Job Discussion Forums

[jpvanderwerf2001]

I just got done watching an Internet infomercial (for all intents and purposes) from the guy who's created the Effortless English System. You can see it here:

http://effortlessenglishclub.com/7-rules-to-learn-excellent-english-speaking

One of the ideas he touts is that students shouldn't speak--only listen--for a period of 6 months. I guess the theory here being that students learn "like a baby". I'm not so sure of his claim that babies speak "perfectly" afte their "silent period"; I have a 13 year-old cousin in Minnesota who can barely piece a sentence together
Has anyone had exposure to this? Results?

[Chris_Crossley]

[jpvanderwerf2001]

No, I was being facetious (thus the little laughy face guy at the end of the sentence). I was implying, however, that most kids (heck, most adults) whose first language is English don't speak the language "perfectly" (depending on what "perfectly" means, of course). Native-speaking children often use improper past forms of verbs, for instance. Now, if the informercial means to say that people can understand what a three-old says perfectly then that might be a different story--although it's still a stretch!
Did you watch the video? Thoughts on it?

[tommchone]

No, I haven't seen this, but one of the things I try to impress upon students in a classroom setting is the importance of listening. I use the analogy of babies learning to speak from hearing the people around them. But JUST listening? One of the rewards of teaching has always been seeing a students eyes light up when something makes sense and THEY can do it! Also, infants are always TRYING to speak, but they can't because they can't control their mouths and tongues. Interesting idea, though.

[Chris_Crossley]

[tommchone]

Exactly! One of the reasons I tell them that listening is so important is to get them to SHUT UP when somebody is talking!

[Chris_Crossley]

Again, though, old habits are hard to break, especially amongst old women who tend to jabber in groups all at the same time.

My wife is periodically subjected to being talked at (rather than being talked to) by at least three much older female relatives at once.

It does my head in just listening to them!

[Stephen Jones]

'Comprehensible input'.

I knew somebody who claimed the system worked wonders for him in China.

[basiltherat]

imho, there are two types of listeners; ... those who listen and those who wait to talk. thankfully, i think i can call myself one of the former. we learn nothing from talking but a lot from listening.
best
basil

[Glenski]

Effortless English. Now there's an oxymoron!

Do they have an effortless diet plan, too? Or dating plan? Or money-making plan? Sounds like The 13th Warrior's remarkable success in learning Norse.

I'm not even going to look at the link.

As for whether a student (age unspecified) should spend 6 months just listening, gimme a break. That sounds like a school that only wants customers to stay in seats and pay.

Yeah, babies learn initially by listening. What option do they have? But, if we are comparing neonates to anything older, it's hogwash. Besides, babies get 24/7 exposure, so is a school going to have kids parked for the equivalent length of time in seats and then ask them to start uttering/scribbling? I think not.

Effortless. Nothing in life is free.

[Sashadroogie]

Heh heh! A.J. Hoax as he is known amongst non-batters for the other team...

[naturegirl321]

I've heard of things like that. Where you're supposed to listen and then speak later, beucase it works for babies. There's a reason for that. Phsically, they CAN?T talk. No fine motor skills. I don't think it would work for adults.

[jivany]

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