the course of the aquisition of a language does it have to be a chore. ALL the time, if one choses the right method for themselves, can be enjoyable and be classified a 'leisure' activity. That is now my personally philosopy in regards to languages.

LingQ is both a language learning system and a dynamic community of people with a serious interest in languages. The learning methodology is based on Steve Kaufmann's own experience in learning to speak 11 languages, as well as considerable evidence from research by Stephen Krashen and others on the advantages of focusing on input based activities in language learning.

LingQ is unique in the way it takes advantage of the Internet and enables members to acquire vocabulary and language skills from relevant and interesting language input, wherever they may find it. This way of learning is enjoyable and not stressful, and therefore, for many people, represents the first time they experience success in language learning.

The main learning activity is simply listening to interesting language content on an iPod or MP3 player. From time to time the user needs to read the transcript at LingQ in order to save words and phrases from the text to his or her personal database. As the database grows, it generates Flash Cards, special highlighting of words in new texts, statistical records of activity and achievement, and many other effective learning functions, all of which are customized to each learner's situation.

Learners can interact with native speaker tutors via Skype and can also submit writing for correction.  After each online discussion with a tutor, members receive a discussion report, listing the words and phrases that were not used correctly and these are added to the learner's  database. Similarly learners can submit writing for correction and will receive a detailed report with the corrected text and explanations of errors. Again, the corrected words and phrases are added to the learner's database.

Members are not only involved in learning one or more foreign language themselves, but also can create content and provide tutoring services in their own language for other members.

Registration at LingQ, and use of many of the resources at LingQ, are free of charge. To use all of LingQ's functions costs $10 a month. However, members have the opportunity to earn much more than this by creating content and providing tutoring services in their own language to other members of the community.

The term LingQ is a play on the word link. Language learning is considered a process of creating links; between words, sounds, meaning and people,and eventually between neurons as new language skills are acquired.

Steve Kaufmann has written a book about language learning called The Way of the Linguist, A Language Learning Odyssey. He maintains a blog called The Linguist on Language, and has a channel at Youtube explaining his language learning philosophy.

What are the leading language learning blogs in languages other than English?

I would like to follow some blogs on language learning in other languages. Any suggestions on the best ones to follow? I would also like to ask these bloggers to review LingQ.

How about doing a review of LingQ?

We have made a number of changes at LingQ over the last few months.We would like to know what people think. 

A number of you have your own blogs, and some are about language learning. I would be very interested in hearing what you think of the evolving LingQ.

Would you be interested in doing a review of LingQ on your blogs?

Explaining why LingQ works. Which video do you like?

LingQ is a powerful language learning platform because if has a lot of functions. But this sometimes makes it  difficult to explain the system to a new user, especially since most people do not like to read manuals or watch detailed demo videos.

The manual for my new camera is complicated, or seems so to me. But at least I know what the camera is supposed to do. I am motivated to figure out how to use it, so I struggle with the manual and try things out.

We need to help our new learners at LingQ understand the reasons behind LingQ and motivate them to try to figure out what to do at LingQ and why. And we need to do it in few words and in an interesting way.

We have played around with two versions of the same script. Let me know which one you like the best.

The Dawn of Language

Og and Thag

Youtube groups - baffled by technology again

I tried to create a youtube group for LingQ, where LingQ members could post videos about how they use LingQ, in whatever language they want. I even thought we could have a competition or something. Rather than trying to explain LingQ, I thought it would be great to get users to talk about it in their own language/

Twice I thought I had followed the instructions and started the group, and yet the new group does not show up in my account and there is no place that I can see to search for it. Has anyone tried to create a youtube group? I am reluctant to go through all of these steps if the group just vanishes.

Can we create a real Canadian Language Portal? I am looking for advice.

The public sector has a choke hold on official language learning in Canada. I recently posted about the Canadian Language Portal, which has cost the tax-payers of Canada 16 million dollars. This is just a small part of the billions that have been spent in Canada in the last few years, in the name of the twin noble causes of immigrant language learning, and bilingualism. This funding is controlled by public sector teaching institutions and immigrant service organizations. They decide how the money is spent....on themselves.

