{"id":1051,"date":"2016-10-01T19:11:57","date_gmt":"2016-10-02T00:11:57","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.lrngo.com\/blog\/?p=1051"},"modified":"2016-10-28T22:54:17","modified_gmt":"2016-10-29T03:54:17","slug":"english-is-stupid-1","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.lrngo.com\/blog\/2016\/10\/01\/english-is-stupid-1\/","title":{"rendered":"English is Stupid"},"content":{"rendered":"

Great Britain rose to power on the world stage in 1588 with the defeat of the Spanish Armada and her magnificent fleet of tall ships. Britain\u2019s dominance continued for many centuries in many fields. In 1684, Sir Isaac Newton published Principia and ushered in industrialization and a new era in modern science. Britain reigned as a world leader for nearly four hundred years and left the stamp of English around the globe. In 1945 at the end of World War II, her authority passed directly to the United States of America. These two back-to-back superpowers happened to share a common language. Between them, they effectively established English worldwide as the language of commerce, technology and science for generations to come.<\/p>\n

There are 1.5 billion people learning English in the world today. As you can see in this pie chart, learners of English outnumber native speakers by a margin of about four to one.<\/p>\n

\"English

English Speakers Worldwide<\/p><\/div>\n

The English language is the most sought after commodity in the history of the planet, and to date, there has never been a particularly effective way to teach it.<\/p>\n

Students who study English in school learn primarily about reading and writing<\/em> and are frustrated that the speaking<\/em><\/span> doesn\u2019t follow. The fly in the ointment is the Latin alphabet.<\/p>\n

The heart of our trouble is with our foolish alphabet.<\/span>\u00a0 –Mark Twain<\/span><\/h5>\n

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There is no crossover from written<\/em> English to spoken<\/span><\/em> English through the alphabet. Therefore, no one can learn to speak English from reading it<\/strong>. In effect, written<\/em> English and spoken<\/em><\/span> English developed separately into completely different languages and must be taught that way for students to be successful. Traditionally, the grammar, spelling, punctuation and reading skills taught in language classes are all about writing<\/em> and simply do not relate in any meaningful way to the mumbling, grunting, inflection, pausing and gestures that somehow work together to make conversation.<\/p>\n

Think back to how you learned your first language. Human beings acquire their first language as toddlers. They learn to speak by mimicking those around them. There is no formal understanding of the mechanics of any language in order to speak it. The process is acquired subconsciously. Conversely, grammar and spelling are parts of language studied in school sometime after the age of six. You were a master of using grammar before you learned the names of the parts of speech.<\/p>\n

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The heart of our trouble is with our foolish alphabet. -Mark Twain<\/a><\/div>\n

Click To Tweet<\/a><\/p>\n

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First language skills are acquired in this order:<\/p>\n

Listen -> Speak -> Read -> Write<\/h3>\n

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\"Baby-Walking\"\"Child-Reading\"<\/p>\n

English has no clear-cut relationship between the alphabet and sounds; therefore, the language learning process cannot be reversed<\/strong>. No one can learn to read or write in English and expect speaking<\/em><\/span> English to follow because the skills are unconnected.<\/p>\n

A specialized approach is required to unlock the unconscious aspects<\/strong> of oral English in order to effectively teach or learn English as a second language. That\u2019s what this book is about. Speaking<\/span> is not simply writing spoken out loud<\/strong><\/em>. Speaking<\/span><\/em> and writing<\/em> are completely different skills that use different sets of rules. The simple set of six rules in this book addresses all aspects of oral communication. A clear understanding of the distinctions between writing<\/em> and speaking<\/em><\/span> provides a powerful place for learners to start.<\/p>\n

Reading<\/em> and Writing<\/em> Use<\/h4>\n

Eyes<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"eyes\"<\/p>\n

\"Reading\"<\/p>\n

Hands<\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Hand\"<\/p>\n

\"Writing\"<\/p>\n

Speaking<\/em> and Listening<\/em> Use<\/span><\/h4>\n

Mouths<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Mouth\"<\/p>\n

\"Presentation\"<\/p>\n

Ears<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

\"Ear\"<\/p>\n

\"Listening-With-Headphones\"<\/p>\n

Reading<\/em><\/h4>\n