It’s been a good year.
Every blogger’s doing it, and I’m glad. It’s great to see what’s been most helpful to language learners and teachers this year! Here, for your undelayed gratification, are the ten most popular posts published at indwellinglanguage.com in 2015, in chronological order.
Preparing a Lesson vs Preparing Yourself
How to teach well and save your sanity. (01/13/2015)
9 Ways To Happify Your Class
Is your classroom a happy place? (02/03/2015)
I Don’t Know How To Teach
How I made this freaky realization and what I did about it. (02/10/2015)
Latin Listening Project Launched!
Background, benefits, and future of this collaborative video project. (02/18/2015)
Grammar Is Not a Skill, or, What Does it Really Mean To Know a Language? (video)
Animated video presenting Bill VanPatten’s article “The Two Faces of SLA: Mental Representation and Skill,” useful for learners, teachers, and departments. (06/15/2015)
Justin’s Lesson Plans from NTPRS 2015, Buy-In Guaranteed
Three lesson plans and a bunch of principles for creating low-prep, high-payoff lessons. (08/05/2015)
6 Questions To Start, Sustain, and Elevate Conversation about a Text
How to use questions to generate high-level thinking without needing too-advanced language. (08/10/2015)
The Inescapable Case for Extensive Reading (video)
Animated video presenting Rob Waring’s article of the same name, outlining the whys and hows of Extensive Reading. (08/15/2015)
The Savvy Language Learner (infographic)
What savvy language learners have in common. (10/15/2015)
The Number One Mistake in Language Learning
Don’t make it! (10/27/2015)
What’s been your best discovery of 2015?
Successful learning and mastnrieg of a second/foreign language depends on a number of factors.It is a good idea to analyze the factors affecting successful language learning, especially such issues as diligence, dedication, motivation/needs, interest, memory capability, methods and practice activities, content of materials, etc.I know what depends on a teacher and on a student/learner in successful language study/learning. So objectively speaking each case of failure in language learning should be assessed separately to establish who is really to blame. In most cases of failure in language learning learners do not have adequate regular long-term practice in listening comprehension, speaking, reading, pronunciation, grammar and vocabulary. Writing practice usually plays a lesser role in language practice.Learning, practicing and mastnrieg a new language is a long process. In addition to formal or independent self-study classes there should be adequate regular long-term practice in using a second/foreign language (including communication with native speakers) to accelerate success by learners. All language aspects and skills must be learned and practiced to eventually master a language: phonetics, grammar, vocabulary, listening comprehension, speaking, reading and writing.No single course can help you master a language thoroughly, for example vocabulary and comprehensive conversational content on a multitude of topics. Only a combination of the above mentioned components can ensure mastery of a language.
Thanks for commenting, Boriel! I’d love to learn more about your experience as a language learner and/or teacher.