Language learning phobias
Monday, 1st September 2008
Learning languages isn’t everyone’s cup of tea, granted.
There are some people who simply consider themselves incapable of learning any foreign languages. Although this is, in fact, disputable given that everyone has the ability to acquire language, it is true that learning a language not native to you (especially if you are not living in a country where it is spoken) can be hard, and takes real dedication.
Other people simply see no need to learn foreign languages- English is, after all, spoken by many people across the globe. This tends to be considered a little ignorant as far as perspectives go, but is in reality, quite true- there aren’t many places left on the principle travellers trails where you can’t find at least one English speaker.
When it comes to learning languages though, I imagine that most people’s hesitation stems from the fear of looking stupid, whether it be in a classroom environment, or in public.
This fear often seems to arise as a result of traumatic secondary school experiences, where a lack of concentration and having Mr or Mrs Hardbroom as a teacher proved an unfortunate combination. Although it was probably just that these first experiences of foreign language learning were conducted in the wrong way (classroom environments are certainly not suited to everyone), learning a language will always throw up the same kind of challenges when put into practice. The trick is not to take them too seriously- think of them as a learning curve that every proficient foreign language speaker will have had to go through.
When it comes to inciting fear and embarrassment in the fledging language learner, the following tend to top the list:
-Bad pronunciation. No-one likes making sounds that seem unnatural to them- especially when they involve a high risk of spitting over your interlocutor, or make you look like you have a speech impediment.
-Asking your question but being baffled by the extensive reply that you receive. There’s nothing more soul-destroying that gathering up your confidence at the checkout to ask for a bottle of red wine, or a box of chocolates, only to be bamboozled with a 20 second-long reply. You’re certain that being told how much you owe wouldn’t take this long to explain, and are acutely aware that the lingering eye contact implies an answer is required of you, you just don’t know for the life of you what the question was!
-Using the wrong word for something- particularly if it turns out to be rude. Every language is full of traps for the non-native speaker. An extra vowel here, a mispronunciation there…you can end up so easily offending your new friend, without any idea that you have done so. Fortunately where these types of slip-ups are concerned people tend to be forgiving.
What no-one tells you, and you don’t usually get far enough in the language learning process to find out for yourself, is that the first time you can understand the cashier’s reply, or successfully roll your ‘r’ without getting your top lip stuck to your gum, you will have such an overwhelming feeling of achievement. And it’s really addictive.
Cactus courses provide a great way to start, or re-ignite your foreign language skills, and as any survivors of the Hardbroom era will no doubt be pleased to know- times have changed!
Take the plunge and find out for yourself…
Tags: mini-group, home language, language weekends, languages out there
Posted by Laura Harrison under Attitudes to Language Learning, Making Progress,
Permalink
