Review: The Everyday Language Learner's Guide to Getting Started by Aaron Myers

(Justin) I've never met Aaron Myers, but he lives in Istanbul with his family and we communicate by email and blog. Aaron is a language coach, helping motivate others toward fluency. He's given Joni and me ideas that we've incorporated into our learning. Aaron's e-book is a good place to get started as an independent language learner.

You'll notice we've added links on the right to language resources we use heavily, as well as polyglot bloggers like Aaron who are always talking about published research, tips, and tricks related to language learning. I'd recommend adding them to your feed reader.

Language is a journey. Aaron chronicles his attempts to learn a few languages and gives pointers from his successes and failures. He emphasizes three principles:
1. "Input Control": Focus on creating comprehensible input.
2. "Multiple Entry": Find multiple ways to engage with the language.
3. "Integrated Review": Find quick and easy ways to review. 

Getting as much "comprehensible input" as you can is perhaps the most important key to language learning. (I'll talk in a future post about ways I create comprehensible input for Turkish on the cheap.) Live input, recorded input, all are important. His favorite example is Dora the Explorer, a cartoon which uses simple language, visually demonstrates everything, and repeats key words multiple times. It's a cartoon form of total physical response (TPR) used in most ESL classrooms in the U.S.  Check out his post "25 Ways to Find or Create Comprehensible Input."

Multiple "touches" are needed. Aaron cites an article stating that in order to learn a new word you need to encounter it 160 times. True or not, the more exposure the better. In my own economics classroom I had a goal of six "touches" per major topic. I'd mention it in lecture, assign online homework, assign an article reading, assign a discussion post, until I had covered the topic six different ways. In language learning, you similarly need to find as many ways to practice writing, reading, listening, and speaking new concepts as possible. As much balance to those four you can provide the better.

"In learning languages, there is no end." You have to find ways to keep reviewing what you've learned. Flashcards, intentional practice of certain grammar forms, etc. Aaron gives some ideas and resources for using a language helper for all of the above.

I bought this book primarily to support what Aaron is doing but also to find new ideas and resources that I hadn't tried yet. I wasn't disappointed. If you've always wanted to learn a language but didn't know how to really learn it, I recommend starting with Aaron's book, spending some time on his blog (He's got a great collection of links for multiple languages.), and signing up for his 10-week email course.