Tips for learners
I get easily bored and learning is too hard
- Learning a new language is often hard and it takes time. Plan and organise your learning, e.g. set aside a time for it at regular intervals; set yourself achievable targets. What are your goals? If it is boring and hard to read a long text or a book, do not give up. Instead, look for a more interesting and shorter text. An idea:
- use home pages of institutions as a tool for language learning, especially to improve your reading and vocabulary skills. Before resorting to a dictionary, try to guess the meanings of titles and buttons, basing your guesses on your previous knowledge about web pages. Read pages in your target language and use other language versions for support.
- Read on-line magazines and have their home pages as the opening page of your browser, the pictures can help you to understand the meaning of the texts. You could also:
- Register for conversation areas, if there are any. Reading these is a good way to learn informal language. You can also practise your writing there – don’t be afraid of mistakes.
- Voice your opinion in online polls. It is like a reading comprehension task, except that there are no wrong answers!
- If you are bored, re-think your motives: Why are you learning a new language? Are you matching the materials and activities you have chosen to your interests and / or needs? Get to know the country and culture. It is easy to find topics you are interested in on TV and radio.
- Find your preferred way to learn. For example, someone might learn best when listening to the language while others need to see the language in written form. Vary your learning materials, types of exercises, schedules, places, etc. Remember that learning should be fun! Why not learn by playing games?
- If possible, gather a group of people with similar interests and study together. Tell each other what new phrases or words you have learnt and try to use your skills as often as possible. You can try tandem-learning or online chat in the target language. Here are some ideas for discussion topics for different levels of language learning.
- Keep up a positive attitude and don’t only think of what you can’t do yet. Make yourself an achievement chart and focus on what you have already mastered. For ideas of how to follow your progress see What’s your level?
