Language Acquisition in the distant future

"Mom, I am flying to Europe for lunch and will be back in few hours. I am taking my jet by the way." said a 15 year old Murugan living in Tamil Nadu. "Fine honey, be careful. Don't forget to install few languages before going. Europe has several languages and it will help if you want to fly around after lunch", replied his mom. "Sure mom, I already have some and will sure load some more languages too just in case.", said the boy while starting his personal jet from their backyard.



This dialog happens in the year 2500. When they said "load some languages" they did not mean load into their [super] smartphones; they meant "load into the brain.". Sure, this is just an imagination at this time. But, who knows, this could become a reality in the future.

Can it be this easy to acquire a new language? Hope so.

How did we humans get the language while no other species on earth has a language? We do not seem to have a clear answer to this question. But, it is amazing how we humans got language ability when no other species have this. First we did not have language; we communicated using sound and signs. Then, somehow we started communicating using consistent sound patterns that probably evolved into a language later. Then it grew over time of about 50,000+ years into the sophisticated language system we have today.

What will be the future of languages? It is only going to be better for sure and there is no doubt about it. What about the future of language learning?

Today we acquire/learn languages in many ways; we acquire our first language naturally, and additional languages in schools or in a social environment, etc. It takes good amount of time to learn the basic language skill, and a long time to master the language.

Here is an imagination of how people might get acquire languages in the future.

Lets look at the computers. A computer comes with basic hardware and software. We install software to make the computer take different avatar. The basic hardware knows a machine language. Yes, the computers know languages too. Then we make them understand multiple languages like Java, C, C++, C#, and there will be more in the future for sure.

How do we make the computer understand a new language? We just install a language compiler and in minutes, it can read, understand, and do something with it. What! A machine can acquire a language in minutes? Yes, it can.

Won't it be nice if we are able to do the same too? How? We also come to this world with hardware (our body) and software (mind) acquired over time. Won't it be nice if we can also have a way to just install a language software in our brain and in minutes start understanding and speaking a new language?

So, we can purchase few languages, install them as needed, and boom, we are a native in a new country. Won't this be wonderful?

Why not! This could happen one day. We do not have the right technology at this time. But, may be in about 100 to 500 years, this could become a reality!

Thanks
Logu

மொழிக்கல்வி பற்றி சில கேள்விகள்

நமது மொழியை அடுத்த சந்ததியினருக்கு எடுத்துச் செல்லும் பணியில் ஈடுபட்டுள்ள நமக்கு மொழிக்கல்வி பற்றி தேவையான அளவு தெரிந்திருப்பது மிகுந்த பயனுள்ளதாக அமையும். மொழிக்கல்வி பற்றி என்ன தெரிந்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டும் என்பதை தெரிந்துக்கொள்ளவே இந்தக் கட்டுரை முயற்சி. இங்கு நாம் தெரிந்துக்கொள்ள வேண்டிய விஷயங்களை கேள்விகளாகக் கொடுத்துள்ளேன். கேள்வியில் ஆரம்பித்து அந்த கேள்விக்கான விடையை நாம் அறிய அடுத்த அடி வைக்கும் போது இது பற்றி மேலும் நிறைய தெரிந்துக்கொள்ள வாய்ப்புகள் உண்டாகும் என்று நம்புகிறேன்.

மொழி

1. இந்த பூமியில் உள்ள மற்ற எந்த உயிரினங்களுக்கும் இல்லாத, மனித இனத்துக்கு மட்டும் உள்ள ஒரு மிகப்பெரிய சொத்து மொழியாகும். இது மனிதர்களுக்கு மட்டும் எப்படி வந்தது?
2. நம் மனதில் தோன்றிய எண்ணத்தை அடுத்தவர்கள் மனதுக்கு எந்த கருவியின் உதவியும் இல்லாமல் எப்படி நம்மால் கொண்டு செல்ல முடிகிறது?
3. நம்மால் எப்படி மொழியை பயன்படுத்த முடிகிறது?

