Many of us are not aware that their concentration or motivation problems in learning can be caused by the weak integration of the two sides of our brain.
The human brain is composed of hemispheres: the left and the right. Although they are functioning together as one unit, we must strengthen the interaction between the two sides. The lack of good integration can result reading problems, auditory processing disorders, language delay or inefficiencies in mental processes like fanatsy and writing. Learning problems can be greatly aided by improved integration between the two sides.
The right brain is creative, emotional, art and picture oriented, intuitive, problem solving. It includes music, sense of humour, imagination rules, as does beliefs, using symbols as well as recognising people and patterns. It is never logical, rational, sequential or detail oriented. The left brain has all these features and that is the reason why it is used for math or other analytical and fact oriented activities. It also can help you memorize, read, write, count, speak and argue.
Unfortunately right brain has been neglected nowadays.
But why?- you might ask.
The neural pathways in a baby’s brain is approximately threefold of that of an adult. Most parents and caretakers in modern society can’t find enough time to tell tales or read to the children. Thus, our little ones cannot use their imagination to create pictures and add another ending to a story they listened to. Also, creative thinking is strongly affected and partly eliminated by television. In front of such a gadget, children do not need to use their imagination because pictures more colorful and more perfect are already presented on a golden plate.
Sadly, most schools, universities and
workplaces (in Hungary) tend to favor left brain tasks only: less verbal
repetitions, less reading required and even less team work. Singing and drawing
lessons are not interesting any more (what would poor Kodaly think) since songs
or concerts can be listened to and picutres can be created by other cool
gadgets like tablets, smartphones or desktops as well. Chatting online is more convenient
than meeting up in person. All these facts contribute to the decline of right
brain skills. There is no chanche to develop team spirit, spelling, word power
or lecturing skills of the adults of the future.
Apperantly to learn and to speak a foreign language we need to use both sides of our brain. Thanks to the left one we are logical, we can learn the grammar rules, read and write the foreign words. However, this left hemisphere receives sensory input from the right side that’s why we need to forward information to the right brain (to create pictures) in order to be able to memorize rules and words and use them later when we speak.
The more languages you learn, the easier it gets?!
Most of us learn languages to express ourselves under alien circumstances. Each language has its own tone, hence the same word can reflect different emotions. I have completely different feelings when I say the same sentence in English ”I would like to have an ice-coffee with cheese cake” or in German „ich möchte einen Eiskaffee und ein Stück Käsekuchen” or in Hungarian „egy jegeskávét kérek sajttortával”. My inner pictures varies every time, so I must use the right side of my brain. It can only work well if I trained my right side properly.
In my almost 8 years of teaching experience I have been observing that students who use their intuition whilst pronunciate, understand and translate texts, can learn faster and more efficiently. Some students don’t have the courage to try their wings and need the teacher’s help and creativity. Based on my own conclusion I always insist on giving minimal assistance during comprehending and speaking tasks. My students are lead to use (and develop) their own skill sets.
The mechanism is effective vice versa: the more we studied (e.g. English), the better we know the language and its limits, and our emotional word and intuition will expand. When you are on a certain level, it is strongly advised to visit the natives in their country, this way gaining more experience, impressions and deepen your knowledge.
So the speed and the efficiency of our language learning depends on learnable skills and not on our genetics. It is up to you to learn faster. Be ready to train both sides of your brain.
Which part of your brain is dominant?
Check these links:
Do you see the dancer turning clockwise or anti-clockwise?
http://www.heraldsun.com.au/
Or you can test your brain and practise English as well ;)
http://www.wherecreativitygoestoschool.com/
Creative thinking, seeing the bigger picture, intuition and the sound of the language are the most important factors ruled by the right brain when you learn a foreign language beside logical skills. So if you have a strong left brain orientation, it is worth doing some right brain developing exercises before and during the learning session to be (more) successful and efficient.
- simple memory exercises
- imagination developing exercises
- right brain drawing class
- short human kinetics exercises
- anti-stress techniques
- listening to classical music
- self-knowledge studies
(e.g. astrology, Symbolon –cards- reading etc.)
- certain yoga exercises
I teach including both left (special grammar exercises) and right brain (creative composition tasks) developing skills so that my student can pick up the language fast and easily. Any of the above mentioned exercise can be applied during our lessons. It will be personlized to the needs of my students, after I get them know a bit better.
Dear Students or future Students, let’s give it a try :-)
Resources:
http://www.learningbreakthrough.com
http://www.brainleadersandlearners.com
I enjoyed reading your article and I am definately a right brained learner! I wish I had a teacher like you when I was in school!
VálaszTörlés