Study Hints for Foreign Language Students
A. You have to memorize. Memorization is the main task in learning a new language.
1. Memorize short phrases or sentences rather than individual words alone.
2. Learn the ideas, not just the words.
B. Make the fullest possible use of your class time.
1. Pay attention in class. This will make your work outside class much easier.
2. When the teacher is explaining or someone else is reciting, listen and think about what they are saying. Do not heave a sigh of relief and “tune out” when you are not reciting. Respond mentally to each comment and question; conduct a sort of mental dialogue on the subject matter, even if you are not actually conversing with the teacher or classmates.
C. Language learning means habit development.
1. By listening to your teacher and imitating him/her aloud or silently, you improve your oral language skills. Try to imitate your teacher’s pronunciation and speech patterns. In doing so, you form necessary habits that will make you a successful language student.
2. By studying and reading aloud when you are alone, you develop good pronunciation habits and language fluency.
D. Homework is a “must”—but there are tactics that make it easier and more effective.
1. Divide your homework material into small units if you find it hard going. Work about 10 to 15 minutes on a unit; do something else for a while; then return to your language assignment. Be sure to return to it!
2. Do your homework when it is assigned. Do not expect to turn in several assignments in a batch late. Homework is part of the learning/practicing process. The homework “document” in itself is not the important thing (although the teacher will insist in its looking good and being correct). It is the habits that doing homework has helped you form, and the vocabulary, syntax, and language patterns that doing homework has helped you master, which will really matter.
3. Study out loud. If you practice reading aloud what you have to study and what you are writing, you will be an extra dimension to your work. Your memory will be helped doubly in the learning process.
E. Do not fall behind.
1. Do your daily work and you will find the studying much more effective and long-lasting than if you try to cram at the last minute for a test or classroom performance. Foreign language learning means habit formation, and you cannot cram habits. They take time and persistence to form.
2. Build on what you already know. As you progress in your language study, you have to know what you learned the day before, the week before, the month before.
If you follow these hints carefully, you will almost certainly succeed in your foreign language work, enjoy your class, and win the heartfelt approval of your teacher, your faculty, and yourself. GOOD LUCK!
A. You have to memorize. Memorization is the main task in learning a new language.
1. Memorize short phrases or sentences rather than individual words alone.
2. Learn the ideas, not just the words.
B. Make the fullest possible use of your class time.
1. Pay attention in class. This will make your work outside class much easier.
2. When the teacher is explaining or someone else is reciting, listen and think about what they are saying. Do not heave a sigh of relief and “tune out” when you are not reciting. Respond mentally to each comment and question; conduct a sort of mental dialogue on the subject matter, even if you are not actually conversing with the teacher or classmates.
C. Language learning means habit development.
1. By listening to your teacher and imitating him/her aloud or silently, you improve your oral language skills. Try to imitate your teacher’s pronunciation and speech patterns. In doing so, you form necessary habits that will make you a successful language student.
2. By studying and reading aloud when you are alone, you develop good pronunciation habits and language fluency.
D. Homework is a “must”—but there are tactics that make it easier and more effective.
1. Divide your homework material into small units if you find it hard going. Work about 10 to 15 minutes on a unit; do something else for a while; then return to your language assignment. Be sure to return to it!
2. Do your homework when it is assigned. Do not expect to turn in several assignments in a batch late. Homework is part of the learning/practicing process. The homework “document” in itself is not the important thing (although the teacher will insist in its looking good and being correct). It is the habits that doing homework has helped you form, and the vocabulary, syntax, and language patterns that doing homework has helped you master, which will really matter.
3. Study out loud. If you practice reading aloud what you have to study and what you are writing, you will be an extra dimension to your work. Your memory will be helped doubly in the learning process.
E. Do not fall behind.
1. Do your daily work and you will find the studying much more effective and long-lasting than if you try to cram at the last minute for a test or classroom performance. Foreign language learning means habit formation, and you cannot cram habits. They take time and persistence to form.
2. Build on what you already know. As you progress in your language study, you have to know what you learned the day before, the week before, the month before.
If you follow these hints carefully, you will almost certainly succeed in your foreign language work, enjoy your class, and win the heartfelt approval of your teacher, your faculty, and yourself. GOOD LUCK!