Lesson 4: Learner Beliefs

Examples of Learner Beliefs

Many people and even cultures have strong beliefs about language learning. When you hear someone say that children learn languages easily and naturally or that women are better language learners than men, they are expressing common but not necessarily correct beliefs about language learning. It is naive to think that cultural beliefs about the nature of language learning do not influence our students. Language teachers must recognize that students come to class with preconceived notions about the nature of language learning and that many of these preconceptions can be counterproductive to language learning.

What common folk beliefs about language learning have you encountered among your students?

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Discussion of common beliefs about language learning.

Duration: 03:16