Learning a language is like doing sports: the more you practise, the better you are in that sport. When dealing with a second language, the only way of learning it (or in case you have acquired it, to keep it) is by practising it.
For the same reason, I consider that my strongest skill is listening. I think I can listen quite well to the news or a movie. It takes some time to get used to the language, context, etc, but after a couple of minutes, I can understand what others are saying. Now, I don´t have a native-like listening skill. I mean, I still have to concentrate to get what people are saying.
On the other hand, I speak in English with my students everyday. The problem is that as I don´t have contact with native speakers, I don´t have the chance to improve my vocabulary or pronunciation. I could improve my speaking a lot more, and unfortunately I think that our speaking ability is the first skill that people focus on to get how well you know a language.
I would say that my weakest skill is writing. It is the one I practise the least, and I think it is also the one you have less strategies that can compensate your lack of production. Besides, I don´t get to write that much. The only kind of writing I do are instructions to tasks or tests.
As I mentioned before, I think the only way of improving this weak skill is by practising, by writing more, by using compensatory strategies that can help me overcome it.
Hi Bernadita. If you want to be, for example, a good long distance runner, how often should you practice? Is it good to run sprints? Are there other activities, apart from running (balanced diet, muscle building, etc) that will enhance your performance. What about experience running in competitions? Is it more difficult to become a runner at 40 than at 10 years of age? What motivation do you need to keep going?
ResponderEliminarDo you think these ideas could apply to language learning?
I think that in some aspects learning a new language can be compared with running. For example,if you want to be a really skilled runner, you have to practice everyday. Of course there are other activities which will help you to improve your learning process (watch English movies, read in English, check vocabulary words, etc) and these would the equivalent of a balanced diet and muscle building. Related to age, I do think there is a difference when learning a language at 10 or 40. The younger you are, the more skilled you can become. It does not mean that at 40 you will never learn how to speak in English, but at 40 it is going to be more difficult to learn. The same as learning a language: it is easier to become a native-like speaker when you start learning at a younger age.
ResponderEliminarIt could be also helpful to try writing different types of texts, such as, articles, essays, letters (formal, informal, application), e-mails, etc., because each type of writing has a different structure and a different way of saying what you want to say. It is very difficult!!
ResponderEliminarYou`re right when you mention that we don`t speak too much with foreign people. The problem is that sometimes we don`t have time to meet people from other countries. When I was at the university, I heard something about "Tandem". The idea is that you meet every week someone who wants to practice Spanish and his/her native language is English. so the half of the meeting you speak Spanish and the other half you speak English! I did it once and it works!!!
ResponderEliminarYes, if you don´t practice you forget. The thing is that, writing practice is more difficult than reading or listening, because you can write many things but I think the best is do it in a natural context, so let's look for a natural way to help you writing.
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