three mindsets that make the language learning process smoother

THREE MINDSETS THAT MAKE THE
LANGUAGE LEARNING PROCESS
SMOOTHER AND MORE EFFICIENT
TRÊS MENTALIDADES PARA DESBLOQUEAR
E ACELERAR O SEU PROCESSO DE
APRENDIZADO DE LÍNGUAS
WHAT IS A MINDSET? O QUE É UMA
MENTALIDADE?
The word mindset refers to an established
set of ideas, attitudes, and assumptions
that shapes the way we see ourselves and
the world. It greatly influences the choices
we make and the way we behave. Stanford
University psychologist Carol Dweck says mindsets "guide our entire interpretation
process". I love this simple definition in Portuguese: “Estado de espírito; maneira de
pensar”. This description in Spanish is spot on because it explains mindsets as social
structures: “Las estructuras sociales que son expresión de la cultura." Because
mindsets are established and enforced by our own experiences as well as sociocultural pressures, they are super hard to change. And that is why we are starting
the Step Stone blog with this post.
WHY DO MINDSETS MATTER? POR QUE IMPORTAM AS MENTALIDADES?
Mindsets are incredibly powerful. Internalizing the right language learning mindsets
can help eliminate negative thoughts and habits, and increase your motivation and
productivity. Elas formam uma base forte para o seu crescimento. There are so many
myths and pressures around language learning–I have to speak with perfect
grammar! Ninguém nunca irá me entender se não falar com sotaque nativo! You
must go abroad to automatically learn the language!–that it can be intimidating and
sometimes hard for us language learners to believe we will EVER learn and live
comfortably in another language. These myths build a wall that prevents us from
learning a language. Eles representam a inibição e intimidação. How do I know?
Incredibly intelligent and capable students all tell me similar stories:
•
tenho este bloqueio com o inglês muito forte
•
a gente sente um bloqueio, acaba falando e errando
•
o ego gera mecanismos de bloqueio...medo de falar
•
preciso destravar, parece que tenho um bloqueio com o inglês
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It's time to break these barriers. In this article, we’ll learn the three mindsets to move
your language learning FORWARD, not hold it back. It took me a decade to truly
internalize these concepts, and I won’t let that happen to you. Não vou deixar
não. Memorize them now, and use them as your mantra when you get discouraged
about your language learning progress.
1. LANGUAGE LEARNING IS NOT LINEAR.
2. LANGUAGE IS NOT FIXED.
3. LANGUAGE LEARNING IS NOT MAGIC.
LANGUAGE LEARNING MINDSET 1: LANGUAGE LEARNING IS NOT LINEAR.
APRENDER UMA LÍNGUA NÃO É LINEAR.
When I moved abroad to Madrid, Spain, I was SURE that, if I
worked hard enough, I would speak Spanish perfectly by the
end of my program. Gracias, with a perfect Castellano accent.
After nine months, my Spanish was...good.
And then I moved to the south of Spain and nobody understood my Madrileño
accent. And then I moved back to California and Mexican-Americans didn’t
understand my Castellano accent. And then I moved to Costa Rica and los Ticos
didn’t understand my Mexican accent.
(You get the point.) My Spanish journey hasn’t been linear because language
learning, like life, is. not. linear.
Does the graph on the next page look linear to you?
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It’s easy for us to think language learning is linear because many societies see any
type of progress as a straight road to your final destination. Typical American
examples:
•
Professional life: [start] school, college, entry level job, promotion, higher level
job, retirement [finished!]
•
Personal life: [start] live with parents, move out for college, live with
roommates, live with partner, get a pet, get married, have children [finished!]
www.edwardmonkton.com
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So we also think if we work hard enough, our language learning will move in a
steady, consistent ascent toward language learning perfection. And then we get mad
at ourselves when we don't reach that point. But celebrating small steps, two steps
forward and one step back (and then another to the side), is much more realistic
than trying to run fast toward an invisible finish line.
Most successful language teachers and learners know that our language learning
depends heavily on factors like context (where you are, who you are talking
with), routine (if you have a system of learning and daily habits of practice),
and emotion (your attitude about the target language and culture, how you're
feeling when you try to communicate). On a Monday you will feel confident and
speak without any mistakes. Tuesday, you might be homesick, and forget every
single word in the language. An hour later, somebody will give you a compliment.
(Ela fala melhor que a gente!) Suddenly all the words come back, and you speak
fluently again. This very common situation can make you feel crazy and confused if
you think of language learning as linear.
We CAN improve over time, and progress will get faster the more you practice. But
don't wait until an imaginary end to celebrate your language learning successes.
UNDERSTANDING MINDSET 1, WE:
•
will not compare ourselves to other people’s progress because we know
that every person’s language learning journey is different, and
•
will be patient with ourselves if our progress isn’t linear because we know
that language learning depends on a variety of factors, not just how many
days, months, or years you study.
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LANGUAGE LEARNING MINDSET 2:
LANGUAGE IS NOT FIXED. A LINGUAGEM NÃO É FIXA.
