Increasing and Keeping What You Learn

The suggestions and steps posted at The Language Station can and should be repeated. So if a "Tip" says to make 5-10 phrases total in your "Phrase List," that is my recommended total until you have learned them well. Once you have those items under your belt, you need to make another list of 5-10, and keep repeating the process until lists aren't necessary anymore.

To keep what you have...well...forgive me for stating the obvious. But the old adage is true: Use it or lose it! Many language learners expect unnatural memory retention. They learn something, don't use it and probably don't see it again and then they complain, "It just doesn't stick."

But in the early learning stages, if you want to remember words, phrases or grammatical rules, you either must use them frequently in conversation (however broken and incorrectly you may speak), or you need to be daily reviewing in some form what you have learned previously!

 In my next post, I'll tell you....nope. You'll have to wait and see =)

Until then, happy language learning!

Complete Phrases in Five Steps

The goal of learning vocabulary is obviously to communicate. At this point, you probably could make yourself understood simply by placing verbs and nouns side by side, but the purpose for making those word lists in our last post was not for you to speak like Tarzan. It was to prepare a “vocabulary bank” so we have something to draw from and make complete, correct sentences.

How?

1. Just like you did with the words you chose for your list, think carefully about what phrases you would like to learn that can be used as soon as possible. This gives you something that you are sure to use and therefore you wont forget. Make about 5-10 phrases total using words from the list you've already made.

2. Write the phrases down in your own language on a sheet of looseleaf notebook paper. Make sure you leave enough room to write down the translation afterwards.

3. This step will require some patience from you, but it will benefit you in the end, so try it. I said in my first post that learning a foreign language is hard work, but it can be done effectively and efficiently. So here it is: Take a good dictionary, and (with pencil) attempt to translate your phrases into the target language. You’ll make plenty of mistakes, that’s ok. The key is you’ll be immersing yourself in the language VISUALLY and you’ll learn a great deal SUBCONSCIOUSLY. By doing this, you also engage your imagination, which makes the whole learning process more enjoyable AND more memorable. It’s one sure way to get the language INTO you.

4. Once your translations are done, your goal is to identify your mistakes. Turn to any and every resource available to help you. A language teacher, a friend or colleague who speaks the language well, the internet, a grammar book. Surely there must be SOMEONE somewhere who can help you. But if you have access to a native speaker, you have a GOLD PASS to help you correct those complete phrases, and you ought to plan to spend some time practicing with this person if s/he agrees. If you don’t have anyone, dictionaries often have small, sample phrases that can get you going when the internet isn't at your fingertips.

5. After you have all the corrections, for fun see if you can understand why you made the mistakes you made, but don’t worry if you can’t. You’ll get to the grammar later. DON'T FORGET to add to your word lists all the new words you’ve had to use to complete your phrases. You’ll want to prepare these for memorizing in future steps.

That's it. You are ready to start reviewing and using your COMPLETE and CORRECT phrases. So get going and start speaking every chance you get!

In my next post, I’ll give you some tips on how to maximize your efforts at this stage. If you want to stay on top of these posts, you might want to become a follower with the "Google Follow" service on the right sidebar, or subscribe by RSS. Or just check back here often =).

If you have questions about these posts, leave them in the comments and I'll answer you as soon as I can.

Until next time, happy language learning!

Completing the Process: Part Two of "Building Effective Vocabulary "

In my last post “Building an Effective Vocabulary,” I suggested that you learn nouns and verbs. Specifically, those that you can use immediately. And I gave you a few key reasons why. My question for you today is, have you tried it? If you have, how’s your word list coming along? If you haven’t, why not?

Now for today’s post, “Completing the Process.”

There is no substitute for vocabulary when learning a language. No matter how correctly you may speak with good grammar, you will NOT be able to speak much at all if your term list is truncated. This is yet another reason why I make no apologies for telling my students to focus on building an effective vocabulary FIRST with their own custom word list, before giving attention to grammar. But as I said in my last post, this doesn’t mean that grammar is completely removed in this approach.

