The following text is a handout for my proficiency course year 11 which i hope will be useful to justify certain methods and strategies I am going to 'make' them use. I only handed it out after the caution that my 'scientific' explanations are meant Merely to create helpful images of what is going on in our brain when we are learning, especially a foreign language. ________________________________________________________
To set a common base for our English proficiency course it is helpful to share a basic understanding of how we learn - for example English.
Please work through the synopsis below, use the dictionary if you encounter problems understanding something.
Then answer the questions at the bottom of the page.
Synapses are connectors between neurons. Neurons can be understood as information units. Info networks are established by running info through your brain:
- Info enters through your senses. The more senses you use the wider the network will be. Experience makes the expert...
- Repeated info means strengthening of connections (synapses) = learning! Again: Experts are people with lots of experience...
- Positive or negative emotions 'burn' info into your memory. (Happiness makes info available, fear and sadness push info into the subconscious.) We usually only try to do things repeatedly, that we enjoy or need for our future happiness.
The stronger the network the more secure and the better available the info you want to memorise.
Learning a language naturally means learning to communicate.
Communication entails: your intentions, people, setting / personal context, emotion, experience…
Every bit of info at any given moment is processed by your brain, fortunately mostly unconsciously. Relevant info (i.e. info that seems useful somehow, helpful to make you happier) is saved together as a micro-network. The better it is embedded into the entire network (i.e. your pre-existing knowledge), the stronger the memory is.
To learn a foreign language effectively you consequently need to emulate the natural learning process as far as possible!
- Try to create a 'happy' learning atmosphere and attitude. Find something helpful or interesting or entertaining. Only with a goal you know when you achieve.
- Communicate with real people!
- Use English in everyday contexts! Thereby connect English with things which are familiar to you.
- Practice English with materials that are meaningful to you, e.g. books, films, music etc.
- Make English part of your daily routines and thus make use of your sub-conscience.
- Use the same English content (i.e. repetition) in various contexts, thus broadening your network.
Tasks: List opportunities where you may come in contact with English in your daily life.
Mark (or add) opportunities you routinely use for your learning.
Collect ideas how you (we) could emulate the natural acquisition of language in our classes.
Share and discuss with your group.
Start putting your ideas into practice today! ___________________________________________________________________
We discussed their ideas according to these categories: - everyday life: manuals, newspapers, instructions, internet etc., news on TV - 'happy' context: music, films with English subtitles, books, material about one's hobby (like clips on YouTube) - real people: tourists, visitors (e.g. exchange students), pen-pals via internet, friends Made on holiday Obviously The latter category is the hardest to fill as English native speakers are rare in our region. The final conclusion of this collection is incomplete to make English an essential part of one's everyday life, to incorporate it in where ever opportunity comes along. Thus students should be able to learn more English without having to swot too much ...
So there was fried potatoes in our camping kitchen more often! Also nice! 
