TOPIC 1 LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: WINE UPON THE LIPS [1] EOI C1

http://www.studygs.net/langlearn.htm Nina Dearle

Language learning strategies











In learning a language, we follow the advice that practice makes perfect, and
patience is a helpful virtue. The world can be your classroomthrough home or school.
Explore these options to find strategies of learning and using a language that match your
interests, strengths and challenges. Use the Internet and technology as an environment to
make your tasks fun and interesting. Skills include listening, speaking, memorization,
reading, writing, and test taking. At the beginning memorization and repetition are
important, but do not be discouraged if you seem to go too slowly.

Listening and understanding
Practice listening!
Infants listen for more than a year before they can say anything close to mom
or dad.
Watch videos and listen to music in your language, download Internet files with
speech in the language. Try to recognize words, even sounds. Dont bother trying
to understand, just get used to the sound of the language.
Use the language lab.
Prepare yourself by reading exercises, then put them aside and listen. Only speak
or write when asked to.
When others in class speak,
listen for what they say and mentally build images of their answersin the
language itself.
Listen while a tutor or friend reads to you
maybe even something as simple as a childrens book.
Make friend with a native speaker and practice!

Practicing listening when learning a language an essential component to both
understanding and reproducing sounds, as well as the rhythm, accent and inflections of
speech. Not everyone has access to a native speaker, class or lab--
but your desktop, laptop and handheld technologies can help.
Listening practice
Download a media program that has the text of what is said.
Review the text one sentence at a time and familiarize yourself with the
vocabulary. (Study the grammar as a separate exercise and focus now on the
listening/speech)
Follow a sentence several times while listening until you are comfortable with its
pronunciation in the context of the sentences.
TOPIC 1 LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: WINE UPON THE LIPS [1] EOI C1

http://www.studygs.net/langlearn.htm Nina Dearle

Without looking into the transcript, repeat the sentence (say it aloud) exactly as
you heard it. Record your best effort and compare.
Listen to the text in short paragraphs or chunks. Look away and try to summarize
in your words the content. Record and listen to your summary for review.
Listen to the whole conversation or story without interruption. Summarize this
"whole" and record, listen and compare.
Speaking
Reading silently is not productive:
use your voice! Read aloud: think of it as training your mouth to make the new
sounds!
Drills:
Learn a short standard sentence, then substitute vocabulary, even words you look
up for fun. Subject and verbs can change (I am going; you are going; etc.) Objects
can change (I buy a car; I buy a CD; etc.)
In class, if your answer does not come to mind
repeat the question in the language, or use your new language to say that you dont
know, or need help! For this last, prepare a standard response that you can fall
back on, but be prepared to respond to a question that follows your response! Stay
in the mind set of the language, giving your brain time to work in the new language.
Vocabulary
Be inventive in acquiring new words
Post note cards around your room to learn and identify what is in the room,
refrigerator, computer, car, etc. Speak the list, and if the word has gender, or is
singular/plural, make sure you use the article!
Create a visual thesaurus.
Draw an image of a new vocabulary word
Create a concept map of a word with synonyms, opposites, images, scenes, etc.
Look up new words
and their definitions in the new languages dictionary or online, not in language pairs
(for example, French-English). Write out the definition.
Add one synonym or antonym.
Memorizing:
acronym, acrostic, rhymes, loci, keywords, image-naming, chaining
Reading
Do not read word-by-word, or translate word-by-word.
Prepare yourself for a reading: study its vocabulary first; review the advance
questions. Then put aside everything and just read, even twice. Do not look up
vocabulary while reading. Read a phrase or sentence as a thought to get its
sense or meaning.
Do not write in your text book or reading.
Separately develop a vocabulary list as above.
Go beyond your textbook!
Childrens books are illustrated and easy to read! Websites are rich opportunities
to explore your hobbies in other languages, and have common vocabulary that gives
you a sense of what is written. (Google advance search will let you enter key words
and choose a language for results!)
Read/sing song lyrics of the language!
As your skills advance, read novels, but read for the story, not vocabulary. Read
a chapter, then if you see repetitive vocabulary, look it up and then read again. As
you advance through the novel, you will forget about vocabulary for the most part.
TOPIC 1 LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: WINE UPON THE LIPS [1] EOI C1

