Yes, actual immersion. Apparently some elementary/high schools call classes where they have kids make collages out of [insert language] popular magazines "immersion."
Oh, I remember when I was learning German as a teenager by existing in Germany. I couldn't think of the word for napkin in the cafeteria, and ended up asking for a blanket. That was confusing -- to everyone.
Sep 21·edited Sep 21Liked by Bruce Ivar Gudmundsson
From the title, I thought you were going to talk about the development of this or that piece of heavy ordnance. Most inventions start out barely functional, then get refined to the point of usefulness, then reach a state of fully refined simplicity. Often the last stage is reached at or after the moment that the invention has been superseded by something different and better, e.g. the appearance of the best possible cavalry sabers circa 1900. It is also true of most personal skills not just language acquisition. The person who can "win ugly" and get the job done is not as good as the experienced hand who can do the job twice as well in half the time and with 1% of the mess. But we must go in increments. There is no other way.
My wife and I have cackled loudly over this article. We are now visiting Germany, where our son lives and works with his wife and trying to prevent our much stronger ability to speak Dutch from completely missing up her ability to speak German. It’s not going very well.
Immersion helps, and actually works!
Yes, actual immersion. Apparently some elementary/high schools call classes where they have kids make collages out of [insert language] popular magazines "immersion."
Oh, I remember when I was learning German as a teenager by existing in Germany. I couldn't think of the word for napkin in the cafeteria, and ended up asking for a blanket. That was confusing -- to everyone.
And now, on chilly autumn nights, the souvenir of that interaction keeps you nice and toasty!
I’m still working on fluency in American English after 60+ years😂
Keep at it! You'll get there one day.
From the title, I thought you were going to talk about the development of this or that piece of heavy ordnance. Most inventions start out barely functional, then get refined to the point of usefulness, then reach a state of fully refined simplicity. Often the last stage is reached at or after the moment that the invention has been superseded by something different and better, e.g. the appearance of the best possible cavalry sabers circa 1900. It is also true of most personal skills not just language acquisition. The person who can "win ugly" and get the job done is not as good as the experienced hand who can do the job twice as well in half the time and with 1% of the mess. But we must go in increments. There is no other way.
Alas, I have been typecast! (Does this make me the Leonard Nimoy of Substack?)
My wife and I have cackled loudly over this article. We are now visiting Germany, where our son lives and works with his wife and trying to prevent our much stronger ability to speak Dutch from completely missing up her ability to speak German. It’s not going very well.
Let Goethe weep. After all, the only thing that separates 'Dutch' from 'Deutsch' is an 'e' and a purely perfunctory 's'.
Goede reis! (Sorry, I meant ... Gute Reise!)
Thanks very much for sharing your writings - I very much appreciate your posts.
You are most welcome! I am delighted that you enjoy my wee screeds!