Learning a language involves so many different skills. You may be feeling daunted by the grammar involved in being able to describe things in the past, present AND future, or by different genders for different nouns. One fact that you really cannot avoid though, is that you will need to learn vocabulary at some point. If, like me, that brings back memories of sitting in front of an exercise book with a list of 20 words and trying desperately to memorise them before Monday’s test, then this won’t be your favourite task.
Sadly, I lost my “photographic” memory when life got busy and my brain filled with other important things like appointments and to do lists. The good news though is that there are many different ways to learn and that you should be able to squeeze one or two of them into your routine. Here are 10 tips for learning vocabulary:
Write it down. It seems obvious, but however sure you are that you will remember that “un éclair” is French for “lightning bolt” the chances are that you will soon forget as you focus instead on your next meeting or to-do list.
Keep a notebook handy so that you can refer to your lists and add to them whenever you have a spare moment.
When you write down a word, make sure that you include relevant grammatical information too. For some languages the gender of a noun is very important, for verbs it may be the past participle.
“Little and often” is best. The process of moving information from short term memory to long term memory is best achieved by regular practice. You can’t learn to play a musical instrument by one three-hour mammoth session per month and the same applies to languages. 10 minutes vocab practice 3-4 times per week is better than half an hour the night before your next class!
Keep this week’s vocabulary in an obvious place. Maybe that is by the kettle so you can review it every time you make a cup of tea. Alternatively, maybe by the bathroom mirror so you see it as you clean your teeth. Whatever works for you.
Consider using apps and online resources to help. Programmes such as DuoLingo or their offshoot, Tinycards, can be invaluable as they provide chances for repetitive practice in an easy-to-use format.
If you learn better by doing rather than seeing or hearing, then consider making flashcards. The act of moving the English word to be next to the French one can help to cement the relationship between them. Even better, in the case of simple nouns, would be to label the objects around you – and to move the labels to repeat the task regularly!
Keep on top of it. 10-20 words per week may seem like a little, but busy lives can get in the way of the best intentions. Before long you have a list of 50 or 100 words and the task begins to look more daunting. Especially in the case of exam students and those with a learning deadline, making sure you keep on top of your vocabulary learning will make revision much less stressful.
Advanced learners – look up other relevant words as well. So, if you have the concept of “lesson” then also look up “learn”, “learner”, “student”, “teacher”. If it is a verb such as “to surprise” then also learn the noun “a surprise”, the adjective “surprising” and the adverb “surprisingly”. This kind of focused work will help you to see the patterns of language formation and also widen your vocabulary beyond the simple first word which you wrote down.
Finally, review your vocabulary regularly. It is easy to add in new words and then forget the old through a lack of practice. If you find that you can no longer recall the word for “shirt” then take time to check you can remember the rest of the wardrobe as well!
If you are really keen you could write mini-tests for yourself as you go. If you keep them in the back of your folder or notebook, then you can check regularly which topics are due for revision!
Teri has been learning languages for more years than she cares to remember. More than ¾ of her life has been spent pondering over vocabulary lists and notebooks! She is a language trainer and tutor, focusing on adult learners.
There are so many different questions that students have when we start to look at study skills.
What is revising?
How do I revise?
What do I revise?
How on earth can I learn it all and remember it for the exams?
These are all important aspects, but one of the first things to consider is when to start.
When to start revising – that doesn’t match the title of “When to start studying?” but it is this latter question that I want to address. When we call it “revising”, students imagine that a few sessions of reading, about three weeks before the exams, should do the trick. The reality is that studying and reviewing the material should start at the beginning of the course – no matter whether that be GCSE, A Level, Degree or a professional qualification.
I’ll write that again so it can sink in a bit. Studying should start at the beginning of your course! Studying just means learning the material you need to cover.
Many people think that revision starts a few weeks before the exams. You could leave it that long before you start, but that way is not as effective as regularly reminding yourself of what you have learned. It is also super stressful as you try to cram it all in over the last few weeks before an exam – or lots of exams. Last-minute cramming is not the same as learning. It can be done, if you are lucky, but you are likely to forget the material almost as quickly as you have learned it, which means it won’t be available for future use.
So, here are my tips on when to start studying and how to plan that time:
Get a schedule ready for the beginning of the new academic year. It may help you to write your weekly and monthly schedule on a planner. Write in your non-academic commitments as well as your academic ones. Be specific. Instead of just writing “Revise”, give a topic name or a chapter number. If you allow time for all the hard thinking at the beginning of the week then you can just follow the schedule for the rest of the week, rather than wasting half your study session working out what you are meant to be doing.
