The receptive and productive lag in second language learning

One of the first things that you need to do when you learn a second language is to use it. A lot of people think that we learn second languages like we learn our first, by listening and then emulating. It doesn’t work like that, well it could, but it’s highly inefficient. Plus I think given the choice, babies probably would communicate using words.

Whenever you learn something new, some vocabulary or a phrase, maybe a grammar point, put it to use. Try and create something with it straight away.

There’s always going to be a lag between your receptive and productive second language ability. The more you learn, the bigger this lag gets because if your learning is efficient, you learn the most used language first, and this means the stuff you learn later on you have less of a chance of using, and thus less of a chance of using. To counteract this, use the language!

The most important thing about this receptive and productive lag is the part you can use, the productive part. This part you want to increase as much as possible so that your command of the language is greater. The only way to increase this productive part is by using the language. So you should be using it as soon as you can, including and most importantly at the beginning stages.

ENJOYED THIS? HAVE MORE.

MOUNTAINS OF WISDOM

Subscribe to my yamabushi newsletter

RECENT BLOG POSTS

Tim Bunting AKA Kiwi Yamabushi on Zao-san
Release the rock
Tim Bunting AKA Kiwi Yamabushi on Zao-san
Where are the loose ends?
Tim Bunting AKA Kiwi Yamabushi on Zao-san
Ready and raring to go.

YAMABUSHI BLOG POSTS

Tim Bunting AKA Kiwi Yamabushi on Zao-san
Is it really more important?
black and white dartboard
In with a chance
Don’t judge the different

RANDOM POSTS

It’s all part of the learning
gray monk statue in between plant pots
For now
My Love Affair with North Japan’s Tallest Peak
Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Tim Bunting Kiwi Yamabushi

Get In Touch

Sakata City, Yamagata, Japan 

tim@timbunting.com

Share this:

Like this:

Like Loading...
Scroll to Top