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Language Learning Tips

Revise Regularly

After each lesson, it is good practice to review what has been taught - at least once before a day has lapsed. Research indicates that up to 80% of what you have learnt is forgotten if there is no revision done within 24 hours.

The next revision should not be more than one week after the first revision. This will help reinforce the contents of the lesson and thus build a strong foundation for improving your command of the language.

Study Daily

In addition to revising lesson materials, it is important to study daily as language learning is cumulative. To maintain currency and progress, spending 30 minutes everyday is more productive than setting aside three hours once a week.

It is advisable to focus on one aspect of the language (e.g. grammar or vocabulary etc.) during each study session.

Practice, Practice, Practice

Speaking - Confidently practice the language out loud and you will soon be comfortable verbalizing as well as hearing yourself speak in the foreign tongue. Record your speech and play it back so that you can hear your "new voice" and scrutinize where your accent and/or pronunciation can be improved.

Writing - A good way to improve your writing skill is to compose daily entries for your journal or diary in the foreign language. Your vocabulary will also expand as you search for suitable words to express yourself effectively.

Listening - The most entertaining why to enhance your aural comprehension of the language is to listen to foreign language films, television or radio stations. Additionally, you can ask a fellow learner to dictate a short passage from a foreign novel while you write down what you hear. This practice will boost your proficiency in both writing and listening.

Useful Phrases

For starters, you would most likely acquaint yourself with commonly used terms and phrases that facilitate both casual and formal communication in the foreign language. It is also important to arm yourself with a set of expressions that will allow you to "recover" from an inadvertent mistake that may potentially embarrass or offend.

Examples of such expressions include: "Pardon me, I'm new to the language and am doing my best to learn it…" and "Why are you laughing? Please tell me what I've said wrong."

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