10 Terrible Language Learning Tips

I stumbled upon this post https://www.fluentin3months.com/bad-language-learning-tips/ and find a couple points that I'm a little guilty believing/practicing in the past - like #4 & #7. 

But I'm really guilty of #5 -choosing an "easy language". LOL.

How about you guys?

Thanks for sharing.

The list is has some disturbing advice, in that it encourages the path of least resistance, e.g. #6, "start with grammar". I get it, we want a sense of achievement to push us forward, but it's also quite bad advice to tell a learner to just avoid all the hard parts of learning a language, i.e. grammar, which, if you really want to achieve a good level of fluency in a language, is something you have to learn. 

The writer is clearly telling you what to avoid, that's the point of the article.

I do believe that grammar is as essential as any other language competence. Even at the very beginning. Admittedly, one should work on basic structures and master the first grammar rules alongside with extending vocabulary and practicing listening and writing skills. But I think avoiding grammar till intermediate level might lead to dismal consequences. 

It consist of both bad and good ideas in learning a language. But I think the learner must have a deeper conviction which ways/ideas he/she likes to start first in order to learn better. 

I've been guilty of #9 (blush)  

sounds funny to me. 

These are actually everyday myths people believe and its so wrong

I'll go through it one point at a time

wrote:

I'd also got frustrated with people asking me what the “secret” is to learning a new language, yet never seeming satisfied with my answer of “There is no secret; you need to work hard, speak often and early with people, make many mistakes and use it for real.”

Totally agree. Why can't he stick to writing stuff like this? haha

1)

wrote:

If you are past early teens, there's no point in learning languages

Yes, that's completely false, but

wrote:

You'll never be able to perfect an accent if starting to learn a language as an adult.

is absolutely true. 

2)

wrote:

Only Adults Can Learn a Second Language

This is false, but I think it's a very rare opinion indeed, so I don't see the point of bringing it up.

3)

wrote:

School is the Only Place to Learn a Language

Same comment as 2) - who believes this stuff, and who exactly does he need to warn?

4)

wrote:

Just Watch Movies

Quite a few europeans claim they learned English by watching American TV and movies, so this is a legitimate warning, even though I believe very few non-english learners try it. Plus watching a lot of TV and Movies is great advice, so it's not a huge mistake if that's all you do.

5)

wrote:

Choose an “Easy” Language

There's nothing wrong with learning a language that's supposed to be easier for you specific situation than another, if your decision comes down to that point. It's probably not usually the most important factor, but it might be depending on the situation.

6)

wrote:

Start with grammar

I think it's humorous that someone who urges people to become fluent in 3 months also tells them to wait until they are intermediate before they study grammar. So were supposed to learn it between 2.5 and 3 months? Nice. Anyway, of course it's not absolute first; the alphabet and pronunciation come first. But grammar is fair game after that. No need to discourage people from studying it at that time.

7)

wrote:

Memorise Word Lists

I agree that this is really bad advice, unless these lists are made up of words that you have encountered in context. They just don't stick well.

8)

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There's No Logic to Grammar

What he's talking about here is native non-teachers, who don't know how to explain their grammar and don't know the rules, will often say "that's just the way it is, you just have to memorize it" in order to keep from looking stupid. Again, I don't think any serious student is going to believe this advice, so nothing to write an article about.

9)

wrote:

Immersion is the ONLY Way to Learn a Language

Again, who believes this stuff? On the other hand, reaching an advanced level in a language is extremely difficult without some sort of immersion, so there is some truth in it.

10)

wrote:

Get “Perfect” At a Language Before You Speak It

This is definitely bad advice for me, but it's a matter of learning styles. Some people just prefer to learn this way; telling them they are some how "wrong" is sort of pointless.

11)

wrote:

Learning a Language is Pointless

Do you really have to tell language learners that pece of advice is bad? Not sure how that benefits anyone. 

I totally agree with the writer. The 10 are indeed not good advice/tips for language learners. The writer is pointing out that those 10 tips are complete bogus.

Great article! Thanks for sharing!