Learning a second language should always be an enjoyable, relaxing and exciting process and experience.
If you've been practicing a second language for some weeks or months already and are getting to the point where it seems as if nothing is happening, don't worry.
You have probably reached a point in the process where the particular area of study that you are doing is becoming “old” or “boring” for your mind. Maybe you are repeating parts that you already know and therefore you are not really challenging your mind.
Think about the idea of practicing “listening”. You can do this in two ways and use many methods. One way is to use recordings of the target language to listen to in a controlled way.
The other way is to immerse yourself in the real language of the locals, of course presuming that you are actually staying in the country of your chosen language.
When using recordings, we have the added advantage of being able to control what is happening and therefore listen again and again. This experience can be very rewarding.
Most of us like to believe that we are good listeners and therefore overlook the fact that we talk more than we listen. The ears are not accustomed to being so active and tend to let words drift in and out of our brains in a semi passive way. We probably consciously register 50 percent of what is being said when listening - always using a “short-ear” technique to process the most important parts of what the speaker is saying to us.
For language learning this is not sufficient. We must build the new habit of consciously listening to all of what is being said.
Consider these points when practising listening.
- If you consciously practise listening in a precise way, your ears will begin to get the message that more is required of them. After several hours of practice over a period of days, you will notice that it is easier to understand new expressions and lexis.
- If possible, do all you can to listen to the conversations of local speakers of the target language - this means listen much more than you usually would, force your ears to become the principal tool in operation
- When using a recording, listen several times. Note how each time you listen it becomes easier. This is because you are giving your brain time and opportunity to organise the expressions being listened to. Take advantage of this. Listen again and again - you can't do this when listening live!
- Record dialogues from the radio. You can find foreign radio stations on the internet. Use the “listen again” section for repetition.
- Whilst listening, make notes of the most difficult parts of speech, this will support the activity - ensure that you only begin to make notes after the first or second listening, this sends the message to your brain that “listening” is still the principle tool to be used
- Don't forget, language learning is an enjoyable and natural experience. Don't force anything - as soon as “forced” practice begins, the learning curve will decelerate and you will be wasting enormous amounts of energy.
Practise only for short periods of time. Maybe, 45 minutes in the Morning and then again at night for 45 minutes. That's plenty to ensure progress.
Have fun!
