The Power of ✨Context✨

How Meaningful Context Helps You Learn a Second Language 📈

"What are you writing?" a colleague asked as I tried to scribble a kanji on my phone's bilingual dictionary. I pointed toward the whiteboard with the hastily written kanji boku (睦) on it. "Oh, that." he says, "It's the radical me (目) followed by tsuchi (土), katakana no ha (八), and tsuchi (土) again. 

I thanked him and then studied the dictionary entry. Turning towards him again, I held up my phone to show the animated stroke order. "It's katakana no ru (ル).." I said. And just like an anime character, he put his hand on behind his head, smiled sheepishly, and replied, "Japanese is really difficult, isn’t it?"

I stared at him in disbelief for a split second, and we both dissolved into laughter. Because of this, I know I won't forget the word shinboku (親睦) or even the stroke order for its kanji anytime soon. I have meaningful context to thank for that. 

What is meaningful context?

Meaningful context in language learning is using language in real-life situations or authentic contexts that are relevant and noteworthy to the learner. It involves understanding and producing language in a way that reflects its practical use and purpose. When exposed to meaningful context, we better comprehend and retain new vocabulary, grammatical structures, and expressions. This is because putting words into context gives them meaning, which is essential in getting them into your long-term memory. Meaningful context also involves connecting new information with existing information, creating a cognitive structure. 

Okay, but how is this even related to the story you told at the beginning of the article?

Interestingly, memorable situations, such as my experience above, can also be considered meaningful context. Since I found it hilarious and endearing, it left a strong impression and provided an additional cognitive hook for retention. The more engaging, emotionally impactful, or personally relevant our memorable language learning situations are, the more likely they will stick.

Attaching emotions to language learning creates a more memorable and meaningful learning experience. Emotionally engaging content, such as heartfelt movies, exciting stories, personal anecdotes, or thought-provoking discussions, can activate emotional responses that facilitate memory formation. Emotional connections help anchor the language in your memory and make it easier to recall later.

It's crucial to mention that not all emotions are equally beneficial for memory. Positive emotions, such as interest, excitement, or enjoyment, promote memory formation and retrieval more effectively. Negative emotions, such as stress or anxiety, can hinder learning and memory. Therefore, creating a positive and supportive learning environment is vital for optimizing the benefits of emotional engagement.

How can I create meaningful context in my language studies?

To create meaningful context in your language learning studies, consider the following strategies:

1. Real-life connections: Find ways to connect the language you are learning to your daily life and personal experiences. For example, try incorporating the language into your hobbies, interests, or work-related tasks. This makes the language more relevant and meaningful to you.

2. Authentic materials: Seek out authentic materials in the target language, such as books, articles, podcasts, movies, or TV shows. Engaging with content you enjoy and find interesting will provide meaningful context and expose you to the language as native speakers use it in real-life situations.

3. Conversations and language exchanges: Engage in conversations with native speakers or language exchange partners. This allows you to practice the language meaningfully and interactively, exchanging ideas, opinions, and personal experiences.

4. Cultural immersion: Immerse yourself in the culture associated with your learning language. Explore the customs, traditions, and everyday life of the target culture. This will deepen your understanding of the language and provide meaningful context for language learning.

5. Contextualized learning materials: Use language learning resources that provide contextual examples and exercises. Look for resources that present language in meaningful contexts and help you understand how words, phrases, and grammar are used in real-life situations.

6. Goal-oriented projects: Set specific language learning goals and work on projects that require the use of the language. For example, you could translate your favorite songs, write a bilingual story, or create content in the target language. This gives you a purpose for using the language and creates a meaningful context for your studies.

Remember, making your language learning experience personal, meaningful, and tailored to your interests and goals is key. Engaging with your target language in meaningful ways can improve the learning process and make it more enjoyable and effective. As for me, whenever I reflect on either conversations or learning materials, what I consciously identify as my personal situations of meaningful context are the ones that actually stick. I think I'll make a habit of identifying more of these in the future ☺️

Infographic with sources available on IG @penpenpenguin.jp 🙇‍♀️