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Jan 04

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language – Outside the Training Room

English Language Training, Language Training Courses No Comments »

Anyone learning a foreign language should set aside some time for self-study, engagement with the language, immersion, discovery or whatever else you like to call it. What takes place in the formal language learning setting during the allocated times is not enough if you want to make real progress on your language skills. Anyone learning a language and taking a language course needs to allocate time outside the training room to practise and develop the skills learned in the formal setting.

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language - Outside the Training Room

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Practice makes perfect

Although you may not be assigned ‘homework’ between every training session, it’s important that you find the time to review previous lessons and any learning from them. It is only by reviewing your previous sessions in a critical way that you will be able to increase your comprehension and memorisation of new vocabulary and expressions you are learning. In order to memorise vocabulary items so that they can be used spontaneously, research suggests that you have to repeat each item at least 10 times. During training, your trainer will probably use activities that disguise repetition so that the process is not dull, so reviewing the activities you did in the session will help you to further engrain the new vocabulary and expressions into your language repertoire.

A web of language tools at the ready

Exposing yourself to the language you are learning as often as possible is one good way of getting used to its sounds. The internet has a wealth of reading material for all languages, so spend some time searching for the level and content of materials that best suit you. Reading articles and reports can also help you to expand your vocabulary and get used to the way the different structures of the language work.

Language learning can be fun

In addition to podcasts and articles, the internet also offers a wide range of fun activities and games which can help you to develop your language skills while playing something enjoyable. For those learners who have a higher level, there are foreign language radio stations, podcasts and videos. Try not to aim too high as you listen to these programmes as this can quickly demotivate you. Be sure you can understand a large percentage of what you hear so that you can develop your listening skills.

There’s nothing like the real thing

One of the best ways you can improve your language skills is by spending some time in a country where that language is spoken. Experiencing the real use of the language can be a very motivating experience and allows you to experience the language in ‘real’ situations outside the artificial environment of the training room. Having the opportunity to experience the culture of the country where the target language is spoken can give you added reasons for pursuing your training. A love of a language is usually closely associated with the love of a country where that language is spoken. The best way to experience a country and to practise its language at the same time is to stay in a family. This experience is open to all ages and can offer a combination of lessons and social experiences.

Among other benefits, immersion in a target language country can greatly improve your comprehension skills. Understanding the spoken language is vital as it holds the key to being able to participate in meetings, discussions or conversations. If you don’t have the opportunity to go to a target language country, then there are usually foreign language clubs you can join or online language chat forums.

No matter where and how you spend time developing your language skills outside the training room, the key to your success is not to be shy and stay determined. Get involved in as much as you can and don’t be afraid to ‘have a go’. The more you practise what you have learned in your language courses, the more you will develop your skills – leading you to greater confidence and competence in the language you have selected. Don’t let your language learning stop when you leave the training room!

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2012

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Oct 12

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language – Inside the Training Room

Language Training Courses No Comments »

Learning a language, as with learning anything, should remain interesting or else it can quickly become a chore. Once this happens, the motivation seeps away from the learner and the end of the learning process is in sight. This reasoning is particularly important for foreign languages as learning a language well can take years. It’s really important therefore that anyone taking a language course has the content and materials tailored to their unique needs and requirements.

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language - Inside the Training Room Language Training Courses

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Cinema fans would obviously be drawn to using film extracts, trailers and film reviews. Sports fans on the other hand would be more attracted by sports websites, sports TV channels, sports articles and columns in magazines and newspapers and sporting profiles. Obviously, if learners are in a group then they have limited control over the material provided. Whatever their preference and learning style, however, the methodology and content of the language course needs to be adapted appropriately to create maximum impact.

Learners are essential to the success of the learning process and are consulted more now than they ever used to be about their interests in an effort to ensure the most appropriate material is being used. For younger learners in schools, this is rarely the case as there is a curriculum and a lot of pupils to cater for. For professional adult learners, however, there is much more flexibility in the way that language courses are adapted.

