Language Location Method

The Language Location Method - LLM - is a unique method of second language acquisition that enables all children to become English bilingual regardless of the their first language. LLM uses specially developed tools that identify and compress the elements of an English bilingual family day then simultaneously transfer and decompress those elements to non native English learners. LLM was developed using a methodology known as ´3H: Foundation´ which is the work of Len Symes at BigLittleOaks Germany
3H: Foundation
Comprises 3 key components:
- Hotspots
- Hotlinks
- Hegemony
Language Location Method - LLM
Language acquisition is the study of the processes through which humans acquire language. By itself, language acquisition refers to first language acquisition, which studies infants' acquisition of their native language, whereas second language acquisition deals with acquisition of additional languages in both children and adults. The Language Location Method leverages the early language acquisition capability inherent in all children to enable English bilingualism.

Starting his work shortly after the birth of his first child in 2002, Len Symes was aware that his career meant that he would be spending a lot of time away from home and family. With the children living in Germany and a German-speaking mother they would easily acquire German as their first language ( L1 ) but struggle to acquire English ( L2 ) thru standard language acquisition. Influenced in theory by Noam Chomsky and in practice by fellow Australian George Saunders he spent long hours studying and analysing his own bilingual family everyday activities. Inspired by Maria Montessori he was sure that by studying children in the act of bilingual language acquisition he would be able to identify the very essence of it.
In his analysis of the Bilingual Family Day, Len Symes observed that bilingual learning was not spread evenly throughout that period but comprised a series of hotspots. These 'hotspots' were typically in places where the OPOL (OneParentOneLanguage) family were conversing in two languages simultaneously: at the dinner table, driving in the car etc. A minimum of two languages would be spoken in these ´hotspots` : L1 - the native language and L2 - the non native language. Immersed in these bilingual hotspots the children enter a unique bilingual plane where code switching continues unconsciously but sees the children physically locating and turning to the source of spoken L1 or L2.
Realising that if he could compress and reproduce the hotspots that comprise a bilingual family day then he could compress and reproduce the bilingual family day for his own children and thus solve the problem of ensuring bilingualism for his own family. In 2008 Len Symes started to develop the Language Location Method. Based on the bilingual family 'hotspot' it was soon to include a new dimension - the semiotic hotlink. Further study had shown that deconstruction of the bilingual family 'hotspot' displayed vertical and horizontal linking to a bilingual family events time series. Thus both hotspots and semiotic hotlinks would become key components of the Language Location Method.
The third component of the Language Location Method utilises the ubiquity and hegemony of the English Language: otherwise known as 'English everywhere'. The Language Location Method uses traditional and popular media to enrich, reinforce and contextualise early English language acquisition. A good example of this is popular radio stations in Germany where much of the content is in the English language and children hear this daily.
Lernspielstunde

In 2009 with assistance from Gaby Papaczek,Len Symes went on to develop EFK-100 the first Unit in the English for Kinder program at BigLittleOaks Germany based on the Language Location Method and made publicly available to all non native English children. EFK-100 comprises ten hourly 'lernspielstunde' periods where children acquire English ( L2 ) in addition to their native language. Proven to be both effective and popular, Len Symes and Gaby Papaczek are now developing further Units.

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