Context I have been thinking about what makes The Linguist approach to language learning different and generally more effective than more traditional approaches. I think the key is the word context.
To learn to speak a language it is important to create context. This means first of all that you need to have a context where you want to learn the language. This could mean living in a country where the language is spoken. It could mean having a friend who speaks that language. It could mean needing the language for work, or simply being interested in the culture. It can mean, as at The Linguist, having enough choice of content to study from so that the context is always interesting and motivating.
At The Linguist we do not want learners to focus on rules and word lists. We want them to learn phrases. Phrases show how words are used in relationship to each other. Learners get a sense for these natural relationships. Rather than struggling with rules or word lists, our learners immerse themselves in an authentic language context. They then learn to express themselves in a way that imitates the natural language context they have absorbed.
Some learners think they just need to talk in the language. Conversation is important, but only if learners put the time into absorbing a lot of meaningful context on their own. This is how to enrich their language. Then they can have more successful conversations that really help them develop their abilities.
Writing correction at The Linguist is also oriented towards teaching context. Our learners are directed towards getting a more holistic feel for how to express themselves, rather than just worrying about whether they are obeying one of the many rules of grammar.
Think of the language context and your language will become more natural.
