Comments on: How Much Does Natural Ability Have To Do With Language Acquisiton? http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/ The no-nonsense China expat and traveller community. Tue, 02 Dec 2008 01:59:53 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.5 By: Kako http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-10042 Kako Tue, 20 May 2008 07:49:09 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-10042 My understanding of 语感 (language sense) as used by some Chinese students of English is actually more encompassing. It often denotes a level of language proficiency that can be attained through studying, as in, "If you read more, you will develop 语感." My understanding of 语感 (language sense) as used by some Chinese students of English is actually more encompassing. It often denotes a level of language proficiency that can be attained through studying, as in, “If you read more, you will develop 语感.”

]]> By: Tam http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-10023 Tam Mon, 19 May 2008 03:55:31 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-10023 Having learnt French to fluency, and dabbled with German, I thought Chinese couldn't be that bad... but have to agree with Chris on this one, there's 2 things that have kept me learning Chinese, one is that I get irrationally cross whenever anyone suggests my boyfriend is my interpreter, and the other is that I'm stubborn as hell. Anyone who can learn Chinese quickly, without putting in a great deal of time and effort, has my envy. I do believe some people have an aptitude for languages in general. I have a friend whose academic intelligence is huge, but he's a non-starter where languages are concerned... and not for want of trying... he's in South America at the moment getting very frustrated with Spanish! Having learnt French to fluency, and dabbled with German, I thought Chinese couldn’t be that bad… but have to agree with Chris on this one, there’s 2 things that have kept me learning Chinese, one is that I get irrationally cross whenever anyone suggests my boyfriend is my interpreter, and the other is that I’m stubborn as hell.

Anyone who can learn Chinese quickly, without putting in a great deal of time and effort, has my envy.

I do believe some people have an aptitude for languages in general. I have a friend whose academic intelligence is huge, but he’s a non-starter where languages are concerned… and not for want of trying… he’s in South America at the moment getting very frustrated with Spanish!

]]> By: Toffler http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-10016 Toffler Sun, 18 May 2008 04:59:21 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-10016 Chris's statement about children in bi- or multilingual homes having stronger language acquisition abilities throughout their lifetime, is true. Compare Europeans to Americans, for example. Because Europeans start studying a second language from they time they are in kindergarten, they generally are able to pick-up many more languages throughout their lifetime without much effort. By contrast, Americans generally don't study a second language until high school and because of that, even if they put in the same time and effort as Europeans, it will never come as easily. Since I work in the language learning industry, at www.italki.com, I read a lot about language acquisition. Another study I've read said that generally-speaking women tend to be better at speaking languages than men because women are naturally more social and talkative than men, which aids their foreign language ability as well. That being said, I know a French-Canadian guy who can speak just about any Latin/Romance language with a high degree of fluency, but can barely speak Chinese despite having lived here for a couple of years. Undoubtedly he could learn if he wanted to, and would probably have an easier time at it than most people, but I think because its not as easy for him as the Romance languages were, he's given up and relies on others to speak Chinese for him. Chris’s statement about children in bi- or multilingual homes having stronger language acquisition abilities throughout their lifetime, is true. Compare Europeans to Americans, for example. Because Europeans start studying a second language from they time they are in kindergarten, they generally are able to pick-up many more languages throughout their lifetime without much effort. By contrast, Americans generally don’t study a second language until high school and because of that, even if they put in the same time and effort as Europeans, it will never come as easily. Since I work in the language learning industry, at http://www.italki.com, I read a lot about language acquisition. Another study I’ve read said that generally-speaking women tend to be better at speaking languages than men because women are naturally more social and talkative than men, which aids their foreign language ability as well.

That being said, I know a French-Canadian guy who can speak just about any Latin/Romance language with a high degree of fluency, but can barely speak Chinese despite having lived here for a couple of years. Undoubtedly he could learn if he wanted to, and would probably have an easier time at it than most people, but I think because its not as easy for him as the Romance languages were, he’s given up and relies on others to speak Chinese for him.

]]> By: Chris http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-10011 Chris Sat, 17 May 2008 15:42:38 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-10011 Some people are better at learning languages than others. I remember reading about a study that found that children who, from infancy on, grew up in a multi-lingual environment, retained the ability to learn languages faster than average, throughout their lifetimes. It's as if the language-acquisition part of the brain grew larger than average during brain development, and stayed that way. Regardless, I've definitely met people who seem to pick up Chinese ridiculously fast, and have just left me in their dust. I don't think I have any great ability, but I'm obstinate as hell, and I am making progress. I'm still really looking for better ways to improve my 口语, though. Some people are better at learning languages than others. I remember reading about a study that found that children who, from infancy on, grew up in a multi-lingual environment, retained the ability to learn languages faster than average, throughout their lifetimes. It’s as if the language-acquisition part of the brain grew larger than average during brain development, and stayed that way.
Regardless, I’ve definitely met people who seem to pick up Chinese ridiculously fast, and have just left me in their dust. I don’t think I have any great ability, but I’m obstinate as hell, and I am making progress. I’m still really looking for better ways to improve my 口语, though.

