One of the key principles of language learning is all about making errors and then learning from them: this is what review & feedback means. The thing is, you NEED to make those mistakes. This is all perfectly rational: anyone learning a language is going to make mistakes, and sometimes those mistakes will be very public. Sometimes, the biggest challenge to language learning is overcoming our own fears: fear of making a mistake, of saying the wrong thing, of embarrassing yourself, of not being able to find the right word, and so on. Instead, what you need is a balanced study plan: a mix of study activities that target both spoken and written language, and gives attention to all three key principles.ĭO: Focus on balance: practice both spoken and written language, and make sure to include all of the three key principles-input, output, and feedback/review. But neglecting the other two key principles (output and feedback/review) can slow down language growth. This is also true of the three key elements: it’s comparatively easy to find input sources (like your textbook) and practice understanding them.
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For example, it’s easy to focus on reading comprehension when studying, in part because written language is often readily accessible-for one thing, you have a whole textbook full of it.
This is actually a common pitfall for language learners. If you focus exclusively on just one activity, the others fall behind. Learning a new language involves listening, speaking, reading, writing, sometimes even a new alphabet and writing format. The more you listen and read (input), the more you speak and write (output), the more you go back over what you’ve done and learn from your errors (review & feedback), the more your language skills will grow.ĭO: Create a study plan that maximizes the three dimensions of language learning: understanding (input), producing (output), and identifying and correcting errors (review/feedback). These three elements are the building blocks of your language practice, and an effective study plan will maximize all three. įancy terms aside, these are actually pretty straightforward ideas. The third element is review or feedback, which basically means identifying errors and making changes in response.Comprehensible output is the second element, and unsurprisingly it means learning to produce (speak or write) something in the new language.The first is comprehensible input, which is a fancy way of saying being exposed to (hearing or reading) something in the new language and learning to understand it.Research in this area (called “second language acquisition” in academia) suggests that there are three key elements to learning a new language. Key principles of language learningįirst, let’s talk about the basics. Use these tools to create a strategic study plan that helps your language skills grow. This handout first explains some of the key principles that guide effective language learning, and then describes activities that can help you put these principles into practice.
What you might not know is that there are strategies that can help you study more effectively, so that you make the most of your time and energy. If you’re reading this, then you probably already know that. Learning a language is a complex, time-intensive task that requires dedication, persistence, and hard work.
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