Key to Good Language Learning To learn a language more e

Key to Good Language Learning
    Good morning. In today’s lecture, we shall discuss how to learn a language more effectively.
    It is important to have access to resources or open learning centre with a wide range of materials and to belong to an institution which encourages learners to make use of these resources and develop an autonomous approach to learning. This does not mean that the teacher and the classroom no longer have a crucial role to play in the learning process, since classroom instruction, regular attendance and participation together with contact and collaboration with colleagues all contribute equally to progress!
     (1)It has been recognised that language learners display a variety of different learning styles.(2)The way that individual learners respond in a shared language learning situation, and the kinds of activities they engage in when working with language learning materials on their own, have been shown to vary. The language learning context, therefore, also needs to accommodate differences in learning styles so that all language learners have the best chance of achieving individual success.
    With the above in mind, you should develop an autonomous approach. Here is a range of ideas for language learning activities which you might wish to try out and, if successful, build into your own repertoire of learning strategies.
    Try out these activities and if you find them effective, build them into your individual study programme.
     (3)The activities are organised under the main skill(s)they relate to. Language learning is often seen in terms of four basic language skills: listening, speaking, reading and writing. There can, of course, be an overlap between skill areas—(4/5)grammar and vocabulary are two extra areas which are frequently added to the four skills.
    Another useful way of looking at language is in terms of function. This involves identifying the different purposes for which language is being used. For example,(6/7)language items that reflect different functional areas such as apologising, introducing and greeting, or requesting can be usefully grouped together.
    It is also important to ask yourself what you can learn about the society and culture of the country where the language is spoken.
    With regard to the particular text or language activity you are engaged with, you might ask yourself:
    What factual information is there about the country?
     (8)How does the language reflect social relationships and conventions, for example, in the way people of different ages or statuses address one another,(9)how people interrupt, show agreement, use body language, and so on?
     (10)How does the language reflect beliefs, values and attitudes, for example, in how people talk or write about politics, social class, national traditions, entertainment, religion, and so on?
     (11)What are the differences in the way language is used in different situations and for different purposes?(12)How are these uses of language different from English, or your own native language?
    You should not only know how to study, but also be capable of using good resources around you. There is a range of materials and resources across the university, both in dedicated language resources rooms and in other areas such as Computing Services laboratories, which can be used for language learning. We give you a few suggestions below for making the best of these:
Use the Internet:
    to practise reading authentic, up-to-date language material—go to foreign language pages on the World Wide Web, perhaps try an online newspaper
    to access online specialist dictionaries
    to study grammar in context
    to extend your vocabulary in a particular area: look at the different categories on SML web pages
    to get informal writing practice—join a chatroom for French, German, Spanish etc.
    to practise reading and writing skills using the email facility—join a foreign language list, read a bulletin board in another language, strike up an email correspondence with a native speaker of the language you are studying
    to tune into digital radio and TV stations around the world using a virtual tuner
(13)Use foreign periodicals and newspapers:
    to practise skim reading for gist
    to develop your knowledge of the target language culture(s)
    to practise speaking after reading—orally summarise an article you have read to a partner or discuss it together
    to develop your vocabulary in a particular area for note-taking and practice in writing summaries
    to develop your prediction skills—using titles, subtitles, first paragraphs etc.
(14)Use the self-access laboratory:
    to assess your own speaking skill—record yourself speaking on a blank tape, then listen critically
    to practise listening(make use of video and satellite TV as well as audio cassettes to practise this)— choose one of the listening activities suggested above
    to develop your awareness of important aspects of the target language by studying, for example, the role of body language in TV programmes or on video
    to share a listening/viewing exercise with a partner, discussing or summarising it together afterwards
    to practise note-taking, e. g. watch a videotape of a lecture in the language you are learning
    to focus on a specific aspect of the language you are learning, e.g. grammar in use, a new area of vocabulary, accent or intonation
Use computer-based language learning materials:
    dedicated software, e. g. vocabulary and grammar learning exercises and "Test Yourself" programs in various languages. These can provide a more stimulating alternative to book-based exercises and can be fun if done with a partner
    interactive language learning courses, some with audio and video facilities
    electronic dictionaries for various languages
    language databases providing a rich resource for further language study
    foreign language wordprocessing(e. g. WordPerfect)at all student computing services workstations
    digital sound and video files
(15)And finally, use native speakers:
    this will help develop your fluency(in speaking and writing)
    set up a tandem partnership—you offer a language in return for help
    get involved in genuine communication. This is what language learning is all about!
So do you feel inspired after today’s lecture? I hope the answer is yes. And I feel honored to share so much with you, and hope it will help you a lot!