Often a student, especially an adult, learning a new language may seem impossible, or at least a very difficult and long task. When we are just starting to discover a new language and come across volumes of incomprehensible rules, it is very easy to lose confidence and quit. What can help in this situation? How to learn English, German, French — yes any language — and not feel so helpless in the first weeks of school? Our article is devoted to this.
Personal Interest
It may seem self-evident, but often students do not have a strong incentive to learn. Ask yourself the question — why do you personally learn the language? Because he will help to build a more successful career. Because you had the opportunity to move to a place you've been dreaming about all your life. Because this is the mother tongue of your girlfriend. Just for fun. Even such a simple motivation can give strength to overcome the first, most difficult steps.
You must be personally interested in a good knowledge of the language. It should be very important, and even better — essential. Are you flying to Taiwan to head a branch of your company there? Perfectly. Going to the US for study and can not connect in English and a couple of words? Excellent. According to many polyglots, it is the method of full immersion that achieves the best results. Learning a language abroad, you will have to use it both in class and in everyday life. Any simple action will turn into a real challenge. Yes, at first it will seem to you, as if you were dropped into the enemy's rear with an armed toothpick, you may feel lonely, because you can not communicate with people properly. But this feeling will soon pass, because literally in a few weeks or even days the method of full immersion will allow you to see in practice your...
Results
All these everyday difficulties, which at first seemed insurmountable, will soon become as natural as they were in their home country. Going to the store or laundry will soon become a mere trifle, because in such situations, the speaker is required to use the same simple phrases. As a result, live communication will soon become a source of immense pleasure and will encourage further study.
You just study
How often do people open a multivolume reference book of grammar and imagine that studying it is some cruel punishment. Just listen to how terrible the Czech language is: there are as many as seven declensions in it (nominative, genitive, dative, etc.), there are unpronounceable words and sentences without vowels (as you tongue-tie «Prdkrtskrzdrn, zprvzhlthrstzrn» — «The mole broke through the grass, Swallowing first a handful of grains "), strange dashes over the letters, an intricate word order, three kinds... horror!
The best solution for the first time would be simply to close your eyes to all these difficulties. It is much easier to learn the fundamental foundations of the language, and only then to take up his subtleties. If you are a perfectionist, then after six months, perhaps, you will be able to pronounce all the learned phrases without a single mistake. But all these six months you were inactive and could miss a unique opportunity to communicate with the carrier. But after all, the language is taught exactly for this — not for the sake of impeccable grammar, volumes of rules and vocabulary. This is a means of communication of people! In the worst case, you just say something wrong. Relax and get pleasure from communication.
It's simple!
Instead of self-deprecation, as in the example of the Czech, try to find in the language something that could help you. If you study one of the European languages, rejoice, because you already know the vast majority of the dictionary: scroll through any book in Spanish — for sure you will come across a lot of familiar words: elalfabeto, lafamilia and many others. Sometimes even in a completely unfamiliar language, you can guess the translation of whole sentences. If you decide to take on one of the Slavic languages, then you do not have to learn articles. German is a phonetic language, and when you see the spelling of a German word, you can usually pronounce it, and when you hear it, you can usually write it.
Each language, even hieroglyphic, contains certain hints that can greatly simplify its study. And the more languages you already know, the easier it will be to learn the following. You see, this is not so difficult as it seemed at the beginning!
Communicate
It was said above that the best results are possible only with the full immersion method. But what if you can not go abroad to study for any reason?
In general, even despite this, you have almost unlimited resources for learning a foreign language. The Internet era has provided millions of pages of classical works, music, films, radio and podcasts from around the world. Find what you are interested in. Look for words and phrases that you need and want to know. Do not wait for someone to introduce you to the language or tell you what to do. Discover the language for yourself, as a growing child does. Many forums can talk with foreigners as much as you like. Talk and write when you want. Continually practice your skills.
Perception by ear
Knowledge of the language is traditionally divided into reading, writing, speaking and hearing. As a rule, students take the most time to practice oral speech. It is possible to write and read rather complex texts, but films and songs often fill the student with an avalanche of information «in real time». This causes great annoyance and leads to doubts in oneself. Yes, you will not understand much of what you heard. But it should be so. Capture basic ideas, keywords and sounds. You do not need to think about every sentence you hear. All that you will achieve is to skip the following. First, watch movies with subtitles. Write interesting phrases. If you are an absolute beginner, try to catch the keywords and build on the picture. Continue to talk and listen, and soon even this barrier will fall.
No victims!
There is no point in treating learning as a race for a while. Languages are practically living beings who sometimes willingly allow themselves to be tamed, and sometimes resist this «all four». But no matter how hard it is, remember: you are moving forward. Do not extinguish your enthusiasm and strength by comparing yourself with others or wondering why it takes so long. If you are tired, take a break. Take time not only to study, but also to rest. As you move forward, you will feel more and more comfortable in the new language environment. Soon you will find out that from an uninvited guest have become a member of a new family. Just keep on going and enjoy it!
Too high expectations
Unfortunately, today each of us is negatively affected by advertising, which in the majority is quite absurd. In your city, a new «super school of a foreign language» has opened, which promises to significantly improve your level in just a couple of weeks? Do not believe such a sweet lie: in a short time you can not learn English, German, or Chinese. To bring your knowledge to a decent level from scratch can be, at least, for 1 year of intensive studies.
Invalid goal setting
If you are learning a language just because it's so fashionable, or «without English in any way», then you will not have too much motivation. The real goal is to learn the language to get new and more promising work, full change of qualifications, admission to a prestigious educational institution (for example, abroad), travel. You must clearly understand the benefits that new knowledge will bring to you.
Concentration on grammar
The most popular and dangerous mistake. Studies show that too active studying only grammar negatively affects speech abilities. Why? English grammar can be complex for logical understanding, and real-time communication is very fast. It turns out that you will not have enough time to remember the hundreds of learned rules just to speak out. It is desirable that you master the grammar of the English language on a subconscious and intuitive level. The best way is to communicate actively with foreigners and listen to the correct English speech.
Study only official English in books
This approach to training is justified only if you intend to pass a serious international test. If you just need to significantly improve your knowledge, do not forget about other methods. Native speakers of English in communication practically do not use abstruse phrases that you can find in serious textbooks. If you want to succeed, do not forget to study idioms, phrasal verbs and even slang.
References:
- Experience Sharing Sessions on the 2009/10 «Seed» Project — Case Studies,2010
- Promoting Assessment for Learning in English Language Education at Primary Level,2004
- Recommended Texts for the SBA Component of the 2007 HKCEE English
- SS Learning and Teaching Series for the Language Arts Modules in the Elective Part of the English Language Curriculum: Web-based Workshop on Learning English through Short Stories,2006
- Enhancing English Language Curriculum Planning, Learning and Teaching through Cross-curricular Modules at Primary Level,2005