http://www.studygs.net/langlearn.htm Nina Dearle

Writing
Some languages have unfamiliar alphabets and ways of writing.
Practice writing these alphabets to both learn correct orthography (correct
writing), and vocabulary!
Develop writing assignments with the seven stages in your language
Write out sentences you have practiced orally.
Carefully construct patterns and then write out the sentences with substitute
words--multiple times. If you have spell check and the autocorrect grammar
feature in your word processing, use it!
When you get corrections, re-write them.
Correct what you got wrong, even repeating in order to embed it in your mind.
Grammar
Read a short clear easily understandable explanation of a grammar rule.
Find several examples of the rule Check whether you have mastered the examples
Create your own examples drawn from your daily life, or in conversations you could
have with a friend, classmate, or even a family member. If you know how to
categorize the grammar rule, search the Web for more examples in dialogues,
essays, stories. Create variations or your own examples.
Technology
Create flash cards
whether digital or on paper
Explore using your IPod, MP3, CD in the language
in your car, and at moments when you are waiting or walking or biking, etc. Some
studies have even showed results during sleep!
Check out iPhone apps!
Use the Internet; search for websites.
Play games, read newspapers, look up your hobby, research for other subjects you
are studying, etc.
Watch videos and movies in your new language.
Learn the words to popular songs and sing along!
Environment
Immersion!
Think of creating an environment in your room where you can be in contact with
your language.
Visit centers and organizations that cater to foreign nationals and immigrants
International student centers, neighborhood and education centers, language and
bi-lingual associations, national halls, consular offices, library, etc.
Study dailydevelop a foreign language habit
Think of studying as you would for a sport or music: a series of skills that need
practice!
Dont miss a class!
And get to know at least one other student to study with.
Risk! Be fearless in making mistakes, and getting correction.
Would an athlete object when his or her coach corrected certain moves? So also
learning an instrument needs direction from a popular musician. This is the role of
a teacher or native speaker!
Think of building your skill set
Basics lead to more complicated variations: for example, use old vocabulary to
practice new grammar
TOPIC 1 LANGUAGE AND COMMUNICATION: WINE UPON THE LIPS [1] EOI C1

http://www.studygs.net/langlearn.htm Nina Dearle

Study with a friend, in a group, involving yourself in speaking and listening. Play a
game online or in the group in the language
Relax and enjoy yourself!
Do not worry about what you cannot remember, or cannot yet understand, or
cannot yet say. You are learning and improving. The language will gradually become
clearer in your brain as new connections are made, but this will happen on a
schedule that you cannot control. So sit back and enjoy. Just make sure you spend
enough time with the language. That is the greatest guarantee of success.
Tests
Testing in language learning often expects you to write, speak, etc.
Ask the teacher which skill (listening, speaking, writing, grammar, vocabulary, etc.)
is tested! Prepare specifically for that skill.
Study abroad
One of the biggest mistakes students make in study abroad programs is to
hang out with those from their school in the new country. Dont.
Get the most out of your trip by living with a family (home stay), asking for a dorm
with local students, meeting students in the country, exploring (shopping!) by
yourself or a companion who does not speak your language.
But be safe: ask advice about where to go and what to do.

Portions adapted from contributions by Mike Shelby. Landsberger, Joe. (n.d.) Cross language resources including
digital translators. in Study Guides and Strategies. retrieved November 4, 2009, from
http://www.studygs.net/language.htm Asher, James J. (n.d.) Breakthrough in Brain Research: Learning Languages
Without Stress. In Total Physical Response, retrieved November 4, 2009. from http://www.tpr-world.com/brain-
research.html Kibler, Amanda and Philipose, Sandy. (n.d.) What the Research Shows. In American Council on the
Teaching of Foreign Languages. retrieved November 4, 2009, from
http://www.actfl.org/i4a/pages/index.cfm?pageid=4524