{"id":6067,"date":"2017-10-18T08:28:27","date_gmt":"2017-10-18T12:28:27","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/?p=6067"},"modified":"2020-10-01T12:11:18","modified_gmt":"2020-10-01T16:11:18","slug":"why-the-anti-mistake-culture-is-detrimental-to-foreign-languages","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogs.transparent.com\/language-news\/2017\/10\/18\/why-the-anti-mistake-culture-is-detrimental-to-foreign-languages\/","title":{"rendered":"Why the Anti-Mistake Culture is Detrimental to Foreign Languages"},"content":{"rendered":"

What\u2019s the best thing you can do to improve your language skills? Make mistakes.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/p>\n

The Problem With Anti-Mistake Culture<\/h6>\n

In an article on Medium<\/a>, entrepreneur Catalin Matei describes what he calls the \u201canti-mistake culture\u201d, the societal expectation that making mistakes is a bad thing, something to punish. One vivid example to which anyone can relate is the discouraging red ink on school assignments.<\/p>\n

Matei points out that \u201cMeaningful learning happens when trials and errors occur naturally and logically. Children should be able to make mistakes as often or as necessary to understand and learn what they are working on and how to understand it better.\u201d This is an extremely valuable realization for language learners, individuals for whom not<\/em> making mistakes is the biggest mistake of all.<\/p>\n

The Benefits of Mistake-Driven Learning<\/h6>\n

Mistakes mean action.<\/strong> Saying something silly, mixing up tenses, or using the wrong word might seem like a step backward, but it\u2019s actually forward progress. It means you\u2019re using the language\u2014always a good thing\u2014and you\u2019re identifying areas of weakness. It\u2019s hard to get better if you don\u2019t know where to improve. Mistakes can pave your path forward.<\/p>\n

Mistakes mean comprehension.<\/strong> If you can identify your own mistakes and find the solution\u2014the correct word, pronunciation, etc.\u2014you are more likely to commit that information to your long-term memory than if someone feeds you the answer.<\/p>\n

Mistakes mean repetition. <\/strong>When you know you\u2019re doing something wrong\u2014using the wrong auxiliary verb or butchering some tough pronunciations–you\u2019re more likely to practice and get it right. Repetition and review is critical for language retention (it\u2019s why spaced repetition algorithms<\/a> are so common in language learning technology).<\/p>\n

Mistakes mean imperfection.<\/strong> Embrace that fact, because you will never<\/em> be perfect in your adopted language or be done<\/a> learning it. When you stop pursuing perfection, you\u2019ll be a lot less frustrated or disappointed and a lot more pleased with small victories and steady progress over time.<\/p>\n

Mistakes mean confidence.<\/strong> If you\u2019re out there being vulnerable in your adopted language, talking to anyone who will listen and accepting constructive criticism, it means you\u2019ve already made a huge step in the right direction: you\u2019re not afraid to use the language!<\/p>\n

How can you battle the anti-mistake culture?<\/h6>\n

Educators can encourage and leverage mistakes to make them a regular part of the learning process. You can give learners the opportunity to correct their own mistakes, such as offering points back on corrected quizzes. You can also keep it anonymous and analyze\u00a0the most commonly made mistakes as a class.<\/p>\n

Individuals can give themselves the same grace when it comes to messing up. Keep a mistake journal and review it every so often, ask speakers of the language to point out mistakes, and never let yourself be embarrassed or intimidated by saying the wrong thing.<\/p>\n

Matei said it best when it comes to mistakes: \u201cAt some point, you need to expose yourself to failure and avoid sticking only to the thing that you feel you\u2019re already good at. Are you willing to succeed? Then fail.\u201d<\/strong><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"\"\"

What\u2019s the best thing you can do to improve your language skills? Make mistakes. The Problem With Anti-Mistake Culture In an article on Medium, entrepreneur Catalin Matei describes what he calls the \u201canti-mistake culture\u201d, the societal expectation that making mistakes is a bad thing, something to punish. One vivid example to which anyone can relate…<\/p>\n

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