How To Learn A Language: A Young Person's Guide

HOW TO LEARN A LANGUAGE

A Young Person’s Guide

by Remo Nannetti

Smashwords Edition

Copyright 2017 Remo Nannetti

License Notes

This ebook is licensed for your personal enjoyment only. This ebook may not be re-sold or given away to other people. If you would like to share this book with another person, please purchase an additional copy for each recipient. If you’re reading this book and did not purchase it, or it was not purchased for your use only, then please return to your favorite ebook retailer and purchase your own copy. Thank you for respecting the hard work of this author.

To my wife, Georgina, whose endless patience and infinite understanding have made this book possible.

CONTENTS

Foreword

Part One: Helping Yourself

a. Explore your Strengths and Weaknesses

b. Manage your Mind

c. Improve your Learning Experience

d. Organise your Work

Part Two: Practice makes Perfect

a. Listening

b. Speaking

c. Reading

d. Writing

Part Three: Going it Alone

a. Using your Textbook

b. Using a Dictionary

c. Doing Homework

d. Sitting Examinations

Part Four: Living the Language

a. Using Computers

b. Sound and Vision

c. People Power

d. Getting Abroad

FOREWORD

You are probably reading this book because you are studying a foreign language (either on your own or through attending a class) and need some advice on making the most of your studies. You may be a committed and able student who wants to progress to a higher level, or an average student who wishes to maximise strengths and eliminate weaknesses. You might, on the other hand, be finding difficulty with some aspects of language learning. Whatever your level of ability, there are systematic ways in which you can improve your language skills. All it takes is a bit of thought, a lot of determination and a willingness to go that little step further.

Learning a language should be an enjoyable adventure, a voyage of discovery in which you visit new places and experience new sensations. If this isn’t happening at the moment, then don’t despair; this book will take you through a systematic evaluation of your present language learning experience and suggest ways in which it can be improved. The rest is up to you – reading this book alone will not automatically make you a better linguist, but putting the advice it gives into practice definitely will!

Part One:

Helping Yourself

Explore your Strengths and Weaknesses

There are two ways of using this book. The first way is to read it from cover to cover, making notes as you go along. The second way (and the one I recommend) is to start off by finding out a little bit about what kind of language learner you are. This chapter will take you through a checklist of what language teachers consider to be good practice; in other words, all the things that you, the student, can do in order to improve your knowledge and skills. Bear in mind that there are very few language learners who do absolutely everything described in the checklist. This is not surprising, as we are all individuals and learn in different ways. What might be an effective strategy with one person might turn out to be hopeless with another. What is important, though, is that we identify those areas of our learning experience in which there is room for improvement and then take positive steps to tackle them.

So let’s get started. You will see below that there are fifteen main areas of language learning. Each area has nine statements of good practice. What you have to do is read each statement carefully and consider to what extent you do the activity described. There are three possible answers: always, sometimes, never. Remember that you have to be entirely honest and truthful; it’s no use deluding yourself. This is the time to reveal all, to take a long, hard but hopefully accurate look at your performance. I’ll wait until you have worked your way through all 135 statements before telling you how to interpret the results. By the way, if you find that a particular statement doesn’t apply to your own learning situation (e.g. the one about using the foreign language assistant) then just ignore it and go on to the next one. Ready? Let’s go!

Manage your Mind

I am highly motivated.

I set myself goals and targets.

I am self-confident.

I am positive in overcoming difficulties.

I communicate well with others.

I can balance work with play.

I enjoy learning a foreign language.

I review my progress.

I reward myself when I succeed.

Improve your Learning Experience:

I attend classes regularly and on time.

I anticipate what the teacher will be doing during the lesson.

I bring all the necessary materials to class.

I sit in a prominent position in class.

I volunteer answers and participate in class.

I am alert and attentive in class.

I ask questions during and after class.

I revise lesson notes after class.

I plan ahead to the next class.

Organise your Work:

I note down key dates in my course of study.

I plan how I am going to use my time.

I review my use of time.

I take care over the presentation of my work.

I display my work prominently.

I use notes to remind me of things.

I file my work methodically.

I store my work in a convenient and accessible location.

