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I'm neither teacher nor immigrant, but an American who has studied several languages. My second language (though the fifth I started learning) is German. Stationed in Frankfurt am Main, I lived off-post and was immersed in the language whenever I wasn't on duty or hanging with other GIs.

I took "hoch Deutsch" and other college classes, and dealt with the neighbors in the local Hessisch dialect. Within a couple of years, I realized I was becoming fluent when I woke one morning from a dream in German. I was still glad that in night classes I could ask questions (and often get answers) in English if necessary.

How would Anglo-Oregonians feel if their kids, after taking Spanish for two years and not becoming fluent, were then required to take all of their courses in that language -- including textbooks, tests, and teachers who spoke no English? That would be unfair, of course, but so is the flip side of that coin -- Measure 58.

Immersion is an effective way to learn a language quickly, but it is also very challenging and not suitable for everyone. Different approaches may work better for different students.

In a conversational Russian class, when my teacher asked whether she should include some grammar I told her I'd find that helpful for constructing unrehearsed sentences. She asked me, "Why? Then you have to think before saying anything." I answered, "Well, I try to do that even in English."

People have different learning styles, and no one approach is best for all.

posted 4 years, 7 months ago
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