What it is? (Engaging Interest)
As a high schooler I came to a similar conclusion as Gabriel Wyner (2018) did about languages, instead of two years of Russian as a second foreign language, with good grades and alphabet retention; it was two years of Spanish (my first foreign language) failures, along with two years of summer school pulling through with strong, passing Cs. Even though many hours were put into learning there was little to no retention. I thought, like Wyner, maybe it was too late for me to learn a new language (2014, 2018).
But Spanish was not the only subject I had trouble in, nor was it the only one I had failed. The other claimed Achilles’ Heal was Mathematics, specifically that X seeking, Algebra. Also went to Summer School for that one year as well. Yet somehow, when I wanted back into education, and the only job to be had was a Math teacher, I was suddenly able to become good at Math. There was finally motivation to engage and succeed, young people depended on me to know my stuff; so, I did.
How You Learn (Learning Techniques and Tools)
Project-based learning through immersive practice is a space shared by many media like Lingo Pie, Duo Lingo, Busuu, Pimsleur, and Italki. Which are interactive in a way that promotes immersive engagement and activates muscle memory through repetition and review of everything, especially the areas of personal learner difficulty. Anki Pro on the other hand, the technique suggested by the author of the book, Fluent Forever: How to Learn any Language Fast and Never Forget, helps the user to generate personalized and specific ties to the words and concepts learned (Wyner, 2014). This is achieved through the act of generating multifunction visual (image, phonetics, and spelling) and audial digital flashcards to learn by enhancing your thinking, understanding, and conversing in your new language. The process of creating and building multifaceted and personally useful flashcards and using them to fully connect to a new language through practice is called a “Spaced Repetition System” (Wyner, 2014) and it was very helpful in Wyner’s learning of several new languages. You also benefit from the time spent building and personalizing the cards. Gamification can help to insure a huge come-back motivator for reluctant learners; who doesn’t like to be encouraged and cheered on?
What can be transferred to other learning? (Volition)
The big question to be addressed is what can be taken from language learning apps that could effectively and productively benefit software applications for other academic or personal learning and growth. I say, quite a bit. First, going back to the Reiser resource and the ARCS Model, number 1; we need to know why we are here. What purpose does this learning provide me in my life? (2017) One way to address that and other concerns is by throwing players (learners) into the pool at the deep end. They should be immersed into a micro project, initially, that could be built upon. Like a painter’s or builder’s project for geometry, becoming an event planner for a huge party hosted by the ‘Daughters of the American Revolution’, or solving a real murder mystery for example. The possibilities are endless; for science, learners could follow a day in the life of Madam Currie; anything to get the stories, connections, imaginations, and visualizations moving and activating will due splendidly. I believed the Spaced Repetition System or some Multi-Media Styled Flash Card System to embed, connect, and solidify learning and could be a great support for deeper learning and retention because remember we are making the connections on the cards in ways meaningful to ourselves (Wyner, 2014).
References
Reiser, R. A., & Dempsey, J. V. (2017). Trends and Issues in Instructional Design and Technology (4th ed.). Pearson Education (US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780134237015
Wyner, G. 2018, Dec 18. Why we struggle learning languages [video file]. Retrieved from: https://youtu.be/iBMfg4WkKL8
Wyner, G. (2014). Fluent forever: How to learn any language fast and never forget it [kindle version]. Retrieved from http://www.amazon.com
It is important to keep the learners motivated and interested with the topics that are being discuss (Reiser & Dempsey, 2018). It is necessary to be able to teach to different kind of learners so everyone can understand the topic in their own way and keep engage during and after the lesson or classes that is being tough. Also, it is a good idea to create check points and make sure that everyone is understand and interpretive the lesson correctly to prevent future misunderstandings. it is essential that when teaching, the person use different learning technics to maintain the group engage and motivate it to learn more and investigate on their own outside the classroom(Reiser & Dempsey, 2018). There is…