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August 31, 2011
“Spaced-repetition” may sound like a daunting name for a system of learning. It’s implementations are a lot less scary, though. In fact, you’ve probably used one of the most popular spaced-repetition tools many times in the past: the good, old flash card.
For rote memorization, there are few tools that offer better convenience/effectiveness ratio than a simple flashcard. Whether in physical or software forms, you can rely on it to commit many elements of language to memory.
The basic modus operandi for using flashcards to learn a language is:
- One side of the flash card has a question (e.g. an English phrase), the other side has the answer (e.g. the French equivalent).
- You read the question side.
- You recall the answer from memory.
- You check the answer side to verify if your recollection is correct.
If you can manage it, we highly recommend going with software-based flashcards for a variety of reasons:
- They’re more convenient. Unlike physical cards, you can’t lose question and answer pairs you’ve made once. Unless you wipe them off the database, they’ll simply sit there for future use.
- They offer a better scoring system. Some flashcard software I’ve seen can rate your guesses from a range of 1 to 5, with “1″ being totally off-mark and “5″ being perfectly on-point. Your recollection can be almost perfect (“4″) or barely missed (“2″), after all.
- They can track your progress. A software program can easily monitor how well you’re memorizing specific flash cards. That allows you to invest more time working with the phrases you’re struggling with.
August 30, 2011
One of the most common complaints students have with language software is the whole isolation of it. You’re, basically, studying with a computer, with no one to riff ideas on, ask questions to, or share thoughts with. Many can find this approach to learning both lonely and uninspiring.
Despite this latest weakness, though, software-based learning brings plenty of upside that makes a lot of people choose it over other resources. The scheduling flexibility, interactivity and cost-effectiveness of language learning programs make them an attractive option for many adult students.
One possible compromise is to work with a language software in pairs. Meet up with a learning buddy, sit down on in front of a computer and go through the lessons together. That way, you get all the benefits of a language software without putting yourself in isolation.
Another way to get around the limitations of language software is to team up with other people who use the same program. You can set your schedules so that you’re studying the same lessons and modules at around the same time. That way, you can meet up (or even group chat online) at the end of the week to hold group sessions for practice and sharing.
August 27, 2011
Learning Chinese script isn’t the easiest thing in the world. Having had friends who studied Chinese, in fact, I know it’s a downright challenge.
The difficult thing about Chinese script is it consists of a multitude of complex characters, each of which represents a unique combination of sound and meaning. Know how you only need to memorize 24 letters of the alphabet and 10 numeric digits to read an English book with some amount of competency? With Chinese, you need to commit a minimum of 4,000 hanzi characters to memory to read Modern Standard Chinese.
Here are a few ways to help ease the learning process:
- Learn what the individual character components represent. Most Chinese characters are made up of components that stand for either physical things or abstract concepts. Learning what each of those components stand for can help you memorize and identify characters much easier.
- Use flash cards to help you memorize. On one side of each card, write the Chinese character. On the other, write its pronunciation, meaning and a sample word that uses it. Check these flash cards regularly — you’ll need plenty of work to get to that 4,000 minimum.
- Keep notes. On your journal, write down new characters and components you encounter, along with their meaning. This should make it easier to see patterns, allowing you to competently guess the meaning of new characters you come across.
August 26, 2011
The idea of learning a language using software can seem overwhelming. You’ll be going it alone, after all, with no one to ask for help. Because of this lack of other people to exchange ideas with, plenty of modern language software are designed to be interactive.
Different software titles have different ways of injecting interactivity into their process. That’s why it’s important to survey the field a little before committing to a specific title. What works for one of your friends may not work the same way for you, after all. If you want to get an overview of what to expect, here are some ways modern language software are integrating interactive elements:
Interactive practice. Traditional lessons involve sitting through lectures. Practice-based software, on the other hand, put practice sessions as the single core priority. You learn a phrase, then the software drills you on it multiple times; then you move on to a new related one and so on. This approach actually recreates the feeling of interacting with a speaker, which makes it effective for a lot of people.
Engagement-based. In this approach, the software engages multiple senses using a variety of media to teach the language, such as live video, animation, sound and more. I’m, personally, not that big on it (I find the amount of things going on confusing), but a lot of people I know have found it very effective.
Games and modular approaches. While these types of language software can cause linear thinkers to zone out, non-linear types tend to gravitate to it. With clever games and unorthodox teaching styles, it can be a fun experience if you’re the type to appreciate those.
August 24, 2011
There are two things we recommend people do in order to guarantee better retention of their daily language lessons: The first is to use it in real speaking practice; the second is to summarize it in their own words on some form of recording medium (like a notebook or a journaling software).
Both of these things can help affix the lessons to memory much better than simply sitting down and taking in a lecture, as they promote a more active approach to language learning. Try them for a week or two, then compare your results.
Speaking Practice
If you can go out and use today’s lessons in a real interaction, then do so. In case such an opportunity isn’t available, however, including it in a monologue or a pretend conversation with your language buddy should also make do. Either way, you’re applying the lesson in your use of the language — a critical step to promoting better retention.
Summarizing
When you write down the lesson in your own words, you’re both recalling it and interpreting it — two mental activities you normally don’t engage in when you sit down to listen to your language learning trainers. Doing so makes your relationship with the lesson more active and, in all likelihood, more likely to stick.
August 23, 2011
A custom language program can be very beneficial when done right. Whether you design it or ask an experienced trainer to prepare one for you, taking these four things into consideration should prove a big help.
- Learning style. We all have our preferred methods for learning. Your language program should serve those areas in which you learn best, whether that be through audio materials, video tutorials or interpersonal exchanges.
- Language history. What’s your history with the language? If you’re a native speaker, your approach to learning Spanish should be different to your approach for learning Japanese. Same with the kind of training you will get if you’ve had previous exposure to a language, compared to none.
- Language goals. If you’re studying a language, then you’re probably doing it to achieve specific goals. Those goals should be the primary consideration when designing your program — if your language plan won’t allow you to meet them, then it’s done up wrong.
- Schedule. As an adult, you probably lead a busy life. That’s why it’s important to take your schedule into consideration when creating any type of language program. Make sure you come up with a plan that accommodates your existing activities. Not doing so will just cause you problems down the line.
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