The Nature Method for Learning Foreign Languages - What is it & Why isn't it Better Known?

[@ProfASAr]

If you enjoy learning from my videos, then you might enjoy learning with me in my virtual academy. Registration is ongoing, so you could join a session next week to improve your abilities to read French, German, or Spanish literature, practice spoken Latin, learn to read Medieval languages, participate in Great Books discussion seminars, or get support for teaching yourself languages, including participation in study-with-me sessions: www.alexanderarguelles.com/academy/

[@Daniel_McDougall]

Sounds exactly like Minna No Nihongo for Japanese. You need to know the phonetics systems of hiragana and katakana but can learn that in a week or two and its just a grammar guide that is based around a fictional company and dialogues that happen in that company. Start with very basic phrases and builds on them gradually with some pictures as well. Has grammar explanations book in many languages (hence “everyones Japanese”) for any deeper understanding if you need it ever. It seems to make perfect sense really.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for providing this reference.

[@albertroundtree299]

The AyanAcademy is a real gem. Thank you Alexander.

[@ProfASAr]

You are very welcome.

[@gonulbozkir6672]

I agree with you. Also, I bought the books from Ayan Academy, they are very good. It's been great for my library. Thank you Alexander

[@fryloc359]

Yes I have recently found their channel. There are several video series I am going to watch when I am done with German.

[@Christopher_Stead]

It might interest you to know that there is an online effort to produce an Ancient Greek equivalent to Ørberg's LLPSI. It is called - aptly enough - Lingua Graeca Per Se Illustrata. It appears to be largely a solo effort, though the project itself is open source, so others can collaborate and improve on it. There is also an Italian translation of the popular Athenaze, which is structured differently from the original English edition, and much more closely resembles LLPSI as well, with its emphasis on repetition and large amounts of comprehensible language. Worth a look!

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for the tip, Chris, I did know about this already, but now many more will learn of it as well.

[@Glassandcandy]

There already is a nature method for Ancient Greek: Alexandros to Hellenikon Paidion.

[@bjorn7355]

Very interesting. In 1980 I went to Germany and had 3 weeks of language learning (Humboldt institute) - where the sole focus was on this method. I had great results with it.

[@AyanAcademy]

It is just sad that they changed their approach to language teaching and they seem to really not know about these courses anymore.

[@ProfASAr]

Would that have been in East Germany?

[@idea3872]

Ayan Academy, a really special KZbin channel, Thank you very much for sharing this information with us.👍

[@ProfASAr]

You are very welcome. I hope you enjoy their courses!

[@menelvagor9144]

Thanks for treating this worthy matter so thoroughly: a fair number of people know the Latin book, but we are still few in the grand scheme. Ayan Academy I can recommend, since I got the French and Italian Nature Method books through him, and they (including, of course, Lingua Latīna per sē Illūstrāta) are the best language-textbooks I've ever seen. It is worth mentioning that of those books which the Nature Method Institute did publish, only the Latin, English, French, and Italian are available in their entirety, and only parts of the German and Russian books have been recovered.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the details about the completeness of the various volumes.

[@menelvagor9144]

@@ProfASAr You're welcome. And I forgot that there's also one that teaches English, which we also have in its entirety and is equally good.

[@eeeee323]

Admiro mucho su trabajo, profesor Arguelles, gracias por compartirnos todo lo que sabe🦋

[@ProfASAr]

Gracias por el agradecimiento.

[@ryansmallwood1178]

There's some more recent video courses that used this method, I think French in Action videos are a very popular series from 1987. There's also a Sanskrit video series up on youtube called "Sanskrit Through Sanskrit", though I don't know if that's the original title, and it seems to assume some cultural knowledge about India already as I think it is designed for people who already speak an Indian language. I believe there's also a lot of youtube channels that try to make comprehensible input for various languages using similar techniques, though I don't know if they're as well structured. And even for videogame fans there's things like Pedro's Adventures in Spanish an adventure game built on the same principals.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for providing these references.

[@toastedtarts4044]

Oh this method is comprehensible input

[@austinlang6946]

I learned American Sign Language to fluency this way. From the moment I started ASL 1 it was all in sign language. I liked it. Spanish basically the Michael Thomas method, with Spanish with Paul which was an awesome way to naturally acquire grammar. Now 7 months in everything I do is in the target language. So for me both have worked successfully, but I’m also very motivated which in my opinion is the key among all keys.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the interesting comment about how this can work with ASL.