How?

Because the nouns and verbs you choose for your vocabulary are destined to be assembled into complete phrases by YOU, very soon. And this includes some grammar by default, without weighing you down under the heavy burden of understanding how it all works. The benefits for doing this are too many to list here, and now is not the time for me to explain them. I will leave that for my next installment, “Putting Your Vocabulary into Action." For this post, I want to give you the final steps in how to build effective vocabulary. So here we go...

As you choose words for your own customized vocabulary list, group them together into categories and associations. For example, if one of the words you have chosen for your list (only words you expect to use immediately or very soon) is the verb “to buy,” think of nouns that you WOULD “buy” and categorize them with the verb on your list.

As another example, if you have chosen “office” as a word for your custom index, you would then generate several more words associated with “office,” such as computer, paper, printer, pen, telephone, desk, chair etc. Associations and categories like this are extremely helpful.

First, because they show the relationships between actions and objects.

Second, because they make it easier to memorize words systematically in a way that our brains do naturally.

Third, because their relationships allow you to exchange them with other associated words in the phrases you will create from them later on.

The largest benefit to a customized approach like this is that you select only words that will be truly useful to you. This means that you can put them into practice immediately or very soon, so they will not be soon forgotten. Use it or lose it, as the saying goes.

But also, and more importantly, these word lists are tailored to your context. That means you will be PREPARED to speak and understand in real life situations that you expect to find yourself in. All of this will require your imagination, which is an important part of learning by the way.

So that’s it. You now have what it takes to build effective vocabulary quickly, logically, and, systematically. And if you’ve been carefully creative in your selection of words, it’s vocabulary that you will actually use. You can’t beat that! What’s more, seeing the word categories with associations makes learning and using them much more effective. It's a truly powerful start to learning a language quickly and practically. This vocabulary method can be adapted by those learning Asian languages as well, even though the linguistic structures are unique.

In my next post, “Putting Your Vocabulary into Action," I’ll explain what to do with your categorized and associated words list.

Building an Effective Vocabulary

Before I tell you how to build a truly effective vocabulary, I want you to know that I've added an "About" page to explain a little more about myself and The Language Station. Check it out when you get a chance. I'll also be adding other pages soon, including a resource page. Now for today's post, "Building an Effective Vocabulary."

In my last post, When Grammar is a Problem in Language Learning, I gave you advice that usually makes language instructors tilt their head in disbelief when they hear it. To many, asking students to focus on vocabulary in the beginning and to leave the grammar for later, seems counterproductive. Actually, it’s not. 

Why not?

Because the vocabulary I recommend for a student to focus on automatically forces some grammar in, but without explanation of any rules. This method has been tested on the ground in real life and it gets students FUNCTIONING in day-to-day situations, very quickly. That’s only IF a student actually puts it into practice.  Tips like these will continue to make more and more sense as I post future additions. These first three tips are only part of a series. They work best when put together.

Unconventional Tip Number Three: The vocabulary to learn in the early stages should ONLY include nouns and verbs that can be used IMMEDIATELY. The choice of which ones will vary based on the student’s surroundings or needs. For a simple example, a woman studying English for business should only learn the words that she will hear or need to speak today and tomorrow in her work. Don’t limit yourself to the suggested vocabulary of a course book unless it really fits your immediate needs. Otherwise, you probably wont be able to use everything it suggests, and you will definitely need more than it gives. Create your OWN vocabulary list. Don't add to your list more than about five or ten words in a day. In one week, that makes 35-70 words! Not bad for a start, eh?

In my next post, I’ll give you three more steps to complete this process so you can start speaking complete phrases, c-o-r-r-e-c-t-l-y and without consciously learning the grammar. This will be perhaps one of the BIGGEST and most helpful tips I can give you. I’ll also have a word or two for those who are learning an Asian language like chinese etc.

Until then, Happy Language Learning!

