Overlearning (pol. przeuczenie się) – method of studying foreign languages (also pedagogical concept), in which newly acquired skills ought to be practiced far beyond the point of fluency. In general, a relatively small body of material should be learned so well, that it requires very little effort to produce it in the future.
The following approach was first taken by Dawid Szylar in 2005. Szylar Method is little known and not really popular so far. It requires student to flawlessly read out loud a body of text, which is preceded by careful listening to the audio version from the audiobook.
Assumptions
The method is orientated toward highly-motivated, self-directed students only. It requires a great deal of persistence and self-discipline. Not really adapted to classroom use. Learning process is based mainly on listening and reading. Student is required to prepare her/himself to the task by pointing out the level of language skills possessed at the time, the skills which s/he would like to acquire and (last but not least) the kind of learning materials for studying purposes. Key points:
-Student choses a work of literature, which appears to be interesting to him/her. Written in a language student is about to overlearn, the book should contain vocabulary far more complex than that already possessed by the learner. The more difficult it is, the more rewarding it seems to be for the future. The content is not the primary issue here - decision depends greatly on students’ interests. However, there is one important condition – it must include wide range of dialogs.
Surprisingly, some TEXTBOOKS can also satisfy these requirements.
-Student provide her/himself with the audio version of the text (audiobook), read by the Native Speaker. Although its manufacturing is very common these days, it may happen that student won't be able to find one he is looking for, or the given recording simply do not exist at all. The text matching witch the audio version is so important though, that time spent on searching will be well rewarded.
-Student provide her/himself with the digital audio player, in order to listen to the audiobook.
The core learning process should be preceded by the translation of words difficult for the student. This translation, written above the given word, is not intended to be memorized at this stage. Two months should be enough for translating about 100-150 pages size A4.
Method in practice
Method is based on one simple concept in particular: student is to read out loud, impeccably and with no unnecessary pauses, a certain part of text (one page A4 for instance), and only ofter completing this task, s/he is moving on to the next part. Listening to the audiobook is considerably accelerating the process. Student should not forget about “consulting the pillow” on the topic in the meantime.
Fluent communication requires almost automatic understanding and production of speech. This means having the various structures of the language deeply ingrained, so that producing them happens without conscious thought. The concept called “zryciem sobie beretu” is perfectly describing the tremendous change in students’ perception after several hours of using Szylar Method.
It requires about 150 pages of text, containing wide range of vocabulary, to reach CAE level.
Advantages
-considerable efficiency of the method (proved)
-can be practiced any time and anywhere (on the way to work for example)
-careful listening and imitation accelerates the acquisition of a good pronunciation
-improves reading and speaking fluency
-complex reading beneficial especially for visually oriented students
-kind of learning materials determined by individual student
-pleasant, if matched properly
-automatic production of speech, responses come almost without thought
-student is not afraid of speaking
-modern method, taking technological novelties into account (mobile phones, portable media players, audiobooks)
-internal monologues in a given language
-improves writing skills
-adjusted to student, not to the contrary
-may lead to language proficiency
-requires only minimal expenses (everybody can afford it)
-for persistent and motivated autodidacts only
Disadvantages
-less attractive than other methods, many depends on personal characteristics
-not really involves inductive reasoning; just guided imitation
-grammatical issues not undertaken
-learning by heart
-only student bears responsibility for the final effect, it does not depend on anything else
-little known
-often tough translation problems
-if not thought over at the early stage, may cause more harm than benefits in the future
-not adapted to classroom use, just for self-directed learners
-range of vocabulary limited to the contents of the book
-for people already knowledgeable about the given language
-just listening and reading
-reguires student to read out loud
-for persistent and motivated autodidacts only
Hi. I have read what your thread and I am lost. You are describing some method of English, great, but in fact, it is nothing new. Ok, there is a name now for it, but, as far I understand you are a person who invented it, yes? Can you then write something about yourself, like you own a language school where it is used and people are happy with it, or some prove that this method actually makes sense. Because now it is just a description.