[@nebulus9118]

Greetings professor Arguelles. I have spent approximately 6 months studying the Bulgarian language from a combination of immersion and language manuals. I am at a point where I feel generally comfortable holding conversations, even if I have to ask a lot of clarification questions, though I am nowhere close to a literacy proficiency. I am now no longer in an immersed environment, but I know that in my future, I will again have to be so for extended periods of time. I am now starting college, and I must fulfill a language requirement. My family is advising me to take Russian, as they say it will aid my Bulgarian through a similar vocabulary. I have studied a small amount of Russian in the past, and I got to the point where I could hold all the basic conversations I needed to. But after stopping and using Bulgarian again, I found myself confusing the languages in my speech. This very quickly corrected itself after a few weeks of using Bulgarian again, although now, I hardly remember any Russian apart from greetings and a few jokes. I fear that studying Russian more intentionally now will do more harm than good. I eventually wish to study Russian, as I find it a beautiful language, and want someday to read the literature in its original text. But with where I am in my Bulgarian, I'm not sure that now is the best time to do so. As I am an avid watcher of your channel, there are other languages I study, and would be happy to devoting my time in college to improving upon those. Though to me, Russian is the most intriguing language as far as having to take a class. I would very much appreciate to hear your thoughts, if you think it is worth it to take Russian, if my time would be better spent elsewhere, or if you have any general advice. Thank you very much for the videos you make, as your advice has always benefited me and my friends in both our language goals, and our study/dedication/discipline habits.

[@ProfASAr]

I take it Bulgarian is not an option for your college language requirement? I don't think Russian will do more harm than good! Think of yourself as learning "Slavic" and Russian and Bulgarian just being two variations upon a theme. If you care to submit to this, with a bit more context and background, to the Q&A page of my website, I will write you a much fuller response there.

[@luchesartomov]

Bulgarian language is the direct descendant of Old Church Slavonic, the first written Slavic Language, from the Preslav literary school in Bulgaria. Russia and Poland also used Old Church Slavonic up to 17th century and are very much influenced. The shared vocabulary between Bulgarian and Russian is almost 77%, but the grammars is completely different. Bulgarian is much more similar to modern English or Italian than any other Slavic language. No cases, complex tense structure, analytic language. It is a good gateway to other Slavic languages since it is simpler and as an ancient written language is like the common denominator between the South and the Eastern Slavic languages

[@The_Lord_Of_Confusion]

this is amazing stuff, why didn´t I hear about this sooner? and as you said, it amazes me, that this is not in use anywere. thank you for this overview!

[@ProfASAr]

You are very welcome. Have you tried one yet?

[@Stoutman100]

Excited about this. I have the Latin books and always wondered if there was anything like this for German or French. So thank you for this!

[@ProfASAr]

You are very welcome.

[@arandiel1817]

Hello Daniel. I am learning German right now, if you have any suggestions, could you share them with me? Any resources perhaps? Thank you in advance.

[@carmemsilva8200]

Portuguese is my native language and I am still learning english. I was afraid of begin to learn french, so I started this using the natural method. This method is amazing and I notice how easy is to learn latin origin languages for a portuguese speaking person.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for validating the method.

[@trigueirozz1816]

O de Espanhol é muito bom!

[@Yan_Alkovic]

So great to hear the names of so many Latin books that I myself have read through back in the day! And it's so lovely to see that there are people out there who are continuing to spread the good word on this method, it's really really worthwhile I wish I could assist in compiling such natural method manuals for the under-appreciated ancient languages like Old Norse, Old English, Old Church Slavonic, and Old Japanese, but alas, I don't know if anyone besides me wants to work on that and I have too many prior commitments...

[@ProfASAr]

Hello Yan, if anyone could produce a Nature Method Old Church Slavonic, I bet it would be you!

[@Yan_Alkovic]

@@ProfASAr Thank you, Professor, you are most kind! I do know that it’s possible, I just need a lot of time and resources…

[@TheOkazakiGuy]

When I was learning Japanese there was a series similar to this called Minna no Nihongo. I don't remember who published it. The main book was entirely in Japanese with many pictures and attempted to teach you Japanese with Japanese. There was a supplementary translation book (I think, if I recall correctly) but it wasn't necessary. I really enjoyed that series. This would have been about 20 years ago. I don't know if it's still popular or common. Anyway, very interesting. Thanks for the information!

