Red pill of language learning

Many people fail to become fluent in Norwegian because they do not understand how language learning actually works. They struggle, give up after a while and attribute their defeat to a lack of linguistic talent. Maybe this has happened to you. How would you react if I told you that everything you know about language learning is wrong? That the problem is not lack of talent, but stupid ideas spread in schools and language courses? This article may change the way you think about language learning forever. Read it at your own risk.

Comprehensible input

My guess is that you learn the language in order to have conversations with Norwegian speakers. Focusing on speaking seems like a reasonable approach if you want to be able to talk. However, there are good reasons to believe that we do not actually acquire language by speaking. Of course you need to speak to develop conversational fluency, but there is something more fundamental.

According to linguist Stephen Krashen, speaking competency is the result of passive language comprehension. We acquire a language when we are presented with messages that are understandable to us, but at the same time contain new vocabulary and grammatical structures that are beyond our current level of competence. We understand the meaning of new words and structures with the help of context and extra-linguistic information (e.g., prior knowledge of the subject). Krashen's theory of language acquisition holds that real learning happens when you fill your brain with what he calls "comprehensible input," that is, all kinds of messages in the target language that you at least partially understand. First, you acquire a passive understanding of the words and structures of the language by listening and reading. Later, you will activate them by speaking.

Comprehensible input is the foundation of language learning. Fluency is built on it. We do not learn to speak directly by speaking. That skill comes from understanding the language. How much you understand sets a limit on how much you can say. This means that listening and reading are the most fundamental activities in developing fluency. You should spend a lot of time on them, especially at the beginning of your language learning journey.

Does this mean that if you simply spend enough time listening to podcasts and reading books, you will become fluent in Norwegian? Of course not. You cannot learn to speak without speaking. But before you say anything, you need to internalize the building blocks of the language - words, grammatical structures and pronunciation patterns. You do this by listening and reading.

Prioritizing comprehensible input is not about replacing speaking with listening and reading. The point is that you should spend a lot of time on these activities and not necessarily try to speak from the first day of learning. Just relax, take your time listening and reading content you can understand without checking every word in a dictionary, and start speaking when you feel ready. As you develop a certain level of understanding of the language, speaking will come naturally as you participate in conversations with Norwegian speakers.

Does grammar matter?

We progress in language learning when we acquire new words and structures through comprehensible input (listening and reading) and activate them through speaking. However, in foreign language classes at school and in language courses, we spent a lot of time memorizing grammar rules and practicing them through exercises in handbooks. Did it make sense? Not at all. Do you need grammar to communicate in Norwegian? Yes, but it does not work the way you think.

There are two levels of grammar knowledge - explicit and implicit. Learning grammar explicitly aims at understanding the rules and using them consciously. It is done through direct instruction with lectures or textbooks that present explanations of grammar rules. Traditional language teaching relies mainly on this mode of learning.

Explicit knowledge of grammar can be useful, but it does not help you much in real-life conversations. It can only be used to improve your communication if you know the rule, have enough time to think about it, and focus on form and correctness. Such a knowledge of grammar may help you when you are writing a text or preparing a speech, but it is useless in normal conversations. You simply do not have time to think about grammar when you are talking to people. Of course, you can focus on the grammatical form of your speech, but then you will lose your interlocutor and the subject of your conversation. Whatever you say will be boring and irrelevant, no matter how correctly you phrase it. You cannot rely on explicit learning if you want to be able to communicate freely with Norwegian speakers. You can make good use of explicit grammar knowledge if you think about what you have just said to identify your mistakes and learn from them. However, thinking about grammar before or while you speak is not helpful because it distracts you from communicating.

Implicit knowledge of grammar is what you need most. It is an unconscious and intuitive understanding of how words make sense together. It enables you to understand and produce messages in the language without thinking about it. You learn grammar implicitly through exposure to living language and meaningful communication, when you focus on content rather than form. Comprehensible input is the key to developing this subconscious understanding of the language. Your brain internalizes a grammar rule by being exposed to many different examples of its application in meaningful messages. Again, it all comes down to massive listening and reading.

You cannot really understand how a language works until you are exposed to it. Grammar-centered study distracts you from the most important thing, which is getting lots of comprehensible input. Memorizing grammar rules before getting a lot of exposure to the language is not helpful. It is better to prioritize exposure to the living language at the level you can understand, and to go deeper into explicit grammar when you become curious about certain structures and rules of the language.

You are not stupid

You're not alone if you've faced challenges in learning Norwegian. Many others struggle due to misconceptions about how to learn a language. It is a process that takes time, not a measure of innate talent. Don't blame yourself for past setbacks; instead, open your mind to a new perspective. The idea of acquisition through comprehensible input is at odds with the mainstream approach to language learning, but it is backed by science, and it works.

Don't worry about mastering grammar from the start. Prioritize listening and reading, and grammar will become clearer as you progress. Trust in your ability to learn implicitly through exposure to the language. Your brain will naturally grasp the grammar as you immerse yourself in comprehensible input.

Remember, speaking fluency arises from a strong base of comprehension. So, focus on listening and reading to build that foundation. Language acquisition does not require any special talent, but it does take time, so be patient. Embrace the journey, take your time, and enjoy the process.