Chapter 2

The learning process: Your brain, learning type and information acquisition

How does your brain work?

Do not worry! I will not write a scientific essay about your brain. Here are only some basics: the human brain has two halves, left and right. The left half is responsible for logic, structure, analysis and mathematical reasoning. The right half is the creative part, responsible for language, aesthetics, new ideas and artistic expression.

A combination of both would be ideal for language learning. The left half is perfect for grammar rules because of the analytical and structural aspects; the right half is perfect for vocabulary work because of the connections and links.

Far more important, however, is a positive attitude towards learning!

The five steps of learning

Every learning process contains five sequential steps that you must go through one by one. Each step depends on the prior step, so you cannot skip one. If you try to skip one step, for example, the repetition step, you will fail.

These five learning steps are:

Perception of the learning resources

Here it is important to encounter the language itself. You read an article; you see a word list; you open your grammar book, or you listen to a radio program. You only perceive that the material deals with texts, words, or grammar rules in your target language. You do not realise, however, that this material could be a learning resource for you. Perhaps the content will attract your attention. Maybe you will find it useful.

An example is a dialogue in a restaurant you are listening to, maybe only by chance. You are following a conversation between a waiter and a guest. They are discussing some dishes on the menu; the guest wants some further information and then orders his meal.

Relevance of the learning resource

Now we are in phase two. Is the topic exciting and relevant to you? Could the vocabulary list help you? Would the grammar rule be useful when using the language? Do you need any idioms or expressions from the text? Our conversation in the restaurant would be helpful to you if you went to a restaurant often during your vacation. It would then be an advantage to know some of the structures, expressions, customs and practices of the country where you usually spend your vacation. As you realise, language learning includes not only the language itself but also the culture and the way of life.

Search for relevance

Now you search for relevance to your life and your environment. You should ask yourself if it is useful for you to learn this? Now you prioritize material according its importance and value for your learning goals and your life. You realise that the received piece of information could interest you, and you memorize it. In our dialogue, the connection would be the following one. During your vacation,