Interesting how many of the questions are rote memory--lists of rules, names of things, definitions--relatively low order thinking (but requiring application to memorize them).
I was thinking more along the lines of using that information-an education that taught fundamentals and higher order thinking and research skills. Higher order thinking requires both abstract and concrete elements. My 14 year old cousin can't multiply even two single digit numbers without a calculator or a lot of hemming and hawing and I have not seen any evidence that she has studied grammar at all. She is an honors student and very bright. When we suggested that she just knuckle under and memorize the damn multiplication tables, she flat out refused-said she couldn't and didn't need to do it.
Yeah, you do need some basic information that basically can only be acquired by memorizing things like lists and names etc. and young folks do seem to be deficient in such things. I've also seen classes happily chant the i before e rule and almost completely fail to apply it. I certainly learned lots of grammar in school, but to tell you the truth, when it came to tests, I passed because standard English was spoken in my home and I was a reader. When offered clusters of sentences and asked to determine which one was correct, I could pick out the right answer. Ask me to distinguish between a gerund and a participle and their respective uses, and I was back to 'choose C'. What saved me in school (at all levels) was being an avid reader. I often think grammar is fetishized as a cure (or maybe a prevention) when other factors are at play in the perceived shortcomings in today's education. I say perceived because in Canada, our students' performance on international tests are high in all areas, but the public perception is less rosy.
I learned grammar in much the same way, also studying Latin helped as well. I live in Florida, which ranks 40th among the United States in academic performance. And the US isn't really up there among nations in quality of education to begin with. My very bright little 14 year old cousin has to be harangued to read. I used to get up in the middle of the night to sneak into the bathroom so that I could turn on the light and continue to read the latest book which I couldn't put down. I feel sorry for her.
But then, maybe being a bookworm has it's drawbacks as well-nah, not so much.:>)
Is it bad that I don't know what 'diacritically' means!?!?!?!!
Lots of lists there, that I'm assuming were learned by reciting them (I seem to remember my Dad saying that's how he learned everything at school in the 1930s).
My Grandmother learned her basic skills and to speak and read English that way. She taught me multiplication tables and how to do multiplication and division without aid of paper or pencil the same way and tried to pound some grammar and spelling into me as well. I'm glad she did, and don't think it damaged my ability to think one little bit. I just wish I had learned more. I know that information is available almost instantaneously to anyone with a computer and web access today, but the ability to memorize and carry information is still an important skill to develop, and one that is not emphasized enough today. Doesn't diacritical have something to do with those little symbols they use to describe the way vowels are pronounced, like the accent egu in French? Yep- from Wikipedia
( ... )
Orthography is correct spelling but it is a word that is not used much any more - but very few people i know could tell you that a dipthong is two vowells joined to make one syllable... Diacrital marks were no longer taught though, in pre-college/university classes after the Second World War. A Caret is a mark placed under a line to show an ommission - like colo_r - i don't have one on my keyboard, it is an upside down V - this word is missing a 'U'. It is still used when correcting in printing
( ... )
Dumb-not even a little bit. Educated in these United States, well yeah. I wish someone would find a happy balance between rote learning and intuitive learning.
How has the weather been-do you still have power-are you ok?
Comments 11
Reply
Reply
Reply
But then, maybe being a bookworm has it's drawbacks as well-nah, not so much.:>)
Sami
Reply
Lots of lists there, that I'm assuming were learned by reciting them (I seem to remember my Dad saying that's how he learned everything at school in the 1930s).
Very interesting - thanks for posting!
Reply
Reply
(The comment has been removed)
Sami
Reply
Reply
Reply
How has the weather been-do you still have power-are you ok?
Sami
Reply
Leave a comment