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How People Learn Languages

Probably the biggest question language enthusiasts have is what is the best way to learn a new one. In the previous newsletter, we featured Gabriel Wyner's book "Fluent Forever: How to Learn Any Language Fast and Never Forget It", which covered some techniques, based on his own experiences.

There are over a billion people learning a new langauge around the world and just about as many ideas on what is the most advantageous approach.

While we can't ask all billion what they use, Jimmy Mello has talked to a dozen leaners and put their stories into a compilation book.

Guest post by Jimmy Mello

"The Bible", despite being the name of the most spread and translated books in history, has a strong influence on our daily lives. We cannot deny that being religious or not, this "book" has changed the history of humanity. But one thing people generally do not know is the real meaning of "bible", it simply means "library", a collection of books.

The tile of each book starts with "gospel", and together they are a collection of small booklets to guide and teach people. In the case of the Holy Bible, it is a story of a man who changed history. The word "gospel" means "good news".

So provided that you got it, we can move on to the name of the book "The Bible of Language Learners and Polyglots". Given the definitions from above for bible and gospel, it can be translated as "a library full of good news" but focused on how to learn a language. And even the way we decided to quote the stories and sentences from the polyglots is from the way the religious book (Holy Bible) was written. For example, Jimmy 4:34 stands for the news of Jimmy chapter 4, quote 34.

While "bible" is usually referring to Christian beliefs, a good polyglot and even a good language learner can realize that it’s a linguistic book, without any connection with beliefs, just by taking the book and flipping through it. The influences of Greek and Latin exist in many languages, so this should be enough for a polyglot to understand the title as it is "the library (or collection) of some polyglots’ good news to help language learners."

It’s important to note that this book was supposed to be a continuation of "The Polyglot Project" published previously by Claude Cartigenese. And in fact, it is, mainly because a "project" is also a collection of ideas to make you a polyglot. Maybe in the near future, we will get more good news from our friends all over the world, and we can put everything together. Maybe after that, the project that became a library will change again to become an encyclopedia about the polyglots and the multiple ways to learn the same things.

This second volume contains "books" from people who have mastered at least one language and can share something. Contributers to the book are Maureen Millward, Teddy Nee, Siskia Lagomarsino, Daniel Wieser, Bryan Cheung, Tetsu Yung, Hannah Peek, Sydney Sauer, Antonio Rivera, Ahmet Murati, Khady Ndoye, Mark Levinson, and Matteo Villarosa. The gems of wisdom are not always from the heads of the well-known and even famous learners. I’m sure you have lots of great ideas to share with the world as well.

Some inspirational quotes from the first volume:

"The lesson is: never rush to project your failure of something as your incapability. Maybe it just a wrong method. It’s all about HOW" and "Remember to rest well. You cannot fly high constantly, for you don’t want to burn out."" (Matteo Villarosa 2:23 and 4:41)

"Learn whatever language when you have the chance because knowing more skills is always beneficial" and "it is always fun to learn a new language" (Teddy Nee 04:14 and 3:9)

"One of my favorite parts of learning a language is the ability to poke your head into a culture that is not your own." (Siskia Langomarsino 3:37)

"When I discovered the art of teaching my eyes opened wider and I realized that if I learned how to teach I would be a better learner and I became fascinated about it..." (Jimmy Mello 3:1-2)

"... my first lesson in language learning: don’t let people tell you what language you should learn. If you want to learn an exotic language - do it". (Daniel Wieser 03:13)

"...everyone knows that procrastination is a poison" so "explore alternatives as to keep on momentum." (Bryan Cheung 4:28-29)

The book is available from Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01EQ27J24

The Mello Method is known by some and completely unfamiliar by others, loved by some and hated by others. Mello Method is a great-grandchild of the direct method and structural method. The original version comes from books dating back to1879, but despite many writings on the subject, we have no clear and complete steps on how to use it.

Linguists from different countries and nationalities started tracing different approaches back to use these unconventional books. The result was a wide variety of theories and uses, so that virtually every researcher, including myself, modelled some parts and adapted others. Still, everything based on some old studies and discoveries.

I guess everyone has already heard or read something about how "you should" speak from the first lesson in your target language. It seems somewhat impossible, but it’s not that difficult, provided you’ve got the right method. I’m not stating that it’s the only "right" method, it only has to be easy and tested.

