by Sateev » Thu Sep 13, 2012 3:39 pm
logos wrote:Based on the "structuro-global" methodology that appeared in France in the 70's.
Hard to implement as it takes trained teachers, but if well done, way more effective than most other "traditional" methods. They seem to be doing a good job here.
Tks for the link SM.
Actually, it's based on the Automatic Language Growth system, a version of Stephen Krashen's 'Natural Approach', as put forth by J. Marvin Brown at AUA Thailand. It is still in use there, and if you look up ALGWORLD on YouTube, you will find the exact same type of class videos, except, of course, in Thai.
As to it being 'way more effective', it appears to work very well for some people, but not so well for others. I think language acquisition is a function of your learning style, and some people are more suited to this type of instruction than others.
'Way more effective', if measured as the end result, without regard to how long it takes, MIGHT apply to the ALG method; indeed I have seen graduates of that method, after three to four years, speak Thai very accurately. I have also seen Mormon missionaries, who generally complete a six-month, very intensive course before their mission, speak excellent Thai.
Thai, being a tonal language, presents different challenges than non-tonal Khmer, and so I'm not sure if the advantages of ALG in learning Thai will translate to learning Khmer, but I do intend to investigate it a bit next year...
[quote="logos"]Based on the "structuro-global" methodology that appeared in France in the 70's.
Hard to implement as it takes trained teachers, but if well done, way more effective than most other "traditional" methods. They seem to be doing a good job here.
Tks for the link SM.[/quote]
Actually, it's based on the Automatic Language Growth system, a version of Stephen Krashen's 'Natural Approach', as put forth by J. Marvin Brown at AUA Thailand. It is still in use there, and if you look up ALGWORLD on YouTube, you will find the exact same type of class videos, except, of course, in Thai.
As to it being 'way more effective', it appears to work very well for some people, but not so well for others. I think language acquisition is a function of your learning style, and some people are more suited to this type of instruction than others.
'Way more effective', if measured as the end result, without regard to how long it takes, MIGHT apply to the ALG method; indeed I have seen graduates of that method, after three to four years, speak Thai very accurately. I have also seen Mormon missionaries, who generally complete a six-month, very intensive course before their mission, speak excellent Thai.
Thai, being a tonal language, presents different challenges than non-tonal Khmer, and so I'm not sure if the advantages of ALG in learning Thai will translate to learning Khmer, but I do intend to investigate it a bit next year...