I put a quick version of this on Instagram the other day, and here is the more in-depth 3 minute version 🙂
Language learning (or teaching) is just like Lego.
At first you start with a blank piece of paper. (Although a skilled teacher will be able to show you that you already know many “secret” words 🙂 )
Then you add some blocks.
And you play.
And make new structures and new toys.
And often you’ll learn blocks in prebuilt chunks, like an aeroplane or full sentence. And you can break it apart and swap bits from other sets.
The teacher will give you feedback and ask you what you think.
And of course the key is play.
If all you do everyday is study the textbook without any play you won’t get far at all.
So grab yourself some new bricks and play away as much as you can!
Be Genki
Richard
Totally agree with you! This is exactly what I was thinking! That’s how I experienced my English as a Second Language learning in Austria. I always marvelled at how much more I could say. After 2 years of really good basic grounding, which involved lots of grammar focused speaking, I started reading original English literature. Not the graded readers. And learned all the higher level grammar through books, ahead of the curriculum.
So, I was longing to give these building blocks to the kids over here, in Japan, where I am now. And I sensed that with Genki English I was going to give them just that. It’s a cool toy!