When I have approached these institutions about using LingQ, or even listing LingQ as a resource on the Canadian Language Portal, I have been told that LingQ cannot be considered because it charges a fee, or it is not an established college, or its teachers are not all certified. I learned recently that all government funded immigrant language instruction has to conform to a system called "Task Based Language Learning", in other words it has to take place in the classroom. There is no room for LingQ.

Or is there? I am trying to think of a way to persuade our government that things are changing. Language learning is happening on the Internet as a recent CNN article points out.  A study by the US Department of Education concluded that online learning is more effective than classroom instruction.

The Canadian government has even started a small pilot project, where immigrants will receive vouchers to spend on the language learning method of their choice.  If the public sector language industry controls the decision on which language learning services will qualify for vouchers, LingQ will be out of luck.

I wonder if the government can be persuaded to provide a little recognition for the fledgling private online language industry, including LingQ. Maybe not funding, but just some  acceptance and publicity. Communities like LingQ are thinking outside the box, and finding new solutions. As one idea, LingQ could be a language portal for Canadians, or could be part of another portal, only available to companies that are privately financed and not supported by tax-payers or charitable foundations.

LingQ may not be the answer for everyone, but there are no doubt some people, just a few, who would be happier improving their official language skills with LingQ, rather than sitting in a classroom and doing "Task Based Language Learning". And maybe that option should be there for them.

I am going to be thinking about what to propose to government and would appreciate any advice and suggestions.

Language Portal finally responds and confirms cost of 16 million dollars.

I mentioned the Canadian Language Portal earlier, presented to the media as follows:

"Thursday, October 8, 2009, the Government of Canada launched the Language Portal of Canada, the first national Web site to showcase Canada's language expertise.

This initiative is part of the government's official language strategy as outlined in the Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality. The Language Portal was established to provide Canadians free access to the language tools that will enable them to use and understand both official languages more easily."

Some of you identified this "initiative" as largely irrelevant. I had been trying to get  confirmation that the cost was the unbelievable amount of 16 million dollars. Finally, after some delay,  they have confirmed this ridiculous amount. 16 million dollars for a useless website! Here is the exchange that I had with them over the last few weeks.

Me:  I have an online language learning site called LingQ.com. How do I go about getting LingQ listed on this portal?

Them:  Good morning,

Thank you for your interest in the Language Portal of Canada.

In the About the Portal section (http://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/prps-bt-eng.html), you will find the editorial guidelines :

• The Language Portal of Canada does not publish any content (an article or hyperlink) that promotes a particular product or service, in accordance with section 23 of the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada (http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=12316).

Me:  I am sending a copy of this email to my member of Parliament.

As a tax-payer, I am curious to know why you deliberately exclude certain language resources that have been developed in Canada without government assistance, such as LingQ, while promoting many others, which have been supported with government funding. Why the double standard?

It seems that our site LingQ meets the criteria on your web page, i.e.

• a wide range of resources, references and tools produced in Canada and made available on-line by federal, provincial and territorial organizations, educational institutions or the private sector;
• on-line data and resources in both official languages.

Steve Kaufmann

Them:  Dear Mr. Kaufmann:
We understand your concerns, but the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada does not allow us to promote Web sites that charge membership fees.

Kind regards,



Me: Thank you for your reply.

Please note that LingQ is a Web 2.0 language learning community were members learn and help each other. Only a small number of users pay. Most members use the site free of charge. People actually learn languages at the site, which I would have thought was the purpose of your portal.

On the other hand, many of the organizations listed on the Canadian Language Portal are promoting services for which they charge fees. Unlike LingQ, few of them offer genuinely free services. Their services are, in most cases, either paid for by their users, or by the tax-payer.

This is the case for the universities and colleges promoted on your site. It is equally true for organizations like the Society of Translators and Interpreters of BC, who not only charge for their translation and interpreting services, but also charge for their Certification Exam. This service is promoted on their site with the explanation that "you may pay by credit card, cheque, or cash. Credit card payments will be processed immediately"

There is nothing wrong with these people being paid for their work, I just do not understand why LingQ, where users have a choice of whether to pay,  or to use the site free or charge, is not able to be included as a useful language learning service. Is the goal of the portal to help Canadians learn languages, or simply to promote a privileged few organizations and institutions?

Many of our users would argue that LingQ is of far greater benefit to language learners than much of the information listed on your portal.