மொழிக்கற்றல்

1. மொழியை நாம் எப்படி பெறுகிறோம்?
2. நம் மூளை எப்படி மொழியை உள்வாங்குகிறது?
3. மொழித்திறன்கள் என்னென்ன? அவற்றை நாம் எந்த வரிசையில் இயற்கையாக கற்கிறோம்?
4. அடுத்தவர்கள் உதவியில்லாமல் எதையும் செய்ய முடியாத நிலையில் உள்ள சிறு குழந்தைகள் எப்படி ஒரு மொழியை எந்த ஒரு கடினமும் இல்லாமல் இவ்வளவு எளிதில் பெற முடிகிறது?
5. "மொழிக்கற்கும் இயந்திரம்" என்றழைக்கப்படும் சிறுப் பிள்ளைகள் உயர்நிலைப் பள்ளிகளில் இரண்டாவது மொழியைக் கற்கும்போது தடுமாறுவது ஏன்? அந்த இரண்டாவது மொழியை சரியாக கற்க முடியாதது ஏன்? என்ன காரணம்?
6. A kid born in a poor linguistic environment can and does acquire even a hard to learn language. But, why does a kid born in highly rich linguistic environment struggles to learn even a language like Spanish which is similar to English, a language they know already?
7. If so, is it reasonable to expect that the kids learning Tamil once a week can master the language that easily and quickly? What do we have to do then?

நமது நோக்கம்

1. நம் பிள்ளைகள் நீண்ட காலத்துக்கு நம் மொழியை பயன்படுத்தவும் அவர்களது அடுத்த தலைமுறைக்கு எடுத்துசெல்லவும் நாம் என்ன செய்ய வேண்டும்?
2. நமது நோக்கம் என்ன? அதை எளிதில் அடைவது எப்படி?
3. நம் இலக்கை நோக்கி சரியாக போய்க்கொண்டிருக்கிறோம் என்பதை எப்படி தெரிந்துக்கொள்வது? தேர்வுகள் போதுமா?
4. What do we want our students to be able to do?
5. Do we want them to acquire knowledge or skill?
6. What is important for long term retention?
7. The language has to stay with them for long time. Reading, Writing, Listening and Speaking. Split into two. Which one gets high score? Listening and speaking.
8. What is the goal of regular school. Get high score and get into good college. Or become fluent speaker of Spanish?

மொழிக்கல்வி பற்றி ஆய்வின் கருத்துகள்

1. மொழித்திறன்கள் என்ன? இவற்றில் முக்கியமானது எது?
2. ஒரு மொழியைக் கற்க வயது ஒரு தடையா?
3. வயது ஆக ஆக மொழிக்கற்கும் திறன் நமக்கு குறைந்துவிடுகிறதா?
4. Is it true that the kids can learn faster than the adult? What makes it appear so? Are we comparing apples to apples?
5. Is there a difference in gender in learning a language?
6. When we acquired our first language, did we "learn and use" or "use and learn"?

மொழிக்கல்வி அணுகுமுறைகள்

1. எப்படி நம் மொழியை எளிதாக அவர்களுக்கு எடுத்துச் செல்வது?
2. ஒவ்வொரு பிரச்சினைக்கும் பல தீர்வுகள் உள்ளன. அதுபோல் மொழியை கொண்டு செல்லவும் பல வழிகள் உள்ளன. அதில் சிறந்தது எது?
3. பேச்சுத்தமிழா எழுத்துத்தமிழா? இதில் எதை முதலில் கொடுக்கவேண்டும்?
4. What are the ways we can take the language. Is it based on scientific study or just a belief?
5. Is it better to do what we did successfully already of try something different? Can we afford it?
6. What will happen if a we put a student with a group of Tamil only speaking kids and ask him to play with them?

உத்திகள்

1. பெற்றோர்களாக நாம் செய்ய வேண்டியது என்ன?
2. என்ன செய்தால் நம் மொழியை எளிதாக நம் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு கொண்டு செல்லலாம்?
3. நீண்ட கால நோக்கில் அவர்களுக்கு மொழியை கொண்டுசெல்ல நாம் வகுப்பிலும் வகுப்புக்கு வெளியிலும் என்ன செய்யவேண்டும்?
4. என்ன மாதிரியான பாடத்திட்டங்கள், என்ன மாதிரியான வகுப்பு செயல்கள் நம் பிள்ளைகள் தமிழை எளிதிலும் ஆர்வத்துடனும் கற்றுக்கொள்ள வழிவகுக்கும்?

