Three Keys To Successful Language Learning By Teacher Nia

Three  keys to successful language learning are spending time with the language, taking notice of the language and having the right attitude.

Attitude

You can learn any language that exists. You learned your first one, didn’t you? None of us were born speaking and writing our mother tongue! All of us who are now reading this, learned to speak, write, and understand our native language and maybe some other languages, too! So anyone who has learned his or her native language can also learn any other language. It’s just a matter of time, attention and attitude. It is NOT dependent on consciously knowing the parts of speech or being able to discuss English grammar using academic metalanguage to do so. It is definitely not dependent on being in a classroom or studying an English grammar book. YOu can do with resources readily at hand via internet or perhaps in the real world, leveling up with complete strangers like Moses McCormick, aka laoshu505000.

Attention

Notice the language. What jumps out at you? A word, a phrase, a hand gesture, a facial expression, a tone, a nuance, a spelling, an order, a context? Whatever you notice accept it, be curious about it, see if you can notice again in the same, similar or different context. Active listening is noticing. Passive listening is not.

Time

Find two hours a day. Wake up earlier; go to bed later. Do two things at once. For example, listen to audio while working out, commuting to work or school, or doing housework. Find the time to do what you love, or do what you have to do anyway, in your target language.

If you are a non-native speaker of English, you can take your English to the next level with the plethora of resources that are available to all of us fortunate enough to have access to internet. Certainly, having a teacher or language coach is also useful but you don’t need to have a tutor at your side for two hours a day! I suggest that you spend half of your time in individual, pure skills: listening comprehension, reading comprehension, writing, and  speaking. Spend the other half of your time in integrated activities that require you to use two or more of the basic four skills in one activity.

By spending time engaged with the language, exercising your ability to notice, and knowing--with certainty--that you are capable of learning  any language, you will become an accurate and competent user of the language you are keen on.

Teacher Nia