Adult learners need to take responsibility for their own learning as this will create the most effective results. Learners who lack the right level of motivation, curiosity and open-mindedness about language training will struggle to see any concrete results. Here are a few things that learners can do or be to make their language course as effective as possible:

  • Learners need to be open-minded about how learning a language through different training approaches can benefit them. They need to be open about their personal interests and learning style so that the trainer can adapt the course in such a way that will remain interesting for the learners.
  • Learners also need to show a curiosity and willingness to understand the different structures of the target language and the way its grammar works. Asking questions and being inquisitive about the language rather than just memorising things will create the most learning opportunities that will be beneficial in the long term.
  • For learners in group language courses, sharing knowledge and ideas with other learners can help solve problems and facilitate progress. There is also the important social element present in a cooperative environment which can increase learners’ motivation and maintain their good levels of attendance in difficult times. The idea of working together with others to do activities, often referred to as task-based learning, has become an important approach in language learning.
  • As in any language, vocabulary is essential. For communicative purposes, it is arguably more important than grammar. It’s therefore imperative that learners are motivated to learn a certain number of new vocabulary items per week. These items need to be learned in context, so their precise meaning and how they are used can be fully understood. The pronunciation and spelling of the word are obviously important as well but may also depend on the level of the learner’s language ability and needs.  Being selective is essential as there are simply too many words in any language to try to learn them all.  This is the job of the learner outside the classroom and the job of both the trainer and the learner inside the classroom.

Language learners play a huge role in ensuring the success of any language course. By understanding their own learning style and sharing this with their trainer they can not only enjoy training more but they will also learn more effectively. Motivation, open-mindedness and curiosity are all essential for any language learner, not only in the training room but in practising the language in the real world.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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Aug 31

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language: Choose the Most Effective Training Method

Language Training Courses No Comments »

There are many different ways to learn a foreign language. Whether you select an individual language course, group session, telephone training, eTraining, intensive course, immersion programme, home-stay or self-study, you need to first understand your personal preferences and learning style.

Tips for Learning a Foreign Language, Language Training Course, Choose a Language Training, Language Learning Styles, How to Learn a Foreign Language

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One way of figuring out which training format is best for you is by looking at your own personality and character. For example, eTraining requires a level of self-discipline to connect regularly to the site to practise. Individual training sessions work best with people who are able to plan their time effectively as missing training sessions can have a negative effect on learning. Group training sessions are effective for people who are willing to work through the language learning with other group members.

Another aspect which will help you to determine the most effective language training format is to look at your individual learning style. There are many different models of learning styles, but one model of learning styles suggests there are three different types:

  • Auditory – understand and acquire information well by listening to explanations or language dialogues
  • Visual – need to see the things written down and prefer different forms of visual learning like graphics and videos
  • Kinaesthetic – prefer active lessons with dynamic games and role plays that apply the learning to a practical context

Visual learners may not benefit from telephone training which lacks visual components, whereas kinaesthetic learners may benefit greatly from group training which includes role plays and movement. Training which involves lots of verbal discussion in the session and saves written assignments for self-study may not appeal to visual learners who need to see things written down. Meanwhile, training that uses a very communicative approach and lots of interactive activities may appeal to auditory and kinaesthetic learners. Knowing your learning style can help you to select the best training format and approach.

In addition to some of the methods we’ve explored here, there are a number of other training formats which could appeal to your personal style and preferences. The Community Language Learning (CLL) format, for example, uses humanistic techniques to engage the whole person in the learning process.

Other language training sessions use music and rhythm to tap into the non-rational and non-conscious influences on language learning. Increasingly language training also incorporates technology to increase the impact of training, whether through language eTraining solutions or language media centres which provide the tools to practise learning from the session.

Before signing up for a language course, it’s therefore really important to think about your learning style and preferred approach as well as your training objectives. This will ensure that the training format you select will give you the most opportunity to improve your language skills.

© Communicaid Group Ltd. 2011

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