When I started to learn Russian,
on my own, I was frustrated by how slow my learning process was. I gave up on
the Russian language several times. Then I decided to set “excluding” goals: I
will never be able to read Dostoyevsky novels in Russian. Here I am, after 15
years, and I have read all Dostoyevsky novels. Not once, but several times. As
well as other classic Russian authors. Was it a good idea to set such an upper
limit?
What I am sure about is that we
need to set upper limits in our daily learning. Learning a language is like a
marathon. With the only difference, that it does not stop after 42.195
kilometers. Excellent language learners continue their whole life. Most
language learners behave like if they began their marathon with a sprint during
the first kilometer. Their dropout is almost inevitable. They exhaust
themselves trying to cram a completely new language into their heads in just
few weeks. Then they become frustrated. Or they never get rid of elementary
mistakes.
Here are my recommendations:
·
Set an upper limit for the time you study at
home. Between 5 and 30 minutes should be more than enough. Having that limit,
the next question is, how to use those 30 minutes most efficiently and in a
way, that brings you closer to your goals, and not just completing exercises
for the exercises sake. Read about Parkinson’s Law and think about how this has
affected your learning habits so far.
·
Set an upper limit for the number of words you
learn daily. Between 1 and 10 should be more than enough. Remember, we are
thinking in terms of a “marathon” of several years.
·
Set yourself monthly, achievable goals. For example,
in the first month you learn only (!) present tense. In the next month you will
learn one past tense. And so forth. Doing this, you will always be hungry for
more. And you will keep practicing those “simple” topics near to perfections.
·
If you feel exhausted, have one or two days a
week where you do not practice at all.
The GO Method
“I have been living in
Germany for years. I have gone through all the levels and sustained the
necessary exams. Nonetheless, I still make too many mistakes as to get a
serious employment in my profession.”
It is easy to start a foreign language. It takes only
practice and living abroad to get fluent. To learn the last (!) 5% and to speak
without mistakes, however, you will need completely different approach.
The GO Method helps you get rid of your chronic grammar and
pronunciation mistakes by applying psychology and principles of quality management.
We offer corrective courses for some languages, as well a
general system for improving your use of any language. We support companies in
improving the language proficiency of key employees.
Gerhard J. Ohrband
Has helped more than 1200 students advance their studies and
professional career by obtaining excellent German and Spanish skills.
Psychologist and language teacher, from Hamburg /Germany
(*1979). Married, one son. MA in psychology from the University of Hamburg.
More than 15 years of experience as a university lecturer in psychology as well
as a consultant for UNICEF, Terre des Hommes, IOM, the EU and private
companies. Speaks 21 languages.
Contact
If you want to save time in learning a foreign language
without a teacher, please check out my book “The GO Method” on Amazon.
