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February 26, 2011

Creating Your Language Learning Plan

Even the best-laid plans are subject to things outside your control.  Regardless, a plan gives your actions structure and they can help reinforce good habits that will help you achieve any goal.  As such, we highly recommend creating a language learning plan when you’re looking to acquire a new language.

Here are some tips for doing that:

  1. Don’t strive for a perfect plan.  There’s no such thing.  Instead, write the most reasonable one you can, based on the time and resources you have.    You can adjust it later as you learn more.
  2. Have one primary learning material.  Plan to use one material as your primary learning source.  We suggest a language training software, although you can use other mediums, like classroom lessons or private tutoring, if you’re so inclined.  Additionally, sticking to one material isn’t always necessary, but it will help to simplify your own learning efforts.
  3. Include all your language learning activities in the plan.   If you plan to carry around  a stack of flash cards for studying while in the train or engaging in practice conversations with your friends on the weekends, then include those in your plans.  You want a clear picture of all the things you will be doing in order to reach your goals — that’s the only way you can refine it later.
August 12, 2010

How To Make The Most Of Your Language Learning Software

Good language learning software isn’t cheap.   It’s an investment – one whose value you’d like to see maximized.  Here are some ideas to help you make the most of that purchase.

  1. Set a regular schedule.  Pencil in specific times and dates to do your language lessons, just like a class in school.  A regular schedule make sit easier to stick to them, compared to merely studying when you feel like it.
  2. Take plenty of notes.  Don’t discount the value of taking notes.  Treat it both like a journal (one you can reference later to see how much you’ve come along) and a reference (something you can open up to refresh yourself on a past lesson).
  3. Give yourself time to digest each lesson.  Don’t try to rush your language program.  Start with a couple sessions of an hour or less each for the first week, giving yourself space to digest the material.  If you feel like you can handle more, then gradually increase your sessions.
  4. Do the tests and practice exercises.  All language training software come with exams, tests, practical exercises and assignment work.  Do them all, preferably outside the normal schedule you assign for your regular lessons.
  5. Select your secondary materials around it.  If you plan to use any learning materials as secondary tools,  choose them around the approach and structure in your language software.  Supplementary materials should complement your primary tool, not overwhelm it.
March 4, 2010

How To Make A Daily Language Learning Plan

A general language plan is a great way to guide your overall learning path.  However, if you want to maximize the time that you invest into it, you’ll need to draw up a daily language plan.

Don’t Worry, It Won’t Bite

Creating a daily plan actually sounds more daunting than it actually is.  When you get right down to it, it’s basically about drawing up a regular schedule that coincides with the goals you have defined for learning the language.

Know Your Objectives

It’s impossible to come up with a plan without a clear set of objectives.  That’s why you’ll have to define what your language learning goals are, as well as decide on a general plan.  Based on those two things, you can then begin detailing the steps you need to take to accomplish them.

Guidelines

When preparing a daily plan, be as specific as possible.

1. Write down all activities you will need to.
2. Write down all the materials you will need, whether a language software, a stack of index cards or a book.
3. Allot time for each specific activity.
4. List down daily objectives.  They will be very useful to use as criteria to help you decide whether a particular daily session is successful.

July 22, 2009

How To Plan Your Language Learning

Some people work better with a plan in place.  Others, however, get their best results flying off the seat of their pants.  Both methods are equally valid, though, I’ve always leaned towards those who work with more structure.

When you have a plan written out, there’s a guideline that you can follow.  It’s something that you can work through, regardless of how you’re feeling on a particular day.  Without one, you’ll likely just end up putting an entire day to waste as feelings will tend to mirror success for a lot of people who work without a structure.

Putting Together A Plan

A loose plan is better than no plan – that’s my motto for language learning.  As such, I always encourage language students to draw a learning plan that they can follow.  For those averse to such a structure, I recommend even a simple one, just so they have something to guide them in case they wake up one morning just not in the mood.

If you don’t know how to put one together and are studying the language on your own (as with most people who use a language learning software), you can use the course outline you’re using as reference.  Schedule which lessons you can go through for each day (keep it reasonable), then add in “grammar practice” and “structured writing” exercises into the mix, as those two are typically the most successful types of applied training learners can do on their own.
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