[@alexalexeich7329]

I haven't seen the book wholly in Japanese, I have it with explanations in Ukrainian Still a great book though

[@TheOkazakiGuy]

@@alexalexeich7329 When I was using it, the one with instructions in our native language was the translation book, but the main book was Japanese only. If the book is still around, I suppose it may have changed to make the translation books the main one. If so, that's too bad. But good that you still enjoyed it!

[@ProfASAr]

@@TheOkazakiGuy I would love to see a copy of that. It is hard to imagine how that might work with such a different language...

[@GusutavoSC]

I have used Minna no Nihongo. It is a rather popular book for beginners of Japanese. In Japan, most Language Schools use it. The same book for any student regardless of their native language.. There are booklets explaining the grammar points of Minna no Nihongo in several languages. I think the same approach is used any Language School of any language.

[@ericsteinhauer8850]

very interesting! do you know "suomea suomeksi" by olli nuutinen? same method.

[@ProfASAr]

No, I had not heard of that. Thank you for the reference.

[@GaiusLibrietscientia]

Saludos desde Brasil. Estoy estudiando latín, español y mi idioma nativo, portugués. Creo que el método natural es muy importante para desarrollar una intimidad mayor con el idioma.

[@ProfASAr]

¡Que te sirva bien!

[@gonulbozkir6672]

I agree with you. Also, I bought the books from Ayan Academy, they are very good. It's been great for my library. Thank you Alexander

[@ProfASAr]

The hard copies are very handsome volumes indeed.

[@ZadenZane]

When a language has complicated grammar that listening only method just doesn't work. If you just learn to talk and copy what you hear you'll never get past the colloquial register. Some languages like English have relatively straightforward grammar with little differences between the written and spoken language. But when a language has wildly different grammar in speech and writing, the written language has to be learned from books!

[@ProfASAr]

Right you are.

[@ZadenZane]

@@ProfASAr I was thinking about Welsh when I wrote that. My textbook has a whole chapter about literary Welsh that says "this is the native language to no-one and everyone who knows it learned it from books!"

[@oswaldocaminos8431]

​@@ProfASArHello, excuseme, How much could be the cost of the books set of lengua latina?

[@pingoleonfernandez7638]

Indeed. I tried to learn Hungarian and didn't take so long for me to discover I could not really get how the language works just by comparison with other languages I know. Memorizing a ton of sentences and vocab was not of great help either. The best method I found for Hungarian is an old Italian book printed in Fiume (todays Dubrovnik, it used to be Fiume, the AustroHungarian coastal city with a significant italian speaking population) which teaches you the grammatical terms and functions of the affixes. I had to gave up Hungarian do to personal reasons but it was a good experience because it taught me that some mastering of the basic notions of grammar can be not just useful but very important, and the beast way to learn all that stuff is to study the grammar of your own mother tongue.

[@ZadenZane]

@@pingoleonfernandez7638 when I learned Welsh at school I had native speaker teachers who seemed never to have learned a foreign language in their lives. (Most native Welsh speakers grow up speaking Welsh at home and they pick up English from primary school, television, etc. No-one actually "teaches" them English. They tried their best but grammatical terminology was never used. I learned terms like perfect tense, conditional and subjunctive from German and French. The Welsh teachers tried their best but it was the worst language instruction I've ever encountered. The "it's like this" method just doesn't work past a certain point. I learned Welsh grammar from books. The teachers were pretty useless!

[@idea4258]

Yes, I know the Ayan Academy

[@ProfASAr]

Hopefully now many more people will learn about them through this video.

[@pauld3327]

@@ProfASAr I didn't know about Ayan Academy before watching this video 😀

[@jonathanf4082]

There's quite a few KZbinrs, both individual creators and institutional courses, that teach the target language in the target language. There's a practical benefit to it - if you make a video language course, you don't need to translate or localize the course for learners in different countries. Some of them have books as well, for example the 'Learn Korean in Korean' channel does.

[@mcmerry2846]

The thing is finding a good practical and didactical course, in my case I get boring with easy, hence the courses need to be catchy

[@ProfASAr]

Those who get bored easily do have a cross to bear.

[@andreaquitiaquez4440]

Very interesting video! I have some questions for you, do you think that someone can "improve" or "update" this method? I mean for english, because it is a very old book like you said or do you think that the book is good as it is?

[@ProfASAr]

In theory, yes, but in practice they will probably make it worse.

