Every now and then one stumbles across a captivating idea. I had that experience yesterday. I picked up a book on the Suzuki method – something I had previously heard about but never really understood. It’s a winner. The inventor of the Suzuki method, Shin’ichi Suzuki, looked at something incredibly complicated that we all take for granted: Language.
Suzuki questioned why we all manage to learn our native tongue – but so many of us struggle to master other areas of knowledge: Maths, music and painting for example. I had previously accepted the notion that brains were hardwired – some people had a maths brain, others a drawing brain et cetera. But is this true? We all manage to master our native tongue – irrespective of whether we have a ‘maths brain’ or a ‘language brain’. Perhaps, in the right environment, we could all be competent mathematicians or musicians. Just as we all manage to be competent speakers of our native tongue.
What are the secrets to the Suzuki method? Nurturing, immersion, encouragement, small steps and an unforced timetable. Think about how a child learns a language. We’re patient, supportive, encouraging. We participate in their learning. Why do we turn this off when they go to school?
We don’t grade our children as they learn how to speak – why do we do this at school? We don’t make them feel bad for making a mistake – why do we do this at school? I think we’ve got it really really wrong.
And perhaps we can carve out our own little slice of the Suzuki method here on RedBubble. We can provide an environment that’s encouraging, nurturing, supportive with no forced timetable. Perhaps we need to discover our artistic voice in much the same way as we learned our native tongue …
For more on the Suzuki method try here.
Darren Sharp, 4 months ago
So so true Peter and a valuable lesson learned by myself and i’m sure others!!!
kathleen
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4 months ago
definitely not hardwired, how else could we learn beyond survival… that’s my belief… but then, I tranced in front of a computer at work once for a good hour or so, my brain appears to be different in some way… but then so is yours… :-)
Stephen Mitchell, 4 months ago
What’s most interesting is how much unlearning, re-learning and further learning humans can and will do. Seems most people on RB are not settling for the basics of their profession or hobby, they are willing to learn and become more. The language of choice is not just a few words strung together, but everyone wants to create a melodic symphony … even if takes a while to work out how to twist their tongue around the problem. That’s encouraging.
Suzuki says a lot that warrants further reading and research…
Julie Langford
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4 months ago
Ahhhhh – now this is an excellent subject and topic discussion Peter – and one of may outcomes for me. I do not believe for one minute that any brain is hardwired, nor do I believe that it turns off at 40 [which many believe to be true]. At the very least – I hope a brian can be stimulated to learn and make change – for the sake of a lost loved one.
I do think though that a brian can be steered, washed and restricted by certain actions. My daughter for instance – early school has a lot to answer for in her case, of course, government would never enforce them to do that – they have far too much to lose by admitting it.
A simple instruction that was difficult to follow – like you MUST hold your pen in your right hand – can trigger so much in the mind of a child. Being told that you CANT do it, its too difficult for you can tigger off so much in a child’s mind, being asked why are you so stupid by peers, can destroy the mind of a child – yet this goes on, and on and on. Not being able to recognise phonics, and then being put into a low stream class with children who have behaviour problems [not learning difficulties] because funds wont allow teachers time to cope – can ruin a mind of a child.
I used to blame my parenting skills for the way my eldest daughter used to behave [and still does behave, now at 21], but then, a couple of years ago, when my Granddaughter arrived, I sat back and accessed the situation. I have three daughters, and if it was my parenting skills, surely they would all behave in that way – no! We gave our daughters all the praise in the world when they were growing up – encouraged them, and helped them, and showed them new things to give them things to try out [if they didnt like it, then that was ok too] – but in her case, no matter how nice life was at home, school was place of embarrassment, where friends teased and belittled you and where teachers couldnt be bothered because you found things difficult.
The mind, once detroyed, is very difficult to repair – but still, we try – who knows, its got to be possible right?
Julie Langford
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4 months ago
LOL – I also think that the mind can get little blocks too – like typing Brian instead of brain as if on auto pilot :))))))))))))))))))
lallymac, 4 months ago
Cool – I never thought about it that way before!
Thank you:)
StacyLee, 4 months ago
“We don’t grade our children as they learn how to speak – why do we do this at school? We don’t make them feel bad for making a mistake – why do we do this at school? I think we’ve got it really really wrong.”
As a part time preschool teacher, I totally agree. The more we scold our children, the more we cover them in shame and dry up the free spirit inside of them.
Darren Stones, 4 months ago
Something I’ve learnt in the last two years is to surround yourself with people who are supportive and knowledgable-not jealous-as you embark in the quest to learn new skills for short and long term career prospects.
We all learn at our own pace, and if you can find mentors who suit your style and pace of learning then embrace them.
Thanks for your thoughts, Peter, and for the link. Interesting reading.
David Haviland, 4 months ago
Interesting topic and fully agree with the view, however I do not see that this is ever going to change as the system is too deep rooted and governments love to be able to quantify how things are going (accountants rule the world)!!
I am lucky that when I started out with photography a couple of years ago I found a site that had supportive and knowledgeable people that let me learn at my own pace.
