Running Head: THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 1

The Most Effective Way to Learn a New Language and

Common Problems that Language Students Encounter
Margaret Moran
Waxahachie Global High School












THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 2

Table of Contents
Abstract ........................................................................................................................................... 3
Introduction ..................................................................................................................................... 4
Audio Learning ............................................................................................................................... 4
The Silent Period ......................................................................................................................... 5
Adult vs. Child Language-learning ............................................................................................. 5
Reading and Writing ....................................................................................................................... 6
Setting ............................................................................................................................................. 6
Topics to Learn Sooner and Those to Save for Later ..................................................................... 7
Conclusion ...................................................................................................................................... 8
References ....................................................................................................................................... 9
Appendix A: Bilingualism ............................................................................................................ 11
Appendix B: Dales Cone of Experience ...................................................................................... 12
Replicated from Dales Audiovisual Methods in Teaching (1967). .............................................. 12









THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 3

Abstract
This is a study concerning the most effective ways of learning and teaching a new language. It
explores four main topics: Audio learning and sound recognition, reading and writing, settings,
and topics to learn after you understand a language. Multiple curriculum guides for second-
language teaching are referenced in this paper (mainly the writings of Gibbons (2002) and
Reif(2010)). It goes over theories on audio learning, the best way to learn reading and writing,
different learning settings, and at what point in a curriculum different aspects of a language
should be learned. While we can derive learning methods from a childs natural language
acquisition process, adults are hindered by previous language skills as well as brain
development. Second language learning should be learned through a variety of methods and in
different settings, which is best for memorization and learning every part of a language. There
are some parts of a language, such as key vocabulary and basic grammar, which should be
learned before idioms, homophones, etc.
Keywords: Curriculum, Language acquisition, Different settings, Grammar









THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 4

The Most Effective Way to Learn a New Language and
Common Problems that Language Students Encounter
Introduction
Languages have existed as long as humans have. Many such as sign language and body
language do not have words, but they are languages nevertheless. Attempting to learn a second
language is a task that requires much dedication and immersion, as it requires learning an entire
new grammar structure and vocabulary. Teachers and students alike are constantly searching for
better, faster ways to learn a language in order to make this process easier. Most people who
speak more than one language agree that it is best to learn listening skills first, before
progressing to speaking, reading, and writing. Adults cannot learn the same way as children can
due to their native language, but mimicking the learning process of children is said to be
effective (Keen, 2010). Many people have come up with guidelines for learning to speak, read,
and write languages, but all agree that each student is different. The best method of learning and
the setting where the language is learned in is different for each person. This study explores
some of these methods, as well as some topics that students should be cautious of.
Audio Learning
Listening is the key to learning how to speak a new language (Gibbons, 2002). Although
listening is also learned in the process of speaking, it is very important to practice listening to a
language so that the learner can recognize sounds more easily. Due to the fact that every persons
first language supplies them with a prejudiced idea of how an unfamiliar written language should
sound, it is often difficult for a language student to learn to speak and listen accurately if they
learn to read and write first. Instead, it is better to learn to listen to and speak a language before
attempting to write it (Reif, 2010). This mimics the natural language-learning process, as
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 5

children learn to listen to and understand language before they begin to speak it. Listening is an
active thinking process, and it helps the learner to make grammar connections early on. People
who grow up bilingual learn both languages in the same way, although one language is always
dominant (See Appendix A for statistics on bilingualism).
The Silent Period
People who are in the beginning stages of learning a new language experience a silent
period, in which they gain vocabulary by listening, not speaking (Krashen, 2012). Forcing a
student to speak a language before they can comprehend it will make them uncomfortable, and
they will not be able to speak correctly. The silent period, in a classroom setting, can vary from a
few days to a year. The length of this time depends on the students personality, their aptitude for
language, and previous knowledge (Cunningham, Shagoury n.d.). During the silent period,
students often communicate with nonverbal cues, such as head movements or hand gestures. For
example, when a teacher asks a yes or no question, a person can either nod or shake their head.
Adult vs. Child Language-learning
Although it is more effective to learn listening and speaking skills first, like a child
learning their first language, that does not mean that an adult can learn a language the same way
that a child can. An adult is alternatively helped and hindered by the knowledge of their native
language (Keen, 2010). A persons first language provides them with a database of knowledge
on how a language is supposed to connect together. Although this helps them to draw
comparisons and learn the grammar rules of a foreign language more easily, it is difficult for a
learner to replace their native language with a set of much more unfamiliar terms in their mind.
Adults simply must learn in a different way than children do.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 6

Reading and Writing
Once listening and pronunciation skills have been developed, the student should begin to
learn how to read and write in their new language. When learning to read and write, memorizing
vocabulary words is very important, and utilizing flash cards is a common way of quickly
committing words to memory (Lai, 2008). For each flash card, it is best to translate the word out
loud in order to practice pronunciation.
When learning to read and write in a new language, there is no shortcut. Practice is
necessary. It is helpful to read short passages and write about the past or everyday life as you
learn new vocabulary words (Lai, 2008). Pay attention to basic grammar rules. However, in the
earlier stages of writing, it is better to focus more on the words themselves than grammar. As
you learn grammar rules, apply them to your writing (Gibbons, 2002).
As with writing, reading also requires extensive practice. Once a person is familiar with a
language, they are able to detect errors, misspellings, and words that are out of context (Gibbons,
2002). It is best to avoid texts that are likely to have improper spelling and grammar while you
are still learning the basics.
Setting
People can be divided into two broad learning categories: social and solitary. Social
learners do well in a classroom setting, where they can interact with other people more often,
while solitary learners benefit from studying by themselves (Learning Styles, n.d.). No matter
what your learning style is, both types of study are necessary when learning a foreign language.
It is helpful, though, to spend more time on whichever method works best for you.
Learning in a classroom setting allows students to receive input from both teachers and
peers (Gibbons, 2002). Classroom learning hones each students speaking and listening skills.
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 7

