This is day 7 of our New Year Tips on learning a language. Yesterday was about using films for language learning. Today, we move on to learning styles for language learning.
What is your learning style?
How do you like to learn? Grab a notepad and make some notes about how you like to learn.
Think about how you learn something new for work or pleasure. Can you read something once and instantly remember it? Do you need to repeat the topic multiple times? Do you like to write out vocabulary to be able to remember it? Does using pictures help you to learn? Is learning best by listening to CDs, podcasts or lessons? Can you pick up a textbook and work through it every week? Do you need the structure of a lessons and the camaraderie of other students to help with motivation? Do you like using technology to learn? Think about habits in your life and what motivates you do do them? Do you like to move about whilst learning? What is your learning style?
The idea about creating a learning habit is to do something that you like and what works for you, otherwise it’s very hard to continue long term. Long term learning is how you make progress.
A learning plan to fit in with a certain learning style could be:
I learn best with others, so I need a class to learn French. Remembering vocabulary is difficult so I will make flashcards. These will be in my bag or on my phone so I can practise them when I get a spare minute. Pictures help me to learn to I will use these on my notes and on my flashcards. I like technology as it prompts me to learn so I will find an app to help.
What’s your learning style and how do you adapt your language learning to this?