Key Points on Accelerating Learning

Introduction

• Question: How can you speed up learning?
• Importance: Speeding up learning can reduce time spent in school.

Personal Journey

• At age 11, became interested in hypnopaedia (sleep-learning).
• Turned to psychology and language learning; moved to China in 1981.
• Goal: To achieve native-level fluency in Chinese within 2 years.
• Achieved fluency in 6 months; observed struggles of others learning languages.

Importance of Language Learning

• Effective communication is vital to address global challenges (environment, social dislocation, etc.).
• Critical question: How can adults learn languages quickly and effectively?

Modelling Language Learning

• Observed principles from successful language learners.
• Concluded that any adult can learn a second language to fluency in 6 months.

Dispelling Myths

1. Talent is required:
   • Example: Zoe learned Portuguese fluently in 6 months after struggling with Dutch.
2. Immersion is essential:
   • Example: Many Westerners in Hong Kong and Chinese in Western countries struggle with language despite immersion.

Five Principles of Language Learning

1. Attention, Meaning, Relevance, and Memory:
   • Focus on content relevant to personal goals to enhance memory retention.
2. Use the Language as a Tool:
   • Communicate from day one; real-life use enhances learning.
3. Comprehensible Input:
   • Understand messages before focusing on word acquisition.
   • Physiological training crucial for language perception and acquisition.
4. State of Mind:
   • Positive emotional states (happy, relaxed) enhance learning.
   • Tolerance for ambiguity is important.
5. Physiological Training:
   • Speaking requires coordination of facial muscles; practice leads to improvement.

Seven Actions for Effective Learning

1. Listen A Lot (Brain Soaking):
   • Immerse in the language; listen to patterns and rhythms.
2. Get the Meaning First:
   • Use body language and context to derive meaning before words.
3. Start Mixing:
   • Combine simple words to create meaningful sentences; mimic child-like language acquisition.
4. Focus on High-Frequency Content:
   • Learn the most commonly used words first (1000 words = 85% communication).
5. Engage with a Language Parent:
   • Find a supportive partner for practice; prioritize comprehension over correction.
6. Copy the Face:
   • Mimic native speakers' facial expressions to practice pronunciation.
7. Direct Connect:
   • Link new vocabulary to existing mental images for easier recall.

Conclusion

• Employing these five principles and seven actions will facilitate fluency in a second language within six months.
• Learning is under the learner's control; commitment is key to success.