Courseless: Another Way to Learn

I was shocked by the German university system. Maybe it was just my institution in particular, but the set up was completely unfamiliar. American-styled syllabi were unheard of, none of my classes submitted attendance sheets, and homework was a purely recreational activity. The language classes faired only slightly better, but only my optional Russian course had a lecturer that corrected homework. So what does that mean for learning? Specifically, language learning.

The central university library in Marburg

Well, you can say goodbye to the excuse: "I can't learn a language". Really, you can say that for anything at this point.

Now, there are values to the German system. One in particular, is that it encourages self-motivation and self-studying. Without it, you might as well fail. When I taught myself up to intermediate German, I had imagined it was a big achievement, but the fact is, whole nations of people work this way within their university system. In Germany, with minimal materials - slides, handouts and notes from the professor or lecturer. And whatever else you can dig up, in my case.

Of course, with language there are four components: reading, listening, writing and speaking. The last two are what give people the most trouble, and it's useful to have help. But do you really need a course? What if you can't afford one? Or it doesn't fit in your hectic schedule of work, family, friends, perhaps more school (second job, etc)?

You don't necessarily need books....
even if they look amazing.......

With language, it's more than easy to find resources that allow to work around your daily routine. There's a plethora of language-exchange websites, local language meet-ups, digital flashcards, free online courses, and only vocabulary and grammar references. Deciding what to use is more difficult than learning!

Although sometimes, you don't have to chose. You can combine, mix and match, find out what works. If you want to do something, and I mean really want to, there isn't really an excuse as long as the net is open and free. 

This brings me to the root of the matter: my first project here, at the Fable Hotel, is to try out different methods for language learning and post the results! They may not follow the originals correctly, and of course, language learning is different for everyone - but another review doesn't hurt.