A Few Good Tips

A FEW GOOD TIPS FOR THE BEGINNING LANGUAGE STUDENT

Here is a list of ways to take charge of your own learning and become a Successful Language Learner:

· Set clear goals for your daily and weekly study.

· Establish a regular schedule for studying and stick to it. Do some studying every day and work through the homework assignments little by little. It is counterproductive to do assignments at the last minute and cram for tests. It is truly more effective if you spend thirty minutes on your study every day than if you spend one long session every week.

· Make the best effort you can to be an Active Listener in class. Attend to everything your classmates and instructor are saying. Focus on the message, not on grammatical form.

· Build Your Vocabulary. You need to build up vocabulary on your own. Learn several new words every day. Apply what you are learning in class to your own life. For example, if we are learning to describe people, practice describing your own family and friends. Make a list of all the words that can be used to describe each one and say them out loud while driving, waiting in line at the grocery store, washing dishes, etc. Dream a little and describe your perfect mate or the perfect man or woman for you.

· Determine what works best for you as a learner. For example, when learning vocabulary, try various strategies from making and using flash cards to labeling objects in your apartment or home; from pronouncing words out loud to reading them silently; from making lists to writing sentences that use specific vocabulary items. Note your successes and what you did to achieve them. Conversely, determine which learning strategies did not work for you.

· Listening and reading are the keys to sound acquisition of a foreign language. Listen to as many of the listening comprehension activities that are available to you online or at the Skills Center Language Lab as possible. Set aside time for reading on a regular basis. There are usually plenty of reading segments in your textbook and foreign language newspapers and magazines are available online.

· Understand that written assignments (homework) are designed to help you practice and retain what you are learning in class. Pay attention to the instructions given and follow the model or example sentences carefully. Ask yourself what the model is exemplifying or telling you to do. If you need it, ask for guidance and examples before completing your assignments.

· Ask your instructor for assistance early on in the course if you feel you are experiencing difficulties with the material. Don't wait to the day before an exam to get help.

· Most Importantly, plan on attending every class session. Learning a language is a step-by-step process. Each chapter builds upon the vocabulary and structures learned in the previous chapters. If you miss a class, you may feel lost and unprepared as we move on through newer material.