Fri, 22 Dec 2017 12:25:28 +0000Geralde Vincent-BancroftMost of us lead busy working lives which prevent sometimes booking a course with a tutor or at a university. We arrive home and by the time we can put our feet up it’s too late. So most of us decide to take matters in our own hands and study a language on our own.
The first requirement to…
Most of us lead busy working lives which prevent sometimes booking a course with a tutor or at a university. We arrive home and by the time we can put our feet up it’s too late. So most of us decide to take matters in our own hands and study a language on our own.
The first requirement to succeed at independent learning is Motivation. Effective independent learners are to take responsibility for their own learning if they want to attain their goal. They are driven by the desire to know more about the language, and explore and discover the culture behind it. If you fit this description, independent learning is for you.
ADVANTAGES OF INDEPENDENT LEARNING
You can chose your learning material and decide when and where to study. To start with you have textbooks for every language. You also have a vast array of learning resources at your disposal, thanks to the Internet. This can be a curse at times, because it becomes difficult to decide which ones to use without guidance. You can also find a host of Apps to study on the go.
YouTube offers an extensive selection of educational videos.
HOW TO CHOOSE RESOURCES?
1- I recommend starting with a book or an online course if you’re a beginner. This should be the foundation of your learning process. Stick to it by implementing specific mini goals or tasks that you can complete.
Complement your course with the resources from the internet, Apps and YouTube once you’ve advanced in your primary course.
Create a routine schedule where you can include your language activities until they become a habit difficult to brake.
2- Make your learning fun. Only use material that are relevant to you. Study high frequency vocabulary that you will encounter everywhere, as well as vocabulary related to your profession and/or hobbies if you are going to use them.
3- Take responsibility for your own progress and achievements. Keep a diary of where you’re at, and what you need to focus on.
4- Work first on the language skills you really need. Imagine that you’re learning the language because you planned a holiday within a few months, focus your attention more on listening and speaking skills and less in reading and writing.
5- Make the most of the time you spend studying because it is a voluntary activity and not imposed by anyone but you. Besides you decide what to study.
6- Make learning an opportunity to be sociable. You can practice speaking with friends from your target country or online language buddies. It does not have to be isolating if you do not wish to.
7- As you progress you’ll become a more confident independent language learner. Learn from your achievements and mistakes and you will be able to apply your new found skills in studying other languages or even other subjects.
8- My blog was born having you, independent language learner, in mind. i show you ways to be more strategic in your language learning as well as inspire and motivate you so you get things done and become fluent.
Independent language learning is challenging, but it does not have to be boring and lonely. You should adapt to the materials, replace them if they don’t suit your needs, until you find the right choices for your requirement.
With motivation and consistency, it is effective and rewarding.
COMMENTS
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