Learning Strategies – Easyleam Languages
Salepage : Learning Strategies – Easyleam Languages
Consider the following scenario: you decide to study a language and inform everyone of your friends and family of your ambitions.
Then they advise you about the “greatest” technique to acquire a second language (despite the fact that they don’t speak any other languages).
“Take a class!” exclaims one.
“Get a language degree,” says another.
“Just watch a lot of movies,” says a third.
All of those sound like wonderful methods, so you select one and go right in.
Three weeks (or three years) later, you’re scarcely able to compose a sentence. You give up on studying a language because you’re tired of it.
That is, until you restart it with a different approach.
The same thing happens with each new method you try. Finally, you give up totally.
The problem is that most typical language learning tactics fail because they neglect the most basic rule of language acquisition: you can’t merely study a language; you have to use it.
Today, I’ll discuss why some of the most popular language learning tactics don’t work, as well as how to change your approach to swiftly improve your language abilities.
First, enroll in an academic style language class.
Languages are not best learned in classrooms. Spending the majority of your time passively listening to someone lecture at you about the language (often in your own tongue!) with very little speaking on your side is a waste of time.
The percentage of students who have completed 5+ years of classroom education in a language but are still unable to have a conversation demonstrates that classroom learning is not the greatest method to invest your time or money.
Accountability is the Language Hacker’s Solution.
If you still need to take a class (for example, for a college course), here are some strategies for speeding up the laborious process of classroom learning for quick language acquisition.
Increase responsibility outside of the classroom.
The most popular argument in favor of language lessons is that studying well on your own is too tough. And, while classes might be effective in forcing you into a study and accountability program, I would argue that you can achieve the same results from your network of friends or a program like the Add1Challenge.
You should spend a similar amount of time speaking the language outside of class.
Italki, a marketplace for online language instructors and teachers, has a plethora of native speakers in dozens of languages. One hour spent chatting in the language with a native speaker and revisiting what you learned in class is always more successful than many hours of self-study at the school library.
To quickly memorize new language, use SRS (Spaced Repetition Systems) and mnemonic memory aides.
Mnemonics and SRS (Spaced Repetition Systems) can help you learn new words considerably faster than most of your classmates. With all of the extra time saved by not employing rote memorization, you can concentrate on the most crucial aspect of language learning: speaking!
Strategy 2: Consider taking Linguistics classes at school.
Linguistics is all about dissecting languages and figuring out how they operate. Linguistics is the study of the engine that powers a language.
Many language learners feel that learning a language’s norms entitles you to use it. It’s an odd notion because it doesn’t always apply in other situations. Would you feel comfortable entering the ring if you know all of the kickboxing rules? I sincerely hope not!
I’ve written on the distinction between linguists and polyglots previously, but it simply comes down to knowledge vs. talent. Many linguists do not speak more than one language and hence cannot assist you in developing language acquisition abilities. While linguistics is intriguing, it has little to do with directly helping you utilize a language.
The Language Hacker’s Solution: Get Real-World Experience
I salute you if you have committed yourself to the study of language structure. It is not, however, the same as being able to speak in the language.
Recognize the distinction between studying and speaking.
The greatest approach transition from a “language student” to a “language speaker” is to move your attention from book studying to “mouth utilizing”.
To prevent confusing the two, split your attention and treat each as a different issue.
Consider working as a radio DJ during the day and being passionate about playing the guitar at night. They are both tied to music, but in very different ways. Linguistics should never be used as a substitute for practicing your target language.
Strategy 3 is to watch movies and television shows.
It sounds like a language learner’s fantasy to “passively” learn a language by watching movies or television programmes. That is, unless you give it a go.
Passive language learning is one of those fallacies that feed on the lazy “sofa beast” inside each of us that seeks things without exerting any effort. Learning a language requires effort. As I previously stated, passively listening to a language will not allow you to become proficient.
Movies and TV shows can assist, but only if you spend eight hours a day in front of a screen. This is no more likely to help you learn a language than it is to help you become a pilot. All you need is the appropriate attitude and mindset.
The Language Hacker’s Solution: Act Out Your Favorite Films
I already discussed how to properly use movies to learn a language. In it, I discuss how to properly use movies to supplement your language study endeavors.
Here are some crucial concepts:
Do not simply watch the film. Examine it. When you watch a movie for amusement, you are not focused on learning the language. Study the topics in the film like you would a textbook.
Divide your project into digestible, repeatable chunks.
A two-hour film has much too much vocabulary to comprehend at once. Divide it into 10-minute parts and go over it several times until you have truly learnt something of value.
Take an interest in the material.
A movie is a living textbook for learning about body language, accents, intonation, pronunciation, and many other aspects of language. Don’t simply sit there and do nothing! Participate in the tale by acting out portions, repeating phrases and body gestures, and bringing the words to life!
Strategy 4: Listen to Language Songs
Music, like movies and television shows, is frequently portrayed as a magical way to learn a language. The difficulty is that songs are frequently written in a lyrical style, therefore they aren’t an excellent source of common language and vocabulary.
Listening to music has a place in a language learning mission – as long as you approach it correctly.
