It categorically seems so easy. Just put on the Cd or tapes, relax in bed and learn English (or another foreign language) while you sleep. Have you ever seen those ads that say, "Learn English While Sleeping" or that promise "effortless" language learning by listening to a tape or Cd while you relax or take a nap? With the continual rise in the study of English as a foreign or second language, (Efl, Esl) progressive Tefl English and foreign language teachers, foreign language learners, and educational administrators need to be aware of the implications posed by claims of "learning English (or another foreign language) while you sleep. To good understand the processes involved let's first look at each of them individually in turn. In this first part of the series, we'll survey the elements of sleep.
Webster University
What is Sleep?
The state of sleep is generally defined as "the resting state in which the body is not active and the mind is unconscious." A more ample definition is offered by Webster's New World Dictionary (third ed., 1989); "sleep: a natural, ordinarily occurring health of rest for the body and mind, during which the eyes are ordinarily fulfilled, and there is itsybitsy or no known notion or voluntary movement, but there is intermittent dreaming".
Sleep is also likened to death. In the Holy Bible (Nwt, 1981) at John 11: 11 Jesus says, "Lazarus or friend has gone to rest, but I am journeying there to awaken him from sleep." Then in verse 14 Jesus clarifies his meaning of "sleep", "At that time, therefore, Jesus said to them outspokenly: Lazarus has died." In describing death the bible continues at Ecclesiastes 9: 5 stating, "The living are known that they will die; but as for the dead, they are known of nothing at all." Sleep then, is characterized as a health typically devoid of known thought. Have you ever slept straight through a severe thunder storm, a series of car alarms going off, an explosion, an earth tremor (minor earthquake) or dogs barking loudly at night? thoroughly unconscious, right? For even supplementary clarification, here are some characteristics of human sleep.
Characteristics of Sleep
Characteristics of sleep in humans are:
o lying down, if inherent although sleep is inherent in almost any position agreeing to studies done on astronauts and in sleep study centers
o Eyes are closed, but sleep can occur with opened eyes in an environment devoid of light and / or distraction
o You don't hear anything or do not consciously rejoinder to external sounds depending on the level, depth or stage of sleep
o Slow, rhythmic breathing pattern (which might be altered during dream stage)
o Muscles are thoroughly relaxed with the exception of altered states of sleep or reaction to dreams or abnormal bodily conditions
o man may occasionally roll over changing positions
Stages of Sleep
On the average, a man goes straight through five stages, or levels of sleep. The stages each have distinctive characteristics and resolve what the brain and body are capable of.
o Stage One - 4-5% Light sleep. Muscle performance slows down
o Stage Two - 45-55% Breathing and heart rate slows. Body climatic characteristic decreases
o Stage Three - 4-6% Deep sleep. Slow Delta waves begin
o Stage Four - 12-15% Very deep sleep; brain produces Delta waves
o Stage Five - 20-25% Rapid eye movement (Rem); dreaming occurs
Why Do We Sleep?
For the most part, sleep allows any vital functions to take place. It is an critical bodily and mental state with which we cannot do without. Our sleep allows us:
o To mend muscles and other tissues
o To replace aging or dead cells
o An opportunity for the brain to create and archive memories, that is in part, to transfer data and memories from short to long-term memory
o Lowers energy consumption (balance of enzyme yield achieved, i.e. Blood glucose levels, electrolyte levels, etc.)
o To recharge the brain (diminished supplies of fluids and enzymes in organs and lymphatic law can be replenished during sleep)
How Much Sleep?
Most young adults need 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night, but the quantity of sleep required can vary depending on age, daily activity, diet, nutrition and other bodily and / or psychological factors. Sleep deprivation can directly affect:
o Short term memory
o Performance
o Efficiency
o bodily health
o Emotional health
With 30 to 40 million Americans suffering from serious sleep-related disorders, the consequent of sleep on learning and cognitive competencies is of serious concern.
In the next segment of this series, "Learn A Foreign Language While You Sleep: Theoretical Approaches", we'll look at both new and current language-learning theories and approaches and how some might seemingly supply some withhold for these claims.
Can You honestly Learn A Foreign Language While You Sleep?
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