Comments on: Just Talking To Native Speakers Is The Worst Way To Learn A Language

By: Helen

Helen — Thu, 03 Jun 2010 21:11:08 +0000

Actually, your article is very good! I live in Ukraine and recently tried to get a job – working in tech-support department of outsourcing company and the mamager told me that i am not suitable for this work, because my english is not the english of native -speakers. I really want them to read your conclusions.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:04:08 +0000

Obviously I meant Category 1 being the least difficult.

By: Josh

Josh — Wed, 02 Jun 2010 00:00:28 +0000

A minor correction: The Defense Language Institute classifies languages into 4 categories. Category 4 (to include Modern Standard Arabic and Mandarin) being the most difficult for English speakers and Category 1 being the most difficult.

By: Kimberly

Kimberly — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 21:04:18 +0000

So, what about those of us who learned a 2nd language after the age of 18 without an prior exposure and did not, “go to school, hire a teacher, buy books, videos, DVDs, audio, whatever materials you can find, five hours per day for up to 800 hours.”? Are you arguing that this is the ONLY way for ALL? Do you think ‘acquiring’ a language is only possible during the ‘critical period’? Or, could one possibly ‘acquire’ or at least partially ‘acquire’ an L2 after this time?

By: Learn Japanese Language Fast

Learn Japanese Language Fast — Tue, 01 Jun 2010 15:53:29 +0000

“You need to go to school, hire a teacher, buy books, videos, DVDs, audio, whatever materials you can find, five hours per day for up to 800 hours. Then, as soon as possible, wean yourself with language learning materials and move into the use of real language materials such as novels, newspapers, movies, and attending lectures and classes taught IN but not ABOUT the language. — Sounds like a lot of work, but it is. I agree with author, nice article!