Decode No More: Gestures
Posted: April 20th, 2012, 9:19 am
Split from "Decode No More", since it seems to be turning into a topic of its own. -- Jonathan
Wayne,
I have the same problem. The "critical mind" (left brain) needs to shut down and it doesn't want to.
In addition to repeated reading with intentional expression (mentioned by Jeffrey),
I'd suggest adding gestures, acting out the thoughts.
According to one expert on second language acquisition (J. Asher), the physical action of gesturing helps to bypass the critical part of our brain (left brain) that slows down learning with its desire to spell every word, understand the names of every construction or parse every form. Since many of us had traditional grammar/translation training, we developed that critical function extensively. So for us, it can be a big challenge to overcome the critical, gate-keeping part of your brain and just let the language in.
I've been using memorization together with gestures to overcome the pull of decoding. Once I can effortlessly and fluidly recite (and at the same time "gesture") a passage, my critical mind goes quiet and I really start soaking in the language as language, rather than code.
I'm sold on "gesturing." Let me give an example of one little succes story. I change my hand motion depending on case. If the text says εἴπεν αὐτῷ my hand is gesturing (to an imaginary αὐτῷ) palm up, as if offering a gift. If the text says εἴδεν αὐτόν my hand is pointing with two fingers, palm down. (I save the standard one finger point for other things than accusative). This has very helpful in understanding cases at a gut level. My students readily understand that διδωμι should go with αὐτῷ and τύπτω (hit) should go with αὐτόν even though they have yet to a) see written Greek, or b) get a whiff of terms like "Genitive" and "Accusative." Gesturing has potential for teaching, but, for me, it has proven value for my own learning. I will go on pulling the curtains and gesticulating away in my office, no matter if I never teach again.
Gestures help the Greek to sneak by that great left-brain decoding addict and slip into the half of the brain that receives indiscriminately and in large gulps.
Example on Youtube - http://youtu.be/VTWhUOg-t_w
Wayne,
I have the same problem. The "critical mind" (left brain) needs to shut down and it doesn't want to.
In addition to repeated reading with intentional expression (mentioned by Jeffrey),
I'd suggest adding gestures, acting out the thoughts.
According to one expert on second language acquisition (J. Asher), the physical action of gesturing helps to bypass the critical part of our brain (left brain) that slows down learning with its desire to spell every word, understand the names of every construction or parse every form. Since many of us had traditional grammar/translation training, we developed that critical function extensively. So for us, it can be a big challenge to overcome the critical, gate-keeping part of your brain and just let the language in.
I've been using memorization together with gestures to overcome the pull of decoding. Once I can effortlessly and fluidly recite (and at the same time "gesture") a passage, my critical mind goes quiet and I really start soaking in the language as language, rather than code.
I'm sold on "gesturing." Let me give an example of one little succes story. I change my hand motion depending on case. If the text says εἴπεν αὐτῷ my hand is gesturing (to an imaginary αὐτῷ) palm up, as if offering a gift. If the text says εἴδεν αὐτόν my hand is pointing with two fingers, palm down. (I save the standard one finger point for other things than accusative). This has very helpful in understanding cases at a gut level. My students readily understand that διδωμι should go with αὐτῷ and τύπτω (hit) should go with αὐτόν even though they have yet to a) see written Greek, or b) get a whiff of terms like "Genitive" and "Accusative." Gesturing has potential for teaching, but, for me, it has proven value for my own learning. I will go on pulling the curtains and gesticulating away in my office, no matter if I never teach again.
Gestures help the Greek to sneak by that great left-brain decoding addict and slip into the half of the brain that receives indiscriminately and in large gulps.
Example on Youtube - http://youtu.be/VTWhUOg-t_w