When Grammar is a Problem in Language Learning

When adults begin to study a foreign language, most courses and conventional text books present grammatical concepts immediately. But I am convinced the worst mistake language learners can make is to focus on the grammar upfront.

Why?

I have many reasons for saying this, but for now here are three:

1. It's an unnatural way to process a language

2. You need to understand your own language's grammar first (and most people don't) before you can grasp another

3. It shifts the focus from communicating, to calculating, and therefore slows you down to the point of frustration and discouragement. And if you're a perfectionist like me, attention to correct grammar too early may just completely paralyze you for fear of not "saying it correctly."

Think about how children learn languages. Do adults explain to them proper grammar or sentence structure? Do kids pause to ask themselves if this phrase or that phrase requires the present perfect or the past simple?

Of course not!

Toddlers learn by making all those mistakes that we big people think are so cute. But one thing is certain: They are determined to make themselves understood, and typically with just a word or two. Kids are NOT afraid to use what they know BEFORE they understand grammar.

Obviously, grammar DOES have a place in my own language studies, and when I teach others. But it's not at the very beginning. By making mistakes and simply using what they know, young ones stay encouraged to keep on talking, and eventually learn to speak correctly anyway.


This is one of the secrets to learning a language fast. Don't let grammar slow you down, get some vocabulary and start using it immediately.

Unconventional Tip Number Two: Focus on vocabulary in the beginning, and leave the grammar for later. I'll explain how best to do this and what to do with your new vocabulary, in my next post.

Happy Language Learning!

Mark