I keep grammar and vocabulary notes.

Listening:

I settle myself before listening.

I make sure I can hear clearly.

I anticipate what to listen for.

I read carefully any questions I have to answer.

I listen for key words.

I concentrate fully when I listen.

I take effective notes.

I practise my listening skills on my own.

I learn vocabulary.

Speaking:

I speak at a moderate pace.

I can paraphrase when necessary.

I make the effort to speak.

I am not afraid of making mistakes.

I project my voice clearly.

I pay attention to tone, accent and pronunciation.

I include detail where relevant.

I take time to listen to the other person.

I actively practise my speaking skills.

Reading:

I consider the appearance of a text before reading it.

I read for the overall message before considering the detail.

I can read and understand the detail of a text.

I explore and note new constructions and vocabulary.

I translate from the foreign language into English.

I ask for advice on extra reading materials.

I read a variety of text types for extra practice.

I practise reading texts aloud.

I try to read longer and more challenging texts.

Writing:

I plan what I am going to write.

I write a first draft.

I include sufficient detail.

I check over what I have written.

I present my final draft effectively.

I do a variety of writing tasks.

I redraft pieces I have written previously.

I include my own favourite phrases and recycle material I have previously used.

I imitate good writing in others.

Using your Textbook:

I take good care of my textbook.

I spend time getting to know the layout of my textbook.

I use the checklists in my textbook to monitor my progress.

I read ahead to the next unit or lesson.

I refer to my textbook when doing work.

I use bookmarks to mark important pages and sections.

I take notes from my textbook.

I use my textbook to revise.

I explore any extra resources offered by my textbook.

Using a Dictionary:

I take care over choosing a dictionary.

I spend time getting to know the layout of my dictionary.

I check the various translations of a word or expression.

I read over examples of how a word or expression is used.

I pay attention to notes on style and register.

I think before reaching for the dictionary.

I use bookmarks to mark important sections.

I practise using my dictionary.

I build up my word power through continuous reading.

Doing Homework:

I do all of my homework.

I do my homework in a suitable place.

I take breaks while doing my homework.

I look over my homework once it is corrected.

I redo some homework assignments.

I note down my errors.

I keep a record of my marks or grades.

I file all my pieces of homework.

I do extra homework.

Sitting Examinations:

I acquaint myself with the format and requirements of the examination.

I start to revise well before the examination.

I make up a revision plan and stick to it.

I practise doing past papers under test conditions.

I revise vocabulary, grammar and verbs.

I read over work I have done in class and at home.

I find a suitable place to revise.

I relax the night before an examination and arrive in good time for it.

I consider my answers carefully, present them clearly and leave enough time for checking.

Using Computers:

I word-process my work.

I store my work on the computer.

I keep paper copies of my computer-based materials.

I use language-learning software.

I evaluate language-learning software before using it.

I use the Internet to help me with my language learning.

I e-mail penfriends in the foreign language.

I e-mail my teacher.

I use voice messaging and text and voice chat.

Sound and Vision:

I watch foreign language broadcasts on live television.

I use the audiovisual facilities in my place of learning.

I watch foreign language films and programmes on video, DVD and at the cinema.

I exploit the soundtrack and subtitling possibilities of DVD.

I listen to foreign language broadcasts on radio.

I make active use of CD’s and Mp’s in my language learning

I access the audiovisual materials linked to my textbook.

I listen to songs and poetry in the foreign language.

I listen to spoken books in the foreign language.

People Power:

I ask my teacher for help and advice.

I enquire about my progress.

I collaborate with my fellow students.

I share my learning experiences with my fellow students.

I involve members of my family in my language learning.

I update my family on my progress.

I work with the foreign language assistant.

I have access to a foreign language tutor.

I take extra classes.

Getting Abroad:

I go on holiday to the country whose language I am studying.

I go on trips organised by my place of learning to the country whose language I am studying.

I take part in exchanges organised by my place of learning to the country whose language I am studying.

I attend language courses abroad.

I do work experience or voluntary service abroad.

I talk to as many people as possible while abroad.

I follow the local way of life while abroad.

I note down things I learn while abroad.

I access the local media while abroad.

