BLOG
SETTING REALISTIC GOALS IN LANGUAGE LEARNING
When embarking on the journey of learning a new language, setting realistic goals becomes essential. While enthusiasm and ambition are admirable, you also need to be pragmatic and ensure sustainable progress and maintain motivation over time. Here are 5 key considerations for setting realistic goals when learning a language:
1. Assess your current level: An honest assessment of your current proficiency level is a must. It can include taking a placement test, self-assessment or just seeking feedback form a language teacher. Understanding where you stand will help you set appropriate targets and monitor your progress.
2. Define clear objectives: Clearly define what you want to achieve with the language. Is it for a road trip around Australia, new job position, personal interest in languages or academic purpose? Having a specific purpose will guide your learning path and help you set relevant goals.
3. Break down goals: Becoming completely fluent in a new language is a process. There is no shortcut or a magic wand that will make you fluent in two weeks. You need to think about your goals and break them into smaller, manageable tasks. For example, focus on improving your pronunciation, mastering a specific grammar concept, or building vocabulary around certain themes.
4. Be realistic about time: Learning a language is a gradual process that requires consistent effort over time. Be realistic about time you have left to dedicate to language learning each day or week. Set achievable milestones that align with your work schedule and other commitments.
5. Celebrate small wins:Learning a new language is not only about the final result. Acknowledge and celebrate your progress along the way. Whether it’s mastering a tricky grammar rule, holding a conversation with an Aussie friend, or just understanding the lyrics of Taylor Swift’s song, every achievement counts towards your overall goals.
By setting realistic goals, staying committed and maintaining a positive mindset you will not only enjoy your language learning but will also achieve fluency in your target language. So, set realistic goals, manage your time properly and enjoy this new adventure.
Monika
OH ACCENT, MY ACCENT!
Where is your accent from? You’re not from here, are you?
Can you relate to this? I surely can! I have been asked these questions at least twenty times since I moved to Australia a year ago. And while I truly believe most of the people only ask out of curiosity, you may be surprised to hear that it is not always the case.
If we looked back to our past, we would find many cases of people being judged and mocked because of their accent. What is more, we all know that some dialects have always been recognised as standard and prestigious whereas others can trigger important social stereotypes and quick judgements.
This unconscious bias is particularly relevant to the non-native speakers, who are often seen as inferior when it comes to job opportunities and access to education. But why is this still happening in the 21st century?
One of the reasons could be ‘glottophobia’. Have you ever heard of this term? It refers to discrimination on the grounds of accent. Basically, it means that because of our generally unconscious bias, we make conclusions that are far from reality and close opportunities to highly educated people just because we consider their lack of native accent can become a problem in the future.
So, is there anything we can do to prevent this kind of discrimination? I think the most important step is to acknowledge that this kind of bias actually exists. The companies should make sure that they create diverse teams and offer a safe working environment for all their workers. They should also provide strategies for effective communication and teach their staff how to become better communicators and avoid possible misunderstandings.
What are your thoughts on this?
Monika
TOP 5 BENEFITS OF LEARNING A FOREIGN LANGUAGE ONLINE
I have been teaching online for more than 6 years now and I love it! Thanks to all technology developments I have been able to meet amazing people around the world and share my language knowledge with them.
I think online teaching and learning have many benefits, but these are the top 5 for me as both a teacher and a lifelong learner.
1. You can take your online lesson wherever you are, so you don’t need to bother about being at home or your office at a certain time. Some of my students received lessons while waiting at the airport on their business trip or just chilling near the pool. The concept of a specific learning place disappears and you can enjoy learning even more.
2. Online tutors are usually more flexible with their schedules, so it may be much easier for the learners to find that perfect moment of the day when they can fully concentrate on what they’re being taught. Being honest, not all of us like getting up early in the morning just to receive any type of class. Some people are much more productive in the evening and learning online gives you this opportunity.
3. You don’t need to worry about using different apps or platforms. Even if you are not up to date with all the apps, I am sure you have done video calls with your friends before. Online class can be very similar to a casual call with your best friend. Most of my students received high-quality lessons with all the materials they needed on WhatsApp or Skype. However, if you feel like you need to have everything under control and see your materials in advance, you can have them all in your Drive file, Dropbox or whatever is better for you. In the end, you are learning a language, not studying to become a software developer.
4. Learning a language online is less time consuming as you don’t need to commute. If you are working full time and have time constraints, learning online can be the best option for you. You choose when and how you want to learn.
5. Online lessons are usually very dynamic and interactive as a tutor can use different tools and materials to make your lessons fun and useful for your purpose. Don’t make the mistake of thinking about online lessons just as a conversation. You may not notice your hard work during the class, but each activity is always designed in advance in order to achieve your language goals.
Do you need more reasons to join our learning community? Don’t hesitate to contact me.
Monika
MY APPROACH TOWARDS TEACHING
Throughout my teaching experience I have learned that there is not just one magic methodology that will suit everyone. All the students are different, learn in their own style and at their own pace, which must be respected. However, interactive methodologies have proven to be more effective and entertaining, allowing the students to enjoy a very pleasing learning experience. Interactive learning is a holistic methodology that allows the learner to be in the centre of the learning process and learn within a dynamic environment.
What’s more, the main goal of studying a foreign language is to communicate with people from other countries. Therefore, all my lessons focus on the real language and not just drilling structures that are no longer used by the society. A language is a living thing that is changing all the time and what once was widely used may now be completely weird. And that’s the reason why it is so important not to learn only the grammar structures and vocabulary you can find in different books, but also to discover the culture and the way the local people use their language in real life.
Having said that, it is clear why I consider the holistic approach to be the best. It is the only way to learn the real language and connect with the new culture.
Monika