Context and learning

The following message was received at The Linguist from one of our Newsletter subscribers. I am taking the liberty of reproducing it here both in the original form and after correction in The Linguist system. I also attach my comments.

I agree with you that for learning a foering languageForget your grammar rules. You will not remember them in time to use them, or you will remember them incorrectly, or you will not even understand them in the first place. Instead you should practice writing. Note your mistakes and then become more observant when you read. When you have had enough exposure to the language, and enough practice writing, your grammar will naturally start to be correct. Then you will also speak better and with more confidence. Then you will be less nervous when speaking to a foreigner, you will enjoy it more and you will just continue to improve.

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