This fact, if true (because I forget where I read it), is utterly mind-blowing when you consider that practically everyone learns their mother tongue without any problem. So why the disparity?
Something's very wrong here. So many of us can't all be failures.
To my mind, it's the educating system that has failed. It hasn't done languages well. Language-learning in the classroom is a negative experience. Students become bored, frustrated, impatient, disillusioned, disappointed and just generally stressed. Their attempts are short-lived, aborted. Schooling effectively destroys any latent love of languages. We are damaged goods in that regard.
Yet this failure represents a huge potential for improvement.
So I'd love to reclaim the magic by:
- Establishing a few principles
- Creating a conducive environment
I want to engage with a group of bold, playful, resourceful, cooperative, active, interested and interesting members. Together, we'll launch our Voyage of Languages (elsewhere referred to as the Languages Arena)
Given that the condition of language learners is that of castaways stranded on a desert island, I seek applicants from those suitably qualified (just as Shackleton is said to have done). Let's form a small tribe. Let's build a small raft. No mutineers, if you please!
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