Why Most Fail in Language Learning & How You Can Succeed

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If an adult fails to learn a foreign language (and most do), most of us assume they simply don’t study hard enough or just aren’t good at languages. It’s certainly true that some learners are lazy, and given the same methods, certain folks tend to pick up languages faster than others. But neither of these is the real issue; both are but symptoms of the underlying problem:

  • Crappy Methods
  • Crappy Materials
  • Crappy Attitudes

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An earlier version of the this presentation was entered in a SlideShare contest in 2009. I have since updated the presentation to better match my current views on effective language acquisition.

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  • J.

    Thank you for posting this presentation, it was really useful to me.

  • John Fotheringham

    You are very welcome. Glad you enjoyed it. Creative “email” by the way… ; )

  • Roni

    The presentation is fantastic as the ideas is well-presented.

    BTW, i always wonder why you always do a great job on designing? The l2mastery website is good-looking as well as the presentation.

    • John Fotheringham

      Thank you very much, Roni. I am glad you liked the presentation as well as the layout of the site.

      I have been interested in design, aesthetics, and fine arts since I was a kid (likely a combination of nature and nurture as my mother is a professional artist). In fact, before I changed my major to linguistics my 3rd year of college, I was actually an Industrial Design major. While content is certainly king, I do think that design matters and have always strove to present my ideas in the best wrapper possible.

  • Anonymous

    Actually private language schools earn more with the students who acquire real skills. I know because I own a language school and the students who stick around are the ones who are acquiring real skills they can use. These students feel the reward of learning, feel motivated and positive and guess what? They reenroll. So it is not in our interest at all to stick to the “status quo” and keep students in the dark about acquiring a second language. That type of student leaves after one enrollment, passes on negative reviews of our school and L2 acquisition in general. I like your other points, but think you’ve got it wrong on that one. Language schools are not part of a darker conspiracy to impede a student’s success so we can earn an extra dime. It’s the ones who do well, learn to speak and acquire real-life skills that stick around with us for months or even years.

    • http://l2mastery.com John Fotheringham

      Thank you for your thoughtful comment, Rachel. I didn’t mean to imply that ALL language schools are of that nature. Indeed there are many wonderful language schools and teachers who promote effective, modern language learning approaches, and as you point out, realize that there is no better marketing than actual results.

      But having seen the inside of many a school as learner, teacher, and instructional manager, many schools (especially in East Asia) still stick to archaic approaches to language learning (despite their utter lack of efficacy), methods that the students themselves have come to accept and expect which makes it hard to effect change even for those schools and teachers who know there is a better way.

      • Anonymous

        Oh, I get it, you were thinking of ESL schools too. Then yes I agree that many are that way. The big difference between ESL schools and private foreign language schools in the US is people HAVE TO learn English, but American don’t have to learn a foreign language (for the most part). Most of our students are learning for personal interest and enrichment. So the only thing that perpetuates a foreign language school is keeping the students interested, engaged and getting results. Otherwise, it’s a useless hobby the student will soon drop.

    • Carlos Javier

      It’s a bit late, but I’m going to comment: 15 years ago I started to attend a language school in my country, to improve my level of English (I’m from Spain), and they had a rule: inside the premises, we could only speak in English, the classes (at least Intermediate and upper levels) were conducted only in English, and they had a lot of activities, many of them were conversations with native teachers. If you used the tools they provided well, you could learn a lot. So, not only did they prepare you for standardized tests, but also prepared you to be able to communicate in English, at least if you really wanted to.

      • http://l2mastery.com John Fotheringham

        That’s great, Carlos. As I often tell learners preparing for tests, why not learn to actually communicate along the way?

  • David

    You keep citing Steve Kaufmann, but he is a con man with a product to sell. He has a vested interest in making you see things HIS way, but if you look real close ( his saving words and counting how many you know) he is just another traditional thinker.

    • http://l2mastery.com John Fotheringham

      Steve is but one of many bloggers, authors, and researchers I have quoted on Language Mastery. I don’t agree with all his positions, but I like most of what he has to say (at least with regard to language learning). Yes, he has a product to sell and actively promotes where he can, but that does not make him a “con man”, nor does it mean what he has to say is any less valid.

      I do agree with you that “how many words you’ve saved” is not that important, but I still think LingQ is a useful tool for going through text-based foreign language content.

  • http://elearnrussian.com brian99

    I liked your presentation. Well done! But one thing that really drives me crazy is this concept of ‘Be a baby’ as you say, or ‘Learn like a child’ as others say. It’s nonsense. As adults, we have physical skills that a baby or young children don’t have, so use them! Babies don’t learn to speak and read and write because they don’t have the physical ability. Adults do, so why not get started on all parts of the physical skills of learning a language? There’s absolutely no valid or logical reason not to.

    Which relates to the concept of ‘listening a lot before trying to speak’. Again, why delay practice of a physical skill. Simply begin trying to copy the sounds. Your mouth needs to learn new movements and needs more practice than your ears and eyes. Practice does make perfect if you’re practicing to emulate the proper sounds.

    • John Fotheringham

      While there is lots of cross-over, I agree that there are significant differences between child and adult language acquisition (this is something that I need to discuss more in a future version of my presentation). Also, I have changed my position somewhat in the past few years on the “listen first, speak later” issue thanks to successful experiments with the “speak from day one” approach, friendly debates I’ve had with polyglots, researchers, and bloggers, and meeting successful language learners who have benefited from earlier output. The key is having a positive attitude, having a high tolerance for ambiguity, and not being afraid of making mistakes or being misunderstood.

  • http://www.ladderchinese.com ruifangpan

    very good!
    thakns for your share.

  • http://www.ladderchinese.com ruifangpan

    Language learning is always a self learning.
    You should have a SMART goal and try all your best to achieve your goals.

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