cathrynm wrote:You remind me. My father gave me a collection of language learning vinyl records that were lying around the garage. These things are vintage late 50's over 40 years old, and include German and Japanese, which are both in my list (and Russian and Italian, which are not). In the front they have the same marketing blurb that language courses use today. "Learn naturally like you did as a child, without studying grammar, but absorbing language naturally." Blah, blah, blah.
I've listened through the German records, and actually I think they're okay. I'm not sure if I'll be stuck in the Eisenhower administration era German or not, but I suppose I'll take this chance. The records are all German and have absolutely no English on them at all. They are kind of boring, though they're just hard enough for me, where I can use my dictionary to pick up what I don't understand.
Any claims that say they'll take you to to advanced level sounds like marketing hype to me. From intermediate to advanced, I figure we'll want to be listening to native material anyway.
You say the word "vinyl" and I think"vintage". (ok kidding)
That is interesting though. I agree with you on the marketing hype.
I think adults can comprehend a lot more differently about a language than a child can absorb it "naturally" ; because we already can speak a language and can comprehend somewhat the mechanics, per say, of the structure of a mother tongue language. I am sure with a little more work on a foreign language, it can get easier to comprehend as well. (understanding Grammar, vocabulary etc)
I think a child learns the language best when around adults who speak it. They see actions and hear words for most of the day. Their little heads are like a sponge. If an adult (or someone else for that matter) say or do something (in German for instance), then the child see the action and associate it with the words etc.
I don't think any recording of a language is the only source or have that same effect of learning a language naturally like some of these programs claim. (Hence, my agreement with you). Perhaps pictures would help some, but it still wouldn't be as effective. That is why one would resort to a dictionary for further assistance.
Furthermore, in order for someone (an adult) to learn a language "naturally" one would have to immerse themselves into that foreign language for a substantial amount of time throughout their day.
I would say almost 80% of one's time would have to be into the actual foreign language environment (audio including speaking) to absorb it. This is where one could acquire better skills of listening, speaking, reading and writing. Reception and production of the language becomes the key. It is like an input and output system of the brain which becomes natural.
