The clock begins to tick

Starting tomorrow morning you will practice English, Spanish, French or another foreign language. For the next 6 days, for 8 hours a day, you will work on grammar, pronunciation, watch videos and listen to audio materials. You will write short notes, shopping lists and play in the target foreign language. All very well, BUT, within a week, is it really reasonable to think that you will be fluent in English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Chinese or any other foreign language?

Of course not.

Could you learn a lot?

Yeah.

Could you handle key words and phrases?

Sure.

Could you carry on a very basic “conversation” with someone in the foreign language?

Maybe.

However, many language institutes and foreign language programs give prospective students the clear impression that in 48 hours, a weekend or a week, they can “speak” the foreign language of their choice. This is tricky for students, but often quite profitable for the language institute or program directors.

How sad.

Learning any foreign language is not an easy, fast or simple matter. True mastery, if it is ever achieved, may require years of practice and hard work. This doesn’t have to be a dull, boring affair. Foreign language students can and should enjoy most of the process. They must continually apply their ever-improving foreign language skills to conversing with friends and neighbors, performing tasks of daily living, interacting with locals who speak the target language at work, shopping, trying a variety of foods, and generally , soak up the associated culture. with your target foreign language.

functional ability

When considering or continuing to learn a foreign language, you should not pay attention to outrageous claims of super-fast foreign language acquisition. Instead, focus on building functional ability.

You might think, for example, can you:

o Ask or give directions?

or Tell the time?

o Buy and haggle for the goods purchased?

o Conduct a bank or other financial transaction?

Present yourself?

o Order food and drink in a restaurant or on the street?

or Haggle with a street vendor?

or Make “small talk” with a stranger?

By focusing on what you can do in the foreign language, you will change your view of your acquisition long-term vs. short-term progress, enjoying developing your skills along the way.

So, starting tomorrow morning, you are going to practice English, Spanish, French or another foreign language. For the next 6 days, for 8 hours a day, you will work on grammar, pronunciation, watch videos and listen to audio materials. You will write short notes, shopping lists and play in the target foreign language. Only this time you will focus on developing your functional skills, that is, what you will be able to do in your target language.

No, you can’t learn a foreign language in 48 hours, but you can take a few steps toward greater fluency.