Introduction to Language Studies and Foreign Language Learning

The class aims to provide a new and practical understanding of methods, strategies, motivations, and environments for foreign language learning, including the many and various offerings now available online. The result should be a more thoughtful approach to the whole process. After all, successfully learning a new language can be a life changing experience.

Join us for an introduction to linguistic, semantic and pragmatic concepts essential to foreign language study and learning. This brief course is an overview of what a student should know about human language itself. It will provide a  quick review of centuries of thought and research on language learning and pedagogy. The goal is always empowerment of students to succeed in a monumental task. Students who have stalled or failed in the past are welcome as well as anyone who wants to restart or continue a language learning journey.

We will look at human language from the English native speaker’s point of view and then from the point of view of some languages completely unrelated to English such as Japanese, Chinese, and Indonesian. In linguistics and language study this is called ‘contrastive analysis. important issues are raised in lecture and discussion format, and we will examine such  overarching questions as “When will I learn to ‘think’ in another language,” “how does that really happen," and "what choices should I make in light of  my own specific goals."  

Students are encouraged to share the knowledge they’ve already gained in their chosen second language. If desired, they can be allotted time in class to present course related topics on whatever experience they already have with their second language. However, having already studied a new language is not a requirement for this course. Curiosity is all that’s necessary. This is an opportunity for class participants regardless of level to learn from each other and gain bright new perspectives to work from.