It is said that man controlled the planet with three things: Fire, Wheel and Language. The first two may be more mythological or technical in approach, but the last one is purely human and evolved through a long process of interaction. Some people say that Language is just a tool to enslave or control fellow human beings. Now, let's forget all this and try to focus on the process of learning a language.
My friends always ask their teachers the secret formula for mastering a language. Teachers, as always, say, "Work hard and study for hours." My friends get annoyed at this suggestion and trash the idea of mastering that language. However, that language has gradually evolved as a status symbol and become integral to success in every competitive exam. [Now you know the 'language' in question here.]
One day I met a very humble and wise person who was very fluent and precise in his language usage. I asked him to unveil the 'secret formula' behind attaining fluency in the same language. I was just looking for some 10 points, but that man was really an erudite. He [hereinafter referred to as 'Guruji' (in Hindi, it is an address to mark reverence for 'Teachers')] began from the grassroots and looked at the problem from different angles. Guruji did a smart analysis and literally stripped the problem bare. Here is the summary of the conversation.
Fact: You
will remain fluent or well-versed in any language until you write, read things
and converse in the language concerned. Once you lose touch with that
language, all your efforts go in vain. Thereafter, you have to start from
scratch. At last, all you remember is some Grammar (Logic) and some Vocabulary (Memory). Therefore, keep in touch with the language
and try to develop a memory link in order to associate words with your
personality. Reading a newspaper daily, writing answers of model questions,
speaking that language and watching videos in the same language will definitely
help. The idea is to keep in touch with the language concerned. Having good
command over a language ultimately boils down to having good vocabulary.
Bitter Truth: If the
language concerned is not your mother-tongue and you are its only speaker in your circle,
it is definitely a hard nut to crack. It would require eternal efforts and consistency in your approach. The bottom-line is not to lose touch with it and
practice as much as you can. Writing by means of copy-pasting or speaking crammed quotes won't help you in the long run.
The process is really time-consuming and sometimes frustrating, too!
Grammar: You must have seen 5-year-old kids speak their mother-tongue with almost 95% accuracy. For them, Grammar does not exist! Still they are more fluent and more comfortable than any professor who has studied that language as a second one. Environment or Aura of the language is more important than Books or Grammar. The Environment of the language provides more speakers and practical interactions leading to Sub-Conscious Learning or Association from a tender age. Speakers [the group of people who think themselves to be the indigenous champions of a Foreign language] are instilled with greater confidence and comfort since infancy.
[A driver is highly experienced and drives with almost 95% accuracy. A rich teenager drives with 50% accuracy and often meets with accidents in his early days. Nevertheless, he exudes greater 'confidence' and 'ownership' because he 'knows' that it is his dad's car. On the other hand, the driver displays servile tendencies and subordination. The car is not his and his master (the rich boy's father) can fire him anytime. Gradually, that rich boy matures into a man driving with above 95% accuracy, while the driver's accuracy falls below 94%.]
[A driver is highly experienced and drives with almost 95% accuracy. A rich teenager drives with 50% accuracy and often meets with accidents in his early days. Nevertheless, he exudes greater 'confidence' and 'ownership' because he 'knows' that it is his dad's car. On the other hand, the driver displays servile tendencies and subordination. The car is not his and his master (the rich boy's father) can fire him anytime. Gradually, that rich boy matures into a man driving with above 95% accuracy, while the driver's accuracy falls below 94%.]
Accuracy Check and the Worry Factor: Non-Speakers [lacking proper fluency or familiarity supplemented with a feeling of inferiority due to the same] have less familiarity with the language. Hence, they are always haunted with the fear of being inaccurate and what others will say. This problem hampers and paralyses their progress. They should try to speak the language they want to learn with the same fluency they speak their mother-tongue. They should TRY really hard. If not possible, they should pretend to be comfortable. This act has a positive psychological impact. Gradually after some exposures, they would really become comfortable and confident, too. Face it. There is No Way Out.
Personal Experience: After reading a novel or a book on grammar, I feel really good and confident. However, after some days, I feel that my progress is more or less the same! Why is it so Guruji? Son! When you read or write, you are in touch with the language. [As already said, keep in touch with the language.] There is a correspondence with the language. Moreover, new words, clauses and their usage is anchored in your brain; this, enhances your confidence. Once the contact is lost, the non-anchored knowledge (almost 90%) begins to fade away gradually. Remember, it is not your mother-tongue, but the second language.
The World of Illusion: Speakers create an aura of learning and attract more Speakers. The group thus formed starts dominating Non-Speakers. As already said, Speakers are more 'confident' and 'comfortable' with the language because they have overcome the early barriers of communication. As a result, they are not shy or over-conscious of their speech. They just speak and their speech gradually improves. On the other hand, Non-Speakers remain crippled by these initial barriers and are finally convinced that they can speak only their mother tongue! Non-Speakers attract more Non-Speakers. At last, it becomes Speakers versus Non-Speakers. Both groups disapprove of each other. By convention, Speakers are thought to be superior to Non-Speakers. It is just an illusion or projection. Moreover, Speakers boast of their accent which may actually be wrong. The fact is Speakers speak with 75% accuracy only, but their confidence and prevalence acts as a cover-up for the remaining 25%. Non-Speakers get huge complexes from Speakers. In reality, it is purely projected and worst side of any language so far.
Peer Pressure: Everybody wants to impress and dominate their peers by the colourful display of the language concerned. Fluency in the language has emerged as a new weapon to influence one's contemporaries. Apart from clothes and gadgets, FLUENCY has also entered the fashion arena!
Short Term Courses: As already said, there is no secret formula, yet many institutes claim to turn Non-Speakers into Masters in a few months. They cash in on the naivety and ignorance of Non-Speakers. Some Speakers also join these courses in order to overcome the remaining shortfalls. [Trying to fix the 25% inaccuracy and improve their Accent.] It is a new business model. MBAs can explore much here!
Final Word: Have faith
in yourself and your efforts. Confide in your ability to learn and retain the same.
Three Words: Determination Perseverance Adaptation
Happy Learning
["Thank you, Guruji," I said with both hands folded and great respect.]
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