November 2011 – Gulf Arabic Program

Language Learning Tip #21

Problem

“My anxiety about my language performance is affecting my performance.”

Idea: Attack your anxieties indirectly.

In the last message we examined the syndrome of stress-anxiety-avoidance. Now we will look at some possible ways to deal with this problem.

We often think that we can reduce our language anxiety if we were just better at the language. This is a false hope. People usually find they have just as much language anxiety as an intermediate or an advanced learner than they did as a beginner. So, instead of focusing on performing better in the language, focus on living a fuller life by lowering your stress, learning peace and acceptance, and engaging in friendship.

1) Lower your stress levels.

If your stress can be lowered to more manageable levels, you can lessen the amount of resulting anxiety. Instead of doing this by withdrawing from stressful situations, learn to shed the stress before it accumulates. As far as I know, the only proven ways of doing this are exercise, laughing, crying, massage, and meditation. Sleep and nutrition are important for health, but they don’t actually reduce stress. TV and computer games are distractions, but don’t actually reduce stress either. Shopping and eating may feel good too, but that’s not the same as stress reduction.

2) Let peace and acceptance replace anxiety and denial.

This is another benefit of keeping a language learning journal. If you can work through your emotional issues in your journal and set attainable goals for yourself. Many people find that if they write about what they are experiencing, they can come to a greater understanding and realize their limitations and their possibilities.

Resist the temptation to meet anxieties head on pushing back with harder work and brute force. Instead, find ways to enjoy using the language. Make the language your ally instead of your opponent. How? Write down a list of your least favorite language learning activities. Then, figure out how to modify the way you do them so they become a fun challenge.

3) Engage.

The main thing language learners need to engage is actually not a “thing” at all. It is not the language itself. It is people. Language is deeply and completely human. I don’t mean human society in the abstract. I mean Salem and Khadija and Ahmed and Reem. Yusuf, Sulaiman, Rashid, Maha, Mawza, and Miriam. In my interviews with students, I have learned that I can ask one question that reveals all I need to know in this area. The answer will tell me how engaged someone is with the Arabic language. It is not, “How much time do you spend with Arabs?“ It is, “Tell me the names of Arab people you like to spend time with.”

Language Learning Tip #20

Problem

“My anxiety about my language performance is affecting my performance.”

Idea: Attack your anxieties indirectly.

First of all, I think it is important to recognize language anxiety as a common problem. Many people are in denial as they try to discount how anxious they actually are about their language performance. We like to think of ourselves as being able to handle ourselves well and be cool under pressure, but learning a second language has a unique way of making us feel uncool. This is threatening to us on a basic psychological level.

You are also recognizing that high anxiety hinders recall. Your memory skills are hindered because your focus and attention is side-tracked. You may have noticed that your motivation is weakened. You used to feel confident and excited about learning the language, but now you are just trying to get through the days. You may have even noticed that you are having more mood swings or struggle with low energy. This is a result of culture stress, language anxiety, and self-shock (the unpleasant realization that you are not as ‘together’ as you thought) All these things gang up on you with the result that you can not achieve as much, which causes more anxiety, which causes more debilitation, which causes more anxiety and so on. Am I scaring you too much?

The Syndrome

Stressful situations feed both anxiety and/or action. Your body experiences stress with rapid heartbeats, reddening ears, butterflies in the stomach, nervous laughter, etc. This results in urges to ‘fight or flight’. The stress is not a bad thing if it is not overwhelming, but for many it leads to avoidance behavior. At first, we are energized to meet the challenges and overcome the threatening feelings (fight!), but before too long, we may find ourselves avoiding situations that cause us stress (flight!).

In order to avoid anxiety, we start to avoid things that are associated with the anxiety. We withdraw. Here are some signs that I may be avoiding some language difficulties.

I avoid some language difficulties. : ) I choose to do what I am good at.
I isolate myself from speakers of the language because I am not good enough to carry on adult-like conversations with them.
I find myself speaking softly. Perhaps then others will not notice my mistakes or bad pronunciation.
Instead of using the language, I spend a lot of study time trying to figure it out. I feel if I can grasp the rules, I won’t feel as if I am lost.
I compare myself to others trying to figure out just how clever I am. If I withhold judgement, how can I validate myself?
I take little mental vacations in class wishing I were elsewhere. It’s easier to withdraw than to stay fully engaged.
I focus on my performance in class; if it is not my turn to perform, I shift into neutral.
In order to avoid battering my own ego, I blame others (teachers, native speakers, classmates, etc) for my shortcomings.

Next time: The indirect attack.

Language Learning Tip #19

Problem

“I am trying to change some of my language learning habits, and I have ideas, but somehow I don’t put them into action.”

There are two big problems about setting goals.

Figuring out the practical steps that will bring you to the goals.
Taking the practical steps.

If it were not for these two small complications, we would reach all reach all of our goals. There would be no more war, poverty, or pollution. We would all be happy, fit, and have PhD’s.

But let’s not try to solve all those problems right not. Let’s just think about how to reach an easy goal – learning Arabic.

I have put together a tool for GAP students who need some help taking practical steps toward their Arabic LL goals. It’s called Twenty Points a Day.

TPD is a way for you to keep track of activities you can do outside of class to get you involved in the lives of Arabic speakers and to practice Arabic outside of class. You simply have a list of suggested activities that you can do each day. Each activity you do earns you points toward your goal of learning Arabic and helps you form good LL habits.

If you are interested in seeing more details of TPD ask me when you see me at GAP. I will be happy to get you started with the program.