Nerdistan

Some Absolutes:

1. Foreign Language courses are not like other courses you must never
procrastinate. Procrastination=failure in foreign language courses. Therefore you
must spend a minimum of 15 minutes each day and a minimum of 3 hours a week.
And additional time whenever possible. However, you should never spend more than
45 minutes studying the language in one session. Split your study up into several
small sessions.

2. Class Attendance is mandatory and necessary in order to pass the course and
learn the language.

3. Some occasional review of all material you have learned previously is also very
important to your success. (for example, the vocabulary)

Some suggestions to make the different parts of learning a language easier and
more successful.

Reading:

1. Concentrate on reading for comprehension without looking up every unfamiliar
word. Look up only those words which cannot even be guessed or determined based
on context.

2. Read a little bit of the language every day. Especially the chapters in the
textbook.

Speaking:
1. Don’t be afraid of making mistakes, listen carefully to your classmates and
SPEAK UP!

2. Practice speaking out loud on your own, in a group of friends studying the
same language and with your pets such as a dog or cat.

Writing

1. Practice writing every day

2. Try having a friend dictate some of the language to you while you write it down
and then check what you wrote for accuracy.

Some Miscellaneous Helps

1. Develop a Good Attitude, have reasons and goals for studying the language.
Know what you plan to learn and how you will get there successfully

2. If you need help get it. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or ask for help for fear
of sounding stupid, or being embarrassed.

3. Get audio tapes of the language and listen to them or make you own tapes and
listened to yourself in order to perfect your pronunciation.

4. Read out loud.

5. Make flash cards for vocabulary and try using different colors for different
genders of the words and for different categories of words such as nouns, verbs,
and adjectives.

6. Practice in study groups, become good friends with some of your classmates
and they can help you out.

Some additional reading sources which can help you.

http://muskingum.edu/~cal/database/forlang.html#Menu
How to learn a language quickly, easily, inexpensively and on your own by Barry J.
Farber

How to Learn a Foreign Language By Graham E. Fuller

AnnaLaura Brown has a MA in French and also speaks Spanish. She is a successful team
leader in an international marketing company. To learn more about her and to contact
her go to http://www.annalaurascandlesandscents.com