Chapter 7

3. Highly intelligent people are good language learners:

This idea about language learning is not new to our English 344 class; that there are "good" language learners.  I found this interesting because it incorporated students' IQ tests as a predictor for success on learning about a language, such as grammar and vocabulary.  The text states that, "research has shown that learners with a wide cariety of intellectual abilities can be successful language learners.  This is especially true if the emphasis is on oral communication skills rather than metalinguistic knowledge" (Lightbown and Spada 185).  This research reminds me of how musically inclined students tend to do better on their math portion (?) of standardized tests too.  I find this very interesting because it shows how some people's brains have tendencies to work better with learning certain types of materials.  It shows preference.  I have friends that are in Spanish, currently, and they frequently say that they, "hate Spanish," which I think just sounds funny because it's a language!  It sounds odd to say that one hates something so abstract.  But, maybe their brains aren't as inclined to learn another language?  It's not the language, Spanish, but learning another language itself; learning another set of vocabulary, sentence structure, sayings, exceptions, etc.  So on their IQ tests, would their scores show more metalinguistic knowledge rather than oral communication skills?

I also appreciate how the text is respectful to students who might not have this IQ score that shows they are a good/bad language learner by stating that, "Students should not be excluded from opportunities to learn another language on the grounds that they do not have the academic ability to succeed" (Lightbown and Spada 185).  It further addresses the importance in language learning; that a teacher must find ways to engage different kinds of ability.