Trying to master a language? Practising works better than studying a lot

The most effective way to learn a language is to practice. There is no need to acquire a lot of knowledge beforehand. This is the conclusion of Wim Gombert, who will receive his PhD at the UG on 17 November.

Gombert argues that in a foreign language learning programme it is not necessary to spend a lot of time on grammar and on reading and writing. These skills and a mastery of grammar will develop automatically and unconsciously in a programme that focuses mainly on developing listening and speaking skills. This allows more time to be spent on developing speaking skills.

Over the past 50 years, the communicative method has become the standard in foreign language teaching around the world. Originating in the 1970s, this method was an important tool for promoting the integration of citizens in Europe’s member states. However, despite its communicative intentions, this method remained mainly focused on language structure with a great deal of explicit attention being paid to grammar and a strong emphasis on written skills, i.e. reading and writing. It is difficult for students to develop oral skills, i.e. listening and speaking, under such circumstances.

In the Netherlands, a number of factors have reinforced this emphasis on written skills. First of all, the major education reforms in the 1990s that shifted the focus to active and independent learning. Secondly, the major role that commercial courses have been given in foreign language teaching, partly driven by the educational reforms. And finally, the central final exams, which exclusively assess reading skills and resulted in teachers spending a lot of time on developing reading skills.

With his research, Gombert shows that things can also be done differently. He concludes that an approach that immerses students in the target language and that is based on the principle that you learn a language mainly by using it, is much more effective than a method that is based on the principle that you have to acquire a lot of knowledge before you can use the language. The study also shows that the strong emphasis on speaking and listening does not come at the expense of mastering grammar and reading skills.