There is a scientific basis to the idea that to be effective, learning has to be fun. Or, to put it in academic terms, cognitive engagement (i.e. our ability to engage effectively in learning) relies heavily on emotional engagement.
I love this illustration of The Fox and the Wolf. (I’m curious about this folktale as well!) Thanks, btw, for sharing this. It’s an important reminder for both teachers as well as students… It wasn’t until I completely changed my approach to learning French (after years of stop-start efforts in school) that it became fun and I actually started making progress. Podcasts, movies, 1:1 instruction, fiction, etc… Now I’m setting out on Italian, using those same fun strategies.
So glad you got your hands on that book of folktales! I love a good folktale myself.
Your story about your Romanian teacher reminded me of my French teacher. She was native Russian (born and raised) and was teaching our university French class. If someone got the answer wrong she’d pretend to shoot them with her finger-gun. Needless to say, I believe she had a meeting with our head of the department.
That's so funny! And chimes well with so many awkward stories about Russians abroad :) I heard a story of a Russian tech guy who got angry at kids who came to trick-o-treat on Halloween and chased them around the neighborhood trying to beat them up because he didn't understand why they came to beg him for candies. As you can imagine that didn't end well either.
Thanks for this reminder, the world needs to know this! Enough of boredom, embrace pleasure and fun! It is more effective AND life is short guys. Seriously. 🫶
That is why I stopped forcing myself to do homework for Japanese class.
Except one assignment we got last summer to keep a diary for a week. I’ve been doing it almost-daily ever since. And both that teacher and(!) her successor have been kind to continue correcting it for me.
Folktales are not my thing but I could already tell by the cover that book would be interesting to read!
What makes learning fun for me is also reading. Two books I bought from Montréal are sci-fi and being able to read them in French will be fun because I know it's already something I'm interested in!
I love this illustration of The Fox and the Wolf. (I’m curious about this folktale as well!) Thanks, btw, for sharing this. It’s an important reminder for both teachers as well as students… It wasn’t until I completely changed my approach to learning French (after years of stop-start efforts in school) that it became fun and I actually started making progress. Podcasts, movies, 1:1 instruction, fiction, etc… Now I’m setting out on Italian, using those same fun strategies.
Yes! Glad you found something you like that helps you make progress.
So glad you got your hands on that book of folktales! I love a good folktale myself.
Your story about your Romanian teacher reminded me of my French teacher. She was native Russian (born and raised) and was teaching our university French class. If someone got the answer wrong she’d pretend to shoot them with her finger-gun. Needless to say, I believe she had a meeting with our head of the department.
That's so funny! And chimes well with so many awkward stories about Russians abroad :) I heard a story of a Russian tech guy who got angry at kids who came to trick-o-treat on Halloween and chased them around the neighborhood trying to beat them up because he didn't understand why they came to beg him for candies. As you can imagine that didn't end well either.
Thanks for this reminder, the world needs to know this! Enough of boredom, embrace pleasure and fun! It is more effective AND life is short guys. Seriously. 🫶
That book looks wonderful btw
That is why I stopped forcing myself to do homework for Japanese class.
Except one assignment we got last summer to keep a diary for a week. I’ve been doing it almost-daily ever since. And both that teacher and(!) her successor have been kind to continue correcting it for me.
Yes!!! If it’s more fun you will abso-freaking-lutely learn it more deeply and faster.
Folktales are not my thing but I could already tell by the cover that book would be interesting to read!
What makes learning fun for me is also reading. Two books I bought from Montréal are sci-fi and being able to read them in French will be fun because I know it's already something I'm interested in!