March 24, 2011
Sitting through a lesson and absorbing it are two different things. You can sit through a five-hour lecture and not learn anything at all — it’s not impossible. If you want to make sure you pick up on your language lessons better, here are a few things you can do:
- Enter your language session with a positive attitude. Starting a lesson on a sour mood won’t do you any favors. Amp yourself up into a positive state for your lessons and you’ll reap the rewards.
- Make a conscious effort to pay attention. It’s easy for your attention to drift while sitting in front of the computer. As such, the ball’s on your court to make the effort to stay attentive throughout the course of your lessons.
- Pause and repeat when necessary. One of the biggest advantages of language software is that you can get the lessons at any pace you enjoy. You can pause when you need a break or repeat any part that you feel requires a second (or third or fourth) pass.
- Adapt to whatever direction the lesson takes. When lessons end up in areas they’re not really that interested in, many people tend to zone out. Proactively watch out for this and go along with wherever the lesson go.
- Take detailed notes. When you write things down, you remember it better. Plus, you get a handy, custom, personalized reference to check when you need to brush up on previous lessons.
September 15, 2010
Sometimes, you’ll feel like your language learning is held up. Instead of progressing, as you have before, you are stuck at a particular level – one you can’t seem to grow out of.
When you’re in this situation, it helps to take a short break from your language study software and take a hard look at your learning activities. Something about them is stunting your forward growth and it will be in your best interest to figure the problem out.
- Attitude. How do you feel about your current language lessons? If you find them uninteresting, lacking or unchallenging, that could be the reason you’re not moving forward. Perhaps, you find the next level too difficult and are afraid to move on? Check your attitude and make adjustments. Let the acquisition take its natural flow and ride that wave.
- Time. Are you devoting enough time to the activity? Some people spend a lot of time with their language lessons early on, then begin to slack off after a few weeks. Compare how much time you’re spending on the language now compared to when you made your best strides? Could time be what’s holding you back?
- Commitment. How committed are you to going to the next level? If you say you are very committed, then you should be everything in your power to reach it. Do you passively take in your lessons or do you actively notice things when you study? Do you review your notes, redo practice exercises and do extra work, apart from your regularly scheduled sessions?
June 30, 2010
Learning a new language is just like going to school. You’ll have to take it as seriously as possible and work your ass off studying if you want to get results.
- Establish a regular study schedule. You never see schools schedule classes on an arbitrary basis. Language acquisition, whether with a foreign language software or a traditional class, should be the same way. Getting on a routine early will help you develop a good habit – one that’s going to mean a lot to your eventual results.
- Experiment with a variety of materials. While we recommend sticking with one primary language learning material, being open to trying new things out can prove very valuable as well. Apart from your regular study schedule, set aside a couple of hours a week to researching and trying out alternative mediums for language learning.
- Find study buddies. The role of social elements in language learning can never be discounted. As powerful as modern language training has evolved, there’s still no substitute to practicing with fellow learners and growing into the language together.
- Find resources in your locale. Explore your community for resources you can take advantage of to further your acquisition of the language. They could be out there and you just haven’t looked yet.
December 23, 2009
Whenever you sit down in class or use your language learning software, it’s important to give the lesson your undivided attention. I know, we’re living in a multi-tasking society, where people accomplish their work while listening to their iPod, checking their text messages and planning a Christmas party at exactly the same time. Still, if you want to maximize your potential in language learning, giving it your full concentration is a necessary undertaking.
How do you benefit from paying better attention?
- Your mind is clearer, as it isn’t burdened by multiple things going on at the same time.
- Your focus is exactly where it needs to be – on your lessons – instead of in a myriad of other things.
- You ‘re able to process all the input in its entirety.
- You get to engage the lessons with your critical mind.
“But if I do that, I’ll never have the time to study!”
If you seriously believe that, then try this: schedule your personal language learning lessons for only 20 minutes per day. That’s it. I don’t care how busy you are – everyone is likely to have 20 minutes to spare. If your language software’s individual lessons go beyond that, then resolve to apportion it accordingly. Even if it takes you two weeks to go through one lesson, that will infinitely be more beneficial than speeding through it without your full attention.
December 21, 2009
Some of us have grown up with good study habits that inevitably play into our learning efforts as adults. Many, on the other hand, struggle just as much as they did back in elementary school.
If you count yourself among the latter group, you may want to begin working towards developing good study habits. After all, being older doesn’t mean you stop learning. In fact, being mature means taking full responsibility for your further education, making effective study habits more of a necessity than ever.
Plan your language learning. Set a plan for your language studies and list down reasonable goals. Knowing where you want to go is the first step to any successful language acquisition effort.
Test materials before deciding. Investing in a particular learning medium, whether it be adult classes or a language acquisition software, can be a serious investment. Treat it as such. Find out more about any specific format by researching or testing it out before making a commitment.
Schedule your lessons. Don’t just open up your lessons “whenever you feel like it.” That’s one of the worst study habits right there. Draw up a schedule and stick to it – that’s the easiest way to integrate it into your everyday life.
Be creative. Some lessons just won’t sink in – even the smartest people know that. During these times, it’s important to be flexible, finding creative ways to learn.
December 18, 2009
Some people prefer to study from a single material, often believing that the less-complicated route (sticking to one reference) will facilitate a more rewarding effort. Others, however, contend that using multiple sources is always necessary for a more thorough language learning.
Personally, I understand the value in concentrating your efforts on one material. However, you should realize that a single source can only get you so far. In fact, most researches point to the conclusion that using multiple sources when studying increases both retention and understanding.
How do you best use multiple sources for learning?
- Refer to secondary sources when you stumble upon something you either can’t understand or doubt you understood correctly. The supporting sources might have a better way of explaining that particular topic.
- Use secondary materials at times when the primary source is not available. If you use a language learning software as your primary tool, for instance, you can use flash cards or a book for a quick brush-up when you’re on the road.
- Combine lessons you get between multiple sources to create a more complete overall picture.
- Choose secondary sources that are more practical and exercises-based if your primary learning medium (e.g. classes, language software) are geared towards actual lessons. That way, you’re able to get a more rounded experience.
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