[@brucetepke8150]

Professor, could you comment on the type of book that starts you out with native texts from the start? I'm thinking of Lowe's Bellum Helveticum and Harper's Inductive Greek Method as exemplars.

[@ProfASAr]

I am not sure I know what you mean. I have Lowe's book and don't see that it starts with full texts in lesson 1.

[@fariastupiantigo]

I suggest the collection ENGLISH THROUGH PICTURES, by A. Richards and Christine M. Gibson. It has sort of this teaching/learning approach as well.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the recommendation.

Ayan Academy has "through pictures" series in other languages too!

[@collegesuccess]

@Alexander Arguelles, 14:27 min. mark Would you know of how one can secure an audio copy of LATIN BY THE NATURAL METHOD by Fr. William Most, Volumes I & II, which would be in "Church" Latin? Thank you.

[@ProfASAr]

While the pdf's for that excellent course are available for free online, I am afraid I have never run across accompanying audio for them.

[@cito2820]

Thanks for the video professor! Quick question you might now the answer to: do you know if the newer Perfectionnement Russe (blue cover) is as good as the second newest one (white cover)? I remember you doing a video with the second most recent one about 7 or so years ago. Thanks!

[@ProfASAr]

I am sorry but I don't know if the content is any different or if there is just a different cover. The content of the old one was excellent, but the recordings left something to be desired. One of the male speakers was mumbled unclearly and read at a pace much faster than the other three narrators, so it made it hard to use the audio effectively. I would hope that they might have rerecorded it replacing him.

[@cito2820]

@@ProfASAr Thank you so much professor!

[@MenelmacarLG]

Grâtiâs tibi agô hâc dê sat magnâ rê prô loquendô et Ayan Academy prô commendandô. Plûs laetus auscultârem, praesertim quôrum accûsês tâlîs librôs mendôrum, et quômodo, rûrsus hâc methodô sî suscipiant magistrî, melius adhibeâmus.

[@ProfASAr]

Grātiās tibi agō quoque!

[@peterbrown3004]

On KZbin Aleph. W Angela and Scorpio Marianus have imparted. Ancient Greek using an approach along this line

[@MenelmacarLG]

Don't forget Aleph with Beth for Hebrew. Very good stuff.

[@ProfASAr]

@@MenelmacarLG Thank you for the links.

[@gabriel-x7x9g]

@@ProfASAr I really like Luke Ranieri aka Scorpio Martianus. He is doing a good work in latin and ancient greek.

[@MenelmacarLG]

@@gabriel-x7x9g This is true.

[@tomdoesstuff1978]

There is a 2005 book for Spanish called 'Lengua Española : Comprensión' by Svetoslava Staykova that employs exactly the same method as the Latin book. I have it and it is excellent. The Ayan Academy also provides audio for the book.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the recommendation!

[@pareiniprinceton7626]

Hi professor . Thanks for your good videos. You upload some videos about Persian .I want to know that what do you think about HAFEZ poems and RUMI poems and SADI poems??

[@ProfASAr]

I prefer Sadi to the others - his Boostan and Gulistan are very important works to me.

[@bjorn7355]

Really interesting video!

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for your appreciation.

[@ba_ba_]

thank you very much

[@ProfASAr]

You are quite welcome.

[@trindade9835]

Do you think that the Worman's books for French and other modern languages are very dated for those who want to learn the language mainly for reading classics? Now I'm going through the Jensen book for French, but I'm thinking to also begin the Worman's one.

[@ProfASAr]

No, how could they be dated for reading classics?

[@andang7005]

I think there's a slight inaccuracy in your description box. The Nature Method Institute first ever publication was 'English by the Nature Method' in the 40s, and it was a huge success. French and Italian versions followed, and it was only in the 50s that Orberg proposed to apply this method to teach antique languages.

[@ProfASAr]

By first published I don't mean chronologically in the history of the Nature Method Institute publications, but published there as one of their manuals before it became per se illustrata.

[@andang7005]

@@ProfASAr oh, I see. Sorry for the misunderstanding.

[@ppp.2854]

Hello, I have one question: In your book "The nature Method for Learning English", has the solutions to the exercices as well? Where can I find the solutions, the answers for the exercices of the whole book? Thank you.

[@petrimarinho]

Great books disappear because the authors are dying and the new generation unfortunately is not capable of writing such good books. In my country, Brazil, it is no longer possible to easily find editions of great cultural value from over 70 years ago.

[@ProfASAr]

All too true...

[@turborunner7859]

If you have a University Library Card, then you should be able to find any book out there. The books there are almost never taken out as well.

