Learning 2.0, etc, etc, etc
On Chinese Quest (found at Dragon Fruit), I stumbled upon a couple of posts from earlier this month (including this one) about something called Learning 2.0. And here I've been stuck on Learning 1.1.7 all this time. (a joke) Actually, I think I've run across the idea a few other places, but John had a nice explanation of how to make the most of the Learning 2.0 thing:
Now is not just a time to take control of your learning. Now is a time to have fun! It used to be said that when the student was ready, the master would appear. That seems to be what's going on when "the material sticks because you learn it when you're ready to." But we've got lots of masters to choose from these days. How many google hits does your language choice bring up? Don't waste your time studying with something that will make you resent your learning time instead of celebrating it.
This brings us to a second post from John, here, in which he laments not sticking with his FSI course. I think that by the first post I've pointed to, he realizes that he doesn't have to push forward with a course that isn't working for him, and that he would be pushing forward with if it were. One of the things we language learners get hung up on - it's the subject of the post - is persistence. But it's important to remember to stick with your language, not with a method. In the past, successful language learners were those who could sit down with a book or a program and work all the way through. But we're in a multi-tasking, multi-source, multi-everything world, which means that those who succeed today are going to be those who find the love for the language and the persisting desire to learn sufficient to keep looking for something new to try so that they keep learning without burning out.
Recently I've been fussing with Anki, as I've mentioned below. And right now, I love it. I've learned (and re-learned) a lot of Chinese and found a way to enjoy reviewing some Italian that I need to get a better handle on but kept getting bored to tears trying to work through. Does this mean that everybody should use Anki? Does this even mean that I'll be sticking with Anki in 6 months? Anki is a good fit for what I needed to work on right now to build a bridge to whatever it is that I'm going to do next. It might be right for you too. But be sure to keep your eye on the ball: the language. Make sure you're having fun. Make sure you've got a program that will keep you spending some time with the language every day, rather than promising yourself you'll do twice as much tomorrow to make up for skipping. And remember that in most cases, language learning is a lifelong journey, so don't be discouraged if you're feeling discouraged. Look for a new direction.
There is one thing that Learning 1.0 and Learning 2.0, and Learning 3.0 to come, I'm sure, have in common. And that is one fundamental choice: The choice to keep learning or to give up. With all the new choices Learning 2.0 brings, make sure to make the right choice about this one and your other choices will have a way of taking care of themselves for you.
When you boil it down, L2.0 is about the learner being in control of his education. Sure, the concept gets tied to Web 2.0 tools like blogging, wikis, etc., but the meat and potatoes of the philosophy is choice. It isn't about message boards, networking, or being an ultra hip techie (though that is fun). It's about making your own decisions about what you learn, when you learn it, and how. And the material sticks because you learn it when you're ready to.I think there's only one problem with Learning 2.0, and it's the same problem - or should I say delightful complication - we're going to see with Web 2.0 and all the other stuff: It's not just about choice. It's also about serendipity. The explosion of the web hasn't just given us language lessons online, it's given us shows to watch in the language we're learning and articles to read and music to listen to. And it has put us all, I think, in the position of the Russian immigrant in an American supermarket circa 1985 - there's too much choice to choose.
Now is not just a time to take control of your learning. Now is a time to have fun! It used to be said that when the student was ready, the master would appear. That seems to be what's going on when "the material sticks because you learn it when you're ready to." But we've got lots of masters to choose from these days. How many google hits does your language choice bring up? Don't waste your time studying with something that will make you resent your learning time instead of celebrating it.
This brings us to a second post from John, here, in which he laments not sticking with his FSI course. I think that by the first post I've pointed to, he realizes that he doesn't have to push forward with a course that isn't working for him, and that he would be pushing forward with if it were. One of the things we language learners get hung up on - it's the subject of the post - is persistence. But it's important to remember to stick with your language, not with a method. In the past, successful language learners were those who could sit down with a book or a program and work all the way through. But we're in a multi-tasking, multi-source, multi-everything world, which means that those who succeed today are going to be those who find the love for the language and the persisting desire to learn sufficient to keep looking for something new to try so that they keep learning without burning out.
Recently I've been fussing with Anki, as I've mentioned below. And right now, I love it. I've learned (and re-learned) a lot of Chinese and found a way to enjoy reviewing some Italian that I need to get a better handle on but kept getting bored to tears trying to work through. Does this mean that everybody should use Anki? Does this even mean that I'll be sticking with Anki in 6 months? Anki is a good fit for what I needed to work on right now to build a bridge to whatever it is that I'm going to do next. It might be right for you too. But be sure to keep your eye on the ball: the language. Make sure you're having fun. Make sure you've got a program that will keep you spending some time with the language every day, rather than promising yourself you'll do twice as much tomorrow to make up for skipping. And remember that in most cases, language learning is a lifelong journey, so don't be discouraged if you're feeling discouraged. Look for a new direction.
There is one thing that Learning 1.0 and Learning 2.0, and Learning 3.0 to come, I'm sure, have in common. And that is one fundamental choice: The choice to keep learning or to give up. With all the new choices Learning 2.0 brings, make sure to make the right choice about this one and your other choices will have a way of taking care of themselves for you.
Labels: learning
1 Comments:
(sorry, just now seeing this)
I think you said it better than I could have. The huge amount of resources we have access to is both a positive and negative. But it makes it easy to use a "shovel approach." Find sources of Chinese input, shovel anything in that you want, and a lot of it will stick. The more input the better, as far as I'm concerned. Movies, podcasts, radio, TV shows, and all of it is easily accessible.
The downside is, yes, it's easy to get caught up in "how do I do it? There are so many methods." I mean, do you follow a course, or use only native material, or some combination? Pimsleur, FSI, Rosetta Stone, ChinesePod, NPCR, DeFrancis, Matthews...Khatzumoto? In a way it's easier to do what you're told, study this chapter and do your homework, a la college classes. But that's too "grade-focused" and not nearly "learning-focused" enough. Your goal becomes an "A" on the tests rather than fluency.
So, it is a dilemma. The important thing is to DO SOMETHING. If it works and you like it, keep doing it. If not, try something else. Sure, read about language acquisition theory, but don't let it take away from your learning time (I'm preaching to myself here). Maybe 99% learning and 1% learning about learning. Don't forget that the goal is fluency in the language and not a thorough knowledge of how to learn the language.
Sorry to take up so much room. I get wordy sometimes.
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