Language is a tool (Lesson 423)

On the two pages, the author introduces a very important idea, that language is a tool. It’s a core idea for a foreign language learner.

As we all know, human beings are social animals. We connect with other person everyday. So how do we connect? We are communicate each other with language. This language is a wide range that include the words language and body language and others. What ever any languagues, everyone need to communicate with someone. There are many reasons. Maybe you need to buy something, or just went to talk with your friend. At that time, there’s no denying that we need a language, even more than a languague. (in my country, some elders only talk about something in native language, not a official language.)

As the author says, when we were hungry, we could choose to make a food all by ourselves, or just open own mouth to change into food with money. Obviously, the latter is more convenient and effective. Then how we change the food? We need express something about which one ,how many through a language. And in that sense, This language is really important.

Compared with other subject such as history, a language learning is practical and changable. As I mentions above, we express our thinking and emotions in a languge. Even just to travel to the other country, you also should learning some daily local language. This will help you better travel in the local area. Even the shopkeeper could talk with the history of the thing just because you can speaking a little local language. That’s maybe a bonus.

If we accept the idea that language is a tool. For a language learning, we should be relax and pay attention to the meaning. After all, a lot of the time, a few words or phrases just can be communicated. I think this will be less of stress for a new learner. At first, we can talk about only a word or a phrase, and express one meaning. It’s a small step, but you can do it. Then you did it. You are encouraged. Secondly, you maybe talk about a sentence or some phrases next time. Actually you are learning English step by step through talking English.

This process is fun, isn’t dull. For me, It’s important. Actually, only god knows, I hate dull. So I can’t adapt the language situation in class. The classroom is full of the grammar. I usually can’t communicated with other people in classroom, because the teacher should taught about the textbook and the grammar of the textbook in the whole class. After class, we were asked to best to remember them. So I’ve always had little interest in language.

But if we think a langugae just a TOOL, I means I must use it in my daily life, then the situation is different. I practice it, and I receive the feedback. Sometimes it’s a good feedback, so I’am happy. Sometimes it’s a bad feedback, or I says something wrong, so I can change my words or patterns. As the language change, I can change too. It’s fun, I like fun.