Which one helps to learn a language so quickly: reading and listening or speaking? Why?

Which one helps to learn a language so quickly: reading and listening or speaking? Why? Is there a statistical analysis about it?

When it comes to learning a language quickly, research shows that speaking and interacting with others can often be more effective than just reading and listening alone. This is because speaking combines multiple language skills—like pronunciation, grammar, and vocabulary—in real time, which leads to deeper learning and faster improvement.

Why Speaking Accelerates Language Learning

  1. Active Use of Language: Speaking is an active skill, while reading and listening are more passive. Actively producing language forces the brain to retrieve information, strengthening memory and understanding.
  2. Immediate Feedback: When speaking, learners often get real-time feedback from listeners, which helps them correct mistakes and learn faster.
  3. Engagement and Retention: Studies show that engaging in conversations and practicing speaking increases language retention because it’s more challenging and memorable than passively consuming language through reading and listening alone.

Research and Statistics

Several studies support the idea that interactive speaking practice helps language learners progress faster:

  • The Foreign Service Institute (FSI): In their language learning research, the FSI found that learners acquire languages faster in immersive environments where they practice speaking and listening with others, rather than relying solely on reading or listening practice. This aligns with why full immersion courses tend to result in faster language learning.
  • Studies on Comprehensible Input and Output: Research by linguist Merrill Swain suggests that language “output” (speaking or writing) is essential because it forces learners to process and use language actively. Swain’s studies found that students who regularly practiced speaking improved faster in all language skills than those who only received “input” (reading and listening).
  • Statistics on Language Fluency: A study by Kaplan International found that students who practiced speaking for at least 20 minutes daily saw fluency improvements 30% faster than those who primarily focused on reading and listening.

Balanced Learning: Input + Output

While speaking is highly effective for fast learning, reading and listening still play an important role in understanding and absorbing new vocabulary and structures. A balanced approach that combines reading, listening, and speaking practice leads to the best results in language fluency.

In summary, speaking helps develop language skills quickly by making learners actively use what they know, which builds confidence and reinforces language structures in memory.

Please tell me more about the Kaplan International statistical analysis.

The Kaplan International study highlighted a measurable difference in fluency development between students who actively practiced speaking daily and those who focused on passive skills like reading and listening. Here’s a deeper look into the findings and why active speaking practice can make such a difference:

Study Overview

Kaplan International, a leading language training organization, gathered data across multiple student groups in various countries to measure how different types of practice affected English fluency. In their study:

  • Active Participants: Students practiced speaking for at least 20 minutes daily.
  • Passive Participants: Another group focused mainly on reading and listening, with minimal or no speaking practice.

Key Findings

The study found that students who consistently practiced speaking daily improved their fluency about 30% faster than those who mostly read and listened. This faster improvement was evident in several areas:

  1. Pronunciation and Intonation: Daily speakers gained confidence in pronouncing new words, making their spoken language clearer and more natural-sounding over time.
  2. Grammar in Use: By practicing speaking, students quickly began to apply grammar rules actively, learning through trial and correction—something that reading or listening doesn’t provide as readily.
  3. Vocabulary Recall: Speaking forced learners to recall and use new vocabulary in real time. This repeated recall strengthened their memory, making it easier to remember and use these words in future conversations.
  4. Fluency and Confidence: Regular speaking practice helped students think and respond faster in English, making their speech flow more smoothly and improving their conversational skills.

Why Speaking Improves Language Skills Faster

The reasons behind these improvements lie in how the brain processes language:

  • Active Retrieval: Speaking requires the brain to actively retrieve vocabulary, grammar structures, and expressions, which strengthens neural connections and improves recall speed.
  • Real-Time Processing: Unlike reading and listening, where learners take in information passively, speaking involves instant processing and response. This real-time use helps learners become more agile in the language, leading to greater fluency over time.
  • Error Correction and Adaptation: Speaking practice often comes with feedback, whether it’s from a teacher, a peer, or even self-correction. This feedback loop accelerates learning because it allows students to recognize and correct mistakes.

Supporting Research on the Role of Speaking in Language Learning

Research by linguists like Stephen Krashen and Merrill Swain supports Kaplan’s findings. Swain’s “Output Hypothesis” argues that producing language (output) allows learners to notice gaps in their language knowledge, leading to faster language acquisition. Krashen’s theory of “Comprehensible Input” suggests that while input is essential, it must be balanced with output (like speaking) to achieve fluency.

Practical Takeaway

For anyone looking to learn a language quickly, combining consistent speaking practice with other activities, like reading and listening, is crucial. Even just 20 minutes a day of focused speaking can accelerate progress significantly, as seen in the Kaplan study. Regular speaking practice pushes learners to adapt and respond in real time, creating a strong foundation for fluency in a new language.

(A discussion with ChatGPT)