Rob had this to say in his comment to my post. "...but it is very possible to speak and write correctly at a native level. I think this type of message should be promoted rather than tel ing a student he/she can't reach that level. Belief is a huge part of language learning. I guess it depends on what your definition of "perfect" is. If you mean a person can't know any one language in its entirety then I agree, if you mean that a person can't learn a second language to native-level fluency then I wholeheartedly disagree."
Wel , first of al , let's say that I agree with Julien. Master is the wrong word. But it is true that some people speak their own language wel and others speak their own language poorly.
There are differences in how wel people speak their own language. When I am in the presence of people who express themselves wel in their own language, I am always impressed. I am referring to people who have a large vocabulary, who speak with precision and express complicated ideas simply and clearly. It does not matter if their accent is from this or that region.
Many ESL teachers I have met do not speak their own language, English, wel . I know there is the view, amongst some, that everyone speaks their language equal y wel . According to this view, people with a limited English vocabulary, who use a lot of "you know" "like" etc. are communicating as wel as anyone else. I gather that Stephen Pinker, renowned linguist and Harvard professor, is of that view. I am not of that view. We al have an equal ability to learn to speak wel . But to realize that potential we need to read a lot, and to spend time with people who use the language well. And ideal y we do that from an early age.
As to achieving native like proficiency in another language, I do agree that it is something to strive for. However, it is rarely possible to achieve a level in a foreign level that is as impressive as that of a proficient speaker of the native language. We rarely if ever sound as natural as even a poor speaker of that language.
It is pointless to compare the non-native speaker to a native speaker. If someone listens to me speak a language and says, "but I can tel that you are not Chinese or Japanese or French".
I say, wel of course you can. I am not! The way the native speaker speaks is my model, what I strive to emulate and imitate, but I do not expect to ful y achieve it. I visualize myself as a proficient speaker of that language, but I am not disappointed when I am told that I do not sound like a native.
I sometimes reflect on the fact that language learning is hard work. It can be fun. It can be enjoyable. It can be interesting, but it is hard work. I guess playing music is the same way. You have to put in the time. You have to work systematical y. You have to read and listen a lot and you have to review your new words and phrases.
I wonder how many people who say they want to learn a language are real y serious enough to get anywhere. Is it 5%? I see immigrants in Canada who flock to free language school but do not put the effort into learning that is necessary to make a breakthro ugh. Many people are happy to sit in a classroom, or to have a conversation in the language they are learning. How many are prepared to do what we ask of them at LingQ, to read and listen, and to save up to 90 LingQs per week?
I have often compared language learning to physical training. There are similarities and of course there are differences.
Language learning is mental exercise. It works the brain and not the body. It is beneficial for the brain. You do not sweat nor expend physical energy. You not only train the language fitness of the brain, you also accumulate words and phrases. None of this is true in physical training where you essential y do not have to think.
But there are many similarities. I compare aerobic training, or jogging, to extensive reading or listening, where you are reading or listening to a lot of different content, most of which you understand. You jog to build up your stamina and the strength of your heart, your cardio -vascular system. In the same way the extensive reading of material that is fairly easy for you improves your reading and speaking, and your confidence in the new language.
Anaerobic training is more about power and strength. You focus on power in sprinting, or jumping. You build up the ability for your heart and muscles to explode when needed in a sports event or competition. I liken that to the intensive study of more difficult texts in language learning where you are saving many words and phrases and listening and reading the same content many times. You want to increase your word power.
