Learning Reflection Paper:
Leo Barnes
Michael Marsh-Soloway
Self-Directed Language Learning Program
December 14th, 2024
A Semester of Portuguese
Through participating in the SDLP, I've learned two big things about language learning: the importance of immersion and the value of constantly scrutinizing goals.
Coming into the SDLP, I believed that an intensive, individual studying routine was the most effective way to pick up a language. Immersion, while important, seemed less crucial than knowing lists upon lists of vocabulary, grammar rules, and verb conjugations. While I still believe that intensive study is useful, I now see its limitations. It is energy and motivation-intensive and often drains the language of context. For example, when I'm studying words by myself, it’s easy to learn unusable words (especially if they’re English cognates). This can become a problem, the more my vocabulary diverges from that of native speakers.
Compare this with authentic immersion. Through media and conversation, you can passively pick up the language's fundamentals in a much less energy-intensive way. Also, rich with context you'll never learn a word that isn't used by native speakers. Immersion can also be very fast (changing the settings on my technology) and very fun (watching re-runs of my favorite shows in Portuguese).
From my time in this SDLP, I also learned about the importance of being flexible with short-term goals. I think short-term goals can and should change to keep in step with motivation and available resources. Initially, I wanted consistent short-term goals and a set learning plan for the entire semester. I now see that the idea of static goals isn't conducive to the realities of collegiate life. What one has at their disposal is going to change, not only semester by semester but week by week, and the short-term goals should respect that. Striking the right balance between keeping myself accountable to my goals and changing them when the landscape of my schedule changes is something I've learned more about this semester.
Some difficulties I encountered during the semester were staying motivated during midterms/finals and having less contact with the language during the last few weeks of the semester as my girlfriend went back home to visit her family in Brazil.
I've enjoyed integrating Portuguese into my daily life; utilizing it academically at UR, personally in relationships, and professionally at Sacred Heart. I’ll keep the settings on my phone and laptop in Portuguese, will continue to use Kwai.com, and keep watching my favorite tv reruns (Baki, Hazbin Hotel, Kengan Ashura) in Portuguese.
In terms of resources, the Benny Lewis materials were my favorite. His advice about dressing like a local and accessing online resources used by people in your target country was brilliant. I wouldn't have thought there were online resources that monitor web traffic and can tell you the most popular websites in all the countries of the world. In terms of class materials to explore further, I'd love to learn more about the grammatical rules of English. The 'royal order of adjectives' was fascinating and I can use these English grammar rules personally when I'm learning Portuguese and professionally when I'm teaching ESL.
Leo Barnes
Michael Marsh-Soloway
Self-Directed Language Learning Program
December 14th, 2024
A Semester of Portuguese
Through participating in the SDLP, I've learned two big things about language learning: the importance of immersion and the value of constantly scrutinizing goals.
Coming into the SDLP, I believed that an intensive, individual studying routine was the most effective way to pick up a language. Immersion, while important, seemed less crucial than knowing lists upon lists of vocabulary, grammar rules, and verb conjugations. While I still believe that intensive study is useful, I now see its limitations. It is energy and motivation-intensive and often drains the language of context. For example, when I'm studying words by myself, it’s easy to learn unusable words (especially if they’re English cognates). This can become a problem, the more my vocabulary diverges from that of native speakers.
Compare this with authentic immersion. Through media and conversation, you can passively pick up the language's fundamentals in a much less energy-intensive way. Also, rich with context you'll never learn a word that isn't used by native speakers. Immersion can also be very fast (changing the settings on my technology) and very fun (watching re-runs of my favorite shows in Portuguese).
From my time in this SDLP, I also learned about the importance of being flexible with short-term goals. I think short-term goals can and should change to keep in step with motivation and available resources. Initially, I wanted consistent short-term goals and a set learning plan for the entire semester. I now see that the idea of static goals isn't conducive to the realities of collegiate life. What one has at their disposal is going to change, not only semester by semester but week by week, and the short-term goals should respect that. Striking the right balance between keeping myself accountable to my goals and changing them when the landscape of my schedule changes is something I've learned more about this semester.
Some difficulties I encountered during the semester were staying motivated during midterms/finals and having less contact with the language during the last few weeks of the semester as my girlfriend went back home to visit her family in Brazil.
I've enjoyed integrating Portuguese into my daily life; utilizing it academically at UR, personally in relationships, and professionally at Sacred Heart. I’ll keep the settings on my phone and laptop in Portuguese, will continue to use Kwai.com, and keep watching my favorite tv reruns (Baki, Hazbin Hotel, Kengan Ashura) in Portuguese.
In terms of resources, the Benny Lewis materials were my favorite. His advice about dressing like a local and accessing online resources used by people in your target country was brilliant. I wouldn't have thought there were online resources that monitor web traffic and can tell you the most popular websites in all the countries of the world. In terms of class materials to explore further, I'd love to learn more about the grammatical rules of English. The 'royal order of adjectives' was fascinating and I can use these English grammar rules personally when I'm learning Portuguese and professionally when I'm teaching ESL.
Comments