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Does this sound familiar to you? Probably, if you`ve also lately learned a language online. Language apps like Duolingo and Co. are designed to help us learn in a fun way. Competing against friends, collecting points - it's all part of the design. However, my learning app kept some important information from me, e.g. that the word "coger" in South America does not mean "to take” or "to hold”...
Let's start earlier ….
I still remember well my orange card index box from school times for learning spanish. It is probably still somewhere at home. Neatly I wrote each new word down and the appropriate meaning on the back. Then I went through the cards one by one.
"manzanilla"
- "apple"
right? Then the card went one tray over.
Apps or digital web programs have replaced more than just paper flashcards; they have taken language learning to a whole new level. A key technology in such applications is Artificial Intelligence (AI) or machine learning. Research around the use of AI applications in educational contexts has been growing tremendously in recent years. The main (pedagogical) hope is to make learning more individualized ("adaptive learning"). If you wanna learn more about AI, I recommend this online course: www.elementsofai.com which was co-developed by the European Union and is aimed to educate the European citizens about AI (the potentials, challenges and downsites). UNESCO even hopes to achieve the fourth social development goal "Quality Education" through the use of AI. You can read more about this topic here.
In general, much potential exists in the area of language learning. The well-known language app Duolingo also uses AI and findings from language research, to better adapt the learning units to different learning types. So naturally, using Duolingo is how I prepared for my four-month trip to Central and South America. And then I was on the plane to San Jose, Costa Rica. Things were getting serious. My seat neighbor spoke to me - in Spanish. My pulse went up a little right away.
"De donde eres?" Simple. I had really learned that question 100 times now.
- "Soy de Alemania" I answered.
"Y cuanto tiempo viajas?"
- "4 meses."
Her answer "Pura vida" confused me.
Well, yes so something about pure life, did fit my situation, but what exactly did she mean? No idea. After a few days I understood it. An expression that can really be used for everything.
You fall down? - Pura Vida.
You find money on the street? - Pura Vida.
When I said "Pura Vida" to the bus driver in Panama after the bus broke down and we were all standing at the highway, he just looked at me confused. Turns out that's really just a saying in Costa Rica. In Panama I tried to continue using my Spanish. But even if I started my first sentences in Spanish, the answer came mostly in English. Nobody really wanted to talk to me in broken Spanish. Should this remain my language experience?
Spoiler - fortunately not! From the bus station in Medellin in Colombia, I started my trip to San Carlos. A waiter in a cafe in Medellin had already told me about the beautiful landscape and the drive in the mountains already showed me, that I will be away from the hustle and bustle of the big city for the next three weeks.
Having a little coffee break and enjoying the view of San Carlos mountains.
The concept of Spanish Adventure is easy to explain - learning Spanish in the morning and having an adventure in the afternoon. After the first week it turned out that this concept had more effect on my Spanish skills than anything before had. I really enjoyed learning for the first time and was able to combine theory and practice. What I learned in the morning I could apply in the afternoon during the adventures or while shopping in the village. On Fridays we met for an intercambio with locals in a bar. I could use my Spanish and my counterpart could use his or her English.
Checking out the local food stores to learn new vocabulary and talk to the locals of San Carlos.
On Saturdays, in the only club in San Carlos, came the test: understanding Spanish in the middle of the dance floor. Even that worked better than expected after two weeks - mas o menos! However, a Colombian had a laugh when I asked "Puedes coger Dobby? (Dobby= best dog and main character at Spanish Adventure).
In South America "coger" does not mean "to hold" as I learned it in my app...
Coger = realizar el acto sexual
The following Monday I asked my teacher about differences between Spanish here and in Spain. What slang words do you use here, what are common phrases here, how to greet each other in the village. So during the two hours in the morning, I learned not only grammar and vocabulary, but also how to use these expressions and what different meanings they have. For me this is adaptive and individual learning at its best!
My personal conclusion is that language learning apps are helpful to get started with learning or to support the process. However, knowing as much vocabulary as possible is of no use to me if I still don't really understand the people and their mentality. But that`s my main reason to learn a language. What made the language experience at Spanish Adventure special for me was the opportunity to really immerse myself in the language. Language reflects so many cultural characteristics that are worth experiencing. And for me, that worked best in San Carlos.