First of all, through a number of studies it appears hats learners go through
a rather predictable development sequence just like children.
Second of all the use if visual aids and objects made readily available around
a room It's a time-tested technique that all teachers should feel comfortable with.
Supporting your room with pictures, objects and
maps can help support memory and understanding.
On the other hand, it is also true that learners, especially at later ages,
draw on their knowledge of their native language as they try to learn a new one.
This is often referred to as transfer.
And one of the most common arguments being made,
is whether transfer is negative or positive.
Let me explain.
Negative transfer might refer to transferring a linguistic item
incorrectly from one language to another.
Whereas positive transfer refers to the idea of correctly assuming
that how it works in one language,
presumably your native language, is the same way it works in the new language.
I definitely transferred,
for example, my knowledge of Spanish to help me with my Portuguese.
And, in fact, when I don't know a word in Portuguese,
I usually attempt the Spanish word and put a Portuguese accent on it.
And quite honestly, it sometimes works out.
Good idea or bad idea?
Well, again, it sometimes works.