[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0PivT4ygVVA?feature=oembed&w=500&h=281]

Analysing an Interview with Gretchen Jones

LTMOOC Week 2 tasks begin with an interview with the Academic Director of Foreign Languages and Asian studies at the University of Maryland University College.

The Academic Director talks about teaching Japanese online, as well as how best to deal with teaching Japanese script. Here are some of the professor’s comments, followed by my own, in relation to my recent language learning experiences.

1. What is the starting point for teaching a student with no background in a language?

She said: Understanding the importance of pronunciation.

I say:  Understand the motivation of the student in order to manage expectations.

2. Useful language versus high frequency language?

She said: It is important to to leave class with a chunk of language. Instreamia facilitates this idea using real, authentic content in bite-sized “chunks”.

I say: As I study Chinese, I come across the problem of the (lack of) useful language being taught in the classroom versus high frequency language. Currently, the Chinese language proficiency examinations are geared towards high frequency language, which does not adequately equip learners for real-life situations. For example, I recently studied “cradle” and “dam”, but I cannot say (or read) any of my weekly shopping items. (This is something, I would like to look at in more depth. And even though, as part of this course I plan to use Instreamia to “teach English”, I am curious to find out if I could use it to “teach Chinese”).

3. When to teach Japanese script?

She said: It cannot help you read, but it can help you pronounce. Students should learn it, but not get too dependent on it.

I say: I think the question of learning or not learning Japanese script is very similar to that of learning to read and write Chinese characters. Point one: as you progress in the language, the need to interact with Chinese characters increases. For example, let’s say you want to study using text books. You will start with one that uses pinyin, the Romanised version of Chinese characters. However, these slowly disappear as you level increases. And the need to read and understand Chinese characters increases.

Point two: people often say they just want to read, but have no need to be able to write. However, I believe, but have not yet found the scientific proof to confirm this, that there is an inextricable link between writing something, and then remembering it, thus enabling you to read it in the future. That is to say that, writing words, or characters, helps you read. My conclusion being, it is important to learn to write basic, high frequency Chinese characters in order to facilitate your reading ability.

4. What about memorising?

She said: Memorising is not part of standard Western education. However, strategies are needed to help Western students remember scripts so very different from their own. Various approaches are needed in order to be effective. Kinesthetic learning may help – for example saying a word aloud, or singing etc.

I say: I completely agree. Memorisation is an alien concept to me. When I learn, I want to experience something. If I have a positive experience I will remember it. The negative connotation of having to memorise something means that, although it might be remembered in the short-term, it will certainly be forgotten shortly after. Similarly, I believe only a superficial understanding can be reached through memorisation, whereas a more deeper meaning can be attained if the learner has a positive interaction with that particular word, or grammar concept.

5. What is the future of language learning?

She said: Adaptive technology is key to the future of language learning. For example, electronic flashcards. Spaced repetition software.

I said: I whole-heartedly agree. I use skritter (http://www.skritter.cn/) to practice writing simplified Chinese characters, which uses spaced repetition software to make sure I only study what I don’t know (rather than spend time going over what I already know well). I also use Anki (http://ankisrs.net/) electronic flashcards to review Chinese words. This tool allows you to access ready-made vocabulary lists, or make your own flashcards. You are empowered to grade yourself on your own knowledge on the flashcards, which triggers a simplified spaced repetition cycle, where you are tested again on what you don’t know, and not what you already know.