Maybe this is harsh, but I think one of the issues that adult learners face when learning a second language is the fact that they don't know their own language very well. They spell poorly, don't understand tenses, and don't have a wide enough vocabulary to see cognates in related languages.
I make typos, but I try to look over what I write most of the time. I may even have some grammatical errors that nobody wants to correct, but I pay attention. I don't just throw out any old word and hope that it sticks. I think people who are more successful at learning languages are those who not only take risks (looking foolish when speaking), but those who pay attention to details. If the learner never bothered to learn certain details in his own language, can he hope to learn another language to a high level? I think that he will learn "some" of the language, but won't polish it unless he starts paying more attention!
Your thoughts? By the way, you may correct my English. Only foolish people reject correction.
I make typos, but I try to look over what I write most of the time. I may even have some grammatical errors that nobody wants to correct, but I pay attention. I don't just throw out any old word and hope that it sticks. I think people who are more successful at learning languages are those who not only take risks (looking foolish when speaking), but those who pay attention to details. If the learner never bothered to learn certain details in his own language, can he hope to learn another language to a high level? I think that he will learn "some" of the language, but won't polish it unless he starts paying more attention!
Your thoughts? By the way, you may correct my English. Only foolish people reject correction.