OK, so you’ve worked your way through all the statements. (This is quite an achievement in itself, given there are so many!) It’s now time to have a closer look at the answers you gave. At this point you might be thinking that this is going to be like one of those magazine quizzes where you award each answer a certain number of points, calculate your total and read a description of how you’ve done. No: what I want you to do is much simpler; it involves taking two sheets of paper. Write this heading at the top of the first sheet: Things I sometimes do. On the top of the second sheet write Things I never do. Now go over your answers and make up two lists

You now have a summary of those areas of your language learning in which you could improve. What you now have to do is prioritise: in other words, decide which areas require your immediate attention. Obviously these will all be on the list of things you never do. There will be other things that are not immediate priorities because you are already doing them to a limited extent (i.e. your sometimes list). Start by identifying five things on your never list that you think you can undertake and then read the corresponding sections in the book. Then comes the crucial part – starting to do what you perhaps have never tried before, or felt afraid about doing. This is the bit that is up to you; after all, it’s no use reading this book and not acting on any of the advice it gives! Remember to remain positive; we can all improve if we have the will to do so.

Once you have dealt with the first five things on your never list, continue with the others until you get to the end of the list. Then start in the same way on your sometimes list. It will take time, but you will get there. Be methodical and determined and remain positive and adventurous at all times. Remember that people will always be there to help you should you need assistance or encouragement; all you have to do is ask! A final word: when it’s all getting on top of you, think of this proverb: Perseverance is not a long race; it is many short races one after another. In other words, take things one at a time and if you keep doing this the big picture will take care of itself.

Manage your Mind

Learning a language is all in the mind. This does not mean that you have to be exceptionally intelligent in order to learn a language. Obviously it does help if you have some natural ability and brainpower, but these things in themselves are not an automatic guarantee of success. What is much more important is your mental attitude; in other words, the way in which you approach the whole business of language learning. I like to call it managing your mind; after all, the mind is a large and complex thing and we have to learn how to exert some order and control over it. This sounds difficult, but there are some simple steps that we can take to make sure that our minds are in peak condition for language learning.

Motivate Yourself!

The first step is to motivate yourself. Start by asking yourself why you want to learn a foreign language. It may be because a foreign language will be useful to you in your chosen career, or because you want to live and work in a foreign country. Alternatively, your only reason for learning a foreign language might be that you enjoy it and find it of interest. Whatever the reasons might be, you have to be clear in your mind about them.

Why not write them all out on a large sheet of paper? Put as your heading Why do I want to learn a foreign language? and then list your own personal reasons for doing so. You may find that the reasons you put down are basically your own ambitions. How do you achieve them? A big question and one that doesn’t have a simple answer. How desperately do you want to achieve them? You’ll find this easier to answer. Basically, the more you want to do something, the less you have to motivate yourself in order to do it. If your lifelong and heartfelt ambition is to become a languages teacher, then you will devote all your energies to your language studies. Nobody will need to encourage you to work hard; you will have a burning desire to succeed in your chosen path and you will be highly motivated in every aspect of your work.

But wait a minute – not all of us are like that! Perhaps we’re only studying a language because we have to and have no great love for language learning. We may be the kind of student who is continually reprimanded by teachers and parents for not trying hard enough. But at the end of the day we still have to get through the course and we can only do that by motivating ourselves sufficiently. There is a well-known saying that goes something like this: Nothing succeeds like success. Success in our studies improves our motivation; in other words, if we feel we have succeeded in one aspect of our language learning then we are spurred on to do even better in the next. Success breeds confidence and confidence in turn improve motivation. But how do we get there? The best way is to set ourselves targets and then overtake them.

Set Yourself Targets

If you have worked your way through the previous chapter you should have a good idea of the various areas in which you can improve. As I said in that chapter, it’s a good idea to start off with about five things that you are definitely not doing at the moment. Then consider how you are going to tackle them and how long it is going to take you. If you write this all on a sheet of paper it should look something like this:

MY BIG FIVE LANGUAGE-LEARNING TARGETS

I am going to do all my assignments;

I am going to take more care over the presentation of my work;

I am going to volunteer more answers in class;

I am going to practise listening skills on my own;

I am going to ask my