[@turborunner7859]

Archive and libgen are online alternatives. Could in theory print out these book and sew up a binding if you can find cheap enough paper.

[@toastedtarts4044]

@@turborunner7859😮 i didn’t know that was possible

[@Zeshan-u9t]

If these books were last popular in the 50s, then wouldn't it be the fault of your generation that they aren't popular anymore? I'll be sure to write a book like this after I've started university. Hopefully, you'll also choose to add to the collection of books like this. Also, there are tools online you can use to access almost any book in the world. Feel free to ask about them.

[@pecerepa4286]

Hello, Professor Arguelles, I have just one question for you concerning this method. As an authority in language learning, What rating do you give to this method? Thanks for your kind response.

[@ProfASAr]

Very high!

[@pecerepa4286]

@@ProfASAr Thank you Professor Arguelles. You are so kind.

[@christophekeating21]

I would have said the exact opposite. For living languages, most adult group courses in language schools are solely in the target language. Most adult ESL/EFL classes are using solely English for instruction and in all textbooks. The same is the case for FLE (Français Langue Étrangère) and DaF (Deutsch als Fremdsprache). So the Berlitz idea of only teaching in the target language is the norm in adult language classes. I mean, go to any Goethe Institut or Alliance Française. These methods are normally communication focused, not grammar translation. They use plenty of pictures. What am I missing?

[@bofbob1]

University courses?

[@objectivistathlete]

Not just university courses, but also most courses in primary and secondary schools. So, most people who learn languages, do so through grammar-focused courses.

[@christophekeating21]

@@objectivistathlete yes, but if you go to an ESL language school, say British Council, or an adult language school for most other living languages, instruction is exclusively in the target language, including for total beginners. My own opinion is this is done primarily for economic reasons, being able to have students with many different native languages all taking the same class, rather than having to tailor classes to their own language backgrounds.

[@ProfASAr]

My focus here is upon textbook material that autodidacts can use to study on their own.

[@christophekeating21]

@@ProfASAr OK, I understand better. Thank you!

[@antaine1916]

Would you say that the three volume Buntús Cainte is an example of that method applied to Irish?

[@ProfASAr]

It is in that direction, but I believe there are a few English definitions per lesson as well.

[@antaine1916]

@@ProfASAr ah, yes. It does give English definitions of the Irish words, but it gives no English explanations or descriptions. I see what you mean.

[@mejomonster989]

Do you know what the Spanish by the Nature Method was called? I've found the English, French, and Italian books that were fairly uniform in presentation and information taught. But I have only found Poco a Poco for Spanish which seems less in depth than The Nature Method books. I figured they just never made a Spanish by The Nature Method book.

[@ProfASAr]

I am sorry, I don't know this.

[@Shibby27ify]

The soul of this method is alive and well at least in comprehensible input and the works and ideas of Krashen. Did this method influence Krashen to formulate his ideas?

[@stevekaczynski3793]

I think the direct method is less popular because the teacher has to be really good and put a lot of effort into it. Also classes need to be small. Grammar translation can be done by less talented teachers and is more economical in lots of ways.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting.

[@dominiqueluzTV]

Teachers who use direct methods must have a good command of the English language because the lessons are generally conducted entirely orally and at a fast pace. Edward Vivian Gatenby and Arthur Jensen's books are constantly being used as the basis for other new 'methods' of teaching English. The basic technique in the classroom usually involves asking each question twice (or even three times, depending on the students' difficulty) and guiding the students to answer correctly. This approach makes each lesson very dynamic and smooth, saving a lot of time in lesson preparation as well.

[@noname_whatsoever]

I find it bizarre that so few books based on the direct method exist. This week I was in a large local bookstore and browsed through the language section, looking for materials on ancient Greek. There was a whole shelf of titles, but all of them using the grammar translation method. I read books in several languages and cannot imagine having to put myself through the dull ordeal of such manuals. Why is language pedagogy so skewed towards the least effective and most boring method? You would almost assume that those who put these books together have little experience in foreign language acquisition to fluency.

[@ProfASAr]

I do believe your final assumption is unfortunately all too often correct.

[@KFrench1123]

Dreaming Spanish 💛

[@ProfASAr]

Espero que sueñes con los angelitos.

[@menelvagor9144]

I believe, Kevin, you mean the very good KZbin channel Dreaming Spanish, no?

