[xmca] Cognitivist theory & language learning

[Tony Whitson <twhitson@UDel.Edu>]

I'm using a variety of tools for learning Portuguese, including dubbed and 
subtitled movies as well as books written for instruction. In one of 
these, following a list of sixteen first-conjugation verbs, I find this 
helpful advice:

====================
In order to learn these verbs, try to first memorize them by putting the 
verbs into lists or categories. Can you divide the above list into "things 
that I do often" and "things that I rarely do"? How about dividing the 
list into "action verbs" and "mental verbs"? Whatever categories you chose 
to organize the verbs, the important thing is that you find a way to 
process and arrange these new pieces of information in your brain. Once 
you have done this, it will be easier to retrieve the information later.

(Source: Ferreira, Fernanda L. The Everything Learning Brazilian 
Portuguese Book: Speak, Write and Understand Portuguese in No Time. Avon, 
Mass.: Adams Media, 2007., p. 111)
====================

I see this as an extraordinarily clear and straightforward expression of a 
view of learning that I find quite common in education circles. I expect 
that I'll be using it as a clear example of wrong-headed thinking about 
learning.

Maybe others will find similar value in this example; but I'm also writing 
to ask if anyone has equally clear and succinct examples to share that 
could be used to show what's wrong with this, and how to understand 
learning more appropriately, instead ... things that would be clear and 
easily accessible for people in education for whom the cognitivist 
approach seems to be right?

Muito obrigado,

Tony Whitson
UD School of Education
NEWARK  DE  19716

twhitson@udel.edu
_______________________________

"those who fail to reread
 are obliged to read the same story everywhere"
                  -- Roland Barthes, S/Z (1970)
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