rote-ness
allow me to complain for just a moment. i need to release this negativity and writing helps me.memorization is THE worst form of learning. in fact, it is an insult to the concept of learning to even include it under this category. i was studying for an exam and all i had to do was memorize facts and dates and names and i felt oppressed because i felt like a puppet. the only reason i was memorizing was for the teacher and for the grade. memorization is oppressive because it stifles creativity and allows no opportunity for independent thought. furthermore, i will wake up tomorrow and will have forgotten everything i "learned" for the exam, as i did for all the others this quarter-this is because i was not made to think about the material. i simply looked at words on a page. but when i am forced to think about the meaning of historical events, then i remember them.
i agree that memorization may be a necessary evil-learning languages, for example, is impossible in a non-native context without memorizing certain vocabulary and grammatical structures. but even this is not ideal. one can learn a language the same way we did as babies, without memorization, by immersion in the native country. instead of converting the word "table" into "mesa," a native speaker points to a table and says "mesa." the learner then has the image in his/her head, instead of the word, because words are arbitrary.
i also agree that in order to think about the Spanish civil war, it is important to know when it occurred and between what groups. memorization, however, stops there, which is why it is the worst form of learning. nothing means anything without its meaning-does it make sense? the Spanish civil war means nothing to me unless i understand the effects of it on Spanish civilians, how it has affected their lives today, and how such a war can be avoided in the future.
learning is first selfish in nature. one has to learn for oneself in order to use his/her knowledge to help others. memorizing, as i said, is for the exam; it is not for me. i learned nothing and therefore, i can help no one.
posted by leah v @ 6:53 AM
3 Comments:
See comment on my blog.
i'd like to point out that it's impossible for someone to learn a second language in the same way that they learned their first language because:
a. they now have a language with which to compare their target language
b. usually the student is older (not always) and has cognitively developed, making the language struggles of a first language completely different from those in a second language
i would also like to add that sometimes, even if a teacher hates it, multiple choice is the best option, since grading is constrained by time.
-leah o
yes, thank you miss linguistics.
although i swear i learned that it was possible to learn a second language the same way. maybe i made it up. that´s totally possible. maybe i just feel like i´m a baby.
anyway, did you follow the discussion between jackie and me and see the other post? es interesante. hey, thanks for reading though! your comments on this issue would be quite useful, having a master´s in linguistics and all.
yes of course i know grading is contrained by time, i´m saying the ideal option is essay. ideal. which to me, means best. so the best ideal option is essay, the best practical option is multiple choice. i hate practicality. but i love you!
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