[@KFrench1123]

@@menelvagor9144 Right, that's what I was referring to. I would consider that channel to use the Natural Method or something very similar.

[@KFrench1123]

@@ProfASAr Thanks, Professor!

[@menelvagor9144]

@@KFrench1123 Yeah it's great.

[@labanlagreca]

Hi Professor Arguelles, I was wonder if you’d be open to creating a resource- one that I know I’d benefit greatly from. It would be something similar to your Great Books list that you have posted on your website. In my experience of learning languages I have found that finding the “right” resources or materials is the hardest part. Therefore, I am hoping that you can eventually create a document (maybe an excel spreadsheet or something of that nature) where you layout the ideal path to fluency in each of the languages you have learned. In other words you’d create a detailed sequence of the materials that you’d use in which order at each level of acquiring a language. I truly feel that this would be a most helpful document as it would put nearly all of the practical wisdom you have learned into one compact place. Please, ask me questions if you are unsure what I mean and please let me know if you plan to do this! Thank you, Laban LaGreca (P.S. I cannot express how thankful I am for all your work. You have been a real blessing to me, and I feel so privileged that you have decided to share your knowledge with the world.)

[@ProfASAr]

Hello Laban and thank you for the suggestion. Please flesh it out a bit more and submit it to the Q&A section of my website. I'll answer it there and look into doing it from our discussion.

[@labanlagreca]

@@ProfASAr Yes sir! I will begin working on that immediately! Thank you for your response!

[@tomdoesstuff1978]

Professor, I wonder if you might produce a video explaining how one might work through these books in the most efficient manner. I imagine such a routine would involve some shadowing and scriptorium work but despite much searching of the internet, I cannot find anyone detailing how they have actually used the book in anything resembling a comprehensive and systematic way. Most users seem to fall into one of two camps: either just reading and reading each chapter ad infinitum or ploughing through the whole thing as quickly as possible. Surely there is a more profitable way of working the text.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the suggestion - I will consider it.

[@XboxTheBeatboxer]

The reason for this is that our species has tended towards linear, mechanistic reduction in all disciplines. Learning with the natural method is antithetical to that in that it is nonlinear, holistic. The keywords here are [linear, mechanistic, reductionist, nonlinear, holistic]. First, a few definitions. "Linearization" roughly means that a problem can be broken into sub-problems and that each sub-problem can be solved in isolation and then brought back together at the end to get to the same solution as if it were solved in one entire chunk. In order to break things down in such a manner, there is the necessary assumption that each part is independent of the others in its representation. From the standpoint of a machine, that means there no "camshaft in your piston" and from the standpoint of language it could mean something like that there's no "grammar in your vocabulary", and so on. All of those assumptions are "mechanistic" in nature. The issue with mechanizing concepts and phenomena in this way is that we destructively "reduce" them versus non-destructively doing so. The reason for this has to do with the fact that sometimes a group of features, aspects, dimensions, etc. are actually interdependently related. In other words, sometimes you cannot neatly and cleanly separate two dimensions because they are fundamentally interrelated. When linearization techniques are applied in such a manner (as we do in *almost all cases* in this day and age) to fundamentally non-linear phenomena, you lose important aspects to the linearized model, some of which lead to lost "emergence"--that manifestation of the phenomena that comes from multiple nonlinear aspects engaging with one another. Phenomenologically, your anecdotal experience with remembering your autodidactically acquired languages better than your traditionally learned languages even over time (as you mention in your video on why there needs to be a polyglot institute), comes from a nonlinear, holistic engagement with languages in your mind. The final term then is "holism" which refers to engaging not just with the entirety of a phenomenon, but to do so in a nonlinear manner. Everything we encounter has a true representation that is nonlinear, it is just easier to talk of things when we linearize them. NOTE: It is important to note at this point that many of these terms come not only from philosophy but also from mathematics. For instance, we teach our youth in middle and high schools to deal with linear systems of equations in their algebra classes. The mathematical definition of linearity maps very neatly to the way I have been discussing it so far, but since even more people have been traumatized by mathematics education than by language education, and noting that people have also had less than satisfactory experiences with language learning courses in those same formative environments, I will just stick to general discussions of these terms above. So far, we have briefly discussed linearity, mechanistic, reductionism, and nonlinearity as well as briefly sketched holistic representations of phenomena. Let's look at these briefly in context of the time period and with respect to the talking points of this video. You mentioned an active time period of these holistic language methods (a la "Lingua Latina") as being ~1920-1950, which we know takes place at WWII historically. During that time, industrialism ramped up in order to manufacture the machines needed to progress the war on all fronts. Groups, families, communities, and cultures all tend towards a "fractal structure" for efficiency. This means that if you zoom in or zoom out to a structure you see self-similarity in the patterns that show up. Global society in this time tended towards a philosophy of discrete, linearized, mechanistic, reductionism as that was the dominant mindset going into the war and fueling the decisions made. So why was this natural method falling out of favor? In short, it is not a linear, mechanistic, reductionist approach. It is a holistic, nonlinear approach. Why should we explore nonlinear, holistic, non-reductionist approaches in general today? Because the errors in linearization are growing too large for society to function properly as demonstrated by literally everything that is happening globally today, all of which is driven by that paradigm. Financial institutions, supply chains, education, agriculture, language learning. All using the same approach. -- A bit about me. I am a master autodidact, though only a novice on the polyglot journey. I have experience in engineering, mathematics, philosophy, metaphysics (and the nature of reality), art, and so forth. My commitment to knowledge is of the highest order. The short answer is that your polyglot institute comes from finding like-minded people not only in the linguistics realm but who generally embrace pragmatic and workable nonlinear, holistic techniques for engaging with reality. If you reply to this comment, I will reach out to you via email and we can discuss further. Xavier Waller Mathematical Artist Omnidisciplinary Thinker

