A new study suggests that focusing on how foreign languages sound, rather than immediately learning vocabulary and grammar, could be more effective for language acquisition. Researchers at UCL and Tohoku University, Japan, found that the brains of the most proficient linguists process unfamiliar foreign terms as random noise.
Typically, individuals try to understand a new language through the sounds of their native tongue, which can make learning harder if the foreign language's sounds differ significantly. However, the study, which involved 67 Japanese learners of English, found that those with higher auditory precision mastered pronunciation faster and more accurately.
These learners relied less on the brain's left sensorimotor system, which is involved in language processing, when hearing foreign sounds. Instead, their brain activity patterns resembled those seen when processing non-speech sounds, allowing for more accurate processing of new sounds with less interference from native language patterns.
Professor Kazuya Saito-van Poeteren, lead author and professor of second language education at UCL Institute of Education, stated that the findings challenge stereotypes about Britons' language abilities. He suggested that the issue might stem from insufficient meaningful exposure and teaching methods that do not adequately train auditory skills.
The findings indicate that foreign language education should shift from an approach based on 'more practice' to one that develops learners' 'ear for language learning' in line with their auditory characteristics. Professor Padraic Monaghan of Lancaster University noted that the study confirms the vital role of listening in language learning, acknowledging variations in sound sensitivity among learners.