As you can imagine, a method that exists since before 1879 is not easy to understand and could not be completely described without a lot of jargon and explanation of how to use it properly. Nonetheless, I’m going to give you a glimpse about it, in a very simple way.

First principle: the only skill that every single person has, is speaking a language. Maybe you’re not good at art, math, or geography. Maybe you can’t play the piano, drive a car and even ride a bike (as I can’t). But have you ever noticed that everyone in the whole world speaks a language? it’s a natural talent. I can study and practise piano for years and cannot play it properly, but a language is spoken by the queen, the presidents, prime ministers, and by the homeless, by the people from far away and hidden in the Himalayas. So there is no such thing as a talent for languages, as it is an innate ability. We have only forgotten or are not aware of it. So, with Mello Method, we truly believe everyone can learn a language.

Second, what do we do during the day? You may have answered work, study, cook, and so on. We do everything through the language. Our lives are based on people asking and requesting us something, and we are answering questions, as well as asking them. So, why should we learn from a text, and then answer some written exercises, with a teacher who teaches grammar (as if it were something that could be learnt as geography or history, i.e. only theory)?

Since the origins of the method, the process was not learning a language as a child. We are adults and we should learn like adults. Be wary of slogans like: "learn a language as you learnt when you were a child". This will NEVER happen because we are no longer children. Nevertheless, we can model some things from that period by making it suitable for adults.

Based on the idea that we live, work, study, etc. by asking and answering questions, we brought this principle back, introducing new words and step-by-step answering direct questions like "what’s this?", "Are you here?", "Am I a teacher?". Even grammar questions are delivered in a very modern way are, but it’s too difficult to describe in a few lines here. So, by pulling out the questions (after presenting some words) to the pupils, we establish a continuous flow of conversation. At the start, using easy and concrete questions and answers, then advancing with more elaborate questions.

When you finish reading this article, chances are that you are going to chat with someone, and guess what? You will be asking and answering questions to each other, so we simply emulate real life, keeping us adults learning in an effective way like the adults that we are.

The third principle is speed. Our teachers and collaborative schools are trained to ask the students questions at top speed or as fast as possible to understand. According to some researchers, North American people tend to speak from 100 to 150 words per minute, so our teachers ask the questions at a range of 150-200 words per minute. Other languages can have different numbers, but if you can get your pupil to understand your top-speed questions, they will understand real-life conversations without too much difficulty.

I hope you could get a glimpse of it in general with the rudimentary description. Maybe you ask: "how did it end up bent over countless books and working with other researches only to bring back an 'old' method?"

Since the moment I got one of these old books in my hands (the oldest in my library dates back only nearly 200 years ago, sadly), I have been intrigued as well as in love to have a book that had taught people languages 200 years ago. As a language teacher, I have always been looking for something that matches my experience, as well as linguistics and pedagogical approach.

I’ve been working with this method for over 25 years and the Mello Method is now available in over 10 languages, specially adapted to each language. It may seem similar to others, but we have encapsulated some small tricks in the structure. It’s not like 50 minutes of lessons. It’s like spending 50 minutes talking to friends, co-workers, family and a teacher as a host.

Learn more at Mello Method.
http://www.mellomethod.com

People who study languages beyond just their native one ask many questions regarding which languages are the best or worst to learn.

But why do these people actually learn another language?

In The Bible of Language Learners and Polyglots, we hear from a dozen languages learners about the journey and thoughts on learning methods. A particular emphasis is on why they started learning languages.

In "Why Do People Learn Languages?", I talk about some of my own experiences and observations about getting interested in languages.

You can read it here:
https://www.parrottime.com/index.php?i=3&a=134

The Mello Method is based partially on an old and tried approach to language learning. It uses a teacher in an interactive environment.

But having a teacher and classroom isn't the only way to learn. Since each person learns differently, there is no method that works the best for everyone.

In Finding Your Way to Languages, six common methods of studying a language are examined : Audio, Books, Classes, Software, Internet and Immersion. It has basic overviews, pros and cons, examples and anecdotes.

This book won't teach you any secrets, any overnight paths to fluency. What it will give you is a solid understanding of what the strengths and weaknesses are of each approach, allowing you, the reader, to find your own way to languages

It is available from Amazon here:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/1519437935