Beyond Language Learning

@beyondlanglearn

Discussing comprehensible input, second language acquisition research, & possible ways to effortlessly learn languages to very high levels of ability at any age

Joined January 2018

Tweets

You blocked @beyondlanglearn

Are you sure you want to view these Tweets? Viewing Tweets won't unblock @beyondlanglearn

  1. Pinned Tweet

    In case you missed it: My video telling the story of Automatic Language Growth. the unique Program, and the need for more opportunities for comprehensible input and research on how well adults can acquire languages:

    Undo
  2. I would say that foreign language acquirers are more likely to approach a native-like linguistic intuition if they hear a lot of comprehensible input before producing much output, and don't try to "filter" it through their L1 experience. See my blog & videos for more on this idea

    Undo
  3. Jan 30

    "You pretend to learn and I'll pretend to teach." This sums up much of explicit teaching and textbook "exercises" when it comes to language learning & teaching. (and of course learning happens, it always happens but how well is the question?).

    Undo
  4. Another video I made based on the first "Mini-Story" from . In this one I ask many more questions after each sentence in the story: Most of the words are accompanied by visuals to help make it comprehensible to English beginners.

    Undo
  5. "Among the studies that the readers of this book might be roused to undertake, we hope that at at least one of you will take up the challenge to investigate whether an initial silent period does, in fact, ultimately lead to more native-like L2 phonology."

    Undo
  6. Undo
  7. Teaching beginners Swedish, in Swedish: Incredible they haven't done any other videos like this after over five years, given the response. Also incredible there doesn't seem to be content like this even for many languages with tens of millions of speakers.

    Undo
  8. Another video I made for the first "Mini-Story" from . In this one I retell the story and explain the English vocabulary that it uses in English using the pictures, pointing, gestures, actions, and lots of repetition:

    Undo
  9. The domain for my Khmer blog is that of , which used the same ALG approach as until it closed in 2016 after four years: I want to see people teaching Khmer this way, for example by making the same kinds of videos I make to teach English!

    Undo
  10. My other blog: I share some resources for acquiring Khmer through listening to comprehensible input. Unfortunately materials like this, especially for beginning learners, are scarce.

    Undo
  11. Watch my new video to find out what I did on Friday the 13th: I talk about my day using drawings, pictures, and lots of repetition so that beginner and intermediate English learners can understand.

    Undo
  12. I made a video for the first of the LingQ Mini-Stories with visuals to go with most of the words. The idea is that English beginners can easily understand it and start to pick up words & structures just by watching & listening:

    Undo
  13. A very simple English video for beginner ESL learners. Even total English beginners should start to pick up some words and grammar from watching it, no matter what their first language is: Subscribe for more!

    Undo
  14. There was talk of comprehensible input in my TESOL training & of TPR (a root of TPRS) in training for ELT jobs I've had but seems TPRS is unknown in . I think TPRS elements like compelling comprehensible stories and lots of "circling" questions would be very powerful for ELT.

    Undo
  15. My latest comprehensible input video for beginning English learners: I describe a series of illustrations of everyday things in detail, using pointing, gestures, pictures, and many circling questions.

    Undo
  16. Replying to

    One meaning of "to hack" is "To withstand or put up with a difficult situation." I think a major reason language learners resort to things like "language hacks" is to try to cope with the lack of opportunities for lots of compelling comprehensible input, especially for beginners!

    Undo
  17. "All I want to learn in a foreign language course is how to understand the language when it is spoken. Can I learn to listen? The answer is almost always an emphatic 'No!'" — Professor James R. Nord, "Why Can’t I Just Learn to Listen?"

    Undo
  18. Given the reported size of the global language learning markets it's unfortunate it seems no more than a small fraction of those figures is being spent on basic research on second language acquisition & comprehensible input, and creating plenty of compelling comprehensible input!

    This Tweet is unavailable.
    Undo
  19. My latest video for ESL beginners: I talk about and play the popular new video game and describe what's happening, then review what happened in the game, using easy English and lots of repetition:

    Undo
  20. Every aspect of ALG—interest, comprehensibility, meaningful repetition of language, happenings, the "reality factor", etc.—needs to be maximized in order to minimize the amount of time that needs to be spent on acquisition, and make the time that is spent enjoyable and worthwhile

    Undo
  21. Life is too short for incomprehensible input!

    Undo

Loading seems to be taking a while.

Twitter may be over capacity or experiencing a momentary hiccup. Try again or visit Twitter Status for more information.

    You may also like

    ·