| As with any practice that doesn't necessarily | | | | methods |
| has a "one way" of being done, language | | | | |
| learning has a few common mistakes that apply | | | | This issue could be a problem with 9 out of |
| to most, if not all the available learning | | | | 10 learning processes, but the language |
| methods out there. Whether you're studying | | | | learning one is even more acute. Whether you |
| using a free online course, through | | | | could pull it off perfectly in say, physics, |
| educational games, translated texts, | | | | if you only used theoretical learning all the |
| flashcards or any other method, you're bound | | | | time and you were suddenly faced with a real, |
| to find one of these mistakes if what you're | | | | practical problem, with language learning |
| using is not of good quality. | | | | you're bound to look a fool. Theoretical |
| | | | language learning will hardly form any |
| 1. Learning the new language like a science | | | | accurate pronunciation skills and whenever |
| | | | you'll be faced with an actual conversation |
| The language learning process is by no means | | | | in that language, you just won't be able to |
| comparable to say, learning a particular | | | | express all that theoretical information you |
| science or learning a profession. Language | | | | stored up. |
| learning is a skill and like all skills, | | | | |
| sheer, raw information gurgling won't do the | | | | 5. Using the "all work no play" technique |
| trick. This is a very common mistake that is | | | | |
| especially hard to avoid in written language | | | | It's well known that anything you learn while |
| learning methods such as courses, online | | | | relaxing or having fun, you learn with more |
| lessons and the likes. It's very tempting for | | | | ease and the information you store this way |
| the writers of these materials to simply | | | | is longer lasting and can be used more |
| divide the language in big chunks and feed it | | | | effectively. You'll be amazed by the amount |
| to you with a large spoon: "here's the | | | | of language learning techniques out there |
| grammar" "here's the spelling" "here's the | | | | that don't take advantage of this and |
| vocabulary". This will get you nowhere, or if | | | | instead, tend to follow the more rigorous |
| it will indeed have any effect, you will take | | | | path. Sure, playing vocabulary games, using |
| the longest route to get to it. | | | | flashcards, completing quizzes or whatever |
| | | | you could deem as "fun learning" won't be as |
| 2. Taking large breaks | | | | fast or intense as the rigid methods, but you |
| | | | get the above mentioned effects and you lose |
| I'm feeling metaphorical today, so let me | | | | the risk of getting learning fatigue. |
| compare the language learning process to a | | | | |
| huge furnace. If you want to light this huge | | | | 6. Learning monotony |
| furnace you'll need to constantly feed it | | | | |
| firewood and as you do so, you'll see the | | | | Although last in our list, this is by far the |
| fire growing bigger and bigger. Now, stop the | | | | most common mistake that you will find with |
| process and the fire will go out and you'll | | | | online language courses and even with |
| have to put an almost equally hard effort to | | | | language center practical lessons and |
| get it back on. It's the same with language | | | | courses. Language learning is a long, arduous |
| learning. Once you get into it and you start | | | | process, make no mistake about it. I don't |
| getting the hang of it, a large break from | | | | care what those "Learn Spanish in 2 weeks" |
| studying or practicing could be a killer. | | | | course books say, it just can't be done in |
| Detach yourself completely from the learning | | | | such a short time span. Or well, if you |
| and practicing and you'll find yourself | | | | consider grasping the complicated |
| having to bring in a new load of firewood. | | | | inner-workings of phrases like "Hello, how |
| | | | are you today?" in Spanish having "learnt" a |
| 3. Learning too fast | | | | language, then so be it. Anyway, the point is |
| | | | that in this long and arduous process, we |
| There's a factor that I like to call | | | | tend to get bored, we tend to lose the |
| "learning anxiety" that usually affects | | | | initial enthusiasm when we realize that "hey, |
| persons trying to study a language because of | | | | this isn't as fun as I thought, it's actually |
| a personal or professional need (your wife's | | | | hard work". Lesson monotony does not help |
| Japanese, your new business partner is | | | | this and it's the main reason most people |
| French, your son is Dutch, stuff like that). | | | | simply quit a course instead of putting up |
| This phenomenon happens when you're in a rush | | | | with it. |
| to get basic grip on a language and you skip | | | | |
| through some of the essential steps too fast. | | | | To avoid learning monotony, try to mix up |
| You go in studying grammar without a basic | | | | your learning methods as much as possible. |
| vocabulary, you get into advanced terms | | | | Use translated texts, use audio tapes, engage |
| before even knowing the basic ones and so | | | | in conversations with friends, teachers or |
| forth. This may indeed allow you to | | | | other students, watch media in that |
| understand and make yourself understood in a | | | | particular language if available, play |
| conversation, but overall, you will take more | | | | educational games, use flashcards, use the |
| time correcting your wrongfully learnt | | | | dictionary to improve your vocabulary, do |
| concepts than it would have taken you if you | | | | ANYTHING you have to do, just don't let |
| had studied them correctly in the first | | | | learning boredom overcome you, because trust |
| place. | | | | me when I say this, it's a foreign language |
| | | | killer in way too many cases. |
| 4. Using solely "theoretical" learning | | | | |