neglected) key to learning English. By using physical actions while learning,
it is possible to learn faster, remember more, remember longer and speak
better.
Dr. James Asher, a psychologist and professor emeritus at San José State
University, found that using physical actions in language class actually helps
students learn vocabulary better. Dr. Asher became curious about the link
between language and movement after watching how young children learned
to speak. He noticed that when parents said something, their children
typically would respond with a word and some sort of action. He also
noticed that parents frequently used actions and gestures while speaking to
their babies.
Based on his research and observations, Asher developed the Total
Physical Response system of language teaching in which students respond to
teacher commands in the new language with whole body actions. These
actions strengthen the meaning of the phrase and make it easier to remember.
Dr. Asher believes that students can learn 12 to 36 words in an hour using
this method. I’ve had similar success using a version of it in my lessons and
seminars.
Of course, this is the complete opposite of what happens in most English
classes. In school, you are told to sit still in your chair. You sit for an hour or
more. Naturally, the longer you sit, the more your energy drops. As your
energy drops, your concentration drops, too. And as your concentration
drops, you learn less and forget more. Of course, this lower energy
frequently leads to feelings of boredom. Less movement, less energy, lower
concentration, and boredom naturally produce worse results, no matter what
the method is, and so we have another downward spiral.
While everyone benefits from physical learning, some people absolutely
need it. These people are called “kinesthetic learners.” They learn best when
they connect learning to physical movement. This kind of learner tends to
struggle in traditional classrooms, where they are required to sit motionless
for hours. Schools and teachers often label these people as being “learning
disabled” or as having “attention deficit disorder.”
