How to Study a Foreign Language

On your mark, get set-

GO!!!!!!!!

Build a foundation.

Make flash cards of your vocabulary words.

Memorization will occur twice as fast if you will say the word as you are writing it.

Memorize your vocabulary words.

Practice with a friend.

Study in small daily time segments, not the night before the quiz.

Foundation

Vocabulary

Check your blueprint.

Keep your vocabulary cards to review before the final.

Categorize the vocabulary-food, clothing, verbs, etc.

Correct your homework as we go over it in class.

Correct your warm-ups as we go over them in class.

Blueprint

Vocabulary Cards

Categorize

Correct

Build a frame on your foundation.

The main reason for studying a language is to be able to communicate with others.

You may communicate by reading, writing, listening, and/or speaking, so you need to work on mastering all of these modes of communication.

Be open to differences in the language and the culture.

FrameworkCommunication

Reading

Writing

Listening

Speaking

Put up some walls.

Speak up in class.

Participate silently when others are called on in class. You’ll greatly increase your practice opportunities.

Take notes, even when the teacher doesn’t say that you must.

Don’t wait until it hurts! If you’re having problems, see the teacher right away!

Walls

Speak

Participate

Ask

Be sure your walls are square.

Learning grammar is essential. The rules of grammar are the key to understanding another language.

Study irregular features in sentences and phrases, rather than lists.

Proofread your work.

Learn from your mistakes.

Square

Grammar

Be willing to make mistakes.

Don’t try to translate every word.

Use your imagination to try to figure out what’s being said without translating.

Read the speaker’s body language.Listen for cognates.Think of the “context” of the conversation or reading. What would they probably be saying?

Be a risk-taker.

Read to yourself or a friend out loud for 2-3 minutes each day.

Practice with a native speaker. Sure you’ll make mistakes, but it will be fun.

Don’t talk about the language, talk in the language.If no one else speaks the language, speak the language to yourself.