There are also more distractions in a classroom, and quick learners may find the pace too slow
for them. On the other hand, individual learning allows students to set their own pace. Solitary
learning is best for memorization, reading, and writing practice. According to Edgar Dales cone
of experience (1967), the average student remembers 50% of what they see and hear and 70% of
what they say and write, both of which they will often encounter in a classroom. An individual
learner will often use speaking with writing (70% of which they will remember) and reading
(10% of which they will remember). Despite this difference, it is beneficial for every student to
use both methods of learning, with emphasis on the one they excel in (See Appendix B for
Dales Cone of Experience).
Topics to Learn Sooner and Those to Save for Later
When learning a new language, it is necessary to learn basic phrases first. These will
help the learner to get by in casual conversation. Pronunciation must be learned quickly to avoid
incorrect assumptions about a languages phonics. Basic grammar rules are essential, although
the more complex ones are best understood through reading (Lai, 2008).
Every language has its idioms, homophones, synonyms, etc. Although these are
important to know, knowledge of them can wait until after you understand how to speak a
language. Learning a new language is not a simple task, and it is best to focus on honing your
grammar, vocabulary, listening, and speaking skills before focusing on things that are culture
specific, such as idioms (Kaufmann, 2013). Because idioms and hidden meanings of words are
so culture-specific, it is best to wait until you have significant language knowledge before
attempting to learn these (R. Klumpp, W. Zeng, personal communication, January 22, 2014)
Speaking and listening skills should also be learned before writing and reading.
According to an interview with five professional translators who live in different countries and
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 8

speak different languages, reading and writing are easier to learn if you know how to speak a
language first. All five claimed that writing in a new language first would cause unnecessary
complications when learning the sounds of an unfamiliar language. For example, when a speaker
of Haitian Creole was learning to read English, he had trouble pronouncing English rs
because his knowledge of his first language was interfering with his judgment (J. Evans, personal
communication, January 22, 2014).
Conclusion
Learning a foreign language requires a significant time commitment, and there is no way
to get fluent in a few days. There are, however, ways in which you can optimize your learning
experience. According to five translators that were surveyed, it is best for a student to hone their
listening skills first, and then move on to speaking, reading, and writing. According to Edgar
Dales Cone of Experience (1967), people remember a higher percentage of words that they
speak or write versus what they hear or read. Different people learn better in different settings,
but it is essential for every student to learn individually as well as in a group setting. There is no
way to get around memorizing large quantities of words, but do not bother memorizing idioms,
homophones, or more in-depth grammar rules until you already have a fairly good grasp on a
new language.






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References
Cunningham, A., Shagoury, R. (n.d.). Understanding the silent period with English language
learners. Choice Literacy. Retrieved Feb. 6, 2014 from http://www.choiceliteracy.com
/articles-detail-view.php?id=47
Dale, E. (1967). Audiovisual methods in teaching. New York: Dryden Press.
Gibbons, P. (2002). Teaching second language learners in the mainstream classroom.
Portsmouth, NH: Pauline Gibbons.
Grosjean, F. (2012, Sept. 18). How many are we? Psychology Today. Retrieved Jan. 20, 2014
from http://www.psychologytoday.com/blog/life-bilingual/201209/how-many-are-we
Kaufmann, S. (2013, May 17). Learning with Steve: Are idioms important. The Linguist
Institute. Retrived Jan. 15, 2014 from http://lingqcentral-en.lingq.com/learning-with-
steve-are-idioms-important
Keen, L. (2010, July 27). How to learn a second language. Forbes. Retrieved Jan. 10, 2014
from http://www.forbes.com/2010/07/27/learn-second-language-lifestyle-travel-
study.html
Krashen, S. (2012, June 16). The wrong and right way to learn a foreign language. The
Washington Post. Retrieved Feb. 6, 2014 from http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/
answer-sheet/post/the-wrong-and-right-way-to-learn-a-foreign-language/2012/06/16/
gJQAK2xBhV_blog.html
Lai, J. (2008). Living language: Mandarin chinese. New York: Random House.
Overview of learning styles. Learning Styles Online. Retrieved Jan. 12, 2014 from
http://www.learning-styles-online.com/overview

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Reif, M. (2010, Nov. 8). Second language acquisition: Listening before speaking or writing.
Examiner. Retrieved Jan. 16, 2014 from http://www.examiner.com/article/second-
language-acquisition-listening-before-speaking-or-writing



















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Appendix A: Bilingualism
Counting the number of people in the world who are bilingual is an impossible task. What
defines a bilingual person? What level of proficiency in a second language must they have to be
considered bilingual? These questions are so difficult to answer that people can only guess. The
general consensus is that about 50% of the worlds population is bilingual (Grosjean, 2012)
while around 20% of people in the United States are bilingual. There are less trilingual people,
and they are mainly concentrated in places that conduct a significant amount of international
trade, such as Hong Kong, Norway, and the Philippines. Multilingual people are much less
common, and make up less than 3% of the worlds population. Multilingualism is more
commonly found in cities where multiple cultures and languages intersect, such as Morocco and
Switzerland. Although the United States conducts much international trade, it is geographically
isolated from most other countries. English is also the main international business language, so it
is often unnecessary for English-speakers to know more than one language (R. Klumpp, personal
communication, January 27, 2014).
THE MOST EFFECTIVE WAY TO LEARN A NEW LANGUAGE 12

Appendix B: Dales Cone of Experience

Replicated from Dales Audiovisual Methods in Teaching (1967).