GRAMMAR DRILLS

While it sounds tedious and dull, this tried and tested technique has shown to be quite effective, if not entirely creative. It was particularly popular in the mid-sixties and though lost some of its sway in the seventies.

This is how it works. Students are guided systematically through the different grammar rules, from the simplest basics to the most complicated. Students who are patient and preserving will find that they have quite an extensive vocabulary and sense of structure. However, the lack of flexibility did mean that they may not know how to apply it in the everyday setting.

DIRECT METHOD

This technique tends to imitate the way people learn language. The teacher simply starts speaking the language, and the students are forced from the get go to keep up (even if the teacher’s first announcement of ‘Good morning, class’ sounds curiously like, ‘I’m sorry I’m late.’

While this method does enable students to understand a language even in the country where it is originally spoken, but its weakness is that it does not always allow them to speak it comfortably.

DRILLS AND PATTERNS

This systematic process slowly introduces structures as students need it. Grammar still plays an important role but it is not necessarily presented as such. They simply go through different types of sentences until everyone recognizes a pattern. The technique usually employs flashcards.

COMMUNICATIVE LANGUAGE LEARNING

The heart of this teaching method is interaction. Students go through communication exercises and the test of the success is whether or not students can understand each other. Usually they are divided into pairs and each person is given information. Their role is to ask and answer questions. However, it does need to be beefed up with techniques that provide grammatical and structural accuracy.

TARGET LANGUAGE

The instructor always speaks the language being taught, but unlike the direct method, he consciously chooses what to talk about. It is structured and sometimes simplified. The benefit is that the student gets used to hearing the language and learns coping strategies as well. However it still lacks structure and must be complemented with other teaching techniques.

COMBINATION

Many schools use a combination of these methods. Students can also supplement the classroom strategies with books, exercises, after-class practice sessions and exposure to the language through foreign films or books.

There is no perfect teaching technique and schools have realized that it is best to use a little bit of each, leading to a balanced curriculum. However before you enroll in a language class it’s best to ask which educational method they plan to focus. Another factor to consider is how the school plans to support students who do not immediately understand the lesson or need remedial help.

There are two ways of taking a foreign language class. The first is sit there passively, and take months to learn (or somehow squeak through the exams and get a barely passing grade). The second is to grab the opportunity to learn and actually master it enough to let you put your new language skills to good use.

Here are some ways that you can really learn as much as you can while you’re studying a foreign language.

Master the basics

Understand each concept before going to the next one. All classes and language books will adopt a sequential approach to language, building on one skill and tackling increasingly difficult concepts as the course progresses. So if you don’t really grasp something as simple as direct-object and indirect-object pronouns, you’ll be incredibly confused by the time you start trying to get reflexive verbs.

Learn outside the classroom

You understand a language the more you practice it, read about it, and build your vocabulary. That’s why it’s important to go beyond the “required” reading or exercises. For example, download lists from the Internet to supplement what’s in your textbook. Invest in a phrase book if you’re not completely happy with the one the teacher’s using.

Embrace all opportunities to hear and speak the language

The more you hear it, the more familiar it becomes. Try going to the Internet and reading websites that are written in that language. Or rent a movie (use your native tongue for the subtitles). Buy magazines and newspapers or go to the Internet once more to see their online component. For example, you can get Reader’s Digest in several languages (the Spanish one is called Selecciones). The topics are fascinating and your vocabulary will definitely become broader. Sometimes people like to listen to songs in the language they’re learning.

Get the pronunciation correct right away

Some people feel that pronunciation is the least of their worries when they first start to learn language: “let me get the sentences right first, then I’ll worry about whether or not I’m saying it properly.” But once you pick up poor pronunciation habits, they will be very difficult to correct later on. Besides, pronunciation is a crucial aspect of mastering a language and being fluent enough to converse in it.

People have different learning methods, instinctive ways of mastering information. Knowing your learning style can help you find out which techniques will work best for you, so that you can pick up a language faster.

Types of Learning Styles

There are three different kinds of learning style: visual, auditory and kinesthetic. Visual learners understand better when they’re presented with pictures or symbols. Kinesthetic learners must work with their hands in order to see a concept at work, whether it’s taking apart a machine or writing a list. Auditory learners learn best when they hear something over and over again.

While we all use a combination of those methods, and it’s actually best when we use all three in conjunction, but we usually lean towards one or have an easier time when it’s incorporated in the teaching method. Auditory learners tend to have the easiest time in traditional classrooms because they thrive in lecture settings, while visual learners prefer seeing something on a blackboard or reviewing it in their handouts. Kinesthetic learners do well in lab work.

Identifying your learning style

First look at how you instinctively learn something or what kind of techniques you use to learn. Also, look at the subjects you have difficulty with and why. For example, in your language class, what aspect took longer to master? If you find writing or grammar drills far easier than speaking the language, then you may be a visual learner. Especially if you gravitate towards charts and diagrams. Another sign of a good visual learner is adeptness at spelling: just seeing the words cues you that it “looks” right or wrong.

Auditory learners are those who have a knack for understanding something they hear. For example, there are the lucky few who can pick up a language just by hearing it, or can master lyrics after just hearing the song once or twice. They are those that learn a language just by listening to language tapes.

It’s the kinesthetic learners that may have a hard time learning a language because their learning style is not really addressed in a traditional classroom. There are those who, out of habit, walk around while memorizing an assignment. Rewriting notes can help them understand a subject matter.