Crafted by the Barcelona Metropolitan marketing team and sponsored by Language Surfing.
Dynamic new trends in linguistic pedagogy are challenging the status quo and changing the way we learn a second language. Find out how these innovations in education are altering the learning experience.
We live in the information age: never in the history of humanity has it been so easy to access a book, whether online or in person. In the last twenty years, society has created new learning mechanisms, new models that compete with those already established bringing forth the question: Which learning methodology is better—the traditional method or the newly developed paradigms?
Debate over teaching methods is not new; through the course of history mankind has sought to perfect the ways of imparting knowledge. Comparing and contrasting the traditional model of learning versus recent models reveals quickly the key differences between them. Although both are based on the transmission and reception of information and knowledge, the critical role and behavior of the “teacher” figure varies greatly. Understanding these differences is fundamental to comprehending the different methodologies.
The Traditional Method
Everyone is familiar with this approach: You arrive at a class. You sit down. The teacher imparts a lesson, sends you off with a bag full of homework and the process is repeated, ad infinitum. This conventional approach has worked for many years, but it has significant disadvantages; it’s a very monotonous process and many people begin to tire of it quickly, often terminating the experience for something different to break the routine. Barcelona is full of language academies, but they are relatively undifferentiated.
A New, More Engaging Method
Budding language learners are increasingly opting for new, non-traditional methodologies that break free from the physical book, and instead implement face-to-face immersion practices to delve deep into the language they are learning. This experiential approach—also known as the natural approach—is deemed practical, flexible and more naturally fitting within the learner’s life.
Current educational trends emphasize a high level of student engagement so that the experience is related directly to knowledge acquisition. The goal of modern learning methods is to make the learning experience as hands-on and practical as possible, teaching subjects and themes that can be applied on a day-to-day basis.
A Learning Center With an Experiential Approach
There is a language school in Barcelona—Language Surfing—that bases its courses on innovative and engaging learning experiences, using the students' own motivation to enhance and drive the learning process. It provides a new perspective on language acquisition: Why sit in a stuffy classroom when you could be learning Spanish while visiting artisans in Poblenou, singing Spanish songs in a bar or watching films? These types of activities require engagement and imagination, making learning seem so much easier—unorthodox learning with a practical outcome.
Learning a language requires dedication and commitment. Newly arrived expats are often overwhelmed with a plethora of choices when it comes to language schools. They inevitably ask themselves: How do I choose? What is the easiest way to learn a language?
Our constant desire to improve upon and enhance the learning experience ensures that new ideas will continue to evolve and spur ongoing debate. Choosing the right school for you encompasses a long list of factors to consider—both philosophical and practical. And, we each have our own learning styles, distinct preferences and quirks to throw into the mix. Learning a language is no simple task, but then, we knew it wouldn’t be easy, right?
For more information on Language Surfing visit the website at: language-surfing.com.
You can also watch Language Surfing videos on YouTube, or follow on Twitter: @LanguageSurfing, Instagram: @languagesurfing, and Facebook @languagesurfing.
A Barcelona Metropolitan original for Language Surfing.