Mark

When Grammar is a Problem in Language Learning

When adults begin to study a foreign language, most courses and conventional text books present grammatical concepts immediately. But I am convinced the worst mistake language learners can make is to focus on the grammar upfront.

Why?

I have many reasons for saying this, but for now here are three:

1. It's an unnatural way to process a language

2. You need to understand your own language's grammar first (and most people don't) before you can grasp another

3. It shifts the focus from communicating, to calculating, and therefore slows you down to the point of frustration and discouragement. And if you're a perfectionist like me, attention to correct grammar too early may just completely paralyze you for fear of not "saying it correctly."

Think about how children learn languages. Do adults explain to them proper grammar or sentence structure? Do kids pause to ask themselves if this phrase or that phrase requires the present perfect or the past simple?

Of course not!

Toddlers learn by making all those mistakes that we big people think are so cute. But one thing is certain: They are determined to make themselves understood, and typically with just a word or two. Kids are NOT afraid to use what they know BEFORE they understand grammar.

Obviously, grammar DOES have a place in my own language studies, and when I teach others. But it's not at the very beginning. By making mistakes and simply using what they know, young ones stay encouraged to keep on talking, and eventually learn to speak correctly anyway.


This is one of the secrets to learning a language fast. Don't let grammar slow you down, get some vocabulary and start using it immediately.

Unconventional Tip Number Two: Focus on vocabulary in the beginning, and leave the grammar for later. I'll explain how best to do this and what to do with your new vocabulary, in my next post.

Happy Language Learning!

Mark

Effective Language Study

Through the years I've met a lot of wonderful people that were zealous to learn a second language. Some of them just dreamed about doing it, others started doing it. But few actually did it to the point that they could say they learned one. Fewer still made it to a level that they could give someone directions while on vacation in a foreign country. Obviously, not everyone needs to reach that kind of fluency (though it would be nice). But those who study a language should at least reach their goal before saying "enough." I say this with empathy because I personally understand the blood, sweat and tears that go into learning languages. I am not just a language instructor, but I've also been and will continue to be, a language student for life.

In 1993 during the war, I was plunged into a little village in Yugoslavia where I lived for four years. Speaking, reading and writing Serbian proficiently (with its two alphabets in Cyrillic and Latin) along with a little Hungarian at the same time, were two tasks I needed to accomplish quickly. I then had to repeat the process and learn Italian in 2001 after moving to the province of Treviso, in northeastern Italy where I still live at the time of writing. In 2009, once again I was faced with the task of learning a language for my seminary course. This time, it was Koine Greek. That was no cake walk!

Now I'm in the process of learning ancient Hebrew. Yes, I know. I'm a glutton for punishment. But seriously, learning a second language, and even a third or fourth, is not only possible, but if you do it right, it can be enjoyable and extremely rewarding in so many ways. What's more, it gets easier the more you do it. The problem is very few people have that kind of experience because either they are doing enough things wrong that frustration crushes them, or they just lack certain habits that they could easily develop with the right instruction.

It's true, learning a language means hard work. I'd be lying to you if I said it weren't. And I can't offer you a miracle pill to make it happen. But I can offer you The Language Station to help you through your various stages of language study. Best of all, it's F-R-E-E! As an ESL teacher, I conduct English lessons to corporate and private students. My philosophy, methods and habits are definitely NOT text book. In fact, they may be called unorthodox. But they have worked for me, and my students (when they are applied), every time. They will work for you, too.

If you are a serious language student, an enthusiast, or just preparing to order pasta on your next vacation in Venice, this blog is here to help you get the most from your study time. How you study a language and maintain it, makes all the difference between time well spent and time much wasted.

Be sure to tune in to The Language Station to get free advice, unconventional tips, tricks and study techniques, book recommendations, funny blooper stories and a lot more. I'm still developing the site, so you'll want to check back frequently or just subscribe to not miss any valuable posts.

Unconventional tip number one: when just beginning a foreign language, a-v-o-i-d the grammar. I'll tell you why in my next post.

Happy language learning!

Mark