[@ProfASAr]

Hello Xavier and thank you very much for the extraordinarily detailed comment. I hope the time and effort you put to writing it here will be appreciated by others. Something like this might be better suited to the Q&A page of my website where it could be more widely read.

[@XboxTheBeatboxer]

@@ProfASAr I will find your site and begin engaging. Talk to you soon!

[@martaleszkiewicz5115]

Hi Xavier, I suppose in the third paragraph you meant "inactive phase" for the holistic learning method being ~1920s-1950s, as opposed to "active phase"? I just wanted to double check I understood your point correctly. Other than that, I must say I was thrilled to read your comment and I really enjoy how you explain different phenomena as well as your overall style of putting your thoughts into words. I'm glad to see another non-linear learning enthusiast, as well as another autodidact and polymath, embarking on a polyglot journey. What languages are you learning?

[@XboxTheBeatboxer]

@@martaleszkiewicz5115 To clarify, the place in history (just before, during, and after WWII, arguably into the present day) where these methods were most actively developed happened to overlap with a shift in the way society practiced organizing, being, and engaging with concepts. Does that make sense?

[@sabreenahalalldeen6428]

love you sir

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you kindly.

[@YogaBlissDance]

Do a vlog perhaps about taking sons.

[@ProfASAr]

Thank you for the suggestion.

[@famillioner]

Are you familiar with the Refold method of language learning? It is based on the ideas brought forward by the linguist Stephen Krashen and relies for the most part on comprehensible input. Refold is completely free and offers a comprehensive guide on its web page. Please check it out and I would like to see you doing a video and sharing your opinion on comprehensible input based language learning methodology!

[@ProfASAr]

I have not heard of Refold, so thank you for the reference.

[@YogaBlissDance]

@@ProfASAr I think it's spear headed by a young man who intensively taught himself Japanese (?) to a high level. He's on KZbin too, a conversation between the two of you would be interesting.

[@ClaytonianJP]

Not free.

[@binabina4445]

Could you write out the titles and authors you mention? I can’t understand it well enough to figure out what the titles are.

[@ProfASAr]

Please go to the Ayan Academy page to find all that information.

[@trigueirozz1816]

Como assim?

[@Drvenjola]

I have to start soon learning german language. Any advice on what course or books I should use?

[@ProfASAr]

As you are watching the Nature Method video, why not try their German course first?

[@Drvenjola]

@@ProfASAr can you post s link to their course here?

[@Drvenjola]

@@ProfASAr is it called german by the nature method?

@@Drvenjola kzbin.info/aero/PLf8XN5kNFkhc0J7rC_vQMUBIVdaj---V5

[@Eoaiyer21987rhei]

Interesting to hear you mispronounce the name Mainwaring. In World War 2 in the UK (so the story goes, chatGPT assures me it's true), they had a list of words they would use to try to catch out German spies, and Mainwaring was in the list because it's pronounced 'mannering'. Looks like you would have been arrested!

[@ProfASAr]

Mein Gott!

[@stephenkrus]

Yeah... Comprehensible Input of learning French land me here. The method is old yet... still so way, way relevant.