Language Hacker’s Solution: Sing Along
Instead of repeating myself, I’ll just suggest that you study the music (don’t just listen passively), repeat passages (to truly comprehend the material), and connect with the song (don’t just listen – sing!).
Another solution is to recognize that song lyrics frequently take creative license with a language, so while they might be beneficial to your studies, bear in mind that they are the equivalent of studying poetry.
Use the Rosetta Stone/Pimsleur/DuoLingo System as a fifth strategy.
Popular language learning programs such as DuoLingo and Pimsleur do offer certain advantages. DuoLingo makes language learning more fun, which is a good thing in theory. Pimsleur’s technique assists in memorizing certain phrases through audio instruction. Rosetta Stone is… sorry, I can’t think of anything redeemable about it… Yellow. Yes, it does a fantastic job with yellow!
However, whatever system you purchase will have one fundamental disadvantage that you cannot avoid: it is not suited to you and your life. The majority of the phrases and expressions you’ll learn will be useless in your everyday life, reducing the usefulness of these programs.
The Language Hacker’s Solution: Pick What Works For You
If you want to utilize these systems (maybe as a birthday present), there are three suggestions to help you get the most out of each.
Check out my reviews on each system.
Check our evaluations of the Rosetta Stone method, the Pimsleur approach to language learning, and the Duolingo language learning program to get a broad picture view of the pros and cons of each.
Supplement with customized materials.
Develop your own list of personalized vocabulary and phrases as you progress through each system. If the lesson’s theme is “shopping,” make a list of 20 products that you buy on a regular basis and add them to your flashcard deck. This helps you to apply what you’re learning about sentence structures and syntax to relevant terminology.
Fill the gaps in their materials.
Each system has flaws, so fill in the gaps with your own efforts. For example, if the system does not need much speaking, be sure you converse with native speakers. If your system does not give enough listening exercise, look for listening materials online.
6th Strategy: Translate a Book Until You Understand the Language
When I first started learning Spanish, I sat down with a copy of El seor de los anillos (The Lord of the Rings), convinced that if I forced myself to read it with my dictionary in hand, I would be proficient by the end.
It took me a week just to get to page 2!
This strategy may appear to be rational, yet it is absolutely unworkable. It takes a very long time. You’ll also be restricted to the author’s unique linguistic style, which may make you seem weird to native speakers.
Can you learn a language by reading a book? Absolutely! But only if you take the appropriate attitude.
Young Adult Fiction as a Language Hacker’s Solution
Books should be used to augment, not replace, a language learning program. And, like movies, television, and music, you must shift your mindset from amusement to education.
I recommend choosing a book that is available in your local language so that you may compare them side by side. Young adult literature (think Harry Potter) are ideal for this because the language isn’t overly stylized and the vocabulary isn’t very complex.
Methods for incorporating a book into your language learning program
Here are my recommendations for utilizing books to learn a language:
Approach the book in sections, such as paragraph by paragraph.
Before you continue reading, obtain the book in your original language so you can comprehend the essence of each part.
Check out the foreign language version to see how much you can understand without having to study the text.
Select any unfamiliar terms that occur many times and add them to your SRS flashcard deck.
To improve your speech and accent, read the paragraph to your coach.
Record a native speaker reading the paragraph at both regular and slow speed. Alternatively, you might listen to the audiobook.
Reread the text several times. First, ensure that you comprehend what is being said. Then practice saying it aloud.
If you devote many hours to each section of the book, your comprehension and usage of the language will improve fast.
Strategy 7: Interact only with other language learners.
If you are in a class or have friends who are studying a language, you may believe that getting together to practice the language would help you improve your abilities. Isn’t it vital, after all, to talk as much as possible?
Meeting together with other students to develop your speaking skills may be quite beneficial. The difficulty is that they are unlikely to push you beyond your present level of communication. You must engage with native speakers to truly speed your learning.
Language Hacker’s Solution: Practice With Native Speakers
When learning a new language, the ideal person to communicate with is a native speaker of that language. You are exposed to small subtleties in language usage that you would not have noticed otherwise. It is genuinely priceless.
If you don’t know any native speakers in your region, use the internet to find a tutor using italki, local meetings, couchsurfing, or the HelloTalk app. There are so many excellent web resources for finding native speakers that you really have no excuse.
The only approach that fails is the one you abandon.
As you can see, with the correct “language hacker’s” nudge, any strategy may work. The most common error I see language learners make is not following a set technique, but rather failing to be adaptable in their approach.
Evaluate your language learning technique on a regular basis and go outside the box to make it work best for you.
Are you bored with your language class? What can you do to boost your prospects outside of the room?
Is studying linguistics not assisting you in communicating? Time spent speaking the language should be supplemented.
Do you find movies, music, or literature ineffective? Break them down and restrict the scope of your research.
Are you talking to the wrong people? Look for methods to locate them on the internet.
You have the ability to change your approach and achieve fluency. So, take that language learning strategy and level up!
Finally, podcasts are an excellent approach to learn a new language. Learn more about using podcasts to learn a language.