]]> By: Demerzel http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-10010 Demerzel Sat, 17 May 2008 13:35:20 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-10010 "Even indoors, with a Chinese wife by my side, I find it difficult to really commit to speaking Chinese. It may seem like such a simple thing to do when a native Chinese speaker is sitting beside me watching Battlestar Galactica - but the communication of our relationship was built in English, breaking that habit is damn tough." Lol, I have the exact same situation with my Shanghainese wife as well. Although, most of the time she has her computer with her, so I don't know how much of it she actually listens to (unlike say her watching Lost). “Even indoors, with a Chinese wife by my side, I find it difficult to really commit to speaking Chinese. It may seem like such a simple thing to do when a native Chinese speaker is sitting beside me watching Battlestar Galactica - but the communication of our relationship was built in English, breaking that habit is damn tough.”

Lol, I have the exact same situation with my Shanghainese wife as well. Although, most of the time she has her computer with her, so I don’t know how much of it she actually listens to (unlike say her watching Lost).

]]> By: John B http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-9992 John B Fri, 16 May 2008 08:02:21 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-9992 I should add, being extroverted certainly helps, but it's about priorities -- if you want to learn Chinese bad enough that it overcomes your natural distaste for awkward social situations, then you'll do it. I should add, being extroverted certainly helps, but it’s about priorities — if you want to learn Chinese bad enough that it overcomes your natural distaste for awkward social situations, then you’ll do it.

]]> By: John B http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-9991 John B Fri, 16 May 2008 08:01:00 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-9991 I think natural ability -- good memory, good pitch recognition, etc. -- can help, but it's not required. Language is a skill, and as such can be learned by basically anyone so long as they put the requisite amount of time into learning and don't have some sort of physical handicap that limits them. Most people are just lazy. I was for my first year in China, and now I'm not, and as a result I went from barely functional to highly literate in a couple of years. My innate abilities didn't change, I just tried harder. A *lot* harder. I think natural ability — good memory, good pitch recognition, etc. — can help, but it’s not required. Language is a skill, and as such can be learned by basically anyone so long as they put the requisite amount of time into learning and don’t have some sort of physical handicap that limits them.

Most people are just lazy. I was for my first year in China, and now I’m not, and as a result I went from barely functional to highly literate in a couple of years. My innate abilities didn’t change, I just tried harder. A *lot* harder.

]]> By: Ryan http://www.lostlaowai.com/blog/2008/05/16/how-much-does-natural-ability-have-to-do-with-language-acquisiton/#comment-9985 Ryan Fri, 16 May 2008 03:02:29 +0000 http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/?p=496#comment-9985 I think you hit the nail on the head with the "extroverted" bit. Pretty much everyone I've talked to that has excelled at learning Chinese all state that they spoke it all the time. I realize this sorta sounds simplistic and perhaps a bit of a "no duh" thing, but it's amazing how difficult putting that in practice actually is - even here in China. Essentially, you have to be <a href="http://www.lostlaowai.com/commentary/blog/2008/04/05/eager-or-just-inappropriate/" rel="nofollow">this guy</a> but in reverse. You have to be willing to insert yourself into "Chinese" situations and stand strong in the language exchanges that are actually meant to just be a way for the Chinese person to practice their English. Even indoors, with a Chinese wife by my side, I find it difficult to really commit to speaking Chinese. It may seem like such a simple thing to do when a native Chinese speaker is sitting beside me watching Battlestar Galactica - but the communication of our relationship was built in English, breaking that habit is damn tough. I think it just boils down to (to borrow a cliche) just doing it. Simple to say, in English. I think you hit the nail on the head with the “extroverted” bit. Pretty much everyone I’ve talked to that has excelled at learning Chinese all state that they spoke it all the time.

I realize this sorta sounds simplistic and perhaps a bit of a “no duh” thing, but it’s amazing how difficult putting that in practice actually is - even here in China.

Essentially, you have to be this guy but in reverse. You have to be willing to insert yourself into “Chinese” situations and stand strong in the language exchanges that are actually meant to just be a way for the Chinese person to practice their English.

Even indoors, with a Chinese wife by my side, I find it difficult to really commit to speaking Chinese. It may seem like such a simple thing to do when a native Chinese speaker is sitting beside me watching Battlestar Galactica - but the communication of our relationship was built in English, breaking that habit is damn tough.

I think it just boils down to (to borrow a cliche) just doing it. Simple to say, in English.

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