[B-Greek] online Greek texbook and classes - help and advice sought

Randall Buth randallbuth at gmail.com
Tue Apr 12 06:49:48 EDT 2011


Shirley,

I appreciated reading 'how to learn a language.' Thank you for sharing.
One sentence caught my eye as on target but needing some further
clarification:

> It is IMPOSSIBLE to develop fluency or comprehension if we do not
> hear a language, and the main way online students get to hear a
> language is by speaking it themselves.

The first statement would receive general agreement in the Second
Language Acquisition (SLA) field as referring to internalized, rapid
comprehension. Amen.
However, the second half is not really supported. Vocalizing does
not 'internalize', even if it's understood. There is a fairly universal
consensus that speaking and listening must be done in the framework of
meaningful communication. It is that rapid give and take with a focus on
meaning that puts a language and structures deep inside a person. That
is why we're doing the Fresno Greek Immersion Workshop. Both
teachers and students need an opportunity to rapidly and continuously
interact in the language at times. If reading outloud worked,
most Greek teachers and second language learners would be quite
fluent and SLA would have a delightfully easy time.

ERRWSO
IWANHS
-- 
Randall Buth, PhD
www.biblicallanguagecenter.com
Biblical Language Center
Learn Easily - Progress Further - Remember for Life



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