Allow time each week for going over the notes you made in class. Edit or re-write those notes, using information from the textbook as well as your class notes. Make flashcards if they will help. At the end of each chapter or module, make time to revise that chapter/module to make sure you understood it. If in doubt, ask your teacher! They are much more likely to be helpful if you ask for clarification just a week or so after finishing the topic, rather than a week or so before the exams!
Remember to do your own research on a topic instead of just relying on the teacher to spoon-feed you all the information you need. Use textbooks, look things up using reliable internet sources, watch good documentaries.
In order to perform at your best academically, you need to take care of your mind and body just like an athlete who is preparing for a major competition. Feed your brain well by eating a balanced diet, allow for exercise and for relaxing time and look after yourself by getting enough sleep. That starts from the beginning of the course, too!
Who is the author?
Teri is a languages and study skills tutor based in Surrey. She has been teaching adults and children for the last 17 years, including those preparing for GCSE, IGCSE, A Level and adult qualifications.
August has arrived, and the summer break signals a time of change for many people. All over the country, children are preparing to start school or change to a new one, young adults are choosing their university or looking for their first job, and managers are on their summer break, maybe taking some time to wonder how to improve their business over the next 12 months.
A time for new beginnings – but if that new start includes a relocation, how do you make the most of that initial time you spend in a new country? One of the first goals should be integration. It is really important to find out how to navigate around your new home and also to get to know your neighbours, local shopkeepers, school teachers and the others who will be able to help you settle in (or who may get upset if you make mistakes!). The following tips will give you something to think about:
1. Make time to find out about the customs in your new home. For example: did you know that in Switzerland you are not allowed to do noisy housework on a Sunday? So, no mowing the lawn, washing clothes or getting the vacuum cleaner out.
2. One really good way to make new friends is to join a club or society. You could choose a hobby you already like or pick something new. This is a great way to get out of the house, have something to look forward to as well as meet new people and practise your language skills.
3. Do think of your family too. If you are relocating together then spend some time thinking about how your partner/children will settle in, as the success of a placement can be as much about family happiness as it is about the workplace:
While children are very adaptable, the first day at a new school will be easier if they can understand simple instructions, say their name and ask where the toilet is!
For the non-working partner it can be very frustrating as it can be hard even to go shopping without a basic grasp of the local language. Look for local conversation groups and classes, and consider whether the family should take some language classes before you leave.
Planning is key to making a success of your new home. Spending a little time on research and preparation should help you all to feel at ease more quickly and to really enjoy that time away. If you have recently arrived in the UK, or are considering relocation to another country then why not give us a call at Language Learners to see how we can help you and your family with your language requirements?
Ahhhh…. The GCSE exams are over and a long summer stretches ahead of you. Sun (maybe), friends, relaxation, summer homework…! Hang on! Summer homework?
It may have come as a shock to some of those preparing for 6th form, but it isn’t unheard of for sixth form colleges to set homework for the new intake to complete over the summer. This may seem a bit unfair, mean even, but you will be in a much stronger position to start your A Levels in September if you have taken some time over the holidays to review what you know and start on your more advanced material.
What would my suggestions be for those who are looking at an A Level in a modern foreign language such as German, French or Spanish?
1. I would always recommend finding out which board your school/college will be using and to check out the details of the specification online. You can find out what is expected in the exams, what you will be studying and even some information about the marking scheme.
2. Find out which film and/or book you will be studying. Make sure that you have a copy of your own and try to watch/read it at least TWICE before the start of the term. It is true that the teachers will go through the material with you, but it will make much more sense to you if you have at least some idea of the plot first. Buy a copy in the target language (e.g. German) and see if you can also get a good English translation. In this way you can read the English quickly to grasp the key points, then read the target language version in more detail as you have some idea of what is happening. Many schools and colleges will look at either the film or the book in the first year of A Level and then tackle the other one in the second year. This is helpful as it spreads the workload more evenly – so be prepared to do similar studying in the summer holidays following your first year of the course, so that you are in good shape for the second year.
3. Take time to look at and learn some of the grammar. The jump from a good grade at GCSE to the higher expectations of A Level can be a large one. Some students do well at GCSE by essentially learning blocks of text (useful phrases and grammar constructions) but not really understanding them. Buy a good grammar guide and get practising so that you have less work to do at the beginning of the new term.
4. It is important to get as much listening practice as possible. Use online resources such as news websites to find articles that you can listen to as well as read. Euronews (www.euronews.com), Deutsche Welle (www.dw.com) and 1jour1actu (www.1jour1actu.fr) are all good examples.
5. Consider whether it would be helpful to set up or join a conversation group to improve your confidence in speaking your target language. This doesn’t have to be an expensive option as you may be able to find like-minded students from your own sixth form or from another local one so you can meet together for the price of a coffee.
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