English language specialist: Use it or lose it

Professor of English as a Second Language (ESL) Vivian Leskes assured today that learning a language becomes harder as we grow older and that the best method to master it is to use it frequently and engulf ourselves in it and be true to the dictum: "use it or lose it." Professor Leskes emphasized today in an interview with Kuwait News Agency (KUNA) -- during a break from (Kuwait's 8th ELT Forum - Learning For Life) that is organized by the Ministry of Education -- the importance of confidence when it comes to learning or mastering a language, explaining that one should not be afraid to make mistakes as long as what is being said or written is easily understandable. She added that when teaching or learning a language it is important that we make education an interactive and active process where students actively participate and engage the lessons and promote critical thinking among them instead of considering them as empty vessels that the teacher needs to fill. She also mentioned that we need to keep the student's experiences and past in mind as we go through the process of learning, highlighting a significant difference between "teaching and learning". Professor leskes also said that some of the participants in the Forum mentioned the difficulties they could face with such concepts as the curriculums and method of teaching differ here in Kuwait than that of the USA for example. She added that this concept can be sculpted and shaped into ways where different education systems could benefit from Russia or Morocco or Peru and many other countries that she visited and taught English there. She also emphasized that one of the best ways to interact with students nowadays; especially the younger ones, is to use technology which they excel at maybe even more than the teachers themselves which will assure their constant and continued attention and interactivity. Professor leskes praised the well-organized forum or conference held by the Ministry of Education and the generous hospitality she is enjoying as well as the opportunity to be exposed to a new culture and new experiences interacting with local and regional teachers of English.