Irregular Spanish Verbs: Spanish Language Articles:
Is Learning Irregular Verbs 'Really' That Difficult?
When considering why language students often struggle with the understanding of, and learning of, irregular verbs only one conclusion can be reached, minset, or should I say they have the wrong mindset!
Irregular verbs are often believed to be the most difficult part of a language to learn, but what is actually difficult to understand is why that is so? Most language students know that irregular verbs do not follow the regular patterns that a lot of their verb counterparts follow, the truth is that from day 1 they have had it drilled into them that mastering irregular verbs is very difficult.
Why can we not look at things more objectively!
When it boils down to it learning the conjugations of an irregular verb is no different to learning the conjugations of a regular verb, it is only how the student thinks that makes them believe irregular verbs are more difficult.
Take Spanish for example there are three 'regular' verb types, so called because they follow a regular set pattern. Each pattern relates to a different verb ending, these endings are; -ar; -er; and -ir.
If you have or are currently learning Spanish you will probably have all the endings for each conjugation for each of these regular verb groups etched into your memory and you will have also been told that you will have no choice but to memorize each irregular verb as they all have varying conjugations.
In my opinion this is very misleading!
Nearly all Spanish irregular verbs follow certain conjugational patterns that other irregular verbs use. Therefore, enabling them to be put into groups.
Note: The only reason a Spanish verb is called regular is because it follows a set pattern of conjugation. As there are a number of these regular verbs, they obviously form groups; if this is what qualifies a verb as being regular then a large number of irregular verbs could be classed as regular too!
I'm not trying to turn the educational world on its head with my comments but if students could see that irregular verbs do follow set patterns also, the same as regular verbs, would that not help change a negative mindset?
I started this article making a statement along the lines that students have an inherent fear, nurtured by their tutors of the difficulties they will face learning irregular verbs when compared to learning regular verbs. The simple act of changing an irregular verb into a regular verb could change the way that irregular verb is viewed by the student.
Yes, it may read a bit like psycho-babble but this is what mindset change is; changing the way you look at things will often make them easier to deal with.
You should always remember that... Learning is a state of mind, believing something is difficult often leads to to it being just that, so you need to acquire a positive mindset. Thinking positive can only improve your learning experience and as a result your studies will become easier.