It is quite challenging to keep our English
updated and see any kind of improvement at a certain level of the language
acquisition. Especially if we get to a level where we can communicate well and
we haven’t got anymore those blanks that used to be so common when we started
talking in English. We keep studying and studying, but we can´t see any progress
and we seem to be skidding on our English classes with no real input
acquisition. However, a thing that a learner at this level should comprehend is
that, despite their ignorance of any kind of progress, there is something
happening inside their brain that they really need to know: the Portuguese
language control is being put apart from their second language as they get
acquainted with the process of learning it in an advanced level.
As most Learners must know, one of the main
problems of learning a second language is the influence of the native language
in the process of communicating something. Sometimes, we think that we are
speaking English, but in fact, we are talking in Portuguese with English words.
This transference from the native language happens not only with the so-called
false cognates, but mainly with cultural behaviors or mannerisms of the first
language that interfere within the communication of the second language causing
errors and misunderstandings.
The best way to avoid this transference and
interference is to observe the way some sentences are built, especially in
written English. See below some examples:
1. For basic learners, the
confusion with the verbs “to have” and “there is/are” is quite common:
Eu tenho um carro. = Eu possuo um carro. - I have
a car.
Tem (há) um livro sobre a mesa. = Existe um livro
sobre a mesa. - There's a book on the table.
2. For intermediate learners,
the language interference happens with “for” and “to”:
Para aprender, é necessário estudar. - It's
necessary to study, in order to learn.
Isto é um instrumento para medir velocidade. -
This is an instrument for measuring speed.
3. For
Advanced learners, the problem comes with the cultural differences that appear
in some contexts:
“ I will be waiting for your reply” (eu aguardo o
seu contato) – I am looking forward to hear from you.
Most learners, mainly the advanced ones, ask me
if there is anything they can do in order to avoid it, well, there is not an
easy answer for that besides keep recasting it and the best way to recast this
interference is to review your previous texts and try to analyze any Portuguese
on it.
But how can we do it?
We can start by reading it aloud and think
thoroughly about those parts of the texts where it doesn’t sound quite English
or the fragments of it, whose meaning seems quite blurry. Have you heard about
Blurry Communication?
The blurry communication phenomenon is known as
"too much talking about nothing" or using other words: they look like they are
speaking something, when in fact, they are saying complete nonsense.
That’s why the use of the concept “ less is more”
is always handy for all the learners at the advanced level. Another tip,
especially for spoken English, is by asking clarifying questions (Did you get
it? Do you know what I mean?). All in all, the influence and the interference of
the native language will be always there and the best way to solve this matter
is to keep studying and increasing the distance from one language to the other.
As far as I know, the best way to perceive that is writing.
What have you written lately in English?
Professor Frank Oliveira
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