GeneralLong time no post (and only occasional reading of this site).
I haven't been actively learning for a while, just dipping in and out and speaking basic Cebuano every day at home. Not using PC much day to day at the moment and relaxing a bit.
I found something interesting (to me) just randomly looking at some youtube stuff.
A video (
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=illApgaLgGA - titled 'How to Acquire any language NOT learn it!') led me to
https://growingparticipatorapproach.wor ... by-domain/ and then
https://growingparticipatorapproach.wor ... ctivities/ which I haven't really looked at in detail
The video by a language teacher (Jeff Brown) shows his method and PROGRESS for learning SPOKEN Arabic in a year. Guest slots by Krashen and others.
I find it easy to learn vocab via reading / memrise. I find listening and speaking hard. I find grammar very hard. I've rarely done original writing.
I've had most success with Listening-reading and readlang which misses listening and speaking out. So a spoken only approach is tempting especially as it uses magazines and children's stories in any language. Particularly useful for Cebuano which has few written examples.
My rough notes on video:-
Use magazines initially (20%) and later kids stories (80%) with loads of pictures.
Travel magazine good - travel, clothes, food, adverts, accessories.
[I wondered about using an illustrated kids bible for a standard set of stories for multiple languages but probably better to use my kid's stories that I know very well.]
Need to work with a 'language parent' who 'lovingly' details / describes the magazine / storybook pages ie with emotion and gestures.
90%+ in target language (ideally 99%+). No translations of stories, it's the describing the pictures that is key.
I join in with questions:-
What is this?
What is that?
What is he/she doing?
WHY? - most important
Sessions are RECORDED (audio) for compiling into a revision / repetition list in car and restudy regularly forever.
Rules
[0) My thoughts - 5-10 hours a week - possibly if front of kiddo to see if he'll get at least a bit interested or just hears more Cebuano of a higher level over time. Try to do exaggerated emotions and make it fun]
1) No English, instead use gestures, acting or especially drawing. If it fails - parent (acquirer?) say in target language "It's not important and we will just move on"
2) No grammar explanations, just acquire [possibly some looking up independently when interested]
3) No corrections from language parent at ANY time. [keep fluid?] mentions research by John Truscott proving that corrections aren't effective.
Then discussion of Total Physical response with suggestion of doing 50-100 commands in a session, working up to 500-1000 commands. Found list (link above) to 502 TPR suggestions which are themed. Use gestures, movement, hand signals. I avoided TPR as no tutor available for Cebuano, but this method of using a list turns it into a game like charades.
Another guest saying read lots from the start (contradictory). Texts that interest ME. Then Jeff says reading joins together bits into a whole, smoothes and helps grammar acquisition as reading good for that. Suggestion of 100-150 pages per week [need to convert to words].
When acquirer is ready he asks parent to go to i+1 ie next level.
Group interaction useful for non-verbal and other communication.
Recording all sessions on mobile phone and replay just before bed or in car. Especially useful as these will be at a level I already did and should understand (i). Try to get 100+ kids stories on CD/phone. This ould be especially useful for Cebuano as so little otherwise available at basic / intermediate level that is interesting and colloquial.
Mentions of meetups, trades in language (50/50).
[Listed on screen, not quite sure of meaning]
Suggestions for learning from magazines, stories and TPR lists:-
1) Clothing and colours
2) Greetings
3) TPR
4) magazines
5) Children's stories
6) repeat [possibly meaning using recordings, or do work later again, possibly at i+1 or just as repetition]
