It's called "Hello World! Computer Programming for Kids and Other Beginners". Which really means it's for adults too, right? Even though it's got silly illustrations?
I am positive I has the same teacher when I took Arabic. And, having studied a little bit of linguistic theory in preparation for being an English teacher: he's right. Grammar does provide a useful context for foreign languages, but that's not how you actually learn. We learn second languages the way we learn our first language: through context clues and from hearing people speak it. Of course, you can't really get that from a once (twice) per week class anyway. He explains the grammar in English a lot after the first couple classes, though, so you'll feel more at ease shortly.
I'm not taking the class at AU (campus is too far out in the middle of nowhere for my taste), but it's possible he may have taught there. Was your teacher legally blind? And did he occasionally (slowly) karate chop people in the head?
As far as how one learns... I mean, if I were in an immersion situation, maybe I'd learn through speaking and context. As it is, I do feel like I have to have the grammar explained, and then when it's spoken I recognize it and I can make sense of it, and the spoken words can answer questions I may have had about pronunciation, emphasis, and even grammar. But this is a weekly class that lasts ten weeks, so yeah, not all that much time for speaking.
I didn't take Arabic at AU, I took it spring of 2009. Yes, my prof was legally blind; like I said, I'm positive it was the same guy. Back then it was offered for free at GW's Hillel, but I know it's changed a little since then. I assume you've had another class since you wrote this- did he focus more on explaining grammar?
Ahh, then yes, it's probably the same guy. He actually went through the alphabet once more in the last class, and also some vocabulary, and a teeny bit of grammar. Honestly, I think we're about one class behind where we should be. But perhaps we'll catch up.
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As far as how one learns... I mean, if I were in an immersion situation, maybe I'd learn through speaking and context. As it is, I do feel like I have to have the grammar explained, and then when it's spoken I recognize it and I can make sense of it, and the spoken words can answer questions I may have had about pronunciation, emphasis, and even grammar. But this is a weekly class that lasts ten weeks, so yeah, not all that much time for speaking.
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