[@oahola237]

Anything like this for learning Korean?

[@ProfASAr]

Unfortunately not.

[@HakendaNatan]

good

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks.

[@andrelopes4732]

I think, expressing my humble opinion, there was some kind of policial pressure to stop this method spreading as it was.

[@ProfASAr]

Interesting theory...

[@euclides9777]

Why do you think so?

[@hglundahl]

2:02 Does "Duden" count as direct method?

[@ProfASAr]

I haven't seen any Duden books that I would categorize as such, but maybe they do make them...

[@hglundahl]

@@ProfASAr Bilder-Duden?

[@jeffreylee2993]

I think sometimes there is no other choice but to use the direct natural method. For example, if a language class is full of immigrants (or otherwise recently arrived students) speaking 15 different languages, half of which are more common, half of which are more obscure or at least less global, then you have to use the target language to teach it. I went to a study tour in Japan consisting of 66 participants speaking 32 different languages. Of course, all the activity must be conducted in Japanese -- how can you otherwise accommodate everyone?

[@yomama...isaverynicelady]

Good point. Ive taught English through just English, including to very beginner students.

[@ProfASAr]

Good point indeed, but my focus here is on textbooks that autodidacts can use.

[@jonamachado]

Does anybody knows any books or method Koine of Greek by the natural method?

[@ProfASAr]

Sorry, I don't.

[@albertmousquetaire4128]

www.youtube.com/@AlphawithAngela

[@trigueirozz1816]

Nature method or Assimil?

[@ProfASAr]

?

[@trigueirozz1816]

@@ProfASAr What's better: Nature method or Assimil method to study a language.

[@simaabedini5908]

I learned English By lingo phone in 1970'z.

[@ProfASAr]

I think you mean Linguaphone.

[@ВалерийМандругин]

I believe it isn't well-known because it's challenging to monetize. It is much easier to sell a comprehensive course with 12 steps, filled with useful grammar rules and helpful lessons, than to offer just one book that one can use to master the target language without the need for a teacher.

[@ProfASAr]

Hammer, nail, head.

[@smorrow]

If anyone finds anything like this for Czech, let me know.

[@ProfASAr]

I have a Linguaphone Czech from the 1930's...

[@АюбДобрый-д2н]

Very interesting. Thanks a lot!!!!🇷🇺💩🐖🦍

[@thanoschedelstein3304]

Russian Flag - Turd - Pig - Monkey Enlightening

[@ProfASAr]

You are very welcome.

[@GeorgeDeCarlo]

After 12.5 years of conventional grammar nonsense failed, and storytelling with over 1,500 hours failed and now LingQ to assist is failing to have me understand Tagalog or even speak it. What is the secret polyglots are not revealing in acquiring language.

[@ProfASAr]

Can't understand what you are writing.

[@GeorgeDeCarlo]

@@ProfASAr exactly what do you not understand?

[@javifontalva7752]

intellegisne quod dico?

[@ProfASAr]

Ita est.

[@sabreenahalalldeen6428]

The Blessing with Kari Jobe & Cody Carnes | Live From Elevation Ballantyne | Elevation Worship

[@ProfASAr]

???

[@arccosinusopinion2323]

Is it me or the author starts to speak in a British accent and in a couple of sentences slopes down to an American one?

[@ProfASAr]

Do you mean me? Not that I am aware of...

[@arccosinusopinion2323]

@@ProfASAr oh, sorry. maybe it's just me

[@africaRBG]

sounds like rosetta stone

[@ProfASAr]

Flat out wrong.

[@Woodman-Spare-that-tree]

If this worked, nobody would have needed The Rosetta Stone.

[@ProfASAr]

No serious language student relies solely upon Rosetta Stone.

[@lucievec6683]

Books are overrated for learning languages. I think learning from direct speech is more effective.

[@ProfASAr]

Thanks for commenting. What on earth makes you think this?

[@Woodman-Spare-that-tree]

If you rely on direct speech alone, you’ll never learn how to spell.

[@properpolymath2097]

I wonder if Ayan Academy has permission from Assimil and Linguaphone to reprint their books and sell them for $95 each

[@allsunday1485]

The problem with the French one from Ayan academy is that it doesn't use standard French. They also have some mistakes but that's not a big deal. New recordings using standard accent were supposed to come out but they stopped after only one chapter.

[@ProfASAr]

Don't know about that one in particular, sorry.