Use your dictionary LESS

Use your dictionary less. That's the topic of this post. And I expect that it will prove to be a contentious one. Nevertheless, dictionaries symbolize everything that's wrong about our beliefs about learning a language.

Dictionaries have a certain image. We're beguiled when we see them lined up on a shelf. Like the advertising for Coca Cola, they promise a succession of wild women, powerful cars and endless summers. In their own way, of course.

The sell an image . . . well, more of myth. They strengthen the belief that you can obtain a language via a book. Which is true to a certain extent. 

Let me try to say it more clearly: dictionaries reinforce the notion that you can learn a language one word at a time. Bit by bit. With a dictionary you can look up unknown words and learn them one at a time. You'll master their spelling, meaning and usage. And then go onto the next word.

That's wrong. It's the stumbling block to language learning. That is not how languages are learned naturally. And that is not an approach that works with any degree of effectiveness and efficiency.

But I can understand how people feel; I felt the same way (and still do from time to time when I forget my better set of principles).

By all means, use a dictionary when you must. Just do so judiciously, because they are great time wasters.

Consider using a dictionary which explains words in the same language as the words you look up. Use one that has plenty of example sentences from the real world. Don't use a dictionary that tries to convey the pronunciation using the alphabet and sounds of your language. Choose a dictionary that gives you an idea of how common each word is in spoken and in written speech.

Also good to know is which words your word goes with. In which situations is it used? Is it colloquial, jargon, slang, or old-fashioned? Does it come from another language originally?

Don't forget that a single word is an abstraction. A single word carried little meaning. We hardly use them except in response to questions that require a one-wold answer (e.g. blue), or to give a command (e.g. stop!).

Words require context, and it's in a context that you ought to learn them. 

Something happened to me when I was 15

In my 16th year, at school, something happened to my brain. I learned to learn. 

It was only a small change, I admit, but it brought about a huge change. Within a term I leaped effortlessly to the head of the class in those subjects that dealt largely with concepts—Physics, Chemistry, Biology, and to a certain extent Mathematics.

I figured out that all I had to do was listen. I would listen to the teacher with the aim of understanding what he was talking about. I asked questions until I did. And then I sat back, satisfied, and relaxed. That’s all I had to do, and it worked.

I never did anything else. I didn’t memorize information. I didn’t complete the exercises. I hardly did homework. I didn’t study, although if I was interested I might do a little reading around the topic.

Since then, this approach has always succeeded. The only times I’ve ever done poorly with my academic work was when I strayed from those principles and tried to learn via conventional methods. If I treated the subject ‘seriously’ and formally, then it wouldn’t go well. I’d stress out. I’d fail. I’d quit.

Now then, what if I was to use this approach with learning a new language? (At school I’d dropped Latin and French the previous year . . .)

Instead of trying to memorize rules and vocabulary, I would just notice patterns and see how the language worked. I’d expose myself to it in a light, wide and shallow way. I wouldn’t analyze, study or try to learn in any way. I’d just express interest.

Therefore, I wouldn’t feel the slightest strain. I wouldn’t put any pressure on myself.  I’d avoid all stress. It would be fun. It would be easy.

And I'd go to the top of the class again, I’m absolutely certain.

Heed the common principles

There must be as many language-learning methods, or methodologies, as there are people. They probably work for someone, somewhere—most likely the people who dreamed them up. If they actually tested them out on themselves, that is.

In other words, everyone has ideas on what you should do to learn another language. They have beliefs, assertions, myths, theories, hypotheses and what have you. Do it this way! Do it that way! Do it my way! Do it your way!  Seven billion and counting.

I think it’s important to sift through everything—well, not everything as that is obviously impossible—but it’s a good idea to keep an eye open for principles that are common to all popular methods. It’s important that whatever you try yourself is in accord with those principles. Otherwise you’ll most likely be barking up the wrong tree.

Some of those principles:

• It’s going to take time, so you need to be patient
• Eventually you are going to have to use the language automatically
• There’s a lot to remember, but you’ll forget it many times
• You can’t learn to speak just by reading
• You first language will interfere with the second sometimes
• Unless you remain interested, you are likely to give up
• You are going to make mistakes—get used to it!

Climb every mountain, challenge every myth

All sorts of myths, beliefs, truisms and what have you abound regarding the learning of a language.

• You need to speak from day 1
• Young children learn better than adults
• You study grammar and do exercises
• It will take lots of time and effort
• Some people are just gifted . . .

It may be that some of them have some truth, but certainly not all of them. They need to be tested out.

That's because when you believe that something is so, it becomes so. You create your own reality. Self-fulfilled prophesies.