To put it simply, should we be creative or careful when we're learning or using a language?
I assume 'be creative' means you don't need to abide by all the rules of a language completely. If it's right, do we need to learn all the rules? I wonder if it's possible for a learner to be creative when they're trying to learn or use a language. Or rather, do we need to learn how to walk before trying to run?
I may have failed to understand it 'be creative', jus as I failed to get it 'think in English'. But one thing is sure: being creative doesn't really mean making mistakes. No matter how creative you may be, the sentence you make should be at least grammatically correct if there's no way for you to sound natural.
Some people, however, are so careful when they're using the language. They'll look up any word for the correct usage. They won't write or say it until they see or hear someone else do it. They're trying to be natural - to speak or write as a native speaker.
Do you think it's a good idea to be creative or be careful when you're trying to learn or use a language?
Your sentiments will be highly appreciated - go ahead!
Comments
Hi Daniel,
Point taken! Yes, it's the balance that really counts. Thanks.
Very good discussion Expector. I think that there should always be a strong border between creativity and correctness. You can't overvalue creativity to the detriment of a minimal rate of gramatical correctness. So, that's the secret: keep a balance when it comes to write or speak in another language.
Hi Jesson,
I take your point. Yes, it takes a lot of efforts to be creative, and it seems to be a good idea for a beginner to be more careful at the very beginning.
Thanks!
The important thing you need in able to be creative in a language is to be good or fluent enough and have the good level of confidence in doing it. but for the learners it is more crucial for them to be careful until they mastered any language then make it in your more creative way.
language is no different from learning like driving a car, at first you might have the fear and all mistakes but basically your muscles and body are adopting, then finally you'll notice after how many tries and mistakes you committed it will just come at a time that its easier for you to drive a car and all fears will suddenly gone and no more worries in doing it.
@Sophi
Thanks again!
@MARY
Thanks for sharing the thoughts on creativity.
Creativity is the mother of learning* and both feed each other creating a circle (the more you learn, the more you become creative; which makes you learn more and better, which makes you be more creative, and so on)
(*creativity is necessary for learning whatever, not just a language)
@Onee
Point taken! Thanks for sharing your experience on teaching. Yes, as a teacher, you have reason to be careful. Don't forget to be creative, though:)
@Mohammad
Great. I can see your point and agree with you. Yes, some people tend to use words which are too informal, especially in the chat room. I don't think that's the creativity we need. Thanks again!
Dear Expector
In fact the last goal for an English learner is to be fluent in English language like an English native person. In my opinion, "To be creative", doesn't mean "not to need to abide by all the rules of language completely", because at last, we aim to reach the last goal which is using the language same as the native person. So it is better to abide by all rules from the first of learning to the end of that because the natives do like that. It is not good that in the name creativity we invent a sentence out of rules or get used to say or write out of rules. As an example many times I have seen that the members (even the advanced ones) in the main room, use many uncommon and wrong words such as: "da" instead of "the", or "ya", instead of "you". Once, I didn't know their meaning and asked dear T Mal the meaning and the reason of using these words by members. He told me " we don't have these words in English and using them doesn't have good sense for natives as well ".
Also it is not good to use the word in improper place and I'm among those who look up any word for its correct usage. ,,,, Why !? ,,,, Once I was chatting in a chat room (perhaps American one), and between my chatting, I told: "No, I'm beautiful", then to end of that chatting they thought that I'm a girl (lol). See, the word "beautiful" is the synonym of "handsome", but the former is used for females and the latter, is used for males. Or in other example Once, I wanted to say about sending a person another place, I told: "I will transmit him to that place", then my friend told me: "is he data, that you want to transmit him !? ". See, the verbs: "send", "transmit", "convey", "broadcast", and "dispatch", all are the synonyms somehow, but the usage of them are not similar and each of them is used in its proper position. (SEND is used for parcels, mail article, and so on; TRANSMIT and DISPATCH can be utilized in communications for sending data and electrical signals; CONVEY is used for transmission of thought and information between two persons; and BROADCAST is utilized for transmitting radio waves).
Although the English native speakers might understand what we mean while using these words in improper positions but sometimes it is so funny to them. So the conclusion inferred from this part is we should abide the rules as much as possible and use each word in the proper situation in term of meaning. But, what it the meaning of creativity ??
As a matter of fact, creativity is a nice adjective and is related to the intelligence of a person. From my view, the definition of creativity is " TO act out of stereotypes but within the rules" . As an example, when we are asked with the question: "where do you come from ?", I may easily answer with this common answer: "I'm from Iran" or I can tell it better and more creative with the sentence: "I'm from the land of beauty, love, and earthquake, Iran". The ones who have the talent of professional writing, in fact, their creativity are so highlighted in their literature which makes the readers to enjoy from the reading. So here we may obviously see that there isn't any conflict between being creative and being careful about the usage of the words in term of meaning and abiding the rules.
Thanks for sharing this nice blog.
Dear Expector,
This time you wrote a heavy blog, at least to me right now. :D I hope I can give you a valuable comment. :)
"Be careful" --> I think you know me that I will be more careful in my writing or comment. Also, I am as a teacher, will be very careful since I'm afraid to teach my students the wrong lesson. Every time, I may refers to books or reliable sites to have my best performance in English. This is for the sake of my English improvement.
"Be creative" --> Something like this, we can practice when we want to really learn English. When I write a blog, sometimes..."oh I don't want to use this word, let me change another, so I can remember it, too.". If a learner can grab much lesson and new words, be creative is not a difficult task, but let it flow...grab and practice.
For a learner or someone who is interested in English, "be creative" could be more fun.
Many thanks to all the members who just left a comment on this blog - I really enjoyed the discussion.
It seems 'be creative' may mean 'change'. We need to follow the rules, but don't need to be too careful. For example, you can say 'I really appreciate it' instead of 'I do appreciate it'. You can say 'Great', 'Excellent', 'Perfect', 'Terrific' or 'Amazing' instead of 'Good', 'Wonderful', 'Nice', etc.
There are so many ways to express the same idea. If I encourage everybody here to rewrite this blog, you'll see we put it in different ways. That can be called 'be creative', right?
It's safe, though, to make a sentence or say something just as the way a native speaker may do it. But I wonder if we really need to be that safe:)
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