MSI Press Blog

  One of the most persistent myths about language learning is that it is a young person's game. We hear that children absorb languages effortlessly and that adults, especially older adults, are somehow "past their prime" when it comes to learning a new language. Yet the reality is far more encouraging. People over 60 learn languages every day. Some learn to communicate with grandchildren living abroad. Others prepare for travel, retirement overseas, volunteer work, or simply the pleasure of engaging with another culture. While they may not learn in exactly the same way as children, they bring unique strengths to the process that younger learners often lack. Older Learners Bring a Lifetime of Knowledge A 65-year-old language learner does not start from zero. They bring decades of life experience, educational knowledge, problem-solving skills, and understanding of how learning works. They already know how language functions. They understand grammar concepts, storytelling, p...

  Open Architecture Curricular Design (OACD) was developed to address a problem familiar to many educators: learners rarely begin in the same place, move at the same pace, or need exactly the same knowledge. Traditional educational models often require everyone to follow the same path. OACD takes the opposite approach, allowing learning experiences to be assembled, adapted, and personalized while maintaining coherence and rigor. Efficiency in learning is often misunderstood. It is not simply about moving faster. True learning efficiency occurs when learners achieve their goals with less wasted effort, fewer unnecessary detours, and greater retention of what they learn. Open Architecture Curricular Design (OACD) was created with this principle in mind. Learning What Is Needed, When It Is Needed Traditional curricula frequently require learners to complete material that may be only marginally relevant to their goals. OACD organizes learning into modular components that can be combine...

  Today's Publisher's Pride is How to Improve Your Foreign Language Immediately by Boris Shekhtman, which reached #31 in study and teaching references . the successful practices of diplomats and international journalists now available to any language learner Book description: This is the fifth edition of a popular book that provides a unique set of tools designed to enhance an individual's success in communicati0n in a foreign language environment. The devices presented allow the speaker of a foreign language to demonstrate the level of his/her language more impressively, so impressively, in fact, that it appears that the speaker's language itself has improved overnight. These techniques were developed and tested by the author with adult professionals in such varied fields as journalism, diplomacy, government, and international business. Many of these professionals have attested to the efficacy of these tools in their own columns. "This book provides the most bang...

Language learning is often viewed as the acquisition of vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills. Transformative Language Learning and Teaching (TLLT) challenges that assumption. Drawing on the work of adult learning theorist Jack Mezirow, TLLT proposes that language learning can fundamentally change how learners understand themselves, others, and the world. Rather than merely learning a language, students develop new perspectives, intercultural awareness, and the capacity for critical reflection. [cambridge.org] , [cambridge.org] For educators interested in this emerging paradigm, the following books and articles provide an excellent starting point. The Foundational Book Transformative Language Learning and Teaching (2021) Edited by Betty Lou Leaver, Dan E. Davidson, and Christine Campbell This is the landmark volume that effectively established TLLT as a distinct area within world language education. The book brings together leading scholars and practitioners who explore both t...