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Tips For Successful Language Learning
By
A.
Gumawang Jati. M.A,
Tip
1: Be realistic. |
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Be
patient. Learning to speak a second language can be
challenging and it will take time. |
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Study
or use English regularly and often. 20-30 minutes
every day is better than 3 hours all at once in one
day. |
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Set
goals for yourself. Create a checklist of the things
you want to accomplish in a week, a month, or a year. |
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Here
are some examples of goals: |
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"I will learn 5 new words a day." |
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"I will be able to speak about the past and
future by the end of this month." |
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"I will be able to stand up and give a
presentation in English with confidence by the end of
July." |
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Tip
2: Do things that help you remember what you've
learned |
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Keep
a journal of the new words, expressions, and rules you
learn. Write a sentence using each one. |
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Create
a deck of flashcards to practice your new words and
expressions. |
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Read
your lists of new vocabulary or expressions before
going to sleep at night. Tape the lists to the
bathroom mirror. |
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Label
your furniture in English. |
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Tip
3: Focus on meaning. |
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Try
not to translate word for word. |
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When
you read something in English, first try to get the
general meaning; don't worry about understanding every
word. Then go back and focus on specifics. |
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When
you're talking with someone in English or watching TV
or a movie in English, don't worry if you don't
understand every word. Try to focus on the overall
meaning. |
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If
you've got to write something in English, start by
writing as much as you can without making corrections.
Focus on the main ideas first and write these down.
Then go back and make changes. |
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Tip
4: Take risks. |
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Just
talk. Don't worry about getting everything right. Try
new words, expressions, and structures, even when
you're not exactly sure of how to use them. |
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Ask
for help. Sometimes you just won't understand
something. If someone is talking too fast, ask him/her
to slow down. If you didn't understand something, ask
the person to repeat it, and explain it, if necessary.
Use expressions like: |
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"Could you repeat that, please?" |
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"Could you say that again, please?" |
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"English isn’t my first language. Could you
speak a little more slowly, please?" |
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Tip
5: Make English a part of your life. |
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Watch
English language TV or movies with English subtitles;
listen to music in English. |
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Spend
15-20 minutes a day reading things you enjoy in
English. Find Web sites, magazines, newspapers, or
literature. You can look for material that is written
for native speakers of English or for learners of
English. Read advice columns (for example, Dear Abby
and Ann Landers); these are great because they use
correct and current English and provide a window to
culture. |
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Get
a pen pal. |
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Participate
in online chat rooms or message boards where you have
to use English. |
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Get
involved in activities in your city that get you to
use English, perhaps a movie or book club. Go to an
English-speaking country's consulate in your city and
see if they offer or can direct you to places that
offer group activities. |
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Teach
a skill to native English speakers. Plenty of native
speakers would love to learn foreign cooking, for
example. You would practice English and they would
learn cooking. |
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Make
friends with people who are speakers of English. If
you are speakers of the same first language, make a
rule that perhaps for an hour three times a week, you
will only speak in English. Pick topics that interest
you to help you focus your conversations. |
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Do
your day-to-day tasks in English--write grocery lists,
make notes to yourself, etc. |
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Get
a roommate that you have to use English with. |
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Do
volunteer work that requires you to speak English--in
schools, or at charitable organizations, for example. |
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Find
out about the culture and customs of people in
English-speaking countries. |
Tip
6: Make mistakes work for you.
You are going to
make mistakes, but how can you learn from these? |
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Keep
a list of errors that you make repeatedly. |
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Do
homework together with someone else who is learning
English. Correct each other's work. |
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Make
a list of questions about things that you don't
understand in English. Ask a teacher or a friend to
try to answer your questions. |
