What is the use of intensive language learning?

When they are unsatisfied with their progress in learning a foreign language, many wish for having more time to learn a language more intensely.

On the contrary, I recommend to limit the time you spend learning a foreign language, but to practice every day for 5-10 minutes.

Let me explain. Many think that the total number of words you know is an indicator of how well you know a language. And vocabulary is something easy to measure, especially with all kinds of apps.

My definition of language expertise is how quickly and flexibly you can combine the words you already know into correct sentences. You don’t need to know 50 thousand words to be able to handle 99% of communication situations.

The same applies to grammar rules. You need to know a limited number of rules, but to be a master in using them spontaneously.

The focus here is on the ability to react to all kinds of situations quickly and to be creative in combining words.

If you think about your native language, you will certainly know people who are well-read, intellectual, but who are inferior in spontaneous conversation than somebody with a more limited vocabulary.

So, the key to language practice is to train every day combining words correctly.

·        It is better to limit the number of new words per day, so that you can focus on building sentences with those few words.

·        It is better to set daily time limits and to operate within an optimal intellectual level.

There is no use in exhausting yourself one day, and then having to take a break for an entire week.

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Gerhard Ohrband is a psychologist, book author and language teacher from Hamburg/Germany. Starting as a shy student, he currently speaks over 21 languages and assists business executives and companies in developing better international communication skills.

https://www.linkedin.com/in/gerhardohrband/ 

Want to get rid of insecurity and bad feelings regarding the foreign language(s) you have already started to learn? Want to learn a new language, without going through various levels of standard courses? You feel you are making no progress?

Go to Amazon and grab a copy of my classic book ”The GO Method – breaking barriers to language learning”.

https://www.amazon.com/GO-Method-Breaking-barriers-language/dp/1973118688/ref=sr_1_1?crid=ZLMGYKR6PDY3&keywords=Gerhard+Ohrband&qid=1694099394&sprefix=gerhard+ohrband+%2Caps%2C239&sr=8-1

 

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