The seventeenth week/ the context observation – twenty-fifth post

week's results

it was a good week, memory exercised, creativity challenged with phrases, and also more complicated phrases were used. Seemingly effortless.

The context observation

based on the context, the brain increases the probability of comprehension.

High context scenarios

A man walks up to you in the street, mumbling something strange, he points at his wrist. The brain can predict the most likely scenario...he is asking the time. Even without speaking a 'lingua franca', you can still understand and communicate (i.e. show him your watch)

Low context scenarios

A man walks up to you in the street and mumbles something strange. He stands there,waiting for your response. Even with speaking a 'lingua franca', the pressure of understanding and communicating builds and therefore making the encounter a less the favourable one.

The implications

1 – the brain is able to predict scenarios of high context and communication does not pivot on the point of being able to speak a lingua franca. Context is more important for communication than language.

2 – the learner, trying to obtain a higher level in the target language must seek out scenarios of low context to push, stretch and learn more about the language component in the scenario in order to connect a context to the scenario and communicate more effectively. Allowing the brain to do its magic.

Next week

I will continue with another 10 expressions. Although I have found motivation to be low of late, I will try to watch movies with no subtitles.

The sixteenth week – twenty-forth post

weeks results?

Fantastic. With a small number of expressions, repetition is up and so is manipulation.

Seems to be an effective monster. I'm very happy for the moment, so lets see how it fares in the long term.

Probably my shortest post yet. Got something special in the mix going on for you all (all seven of you HAhAHAHAHA)

Next week?

Another 10 expressions. Manipulation of these. If it ain't broke....

Week fifteen – twenty third post

weeks results?

Seems like failure. No new phrases and expressions. So when failure occurs, its time to reassess the idea....

what is it that is occurring?

Coupled with living a regular life of work, exercise, play and study; 50 expressions is too much. Also, if the assumption is that language = memory + creativity, then we must ask, where is the creativity? I was supposed to put it into practice this week, but have found that it is too heavy, the mind loses focus too quickly. While a few people might be able to step up the quantity, the vast majority of people won't be able to handle it.

Therefore, dropping the level of memory items and increasing time to manipulate them seems the logical path forward.

Revised syllabus

10 expressions per week (to maximise this, they must include one or more new vocabulary items, for which synonyms and similar parts of speech are know, so as to aid the creativity section)

Day 1

insert the phrases using mnemonics

Day 2

repetition of the phrases, focussing on word count and accuracy of form/ construction

Day 3&4

repetition of phrases, increasing speed and fluency, focussing on accuracy and natural pronunciation

Day 5&6

repetition of phrases, focussing on manipulation of phrases, exchanging words in accordance with multiple pre-selected contexts.

Day 7

repetition of all know phrases

conditions?

All repetitions should ideally be verbalised as it increasing muscular familiarity between meaning and actual sounds.

Pre-selected contexts should be areas of interest.

The above outlines active practice of language. Passive study such as movies, songs, reading, conversations and the like must still be included. Whether language is produced or received is not a major issue.

Week coming?

10 expressions, high repetitions, quality driven, with manipulation of phrases into pre-selected contexts.

Week fourteen – twenty second post

the weeks results?

Not much, very busy week and I was occupied with a ton of other stuff. No excuse. But have been drilling my other phrases. And have had an insight.

The insight

picture a six shooter pistol from the wild west. The bullets go in one of six chambers. My idea is to manipulate the language I have into six topics I am interested in. thereby contextualising the language and giving me production practice.

The video

OK,so here it is.

Throughout the week I will put in captions, too tired today (like I say in the video) sorry.

Please remember that I haven't practised and that it is just coming into my head as I speak.

But perhaps it is an idea to do one where I have practised. Leave ideas in the comments section if you want me to speak about a topic.

The plan.

I need to regulate my studies, dedicate time to them. So 50 more expressions. More frequent practice and grammatical manipulation of the existing ones.