Steve Kaufmann

Me:  Further to my earlier email, I wonder if you could tell me what the total budget has been for the Canadian Language Portal project, to date. I presume that this is public information.

Steve Kaufmann

Me: I have received no response to my email asking about the cost of the Canadian Language Portal, however by searching on the net I found that the portal is part of the Roadmap for Linguistic Duality and is listed as costing 16 million dollars. Is this possible?

http://www.pch.gc.ca/pc-ch/infoCntr/cdm-mc/index-eng.cfm?action=doc&DocIDCd=CJV080755

Me:   When can I expect a reply to my emails enquiring as to the cost of the Canadian Language Portal?

Steve Kaufmann

Them: Dear sir,

In response to your latest email, we wish to inform you that the Language Portal of Canada was a direct result of the Government of Canada's Roadmap for Canada's Linguistic Duality 2008-2013. This link is available in the bottom right-hand corner on the home page of the Language Portal.

In this document, you will find the answer to your question about the cost of the Portal. See page http://www.pch.gc.ca/pgm/slo-ols/pubs/08-13-LDL/110-eng.cfm.

Best regards,

The Canadian Language Portal says no to LingQ.

I recently posted about a new Canadian Government initiative called the Canadian Language Portal. The site is intended to help Canadians improve their language skills by making Canadians aware of the many resources available for language improvement. Their criteria included the following

• a wide range of resources, references and tools produced in Canada and made available on-line by federal, provincial and territorial organizations, educational institutions or the private sector;
• on-line data and resources in both official languages.

So, I emailed them to ask how LingQ could get mentioned. Here is their reply.

"Good morning,

Thank you for your interest in the Language Portal of Canada.

In the About the Portal section (http://www.noslangues-ourlanguages.gc.ca/prps-bt-eng.html), you will find the editorial guidelines :

• The Language Portal of Canada does not publish any content (an article or hyperlink) that promotes a particular product or service, in accordance with section 23 of the Communications Policy of the Government of Canada (http://www.tbs-sct.gc.ca/pol/doc-eng.aspx?id=12316).

Have a good day."

Yet their site promotes lots of particular products and services, mostly those funded by government.

I am not surprised. I have gone back for clarification. I will keep you posted.

Language registers, scaffolding and language styles.

I have always held the view that in learning a foreign language, it is best to treat it as one language. To me the spoken language, written language, business language, academic language, are all really one. I try to speak as neutrally as possible, keep my writing as simple and straight forward as possible. I focus on learning the words and phrases I am interested in.

If I spend a month or two on a Tolstoi novel, that will be the vocabulary that I focus on, and feel most comfortable with. If I needed to communicate on economics I would focus my reading and listening on that kind of content. If I wanted to write business letters, I would read business letters, probably have someone record them for me to listen to, and save words and phrases from them at LingQ.

I have never considered these things as different forms of the language, just variations on a common base. Much of the basic vocabulary is the same. Focusing on different types of content helps to round out your language skills. I would never take a course on business Russian, or academic Russian. I would consider it a waste of time. Now that is just me.

Here are some exchanges from my language teacher's listserv. I would be interested in your opinions on how to deal with different language styles.

......

"On vacation I had a place and time to think about my last year's Thai 
student

I spoke English with her, corrected her English, and edited her 
academic papers.

I was struck by something people on this list probably take for 
granted:  she had one "mode" or discourse
of English, which she used for both speaking and writing. Academic 
writing is  a different discourse than
spoken English.  Consequently, we spent a lot of time pulling apart 
her spoken English and inserting a more
  academic style

Has anyone on the list encountered this problem?  Any useful thoughts?

What I did:  "You can't say that on a paper, we'll have to find 
another  [phrase, sentence] that will work better."

..........

"I teach on the for-credit side at a community college. Many of our students are long-term immigrants whose spoken English is fine. In fact, some of our students have graduated from US high schools. One of their biggest problems is they don't understand there is more than one register. I spend a lot of time teaching students the difference between everyday spoken English and more formal academic English. I don't have any specific materials, but just keep reminding them."

................

"We are presumably all familiar with the importance of scaffolding in instruction, i.e. building upon our learners' background knowledge.  Registers are associated with real-life domains.  We need to work on helping those domains take on a life of their own, so to speak, and the register will then be context-embedded and more meaningful, thus easier to learn and use rather than residing in the "abstract.""