Wednesday, August 16, 2006
How Do Kids Learn Spanish So Fast?
Almost everyone agrees that children learn languages much faster than adults. Most attribute this phenomenon with children’s minds and how amazing they are during their early formative years. I would argue that there is something more in play – namely the methods children use.
Adults often attack a new language by first reading about it in books or learning the grammar. The logic is that these building block fundamentals will cement their understanding later on. The irony is, however, that many people learn English without ever speaking it. Did you know any international student in school that couldn’t talk, but could read? Unlike adults, children are not afraid to sound stupid and just start speaking before they know what they are saying – they simply listen and imitate. After a while, they figure out what they are saying and the grammar and books then become useful.
As an avid Jazz saxophone player, I discovered that the most effective way to learn to play the sax was by imitating great musicians. Reading music and understanding chord progression didn’t really make me sound like a “native” jazz pro. Book learning – although useful – was too academic and not something I easily internalized. However, by listening to jazz saxophone often, singing along, and playing along (pausing and rewinding until I got the riff right), I discovered that the music became part of me. It was who I was and I couldn’t help but sound like those I listened to. I trained my ear, which in turn trained the rest of me.
Unconsciously, my mouth and body started changing in ways that matched the music. The sound coming out of the saxophone changed without my doing anything conscious. Skilled musicians could even hear an “accent” and correctly guess which professional saxophone players I had been listening to – language works the same way.
Hence, one of the best ways to learn Spanish fast is to become like a little child and just start listening to it wherever you are – even if its only background noise. Like a saxophone player learning by ear, you will learn the language subconsciously – which will help you in your later book learning.
So, don’t worry if you don’t understand everything you hear – but try to develop the habit of enjoying the language, and get your ear used to hearing it. To do that I’d recommend you:
- Find a copy of your favorite movie/TV shows in Spanish. Most DVDs have a Spanish-language track. Watch your favorite movie over and over (perhaps with subtitles)
- Find great Spanish-language music. My wife and I love listening to the Mexican group Maná and the Chilean group Illapu – and I really like the Spanish duo Ella Baila Sola. There is plenty of Spanish-language music that doesn’t have the stereotypical see-saw beat and accordion/trumpet background.
- There is a ton of Spanish-language features on the internet. Some that I’ve used to keep my Spanish up include The Mormon Church’s broadcasting page in Spanish, the UN radio news site in Spanish, and online radio stations such as Radio Unica
The key is that you have to immerse yourself in it, and hopefully enjoy it. Don't worry if you don't understand everything at first - just let it be background music. Eventually you will be able to hear and pick out a word here and there, and then another, and then whole sentences. The key is that most of your learning will be done when you're not consious about it - and thats definately the fast and easy way to do it.
Adults often attack a new language by first reading about it in books or learning the grammar. The logic is that these building block fundamentals will cement their understanding later on. The irony is, however, that many people learn English without ever speaking it. Did you know any international student in school that couldn’t talk, but could read? Unlike adults, children are not afraid to sound stupid and just start speaking before they know what they are saying – they simply listen and imitate. After a while, they figure out what they are saying and the grammar and books then become useful.
As an avid Jazz saxophone player, I discovered that the most effective way to learn to play the sax was by imitating great musicians. Reading music and understanding chord progression didn’t really make me sound like a “native” jazz pro. Book learning – although useful – was too academic and not something I easily internalized. However, by listening to jazz saxophone often, singing along, and playing along (pausing and rewinding until I got the riff right), I discovered that the music became part of me. It was who I was and I couldn’t help but sound like those I listened to. I trained my ear, which in turn trained the rest of me.
Unconsciously, my mouth and body started changing in ways that matched the music. The sound coming out of the saxophone changed without my doing anything conscious. Skilled musicians could even hear an “accent” and correctly guess which professional saxophone players I had been listening to – language works the same way.
Hence, one of the best ways to learn Spanish fast is to become like a little child and just start listening to it wherever you are – even if its only background noise. Like a saxophone player learning by ear, you will learn the language subconsciously – which will help you in your later book learning.
So, don’t worry if you don’t understand everything you hear – but try to develop the habit of enjoying the language, and get your ear used to hearing it. To do that I’d recommend you:
- Find a copy of your favorite movie/TV shows in Spanish. Most DVDs have a Spanish-language track. Watch your favorite movie over and over (perhaps with subtitles)
- Find great Spanish-language music. My wife and I love listening to the Mexican group Maná and the Chilean group Illapu – and I really like the Spanish duo Ella Baila Sola. There is plenty of Spanish-language music that doesn’t have the stereotypical see-saw beat and accordion/trumpet background.
- There is a ton of Spanish-language features on the internet. Some that I’ve used to keep my Spanish up include The Mormon Church’s broadcasting page in Spanish, the UN radio news site in Spanish, and online radio stations such as Radio Unica
The key is that you have to immerse yourself in it, and hopefully enjoy it. Don't worry if you don't understand everything at first - just let it be background music. Eventually you will be able to hear and pick out a word here and there, and then another, and then whole sentences. The key is that most of your learning will be done when you're not consious about it - and thats definately the fast and easy way to do it.
