Why so many languages? Won’t I get
confused?
"Multilingualism is the norm around
the world, monolingualism is the exception."* In countries
such as India and Luxembourg, people grow up speaking many languages.
For example, a child in Luxembourg may be in a situation where his
mother speaks French as her first language, his school friends speak
English, the man at the butcher shop speaks German and his grandmother
speaks Luxembourgish. Someone born into such an environment doesn't
get confused; he can speak easily to anyone in any of these languages.
Moreover, when he goes to study a new foreign language, he can acquire
that easily, too.
*Verma, Dr. Mahendra K. “Multilingualism.”
http://www.llas.ac.uk/resources/ goodpractice.aspx?resourceid=634
July 5, 2007.
“…Learning several languages at the same
time has a synergistic effect because it builds more robust and
complex neural circuits that support both specific and general language
learning. This is why those who learn multiple languages as children
find additional language learning as an adult much easier than those
who brain has been wired for one language.”*
*Oleski, Dr. John M. “Neuroplasticity and
Language Learning.” 2006.
"There is really no limit to the number
of languages one can learn. Our capacity to learn new languages
is not limited. Our only limitations are time, energy and desire.
All else being equal, our capacity is limitless."*
"The simultaneous acquisition of two
or more languages is the same as learning one first language."*
*Dr. Suzanne Flynn, MIT Professor of Linguistics
and Language Acquisition in the department of Linguistics and Philosophy
Why
singing and dancing?
Physical activity and movement stimulate
both sides of the brain, increase blood flow to the brain, release
endorphins, and create fun. Both music (such as the classical music
found in our story CDs) and movement, especially movements which
cross the transverse access of the body, have been shown to improve
learning.
I understand children up to a certain
age can learn this way, but can adults really learn this way? Am
I too old to learn this way?
"Everyone can learn a new language regardless
of age as long as there is desire. If you can speak your first language,
you can learn new languages. There is no such thing as a critical
period for language. Researchers used to believe that something
happened to your brain at around age 12;00—right at adolescence.
People believed that language learning before this age was possible
but that after this age; language learning was not possible or was
extraordinarily difficult. More research, however, proved that biologically
there was no major restructuring of the brain at the time of adolescence.
If anything, this restructuring occurred at a much earlier age of
development. Yet, no one would argue that there is a critical period
at age 2;00 or 3;00, for example. In fact, folk psychology would
argue that learning a new language is “easy” for children regardless
of age. Now it is true that there may be some advantages for children
with respect to the learning of the sound system. However, it is
not impossible for an adult to learn to speak without an accent,
it just takes lots of time and practice. Children have about 12
years to practice their first language. Adults often want to speak
unaccentedly within one year of learning. We also know that in some
areas of new language learning the adult is actually better than
the child. When an adult is learning a new language, other areas
of development have been achieved. This can aid the adult learner
in ways not available to the child. Only in cases of extreme language
deprivation is language leaning not possible and all this tells
us is that language is needed to learn language."*
*Dr. Suzanne Flynn, MIT Professor of Linguistics
and Language Acquisition in the department of Linguistics and Philosophy
Research shows that anyone - at any age –
can acquire new languages, given time, motivation, and an immersion
environment. Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto of Dartmouth College, a noted
expert on language acquisition says, “The architecture of the human
brain is not set to learn only one language. The brain is not a
closed system. It was not etched to learn one thing. Neural tissue
is sensitive to patterns. We love patterns and we love seeking patterns.
We have multiple ways and multiple languages. The brain can handle
that.”*
*“The Brain’s Capacity to Learn Multiple
Languages: Dr. Laura-Ann Petitto Discusses Her Work.” http://www.ncela.gwu.edu/oela/summit/Petitto.htm
July 5, 2007.a
How will I learn grammar?
Research on language acquisition suggests
that “…language acquisition does not require extensive use of conscious
grammatical rules, and does not require tedious drill… The best
methods are therefore those that supply ‘comprehensible input’ in
low anxiety situations.”*
Our members provide a supportive atmosphere
where everyone is encouraged to speak without fear of making mistakes.
Members foster confidence in each other in the same way that parents
and other people around them reinforce babies’ attempts at speech.
Grammar will be naturally internalized as you absorb the patterns
of language, as was the case with your language.
*Krashen, Dr. Stephen D. 1981. Principles
and Practice in Second Language Acquisition. English Language Teaching
series. London: Prentice-Hall International (UK) Ltd., p. 6-7.
Should I wait to introduce a third
or next language? Are there detrimental effects to learning two
or more languages simultaneously?
"No and No!"*
*Dr. Suzanne Flynn, MIT Professor of Linguistics
and Language Acquisition in the department of Linguistics and Philosophy
I’m not good at languages. Will this
work for me?
"Everyone learns a first language; everyone
can learn a new language. There is no such thing as “bad ears” for
language or lack of “talent.” Language learning is not a talent.
Everyone has the capacity if they are willing."*
*Dr. Suzanne Flynn, MIT Professor of Linguistics
and Language Acquisition in the department of Linguistics and Philosophy
