Does "Innovation" actually sells?

Today's language learners are learning from being immersed in the language whether among native speakers, online or via films (TV etc). Teachers are redundant. In fact, teachers may hinder the language learning process unless they act as facilitators and not try to teach a language.

Arkady, you are correct in your ideas, but they are far from new. Constructivism and other learning theories are based on what you claim is new. Take a look at the prevailing learning theories to get an idea of what's around including online learning and connectivism.

Just as an aside, I learned to teach second and foreign languages based on immersion and not on the traditional grammar or the translation methods. Rote learning may have been popular around WW2 because it seemed to work with spies, but it lost its appeal later on. Things have changed. Learners no longer attempt to learn a language the way they learn to swim or other physical activities. But is this really new? Is learning subconsciously, as you call it, new?

Today's language learners are learning from being immersed in the language whether among native speakers, online or via films (TV etc). Teachers are redundant. In fact, teachers may hinder the language learning process unless they act as facilitators and not try to teach a language. Arkady, you are correct in your ideas, but they are far from new. Constructivism and other learning theories are based on what you claim is new. Take a look at the prevailing learning theories to get an idea of what's around including online learning and connectivism. Just as an aside, I learned to teach second and foreign languages based on immersion and not on the traditional grammar or the translation methods. Rote learning may have been popular around WW2 because it seemed to work with spies, but it lost its appeal later on. Things have changed. Learners no longer attempt to learn a language the way they learn to swim or other physical activities. But is this really new? Is learning subconsciously, as you call it, new?

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Dear Nellie,

Your passionate protection of “prevailing learning theories" is commendable for a wonderful ESL teacher who has 311 recommendations and is finishing her doctoral dissertation on online learning.

However, I find it hard to explain 2 facts:
1. After 12 years of daily French lessons in Canada only 1 student out of 147 reaches the intermediate level of proficiency – it is a 0.068% success rate.
2. After 10 years of English study, the vast majority of Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students graduate from university unable to speak the language fluently, if at all.

I found more and more information that the "prevailing learning theories" have failed as the above 2 facts prove unequivocally, and believe they should be re-examined. I see this re-examination in your own words: "In fact, teachers may hinder the language learning process unless they act as facilitators and not try to teach a language."

Unfortunately, the absolute majority of Wiziq teachers are doing exactly that – they are teaching the English – and then they pose the question: how to find motivated students who would be devoted and keep coming to the online classes?

My purpose in participating in a number of Wiziq forums was not to promote my patented in 2002 EFL learning method that, according to your remark, was “popular around WW2", but to unite ESL teachers in reinventing the conventional methods and create the method that will meet the demands of our Digital Era, and use the advantages and possibilities that it offers.

I don't sell or promote anything; as stated on my web site www.esl-educators-unite.com I offer my software and ready to teach any ESL/EFL teacher how to use this method free of charge.

So let's change the nature of this Wiziq forum from an exchange of Monologs to a true Dialog and try to move forward rather than look for substantiation in the published linguistics theories that belong to the past not to the future.

Sincerely,
Arkady

Dear Nellie, Your passionate protection of “prevailing learning theories" is commendable for a wonderful ESL teacher who has 311 recommendations and is finishing her doctoral dissertation on online learning. However, I find it hard to explain 2 facts: 1. After 12 years of daily French lessons in Canada only 1 student out of 147 reaches the intermediate level of proficiency – it is a 0.068% success rate. 2. After 10 years of English study, the vast majority of Taiwanese, Chinese, Japanese, and Korean students graduate from university unable to speak the language fluently, if at all. I found more and more information that the "prevailing learning theories" have failed as the above 2 facts prove unequivocally, and believe they should be re-examined. I see this re-examination in your own words: "In fact, teachers may hinder the language learning process unless they act as facilitators and not try to teach a language." Unfortunately, the absolute majority of Wiziq teachers are doing exactly that – they are teaching the English – and then they pose the question: how to find motivated students who would be devoted and keep coming to the online classes? My purpose in participating in a number of Wiziq forums was not to promote my patented in 2002 EFL learning method that, according to your remark, was “popular around WW2", but to unite ESL teachers in reinventing the conventional methods and create the method that will meet the demands of our Digital Era, and use the advantages and possibilities that it offers. I don't sell or promote anything; as stated on my web site www.esl-educators-unite.com I offer my software and ready to teach any ESL/EFL teacher how to use this method free of charge. So let's change the nature of this Wiziq forum from an exchange of Monologs to a true Dialog and try to move forward rather than look for substantiation in the published linguistics theories that belong to the past not to the future. Sincerely, Arkady

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“Innovation simply means take a route others have failed to see or predict lest create."

It is an excellent definition; I hope that it would become a working motto for Wiziq!

To provide a sustainable and growing pool of students into Wiziq ESL online classes and ensure higher profitability we need to change the current statement of Wiziq as “a platform for teachers."

Wiziq should become more inventive in helping the teachers become more creative and offer students what they need and not simply being a platform for teachers offering what they know!

Students are not stupid if they refuse to participate in a class where the same method is used which has failed in the past.

Look what the Myngle is doing: they partnered with LANCELOT School, the leading training center for online language teachers. Now they plan to use Myngle certified ESL teachers after they are trained and certified by Lancelot.

What is Livemocha doing: Livemocha and Pearson announced a partnership back in March 2009 to build an online English course based on Pearson content.

