Week 4: there is no spoon

Thea gave her presentation today, and encouraged people to talk about their experiences with bilingualism. She mentioned that attempting to speak a second language can cause anxiety in some people. We also learned that Thea does not believe in innatism, and compares it to science fiction.

Chris commented on experiences he had where he was too tired to produce the target language. This is something I have also experienced, especially when jetlagged. It was also discussed how a language learner's affective filter can be lowered by consuming modest amounts of alcohol. With the affective filter lowered, learners have an easier time expressing themselves.

I think anxiety definitely has an effect on whether or not a learner is going to speak. If you're afraid that you're going to make a mistake and look silly, then you're more likely to keep quiet. If you feel relaxed and unjudged by the people you're talking to, you'll have more confidence. This will allow you to attempt communication and to make progress in language learning.