Third Ear pages 18-19 Writing My Opinions

How do most people respond to the idea that it is possible  to learn a new language very quickly?Why do they think this way?

Some people simply do not believe that it is possible. Others immediately assume that this people must be talented, and say something like ‘Some very talented people can learn languages quickly and easily.But this isn’t normal.Most of us don’t have this talent.’From my perspective,I think because most of adults can not learn a second language very quickly and easily, and people haven’t found out the appropriate methods that people can speak more than one language used to be successful.Therefore,this sort of thing just like a myth.However,it is possible to learn new languages quickly.We probably know at least one person who has picked up a new language easily.The author of TheThird Ear told us that what is really interesting is that each time you learn a language,it becomes faster and easier, and it appears that the more languages you know the faster you can learn any new language. 

How does the story about the tennis coach relate to the topic of learning a language?What is the relationship between learning how to play tennis and learning a new language?

The author use this example to prove that learning can be easy.Tennis coach Tim Galway,who wrote the book The Inner Game,was able to take a 55-year-old woman who has overweight,and in 20 minutes teach her to play tennis.The process was captured on film as a record of what is possible for people when they do things with appropriate methods.This is amazing and has broken the thoughts that learning tennis is not easy.What is really exciting is that you can learn the strategies that others use to be successful, in any area.Even in language learning.As you learn the language acquisition strategies and approaches of people who speak more than one language ,you too will discover that you can pick up a new language faster than you imagine could be possible.Therefore language-learning can be easy as well.

Explain your understanding of why the author uses examples of Asian languages to illustrate this points?Why does he not use European languages for his examples?

In this book the author use a lot of examples that are about Chinese or other Asian languages.He has done this deliberately because of the major differences between Asian and non-Asian languages, and also because, in the western world,Asian languages are perceived as amongst the hardest to learn.Chinese and English differ more than, say,French and English.The principle that are covered in The Third Ear can help us learn any language ,no matter how different it is from our own.Languages that are much closer to your own will just be that much easier.Because European languages are much closer to each other, the author choose to use Asian languages for his examples.  

To conclude, the author showed us that language-learning really can be much easier than we imagine.We just need to learn the appropriate methods that people who speak more than one language used to be successful.Actually,what is commonly called ‘talent’ is specific mental ,emotional,physical,and practical strategies  and approaches that we use to approach a certain task.We can challenge the myth that languages are difficult to learn.It can be easy.We will get these methods form The Third Ear.

 

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