{"id":5534,"date":"2022-08-18T14:28:44","date_gmt":"2022-08-18T14:28:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/?p=5534"},"modified":"2022-08-18T14:28:46","modified_gmt":"2022-08-18T14:28:46","slug":"vocabulary-or-grammar","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.clozemaster.com\/blog\/vocabulary-or-grammar\/","title":{"rendered":"Learning a language: What comes first, vocabulary or grammar?"},"content":{"rendered":"

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Contents
\n<\/strong> Reasons for learning a new language<\/a>
\nThe two systems of memory<\/a>
\nHow important is vocabulary in speaking and writing?<\/a>
\nWhere does grammar fit in?<\/a>
\nMy top 5 grammar rules<\/a>
\nHow are foreign languages taught in education?<\/a>
\nAll together now<\/a>
\nEfficient-est foot forward<\/a>
\nReferences<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n

There are many ways in which learning a language can be one of the most fun, satisfying and rewarding activities you\u2019ve decided to tackle.<\/p>\n

But where should you start?<\/p>\n

Daunting as it may seem, if you go about it the right way, you\u2019ll find yourself making jokes with new locals in no time.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Reasons for learning a new language<\/strong><\/h2>\n

English is currently the most spoken language around the world according to a recent survey by Statista<\/a>, which states 1500 million of us speak it.<\/p>\n

Whether committing to living in a new country, or starting a new job, can be a positive kickstart for a new adventure in learning a new language. With a new partner or new friends or family from abroad, you may want to invest in getting on the same wavelength as their mother tongue. Or you may simply be chasing a brilliant, brain-stretching hobby that can last a lifetime. Any of these are great reasons to get ahead and grasp the gobbledygook.<\/p>\n

And trust me, as someone who embarked on learning German after <\/em>moving to Germany, the best time to do this is as early as possible (before you rely on the decent English spoken by those around you).<\/p>\n

Once you\u2019ve already mastered some important first phrases (please, I would like a beer, thank you<\/em>), how do you get up to speed on the big lingual nuts and bolts?<\/p>\n

Let\u2019s look at how to grasp the two main pillars of language – vocabulary <\/strong>and grammar<\/strong>. Time to get from fumbling to fluent with less faff!<\/p>\n

<\/a>The two systems of memory<\/strong><\/h2>\n

So, if we have two different areas of language, which one should we learn first?<\/p>\n

Research shows us two main ways our memory helps us learn, remember, speak and write a language. These types of memory go hand in hand with these two strands of language we need to learn:<\/p>\n

Vocabulary <\/strong>(words, phrases, and even short sentences) is managed by declarative <\/strong>memory.<\/p>\n

Grammar <\/strong>rules and methods for producing language are managed by procedural<\/strong> memory.<\/p>\n

But which should come first?<\/p>\n

How can we get our brains and tongues to quickly work in harmony?<\/p>\n

<\/a>How important is vocabulary in speaking and writing?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Regularly consulting with linguistics experts and neuroscientists, the clever folks at Transparent Language<\/a> explain how our memory works best: the vocab-friendly declarative memory serves us better when it is built up first. We can then draw on a store of vocabulary and small sentences ready waiting for us to build up the procedural memory of grammar.<\/p>\n

Lorien Green also backs up why language learners should prioritize this in her blog<\/a> covering this topic. She explains that when you have a lot of vocabulary already under your belt, all the other parts of learning a language are less of a struggle. Studies she found even show that the amount of vocabulary known can provide up to a whopping 70% improvement in language skills (it can naturally depend on the language and the skills you\u2019re after).<\/p>\n

The University of North Carolina Learning Center<\/a> also emphasizes learning vocabulary over grammar at the start. In their tips for learning a second language, they suggest that you can quickly get to know a language if you have a lot of vocabulary under your fingers. They also say that knowing a large amount of vocabulary will mean you can learn grammar rules more easily.<\/p>\n

On the surface, this seems to make sense. Mostly, people want to get speaking with simple conversation skills. Understanding more individual words should help us earlier in our new language.<\/p>\n

Grammar has the potential to hold us back, as we worry about the details of how perfectly our words sit together. Especially when there are new forms of grammar that you have no experience with in English. It can also lead to a feeling you must perfect rules before you can speak, which can even hold up learning vocabulary.<\/p>\n

Vocabulary initially seems to be more favorable than grammar when first chatting with foreign speakers.<\/p>\n

<\/a>Where does grammar fit in?<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Learning grammar can, however, speed up learning vocabulary. There are plenty of blanket rules that can magic one word into many.<\/p>\n

For example, conjugations: without knowing the grammar rule, you would have to learn each verb form as a separate individual word. Fast-tracking by knowing the conjugation rule means you just need to learn a set of endings or transformations that would apply to heaps of verbs you would otherwise need to memorize.<\/p>\n

And how would you otherwise ask questions, state reasons, or say you\u2019re not interested in paying for that overpriced tourist tat?<\/p>\n

Knowing a string of verbs, nouns, and adjectives would be meaningless without being able to put them together to create meaning.<\/p>\n

When first attempting to learn German as a second language, I found that I (and others I know) could get away with mixing up a tiny amount of grammar around my vocabulary, such as the genders of some objects. But even if I was making complete sense, it would give me away, leading to a response of “Oh! We can speak English”. And then another chance to improve speaking German would disappear, along with the opportunity to get the lowdown on Berlin\u2019s club scene.<\/p>\n

As we learn more of a language, we find we only want to keep going and know more, and perhaps even become fluent. It only becomes more important to have a good handle on grammar.<\/p>\n

So, I\u2019m sorry guys – through experience, I can tell you there is plenty of grammar that you will need to use in even basic sentences.<\/p>\n

<\/a>My top 5 grammar rules<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Here are my top 5 grammar must-haves I found most important when learning a new language:<\/p>\n