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Viewing Here is Proof: Phrases Beat Rote Study for Foreign LanguagesHere is Proof: Phrases Beat Rote Study for Foreign Languages
By Kathy Steinemann
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No matter what you are studying, there will be some 'rote learning'. However, you can make your study time more effective and fun when acquiring a foreign language. How? Concentrate more on phrases and less on vocabulary lists or conjugation tables. No matter what you are studying, there will be some 'rote learning'. However, you can make your study time more effective and fun when acquiring a foreign language. How do you accomplish this? Concentrate more on phrases and less on vocabulary lists or conjugation tables. Escape from the drudgery into the real meat of a language. If you cringe every time you think about prepping for your next foreign language exam, perhaps you are not studying effectively. You can turn your study sessions into happy times by spicing your language palate with real sustenance instead of boring words that have no life of their own. Are you ready for a little experiment that proves how easy this is? Do not read any further until you have an accurate way to time yourself - perhaps a stopwatch, cooking timer, or computer popup. Peeking ahead will make the rest of this article useless to you. Do you have your timer? Ok. Here are the instructions. There are three sections below. Section 1 has a small vocabulary list for you to study. Allow yourself 60 seconds to memorize the words. Then proceed to Section 2. It is a little different from the first section. In addition to the vocabulary list, there is a short sentence. Quickly review the vocabulary, but spend most of the 60 seconds memorizing the first sentence, preferably reading it aloud as many times as possible, and 'seeing' it in your mind. After spending 60 seconds on each of the first two sections, complete the little quiz in Section 3. (Answers are near the end of the article). Before going any further, are you clear about the instructions? If not, go back to the beginning of the article and read the instructions again until you understand them completely. Are you all ready to go? Set your timer and begin. Section 1 - Memorize the Definitions: duzzemo - to openSection 2 - Memorize the Definitions: She zontvoloed the tozonx embonnto, and went to the razzeloxxen. She opened the door quickly, and went to the table. Section 3: Cover Sections 1 and 2 and supply the meanings for the following words: beborrq ____________________What kind of success did you have with Section 1? Section 2? Most people have dramatically better results with Section 2. This is because of the way your brain links unfamiliar words with words you already know, analyzes punctuation and patterns, and categorizes everything. The process is quick and automatic, with only a little effort on your part. What does this mean to you and to how you study? Spend less time with pages of verb conjugations and vocabulary lists. Instead, incorporate new words into sentences with words that you already understand. Do you remember how many times you have seen a word, recognized it, and then scanned your brain until you recalled how you used it in a sentence? This is a natural learning process; you can easily include it as part of your daily study routine. You have just experienced the proof first hand. Are you still skeptical? Here is another language vocabulary test if you would like to try again with different words. Not convinced? Here is one more language vocabulary test that you can tackle! Context-based vocabulary acquisition works. If you are not already learning this way, now is your opportunity to change your approach, become more efficient, and have more fun in the process. Note: All of the example words in this article were Googled before being used. If I inadvertently included a word that means something unsuitable or tasteless in a foreign language, please accept my apologies. Answers: beborrq: quick(ly) - Section 1 duzzemo: to open - Section 1 embonnto: quick(ly) - Section 2 kolaxitt: door - Section 1 razloxxen: table - Section 2 tozonx: door - Section 2 tquonzar: table - Section 1 zontvolo: to open - Section 2 (c) Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included. About the Author: Kathy writes foreign language articles for A Language Guide. She also composes German-English short stories and poetry in parallel translation for her foreign language website. Article Source: 1st Rate Articles - http://1stRateArticles.com |
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