இலக்கணம்

1. நாம் முதல் மொழி கற்கும் போது நமக்கு யாரும் இலக்கணம் சொல்லிக் கொடுக்கவில்லை. அப்படியிருக்க, 3 அல்லது 4 வயதில் நம்மால் எப்படி இலக்கணப் பிழையின்றி பேச முடிகிறது?
2. பள்ளிக்குச் சென்று படிக்காதவர்களுக்கு இலக்கண விதிகள் தெரியாது. அப்படி இருக்க எப்படி அவர்கள் இலக்கணப் பிழையின்றி மொழியை பயன்படுத்துகிறார்கள்?
3. நாம் மொழியை பயன்படுத்தும்போது ஒவ்வொரு இலக்கண விதியையும் சரியாக யோசித்துத்தான் பயன்படுத்துகிறோமா? அது ஆகக்கூடிய காரியமா?
4. அப்படி இருக்க ஒரு மொழியை பேச இலக்கண விதிகள் தெரிந்திருக்க வேண்டியது எவ்வளவு முக்கியம்?
5. How important is it to know the grammar rules? Do we have to really know how a watch works to know the time?

முடிவு

இந்த கேள்விகளில் எவ்வளவு முடியுமோ அவ்வளவு கேள்விகளுக்கு பதிலைக் கண்டறிந்து அதை பயன்படுத்தி சிறப்பாக நம் தமிழ் மொழியை நம் பிள்ளைகளுக்கு கொண்டு செல்லலாமே!

நன்றி

லோகு

A Project Plan - The Time and Effort Involved in Acquiring a Language

I am glad we are putting lots of effort to teach our language to our kids. A noble effort. We want them to understand, speak, read, and write our language. A great goal. We need a workable plan. I discuss what it takes to acquire a language; the order, effort and time. Is what we are doing enough to meet this great goal? How to say? Let us compare with a benchmark. The benchmark is how we all acquired our first language. Using this as benchmark, we will be able to tell if we are investing enough to expect the expected return.

First let us understand the five stages of language acquisition. Please watch The Five Stages of Second Language Acquisition.

Here is the stages we went through when we acquired our first language. (the numbers can only be an approximate since the start time, and amount of time taken varies from kid to kid).

Stage#	Period	What happens	Rough Actual Time (in hours)	Notes
Stage 0 - Initial Stage	0 - 9 months	Surrounded by Language Language Exposure Parents and relatives talk to them They just listen and keep acquiring words and meanings	1000 hours	Awake 4 hours a day
Stage 1 - Preproduction Stage	9 - 12 months	Understand and respond to simple commands Has minimal comprehension Does not verbalize Nods "Yes" and "No" Draws and points	600 hours	Awake 6 hours a day
Stage 2 - Early production Stage	12 - 14 months	Very first words Has limited comprehension Produces one or two words Uses keywords and familiar phrases Uses present tense verbs	600 hours	Awake 4 hours a day
Stage 3 - Speech Emergence Stage	14 - 18 months	Use lots of words Makes lots of grammatical errors. Has good comprehension. Can produce simple sentences Makes grammatical and pronunciation errors Frequently understand jokes	500 hours	Awake 8 - 10 hours a day
Stage 4 - Intermediate Fluency Stage	?	Uses lots of sentences Makes few grammatical errors. Has excellent comprehension.	500 hours	Awake 8 - 10 hours a day
Stage 5 - Advanced Fluency Stage	?	Have a near perfect level of speech.	?	?

Only after mastering so much of language skill, we went to school to learn to read and write. This is the way the brain acquires the language and this is what it takes to acquire a language. Are we doing something similar to teach a second language or something else? If you are doing the same thing, congratulations. Otherwise, what is the reason?

Of course we can not afford the same luxury, time, and effort in teaching a second language in schools. But, that does not mean we can alter this order or take a short cut. It simply does not work.

There are techniques that will help us to replicate the first language experience in teaching second language and get the result close to the first language competency over time. If we are teaching our language in a different way, or that goes against the way the brain acquires the language, how do we expect the learners to acquire and master language skill?

காயை அடித்து கனியாக்க முடியாது அல்லவா?

"A language learning machine (a kid) , that can master a language effortlessly on it's own, struggles to acquire even the basic language skill from school that too with the help of an experienced language teacher." -- a very interesting quote.


