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Research in the field of language indicates that there are many things you can do to become a successful learner.Curiosity about language and culture, daily study, and the commitment to use English in every possible situationwhile in an English-speaking environment, are very important conditions for success.
1.Be clear and realistic about your goals. Your sense of success will depend on your needs for Englishand whether or not you meet your needs. It is not just a question of measured progress. If you need conversational fluency, notetaking skills will not meet your needs. If you must learn to write effective business letters, informal conversation with current slang will not help you achieve your goal.
Know what your goals are. Do you need English for occasional speaking situations,for travel or entertaining English-speaking visitors? Do you want to improve comprehension in both written and spoken English? Do you need to write English for professional purpose? Are you preparing for a university career in English? If so, your goals must include proficiency in all skill areas.
Learning a foreign language is an inexact process. Very few people learn to use a foreign language as wellas a native speaker does. Fortunately, very few people need to learn English like a native English speakerin every skill area. Be realistic and aware of your goals. There are many reasons to learn English, and your reasons are your own goals.
2.Be realistic about the length of time it takes to learn a language. Programs which promise overnight success are simply not being honest. Language learning is a cumulative process. You will experience bursts ofaccomplishment as well blocks and delays in progress. You will notice improvement at different speeds ineach skill area. Many students progress more quickly in passive skills (reading and grammar analysis) than in active and complex skills (speaking, notetaking during a lecture). If you are beginning level student whose goal is proficiency, a typical program may include at least nine months of intensive English study. Ifyour study program is short-term and your goals include improvement and review rather than proficiency youmay realise some progress in two or more weeks.
3.Be aware of your learning style. If you know that you learn more quickly when you listen to an English statement a few times before writing it, or if you know that seeing a picture or graphic representation of a word or expression helps you to remember the word, then develop study habits which use the most effective techniques for you. Excellent instructors who know that students must be involved in active learning will created active learning experiences to connect you with the language.
4.Learn something about “language learning”.Remember that language is a complex system of meaningful sounds organised with a series of rules (grammar). Every student has to study enough pronunciation, grammar and sentence structure to understand this! It is also true that language is a form of behaviour involving the human need to communicate and to be understood. Language learning involves motivation, emotion, a senseof self, and a set of cultural beliefs. Language is much more than sound and words and grammar. As you learn a new language, you will produce a “series of successive approximations”,meaning that each attempt ata new language will bring you closer to effective communication. Language learning requires that you make mistakes. Do not be afraid of a language or afraid of making errors. Develop an abiity to relax; “playing” with a new language is an important part of learning.
5.Take responsibility for your own learning. A good instructor is half the equation for successful language learning. Take charge of your learning; participate actively in your program. Look for opportunities to use your new language in any of many new environments. Be willing to make mistakes and learn from these mistakes. Focus on your goals, your study habits, and your willingness to “learn to learn”. Enjoy the process! Find inside yourself the reasons you want to learn, and determine ways to evaluate your success for yourself.
