Two Modes of Learning

Zoom In or Wide Angle? Understanding How You Learn a Language

Learning a new language can feel like a daunting task. There are so many grammar rules, vocabulary words, and pronunciation nuances to master. But what if I told you there are different ways to approach this learning process, each with its own benefits? Think of it like using a camera with two different lenses: a zoom lens and a wide-angle lens.

The Zoom Lens: Focused Learning

Imagine you’re trying to learn a specific vocabulary word or a grammar rule like the past tense. This is like using a zoom lens. You’re concentrating on a very small, specific linguistic form. You are hyper-focused on the details.

Barbara Oakley, who teaches the popular online course “Learning How to Learn,” calls this the focused mode of learning. It’s when you concentrate and look very specifically at certain tasks, such as reading a chapter in a textbook. Oakley recommends focusing for a specific length of time, like 25 minutes, to maximize this focused mode.

The Wide-Angle Lens: Diffuse Learning

Now, imagine you’re in a conversation, trying to understand the overall meaning or convey a message. You’re not worried about every single grammar rule or vocabulary word. This is like using a wide-angle lens.

Oakley refers to this as the diffuse mode of learning. It’s a time to let your mind wander and make connections that it otherwise wouldn’t make when you focus too narrowly. You step back and try to understand the overall structure and meaning as you communicate.

Why Both Modes Matter

Both the focused and diffuse modes are crucial for effective language learning. As a teacher, it’s important to guide students to:

Zoom In: Help students narrow in on specific features of the language, especially those they haven’t been paying attention to.
Widen Out: Encourage students to step back and not get bogged down by every single mistake. This helps them understand the overall structure and meaning, ultimately boosting fluency.

Think of language learning as photography. You, as the photographer (or teacher), move the students back and forth between these two modes of learning. By strategically shifting between focused and diffuse learning, you can help students develop a deeper and more well-rounded understanding of the language.

You’re a smart Banana! *sticks gold star on your forehead*