I call this approach "a step in the right direction using wrong means" because both Lancelot and Pearson belong to the same conventional (conscious) methods of learning ESL/EFL which had failed in the past.

I hope that Wiziq management will realize pretty soon that without first educating ESL teachers it is impossible to survive in this highly competitive world.

As I have mentioned in my other posts – ESL online education should be 4 times faster and 5 times cheaper. To achieve this goal we need first to comprehend one main idea: language is not information to be remembered; it is a physical skill to be trained using blended learning.

So, what exactly are subconscious methods and what are the traditional conscious methods? Well, you already know the old conscious way of learning English. You use your conscious brain to analyze English grammar, memorize English vocabulary, and translate English messages. This is the method you used in school. You consciously studied the mechanics of English, as if it was a car. You cut up English with your mind and then studied the parts…. word by word… rule by rule.
The result, as you know, is that you know a lot about English grammar rules and translations – but you can't speak well and you can't understand native speakers.

Subconscious methods are more effective. These methods provide understandable English input to your brain… and then your subconscious brain does the rest of the work. Consciously, all you do is enjoy English stories, articles, conversations, movies, and novels. You never think about grammar rules. You never attempt to memorize separate words but learn phrases in emotionally appealing context.

One prediction for Wiziq: implementation of blended learning using public classes and self-study software localized for most languages of the world; this software could also be used by any ESL/EFL teacher to substitute any or all lessons with the free Internet resources or teacher's own materials.

Isn't it a fantastic dream?

Not at all! It is possible today!

“Innovation simply means take a route others have failed to see or predict lest create." It is an excellent definition; I hope that it would become a working motto for Wiziq! To provide a sustainable and growing pool of students into Wiziq ESL online classes and ensure higher profitability we need to change the current statement of Wiziq as “a platform for teachers." Wiziq should become more inventive in helping the teachers become more creative and offer students what they need and not simply being a platform for teachers offering what they know! Students are not stupid if they refuse to participate in a class where the same method is used which has failed in the past. Look what the Myngle is doing: they partnered with LANCELOT School, the leading training center for online language teachers. Now they plan to use Myngle certified ESL teachers after they are trained and certified by Lancelot. What is Livemocha doing: Livemocha and Pearson announced a partnership back in March 2009 to build an online English course based on Pearson content. I call this approach "a step in the right direction using wrong means" because both Lancelot and Pearson belong to the same conventional (conscious) methods of learning ESL/EFL which had failed in the past. I hope that Wiziq management will realize pretty soon that without first educating ESL teachers it is impossible to survive in this highly competitive world. As I have mentioned in my other posts – ESL online education should be 4 times faster and 5 times cheaper. To achieve this goal we need first to comprehend one main idea: language is not information to be remembered; it is a physical skill to be trained using blended learning. So, what exactly are subconscious methods and what are the traditional conscious methods? Well, you already know the old conscious way of learning English. You use your conscious brain to analyze English grammar, memorize English vocabulary, and translate English messages. This is the method you used in school. You consciously studied the mechanics of English, as if it was a car. You cut up English with your mind and then studied the parts…. word by word… rule by rule. The result, as you know, is that you know a lot about English grammar rules and translations – but you can't speak well and you can't understand native speakers. Subconscious methods are more effective. These methods provide understandable English input to your brain… and then your subconscious brain does the rest of the work. Consciously, all you do is enjoy English stories, articles, conversations, movies, and novels. You never think about grammar rules. You never attempt to memorize separate words but learn phrases in emotionally appealing context. One prediction for Wiziq: implementation of blended learning using public classes and self-study software localized for most languages of the world; this software could also be used by any ESL/EFL teacher to substitute any or all lessons with the free Internet resources or teacher's own materials. Isn't it a fantastic dream? Not at all! It is possible today!

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"innovate, not imitate"
with to day amount of Internet participant via cyberspace the possibility to " not imitate " is 1 out of few millions.
" My story week 27 2009 by Andrea G Maoro AUDIO VIDEO entertainment presentation "
http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/179878-INNOVATE-NOT-IMITATE-My-story-The-Week-27-2009-by-Andrea-G-Maoro

from Singapore the pearl of Asia
INNOVATE NOT IMITATE
copy THE THREE WORD ONLY into Google search browser to know me better.
http://www.lamarstone.tel/

"innovate, not imitate" with to day amount of Internet participant via cyberspace the possibility to " not imitate " is 1 out of few millions. " My story week 27 2009 by Andrea G Maoro AUDIO VIDEO entertainment presentation " http://www.wiziq.com/online-class/179878-INNOVATE-NOT-IMITATE-My-story-The-Week-27-2009-by-Andrea-G-Maoro from Singapore the pearl of Asia INNOVATE NOT IMITATE copy THE THREE WORD ONLY into Google search browser to know me better. http://www.lamarstone.tel/

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I am banking on innovate because I don't think I have anything new to offer. But, I have a way of rearranging the deck and playing new games with the same cards. Time will tell...

I am banking on innovate because I don't think I have anything new to offer. But, I have a way of rearranging the deck and playing new games with the same cards. Time will tell...

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Arkady,

Please read my words more carefully. I did not state that your method was in any way similar to the rote method popular in WW2. I simply agreed with your ideas and stated that they were not new. That's all.

Warm wishes,
Nellie

Arkady, Please read my words more carefully. I did not state that your method was in any way similar to the rote method popular in WW2. I simply agreed with your ideas and stated that they were not new. That's all. Warm wishes, Nellie

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