நன்றி
லோகு

The Two Primary Approaches to Language Teaching

Introduction

I here discuss two approaches, skill based and language acquisition based. I may sound like one is good and the other is not. That is not my intention. My objective here is to share what I learned about the approaches and what I believe about each of them. My intention is not to say we should abandon one approach and completely move over to another approach. I do believe language is too complex to teach with just one approach. As the linguistic expert Prabhu says there is no one single approach that can meet the needs of every language teaching situation. Use the approach as applicable to your need.

I understand there are primarily two language teaching approaches. Skill Development and Language Acquisition. Interestingly these two approaches take opposite view of language teaching and go in the opposite direction. What I mean is if one approach says "do A and you will get B", the other approach says "do B and you will get A".  Example: Skill Building approach says "learn the language elements and you will be able to use it in the language", but the Language Acquisition approach says "use the language in communication so you will be able to master the language better". This key difference motivated me to learn more on this.

Check the following video (from xx:xx to yy:yy). Dr. Krashen outlines the main differences between the two approaches. I here summarize the two approaches, the differences, and the values.

Skill Development

The skill based approach is about teaching language element one by one and  help the learners to use in the communication. We give them vocabulary, grammar rules, letters, etc first and slowly introduce conversation skill. This is the approach used in most second language classes in regular schools.

Language Acquisition

The language acquisition approach is about giving basic language elements, help them use in communication, and build on top of it. Example, help the learners to understand basic vocabulary and language structures using Total Physical Response (TPS) and Teaching Proficiency through Reading and Storytelling (TPRS), and help them to first improve listening skill, and then output skill. In this approach we give lots of input first based on contexts, goals, and tasks, and then help them use in the communication context.


Comparison

	Skill Building	Language Acquisition
Method	Learn the language element and use the language.	Use the language and learn the language elements.
Approach	Language exercise drill	Use language for communication
Grammar	Teach grammar rules.	Help them pick up grammar construct inductively.
Goal	To score high marks in tests	To develop communication competency in the target language.
Effort of Students	High	Medium
Effort of teachers	High	High in the beginning and medium afterwards
ROI	Low to Medium	Medium to high
Motivation	Language drills make the students to lose interest in learning the language.	Learners enjoy participating and producing language output.
Structure	Structured, systematic way. Predefined syllabus, tests for grading, etc.	Unstructured and loosely connected. The language elements are chosen based on the learners need and situation.

Conclusion

Please check The Five Stages of Second Language Acquisition.

Before I give my conclusion, let us look at how we acquired our first language. You may not know what you did and how you did this when you were a child. Look at how your kid(s) acquired their first language. That alone can give you a preview of my conclusion.
Acquisition, I think is the way to go. This is the way we have been acquiring the language for thousands of years and billions of people are doing it this way every day even today. I do not see a need to reinvent the wheel. Skill based approach do have value. But, it is hard to learn a language this way and the value is limited.

Hence I can confidently conclude that Language Acquisition approach is the way to go.

For more on language acquisition concepts and techniques, please refer to TPRS, and TBLT. I have discussed these topics in several posts in this blog.

Then an obvious follow up question would be how to use Language Acquisition techniques in the class. Let me answer this question briefly.

At Elementary level:

• Help them with basic listening comprehension.
• Teach 100-150 words using TPR. The goal at this stage is to be sure they understand the words, the follow the direction, and are able to respond back using actions. Do not expect or force them to talk in the target language.
• Help them  basic language elements and structures.
• Teach language elements and more works using TPRS. Tell level appropriate stories that the learners can understand and enjoy. Make them participate. Still they may not talk in the target language yet. Absolutely alright. Also use TPRS to help them start talking.
 

• Help them with advanced language skills

• Involve the kids in the language learning activities in context using TBLT. By now they are able to understand and talk simple sentences. Use TBLT to enhance their language skill. Here they will practice listening, speaking, reading, and writing. Use this approach as long as needed. Sometimes the learners may get bored doing activities, so, you may want to involve them in fun trips, teaching activity, projects, demonstrations, presentations, etc, all using TBLT approach.

 At Intermediate level:

• Help with more reading and writing skill.

At Advanced level:

•  Help them with literature, history, more culture related learning, etc. Also help them with writing skill.

The order of developing the skill is highly important. First we need to help them build listening comprehension, then speaking, and only (and only) then with reading and writing skills. I would not recommend introducing letters until they can talk at least little in the target language on their own. It is counterproductive to teach letters, reading and writing skill before they acquire listening and speaking skill.