Language is Cake. Or a piece of Cake?

"Language is Cake."

This is the title of the first lesson on the module I am currently working on. I applied for a financial aid or scholarship grant to get a TESOL certificate from Arizona State University and fortunately they granted me with that. So as soon as I got home today, I opened my personal computer and logged on to my gmail account to check the email once again. After confirming, I was routed to the site and after the short introduction video, I'm off to watch my very first module.

The module is about "language is cake". In the lesson, the instructor said that language is cake, at first I thought that maybe he is saying language is a piece of cake instead, which means that language is very easy to learn. But as I watched his lesson further, I realized that the phrase is actually a metaphor. I realized this when he asked if anyone wants a cake, he has a cake in front of him and got a slice from it. Then he transferred the cake to another container which is just a small piece of plastic. It looked gross so if ever he give that piece of cake to me, I'd surely not accept it. After that, he asked once again if anyone wants a slice of cake and asked to give him another chance to give the cake. This time, it is well presented, of course, anyone would accept it, given the fact that the chocolate cake looks really yummy.

Now, going back to the topic, language is a cake. Learning a new language is challenging. I could say that based on my experience in learning the Spanish language. But no matter how challenging it is, it can also be "delicious" if presented in the right manner. Just like a cake that looks appealing because of its appearance and delicious when eaten, learning a language can also be "delicious" or should I say good and rewarding if it is presented right. Many foreign people who doesn't speak English as their primary language disregards learning the during their early years because they don't find it appealing and they don't think they can use it at all. But in the later years of their lives, they find out that it is essential to learn the language for their professional development and other reasons such as us moving to a different country. And this time, they are more than willing to learn the language to whatever expense and whatever the cost is. However, adults doesn't have the ability to grasp and learn as fast as children does.

Now, if language teachers presents the language learning just like how the slice of cake is presented in a "gross" manner, students will never enjoy eating it, or learning it.

Baking a delicious cake requires different elements. There should be enough ingredients, materials and the baker's knowledge in baking. We do not expect a first timer to bake it as delicious as the professional baker. In the same manner, language needs different elements. It require reading, writing and speaking or conversing to be able to have a good command of the language, English for example. If you only keep reading but never speak what's on your mind, you are more likely to not be able to speak clearly because it is all just in your head. You only think you are good, but in reality you are not. This is why, to learn a language fast you have to converse with the native speakers, or someone is has a good command of it. And just like baking a cake, it doesn't take just a few minutes to cook the cake, ample time should be given to bake a really delicious cake. Same with language, we don't expect a foreigner who does not speak that language in just a few sitting! But if you dedicate time, effort and be more interested in a language, language is just a piece of cake!

Okay, so this is actually part of the questions on my assignment in Foundational Principles in Teaching English as Second Language. It's been more than a week since I last posted an article here, so I thought of writing an article out of my assignment.