I have found here that the people are very supportive and knowledgeable, however the commercial side of this site means that people do not convey help and constructive criticism as much unless specifically asked.
Personally I see that this is where the groups sould be the area for this and tat the forums section within groups is the place for this learning and interaction, unfortunately they are very much under-utilised.
Lisadee, 4 months ago
Excellent Peter, I actually like you knew the term but had no understanding of its ‘method’. Very interesting.
When i teach art, some children say ‘oh i’ve made a mistake’ or ’ i should have…’ my reply is ‘there is no getting it wrong with art, its all art, keep going’. Every single time i have said this it has been met with a long quizzical stare, a frown, then a huge smile, like some weight has been lifted.
georgiegirl, 4 months ago
I’ve only heard of the Suzuki method in passing and had no idea it was about learning. It sounds like another great way of encouraging children (and adults) to discover and learn.
Surely it’s common sense that if you nuture the children and their learning environment and keep positive even when they get things wrong, then it is not only more rewarding but actually makes learning something they want to do.
Getting told off for not being ‘perfect’ at everything, like some parents do to their children, only hurts them and make them feel bad. It also makes them not want to try to do anything at all (in case the get it wrong). If anyone’s had to reverse the constant berating these people do to their children, you’d know how much it destroys their confidence and self esteem.
Also, the brain is a tricky thing isn’t it… if any part of the head is hurting, the brain slows down and tries to slow the rest of the body down too. I really wish it woudn’t sometimes, cos there’s just too much work to do at the moment!
sweetscent62, 4 months ago
This is why redbubble is the perfect forum for artists..(we are sensitive souls)...and why so many of us are so inspired and truly thrive in this environment! I think you’re onto something Peter!! : ) Wendy aka sweetscent62
P.S. Julie, I dindt notcie taht you mdae a tpyo baceuse.. apparently the brain can still recognise the word in a sentence if it begins and ends in the correct letter! : )
Helen Bascom KMA, 4 months ago
I teach math and language arts to students struggling to keep up. The children who are behind and need my assistance as a tutor have little or no support at home, and are constantly reminded that they are less than adequate by being labeled as “slow” or “behind.” Our children often become what we tell them they are.
I’m not suggesting this is the entire cause, certainly not. It’s complex and involves a lot of deep psychological issues as well as social and cultural influences. But in my experience with children struggling to keep up, their lack of support and positive role models is a major contributing factor to the lack of success.
sweetscent62, 4 months ago
I have to agree with Helen there! I was a remedial reading tutor for many years and I was amazed to find that one Year 5 child had not even been offered a comic to read at home.. later I found that he had only seen porn mags.. but that’s a whole other subject! I was also helping a year 6 boy…who couldn’t read at year one level.. and had no help at home.. he was going into High school and couldn’t read.. I was horrified! Wendy
Maya -, 3 months ago
Great info. Thanks for sharing. It has inspired me to get the book.
Mugsy, 3 months ago
Thanks Peter….. much food for thought! I believe in concentrating on peoples strengths, rather than their weaknesses….... rather be good at something than bad at everything. Also, that those you love and care for must know that they are loved and cared for…... unconditionally!
Faith Puleston, 2 months ago
Thanks for the article and multi-faceted commments, to which I will now add mine! I live in Germany and have reared two children here and tried to make them realize that learning is for oneself and one’s own life, a fact that many are not aware of. The school system here is based on frontal teaching for the most part. The teacher tells the children something and they have to remember it until the class test on the topic. Then they move on to something else, and sad to say, many if not the majority actually do not take with them what they learnt previously. This is particularly prevalent in languages. As an english teacher I have had to teach many a young adult the basics of the language all over again because they have not understood the grammar and syntax and don’t think they need to because English is easy (that is the message they got at school).There is no teaching about what learning is about! If a child can’t cope with the learning material he/she is told to get a home tutor. The teachers apparently wash their hands in innocence. More affluent families can finance this type of education. Their children are drilled to pass exams. Children from poorer families do not have these opportunities. Music and the arts are very much left to parents. Music schools are private and only those who can afford the steep fees can get their kids a musical education. Once or twice a year there is a “project week” at most schools, and kids can find out a bit about extramural subjects. But for most of them that is also the end of the road. There is a huge drop-out at universities because the students are not prepared for learning on their own and often not qualified for the courses they take, since the German “Abitur” is general i.e. not targets at science, maths, languages etc.
This attitude to education seems to continue and be handed down. I experience many adults trying desperately to learn English and my first task is to prepare them psychologically for the fact that learning is a pyramid and not a sieve! Then we start at the very beginning. It takes no time at all to show them that that is where they need to be.
And the Susuki method? Well, I heard about this through watching groups of very tiny children learning to play the violin on tiny violins. They stood in a room in 20s or 30s and played in unison. The sound was excruciating (even one violin played by a beginner sounds excruciating), but they learnt the technique of playing, and incidentally learnt the other musical skills they needed, e.g. phrasing, reading music.
I am sure this can be applied in adapted form to other subjects.
What really amazed me was the joy on the faces of those kids. The joy of achievement.