By: Megan Prats

5/29/2015

Learning is an infinite journey because the infinite realm of knowledge always inhabits the “unknown” for the student. Thus, the student should take this “unknown” into consideration when problem-solving and make sound decisions as to how to approach it. In this article, the 2learn® Method suggests that avoidance can be a handy tool to achieving optimal results when the student needs to navigate the unknown in a moment’s notice.

The student is at a fork in the road and sees two paths; one of which beckons her to traverse because of its beauty and security, the other, however, is dark, threatening, and dangerous. If the student takes the first path she’ll likely reach the end unscathed. If she takes the second path, she’ll likely struggle to reach a conclusion and her conclusion will likely be riddled with error. Thus, the student should just avoid the second and take the first.

For example, I had a student who, when constructing his sentences in English, would try to go directly from his professional Spanish to English. Thus, because his sentences were complex to begin with, he struggled greatly in constructing sentences in English because his English sentences were just as complex. Although he didn’t see it, a secure path was before him because if he took a “See spot run.” approach, his fluency would have improved because he wouldn’t have been mentally lost in the intellectual jungle that he threw himself in. Thus, in that case, if he appropriately thought “outside of the box” to see an alternate and safer path and applied the tool of avoidance, his results would have improved in an instant.

It is not to say that danger should always be avoided as danger and difficulty is a way for the student to grow. In general, avoidance is an effective tool when the student doesn’t have time to struggle to find the answer and just needs immediate results. Thus, avoidance is extremely powerful with the student is engaged in conversation. Conversation in the student’s foreign language demands execution in a moment’s notice which is a beast in itself even if the student is taking a “See spot run.” approach. Thus, if the student can say, “See spot run.” instead of “You see the canine named Spot run.”; she’d be better off.

Because the 2learn® Method is unique and becomes more unique every day, the 2learn® Method allows the student to utilize a tool that would likely be shunned by most in the education realm – avoidance. The power of the 2learn® Method lies in the infinite possibilities that it provides the student thus nothing is out of consideration when it comes to the 2learn® Method (even memorization!).

So how to you help the student employ avoidance in her problem-solving? Well, first explain to her the fork in the road scenario and recommend that the student follow the easy path if she needs immediate results. Also, you can work on Thinking “Outside of the Box” so that the student can see that an easier path is available to her (there’s almost always an “easier” way). However, stress that avoiding the unknown and difficult is not a winning strategy for the long-term because going down that path is how the student will grow. The student will likely not disagree with your assessment as students are usually happy to avoid difficulties and obtain quick and easy results from their learning.

© Megan Prats 2015