[EDLING:2003] Mauritius: Over Seventy and Still Unlearning Old Primary School English

[fmhult at DOLPHIN.UPENN.EDU]

Mauritius Times

Over Seventy and Still Unlearning Old Primary School English

Where did we go wrong 


Our language teaching system has remained essentially the same for the last 
seventy-five years. Like thousands of others I have been a victim of the 
system, and I am angry about it, for I have had to pay a heavy price to 
survive the deep scars it left on me. I have had to deny my family and myself 
a substantial proportion of what would have been my spare time because I have 
had to unlearn the bad linguistic habits it planted in me. Learning a language 
in early childhood requires practically no effort: the baby’s computer is 
programmed to learn by hearing. Learning a new language as an adult is 
difficult enough by itself; but if one has to unlearn what one has acquired in 
early childhood, it is a hell of a problem. 

The full story is available at
http://www.mauritiustimes.com/271006sooba.htm




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