How does one, with Apraxia or its reminiscent effects, learn a foreign language?
This topic is quite controversial; everyone has their own opinions and experiences with it.
Some despise forcing kids to learn a language that they lack interest in. Some hate that their child already struggled/struggles with English, why on Earth would we dump ANOTHER language on them?
This is a controversy I hope to address, at least by sharing my personal journey with it even though it is difficult to explain how one learns something. Before though, let me disclose that my experience is my own. It is not indicative that it can and will be the same for every individual with Apraxia. Also, please don't mistaken this post; this isn't to confirm that 'if …show more content…
Understanding vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and - if you know Spanish- our verb conjugations. Basically, I was mainly graded on what I knew and how I delivered via my homework assignments and exams. This would be practiced in every single Spanish class outside of Cohen's, which was beneficial.
Senor Cohen was your typical "White Guy," but he KNEW Spanish. If you saw him, you wouldn't believe it either. He was also a very difficult teacher too, nothing in his class came easy and it moved fast. Day 2 of Spanish, we presented the Spanish alphabet from memory to the class. (Now, on a sidenote, the Spanish Alphabet has two types of 'R's' and I already struggled with the only R in English!)
He had a reputation; many did not hold him as high of a regard. It took me a while to understand why on earth such a difficult subject taught by a difficult teacher would bring me any enjoyment. To the point I'd study it for another 8 years.
The reason why was simple: He was the last person you'd think knew the Spanish Language.
That was the …show more content…
My brain just "gets it"
I hate this reasoning, but I'm sure you will understand. Some brains are more wired for the Science and Math fields, whereas others are wired for the more Liberal Arts fields. I, for one, am a Liberal Arts person. I understand and enjoy English, Literature, Spanish, and the 'soft sciences.' However, I also know that my Science and Math-inclined colleagues struggle tremendously with languages. My sister, for instance, naturally understands Science and Math, but Spanish was the bane of her existence.
Languages are difficult to learn with or without Apraxia. Apraxia just adds an extra curve-ball sure, no doubt about that. But, it's vital to distinguish whether or not our comprehension-especially of a foreign language-is Apraxia-related or not. Recall, Apraxia doesn't inhibit a child's ability of understanding English, but it does inhibit how they communicate in English. Thus, perhaps there are other factors inhibiting the comprehension of a foreign language. Perhaps it's just how the brain works, perhaps it understands the hard sciences rather than language and liberal arts subjects? Or, perhaps the teacher? Or maybe even finding a new way of studying? Mine was memory, but some like to re-write everything in standards, making flashcards, or listening to Spanish instructional tapes and
This topic is quite controversial; everyone has their own opinions and experiences with it.
Some despise forcing kids to learn a language that they lack interest in. Some hate that their child already struggled/struggles with English, why on Earth would we dump ANOTHER language on them?
This is a controversy I hope to address, at least by sharing my personal journey with it even though it is difficult to explain how one learns something. Before though, let me disclose that my experience is my own. It is not indicative that it can and will be the same for every individual with Apraxia. Also, please don't mistaken this post; this isn't to confirm that 'if …show more content…
Understanding vocabulary, spelling, grammar, and - if you know Spanish- our verb conjugations. Basically, I was mainly graded on what I knew and how I delivered via my homework assignments and exams. This would be practiced in every single Spanish class outside of Cohen's, which was beneficial.
Senor Cohen was your typical "White Guy," but he KNEW Spanish. If you saw him, you wouldn't believe it either. He was also a very difficult teacher too, nothing in his class came easy and it moved fast. Day 2 of Spanish, we presented the Spanish alphabet from memory to the class. (Now, on a sidenote, the Spanish Alphabet has two types of 'R's' and I already struggled with the only R in English!)
He had a reputation; many did not hold him as high of a regard. It took me a while to understand why on earth such a difficult subject taught by a difficult teacher would bring me any enjoyment. To the point I'd study it for another 8 years.
The reason why was simple: He was the last person you'd think knew the Spanish Language.
That was the …show more content…
My brain just "gets it"
I hate this reasoning, but I'm sure you will understand. Some brains are more wired for the Science and Math fields, whereas others are wired for the more Liberal Arts fields. I, for one, am a Liberal Arts person. I understand and enjoy English, Literature, Spanish, and the 'soft sciences.' However, I also know that my Science and Math-inclined colleagues struggle tremendously with languages. My sister, for instance, naturally understands Science and Math, but Spanish was the bane of her existence.
Languages are difficult to learn with or without Apraxia. Apraxia just adds an extra curve-ball sure, no doubt about that. But, it's vital to distinguish whether or not our comprehension-especially of a foreign language-is Apraxia-related or not. Recall, Apraxia doesn't inhibit a child's ability of understanding English, but it does inhibit how they communicate in English. Thus, perhaps there are other factors inhibiting the comprehension of a foreign language. Perhaps it's just how the brain works, perhaps it understands the hard sciences rather than language and liberal arts subjects? Or, perhaps the teacher? Or maybe even finding a new way of studying? Mine was memory, but some like to re-write everything in standards, making flashcards, or listening to Spanish instructional tapes and