Entries this day: added-mobilefrontend-to-my-wiki anyone-who-speaks-the-language-can-teach-the-language

added mobilefrontend to my wiki

09:37 Monday 28 December 2015 JST

Now the gallery of images visible at https://wiki.robnugen.com/wiki/Category:Art uses fewer columns if the browser window is smaller.

anyone who speaks the language can teach the language

23:49 Monday 28 December 2015 JST

This is the second statement for us to ponder, after "Language is like cake."

Anyone who speaks the language can teach the language

(I cropped from the final version the indented crap in the middle)

I apparently taught my brother how to count, just through repetition. This was at an age early enough that I don't remember it. Animals learn through repetition; we learn through repetition. Repetition accounts for many types of learning, but is the teacher actually teaching? Is a lioness teaching when she hunts? I dunno, but her prey better learn quickly or risk failing the pop quiz. This kind of learning really comes down to the learner, not the teacher.

This is the essential difference between learning a native language and learning a second language. Bootstrapping the native language out of nothing comes from sheer repetition, while learning a second language uses the first language as a framework for the concepts of communication.

In some cases, the similarity of the native language framework means the second language will come rather easily. It's no secret that Romance languages are similar. It's probably relatively easy to find people who can teach between these languages.

Italian, French, Spanish Just look at the similarities here
https://ielanguages.com/romance_phrases.html

In my case, I've basically given up learning Japanese; the grammar is
backwards, the writing is insane, and a great amount of cultural
knowledge is required just to figure out what's going on.

My American English framework (and sheer laziness) are a poor starting
place for learning Japanese.

Hmm I seem to have veered off topic.

So the mythical magical teacher who can lead a horse to water *and*
make him drink is darn near impossible to find.

But what about languages which are quite different? R.L.G. says "languages farther from your own in the linguistic family tree will be harder for you to learn." (1) Therefore, I posit the art of presenting a target language to native speakers of a dissimilar language in a way that it can fit within the student's existing language framework and remain interesting enough to keep the student motivated must surely be honed over years of practice!

1. [The Economist explains What makes a language difficult?](https://www.economist.com/blogs/economist-explains/2013/08/economist-explains-19)