65. What is the best way to learn a language?

From VOA Learning English this is As It Is.  I’m Anna Matteo in Washington.

Today on, Avis It Is, we will hear about¹ something our listeners² do every day they hear, read or watch³ VOA Learning English --  learning a second language.

We will hear whether⁴ being surrounded by⁵ a foreign language⁶, or immersed in it, is the best way to learn a language⁷.  Or are traditional lectures⁸ with grammar rules⁹ and vocabulary lists the best way to learn to speak like a native speaker¹⁰. Steve Ember has more on that topic.

What is the best way to learn a new language?  A small study of foreign language learning in adults compared two methods. One is known as¹¹ the explicit or classroom¹² method.  This is the kind of¹³ traditional classroom teaching¹⁴ where students are taught¹⁵ a lot of information about grammar rules.

The other method is known as the implicit or immersion method. The idea here is to learn much the way children¹⁶ do when they learn a native language. That is, by being with¹⁷ native speakers and absorbing¹⁸ the language that surrounds them, generally without a lot of explanation¹⁹. Teachers may combine these two methods into what Professor Michael Ullman calls immersion-style classroom teaching. But is that necessarily a better²⁰ way to learn a language?

Mr. Ullman was the senior investigator for the new study. He is a professor of neuroscience at Georgetown University Medical Center in Washington.  He says he was surprised²¹ to find that combining the two methods might not help²² the brain²³ in processing the new language.

MICHAEL ULLMAN: "You know, if my life were on the line²⁴, and I had to learn a language, what would I do? I'm not sure²⁵. One possibility would be that, to start with explicit and then go to immersion, right? Start with classroom and then go to immersion. But there is this possibility that classroom could hurt²⁶ later²⁷ immersion. That's what, you know, one possibility of interpreting our data²⁸." 

The twenty-one adults in the experiment learned Brocanto2, a thirteen-word language²⁹ created for the study. The words and grammar rules³⁰ relate to³¹ a computer game similar to chess³² that the learners³³ played. For example, "Blom neimo lu neep li praz" means "The square³⁴ blom-piece switches with³⁵ the neep-piece."                         

The researchers tested the people three to six months after they had learned the language, to see how well they could remember³⁶ it. The study found that³⁷ those who had learned it with the immersion method had brain waves³⁸ similar to those of native speakers of a language when speaking that language.                                                                        

Professor Ullman says those who trained with the classroom method also became³⁹ more native-like⁴⁰ in their brain processing.  But only the immersion group showed full⁴¹ native-like processing of the grammar. 

Still⁴², he says teachers should be careful⁴³ how they use the results of his study. MICHAEL ULLMAN: "You know I would not make any curriculum changes⁴⁴ based on this. Nevertheless⁴⁵, it is suggestive, and I think it warrants further research⁴⁶ to see whether in fact⁴⁷ what kind of training might in fact be best not just for reaching⁴⁸ the native brain bases but also for, you know, maximum proficiency⁴⁹ in different aspects of language, like grammar, you know, syntax and lexicon.

So I think further research is warranted. And it may be⁵⁰, for example, that a combination of classroom and immersion might be best. But we don't know that." I'm Steve Ember. And I’m Anna Matteo.

So which way of learning a language is working best for you?  Do you think immersion is the best way to learn a language? Or do you believe the traditional lecture model is good enough⁵¹? Let us know⁵² in our comment section!

VOCABULARY

1. hear about = ouvir sobre
2. listeners = ouvintes
3. watch = assitem
4. whether = se ou não
5. being surrounded by = ser cercado por
6. foreign language = lingua estrangeira
7. the best way to learn a language = a melhor forma de aprender uma lingua
8. lectures = palestras
9. grammar rules = regras gramaticais
10. like a native speaker = como um nativo
11. known as = conhecido como
12. classroom = sala de aula
13. kind of = tipo de
14. teaching = ensino
15. taught = ensinado
16. children = crianças
17. being with = estando com
18. absorbing = absorvendo
19. generally without a lot of explanation = geralmente sem muita explicação
20. better = melhor
21. surprised = surpreso
22. might not help = poderia não ajudar
23. brain = cérebro
24. if my life were on the line = se minha vida estivesse em jogo
25. I'm not sure = não tenho certeza
26. could hurt = poderia prejudicar
27. later = mais tarde
28. data = informação
29. thirteen-word language = língua de treze palavras
30. grammar rules = regras gramaticais
31. relate to = relacionado a
32. similar to chess = semelhante ao xadrez
33. learners = aprendizes
34. square = quadrado(a)
35. switches with = troca com
36. how well they could remember = o quão bem eles podiam se lembrar
37. found that = descobriram que
38. brain waves = ondas cerebrais
39. became = tornaram-se
40. native-like = parecidos com nativos
41. full = completo
42. Still = ainda assim
43. should be careful = deveriam ser cuidadosos
44. changes = alterações
45. Nevertheless = todavia, contudo
46. warrants further research = justifica pesquisas adicionais
47. in fact = na verdade
48. not just for reaching = não apenas por alcançar
49. maximum proficiency  = proficiência máxima
50. may be = pode ser
51. is good enough = é bom o suficiente
52. Let us know = avise-nos