Re: two compartments of the brain
johne said:
Basically we must contend with the fact that there is a "compartment " reserved for us upon birth for our primary and first language. Second languages are learned through another system or part of our brain function and here the process is a lot different and harder. BTW--it is for this reason that it is recommended that older people work at mental activities such as learning a new language, in order to help themselves against Alzheimer and dementia illnesses.
Not quite sure I agree about this idea of a spot in the brain reserved for only one language. My twins were taught both English and Spanish from birth, no preference given. Both languages in effect are their "primary," with a fluidity that I greatly envy. They both, at our insistence, are now learning French. And both plan to learn Portuguese (in fact, I am bit by bit teaching it to them anyway). They have a Dominican cousin that speaks English, Spanish and Greek with equal ease.
Kids, especially young ones, are amazing in their ability to learn languages. They are learning sponges, and so flexible, adaptable, their minds not yet set in its ways. Which is why it is a shame that our school system in the US (as well as the system in the DR) does not require foreign languages at a very early age.
I taught EFL at the Dominico for 2 years, primarily adults. I always told them that as far as I am concerned there were two secrets to acquiring proficiency in a second language, both of them related to immersion: (1) stop being self-conscious about it -- stop trying to internally translate everything, make all sentences picture perfect, etc -- just speak, go through trial-and-error, the much touted process of "repair" (part of the reason kids learn new languages is that they tend to plow on, while we adults tend to dwell on our mistakes); (2) practice, practice, practice. If you don't use it constantly, you'll never imbed it and you'll loose it.
I learned Portuguese that way at the age of 22 -- in 3 short months in Brazil in 1979. My Portuguese since then is not grammatically perfect, but it is fluid and so authentic Brazilians are often floored the first time they meet me. And I exercise it every opportunity I get -- in correspondence, conversing, listening to TV & music in the language.
I had to re-learn Spanish that way when I moved to SD in 1995. I had learned it in high school and became so proficient I AP'ed out of the language requirement for college. But I lost it through disuse thereafter. I was horribly awkward and halting with Spanish when I moved to SD. It started getting better the moment when I stopped worrying about it and simply used it -- all the time, resisting the urge to fall back on English. BTW, that process of explaining things in long-hand in Spanish is much more valuable than you may know. You may consider it to be a pain now, but it's great exercise in getting you to think & reason in Spanish, rather than constantly rely on short-cuts provided by bilingual speakers.
It takes more time, patience & persistence when you're older, but it comes.
These days, I often find that I cannot at first remember terms in English, my "native" language! [ok, guys, no jokes about Alzheimers!
] That's when you really know it's "clicked"! Another good indicator is when you actually start understanding the jokes & double entendres without having them to be explained to you....
I'm 46 and starting to learn a third language that I've been reading for years, but never really spoke before and couldn't write if I had to. [Won't tell you which one, because Scott would have a cow! LOL] It's not easy, but I plan to hang in there. I always find learning to be rewarding. Learning a language is particularly rewarding, because it ties into culture, and it makes one reflect on your own language and culture.
Well, enough ruminating.
Regards,
Keith