by Sophie Playle

Created on: August 30, 2008

For some people, learning a foreign language seems to come quite naturally, but for many it is a long and difficult task, which can often be quite frustrating. If you have chosen to study a foreign language, that's a good start; hopefully you won't lose your motivation. However, at secondary school many people have to take compulsory language lessons, and this may seem quite harsh. Try to keep in mind that there are many study techniques that can help you learn if you are willing to put in a little effort, and that learning a language is a very rewarding skill to have.

TIP ONE// Look, Cover, Write and Check

You may be familiar with this technique from when you were very little and learning how to spell, but it is a great way to help you remember certain vocabulary in your chosen language. Simply look at the word you are trying to memorise, cover it up, write it from memory and then check to see if you have written it correctly. Do this at least ten times. Because you are actively using your short-term memory over and over, this helps embed the word into your long-term memory. For some people, writing things down helps them remember them a lot better than just reading or saying something.

TIP TWO// Use Your Ears

Some people learn better aurally, and listening to the language being spoken can help you with your pronunciation. So invest in some language tapes or CDs to aid your study. Listening to just 15 minutes a day will help you improve. Alternatively, you can record your own voice saying the words and phrases you need to remember, and listen to them over and over until you can remember them.

TIP THREE// Leave Yourself Notes

Write lists of words, phrases or grammatical rules you need to learn, and put them up around the house where you will see them most. You could put one set of notes next to the television, so you can mute the advert breaks and have five minutes of learning, or you could blue-tack them to the back of the bathroom door, so you can learn when you are using the facilities! Be creative.

TIP FOUR// Study Buddy

Language is all about interaction. Get together with a friend, perhaps after school or during your lunch break, and practice all those role playing phrases you have to learn. One of you could be the shop keeper and the other the customer, and then switch. Or you could create a word game; for example, if you need to learn a list of animal vocabulary, you can play the memory game where one of you starts off saying one word, then the next person says that word again but adds on their own, then the next person says those two words and add on their own too, and so on.

TIP FIVE// Travel!

If you can, try and persuade your parents to take you on holiday to the country of your chosen language. Alternatively, your school may organise a number of trips there. Jump at these opportunities as studies have shown that completely immersing yourself in a foreign language is the best way to pick it up, both consciously and subconsciously.

When you put a little time aside and put in a little effort, you can take a few small steps that could greatly improve your study of a foreign language.

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