Language itself is not fixed; it’s dynamic,
constantly changing, and always
evolving.Languages are born, and some
die. Words come (to google) and go (RIP: jollux,
brabble, freck). Human beings are constantly
transforming languages, creating new slang on
street corners and inventing business terms in
multinational meeting rooms. Change happens because of many reasons, like
migration, colonization, or good old creativity. In an interview with Dr. Guy
Deutscher, author of The Unfolding of Language, learning activist David
Boulton of Children of the Code confirms that language "is always a dynamic
process with creative and destructive elements. It's always changing."
The word hangry in English is a
perfect example that language is
not fixed. (A junção de duas
palavras em inglês hungry
= famito e angry = irritado.) This
word wasn't "correct" or
"standard", but it creatively
became part of the language, and
today is in the Oxford dictionary. Another example of dynamic language is the
gradual grammar shift away from the use of the word whom. When we believe
language is fixed, we stress out about learning the one “right” way to say
something. As language learners, we often want an “answer” and are afraid to
communicate until we have it. But answers are sometimes wrong or simply don't
exist because change is inevitable, in life and in language.
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UNDERSTANDING MINDSET 2, WE:
•
will not be afraid to make mistakes because we know our mistakes are part of
the same creative process that made the language in the first place, and
•
will remember that fixed words and ways of speaking do not exist because
languages are in constant movement.
LANGUAGE LEARNING MINDSET 3:
LANGUAGE LEARNING IS NOT MAGIC. APRENDER UMA LÍNGUA NÃO É MAGÍA.
Learning a language isn’t magic; it’s constant work. It’s fun work, but it’s still
work. Many people start learning a language–with no preparation or plan–and stop
after a month or two. They say, “I’m just not a ‘language’ person.”or “I can’t learn
because I’m too old.” or “I’m not 'good' with languages”, “Não sou ‘bom’ com
idiomas.” Other people expect they will move abroad and simply “pick up" the
language. Bippity Boppity Boo!
In fact, how well you learn the
language depends, again, on a
variety of factors. The study
habits you develop, the learning
material you choose, the
attitude you have. If you haven’t learned the language like you wanted until now, it’s
probably not a lack of natural capabilities, but most likely a psychological
barrier (fear, resistance) or some type of external factor (scheduling, digital
distraction). Sure, some people are naturally better at certain skills, like language
learning, but other traits like attitude and hard work have much more impact than
we realize.
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Author Richard St. John lays
out 8 traits people could
continuously focus on (in a
nonlinear manner) to be
more successful. (See
images below.) He also
reminds us in his TED talk,
"There is no magic [in
success]; it's practice,
practice, practice.
When we forget language
learning takes work, we give
up too easily and stop
studying.
UNDERSTANDING MINDSET 3, WE:
•
will make positive attitude a priority because attitude matters as much, if not
more, than aptitude, and
•
will organize and plan our language learning system because we want to set
ourselves up for success.
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FINAL THOUGHTS
Bel Pesce, a successful Brazilian entrepreneur, says it best in her TED talk "5 Ways to
Kill Your Dreams", 5 Maneiras de Matar os Seus Sonhos:
Life is never about the goals themselves. Life is about the journey. Yes, you should
enjoy the goals themselves, but people think that you have dreams, and whenever
you get to reaching one of those dreams, it's a magical place where happiness will be
all around. But achieving a dream is a momentary sensation, and your life is not. The
only way to really achieve all of your dreams is to fully enjoy every step of your
journey. That's the best way. And your journey is simple--it's made of steps. Some
steps will be right on. Sometimes you will trip. If it's right on, celebrate, because some
people wait a lot to celebrate. And if you tripped, turn that into something to learn.
If every step becomes something to learn or something to celebrate, you will for sure
enjoy the journey.
A vida nunca se trata somente dos objetivos em si. A vida trata-se da jornada. Sim,
você deveria aproveitar os objetivos, mas as pessoas acham que têm sonhos, e no
momento que conseguirem alcançar esses sonhos, é um lugar mágico onde a
felicidade estará em toda a volta. Mas alcançar um sonho é uma sensação
temporária, e sua vida não é. A única maneira de alcançar todos os seus sonhos é
aproveitar totalmente cada passo da jornada. É o melhor caminho. E é simples: sua
jornada é feita de passos. Alguns passos serão exatos. Às vezes você vai tropeçar. Se
for exato, comemore, porque algumas pessoas esperam muito para comemorar. E se
você tropeçar, transforme isso num aprendizado. Se cada passo se tornar um
aprendizado ou uma comemoração,tenho certeza de que você vai aproveitar a
jornada.
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STEP 1 to desbloquear your English language learning? Internalize these three
essential mindsets:
1. LANGUAGE LEARNING IS NOT LINEAR.
2. LANGUAGE IS NOT FIXED.
3. LANGUAGE LEARNING IS NOT MAGIC.
STEP 2? Share your story in the comment section below: Which of these mindsets is
most difficult for you? Why? What other mindsets help you in language learning?
What is your biggest struggle with language learning right now?
STEP 3? Sign up for the Step Stone newsletter to receive your FREE learning guide
with glossaries, games, and activity ideas to use this blog post in your own study or
in the English class you teach. You DON'T want to miss this free material! Let's make
it count.
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