Learning English or Studying English?

Learning English or Studying English?

Many students around the world are used to study -and sometimes memorize- rules, theory, facts, and other information to pass a test. Sadly, this information vanishes with time and we forget it little by little. Many language students have the same issue when they start studying grammar rules or vocabulary definitions. Should teachers think about learning strategies instead of studying a grammar formula or use both?

The acquisition-learning hypothesis suggests that we go through a language 'appropriately', as a subconscious process but with the desire to express ideas and be understood, to be respectful with what we say at a given time, and with the ability to grasp concepts. This should be learning.

Studying would be a conscious process. However, conscious learning is never the source of spontaneous speaking all the time.

There are a lot of studies and researches about learning and studying. We will not focus on that since there are hundreds of articles saying learning is better than studying. However, we should get the best of both if that's what helps our learning.

If memorizing does not overwhelm the student, and teachers writing on the board that the formula for the second conditional is 'If + Simple Past, would + base form', then that should work for the teacher and the student who would appreciate that as a sample to produce language, get used to it, and gradually make it as a 'natural' way to express that particular grammar structure. There you go. Studying helping learning. 

Many students would claim that working on a grammar rule or vocabulary concepts would not hurt their learning, and that, on the contrary, that would help them express better.

If you are a student who would like to go beyond grammar and pronunciation rules, the next step would be language exposure. This is the ideal environment for a language learner. The student tries to be surrounded by the language (s)he wants to acquire. No need to travel and live in a country where there are only native speakers, but being exposed to the language during the day. Whatever it helps: music while you go home from school, reading at least the title of some news, a short YouTube video, etc. This will help exposure. 

In case you have the great fortune and means to live in the country where the language is spoken, you will also need to make sure you are exposed. For example, change your cell phone settings into the language you want to learn, follow pages you like but in that language, or sit with classmates who don't speak your language. Take advantage of your time abroad and be exposed to that language 100% of the day if possible.

Online courses are not a bad resource to be exposed for learning. Try finding a language program where classmates speak a different language or make sure that class is not conducted in your native language at times. Synchronous classes are also a good option instead of language apps or recorded videos since you will be exposed to answer questions on the spot (like in the street when you ask for directions) and language is set naturally. 

In the end, find your own learning strategy. Include studying as well, some memorizing, some formulas, some rules, as much as it feels comfortable to make spontaneous expressions and you don't look like a grammar robot!

Good luck!

Gonzalo Villena

Director

English Language Institute

College of Staten Island

The City University of New York