Lair of the HECK HOUND

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Stages of language learning

There are 3 stages of language learning:

1. Pre-parsing (months)
2. Parsing (years)
3. Competence (subjective and rather difficult to define, may never occur)

The most important distinction is the one between the pre-parsing and parsing steps. Let me explain what parsing ability entails. If I am able to parse a language, I am able to work out the shape of a sentence, and work out what sentences mean, if given a dictionary. To have this ability requires one to have some knowledge of the small, grammatical words of a language and to have some familiarity with its structure.

To give an example, although I do not speak German, I have some familiarity with it's grammar and structure, due to (1) having studied it briefly, and (2) its similarity to English. Hence I am able to parse German sentences. Here is a reasonably high level German sentence taken from the Spiegel Online:

   Der Internationale Währungsfonds ist überzeugt, dass die Flüchtlinge in Deutschland spürbar zum Wirtschaftswachstum beitragen werden.

Which I can parse as:

   The International [Währungsfonds] is [überzeugt], that the [Flüchtlinge] in Germany was [beitrag]-ed [spürbar] on/to the [Wirtschaftswachstum].

With a dictionary, I can work out what this sentence means.

Whereas I have almost zero knowledge of Croatian. Nor is Croatian very similar to English or any other language I speak. Here is a sample of Croatian from an online newspaper:

   Na mjestu događaja obavlja se očevid, a istodobno je pokrenuta potraga za razbojnikom. 

I have no idea what any of these words mean. The most I can interpret is that [na, se, a, je and za] are probably prepositions or pronouns. With a dictionary, I'd probably be able to get the gist of the sentence, but looking up random sentences would be a very slow, frustrating and inefficient way for me to learn Croatian.

And here we arrive at the crux of the distinction.

At pre-parsing level, the most efficient way to study a language is to primarily study grammar and structure. Beginner courses and books are structured towards doing this and can be very useful during this stage.

At parsing level, the most efficient way to study a language is to primarily read and listen to natural content - books, newspaper articles, radio, TV, movies. It is only during the parsing stage that one can internalise the new vocabulary and structures in natural content. At this stage one can also start to produce language, serving two goals - (1) Allowing one to cement knowledge of the vocabulary and structures which once has learnt and (2) Allowing one to acquire productive competence in its own right.

Once one has consumed and produced natural language for long enough, competence will eventually ensue.

This leads me to the following advice:

How to learn any language

Pre-parsing stage

• Find some material to study which deals with grammar, structure and simple words. Beginner language books are good for this. You do not have to limit yourself to one book, nor do you have to complete any book you use. It is advantageous at this time to make your own notes.
• Study said material as part of regime.
• After some time (one to several months) you will reach the parsing stage.

Parsing stage.

• Study (as regime) as much natural language as you can - books, comics, newspaper articles, blog posts, films, TV, songs, radio.
• It is exceedingly important that you enjoy the content. During the pre-parsing stage you can make yourself sit though dry and vapid beginner textbooks, but the parsing stage takes years - you cannot maintain interest for that long unless the material geniunely interests you.
• It is not important during this stage to take notes. There is too much to absorb. It is much more important to be engaged in the material.