Characteristics of a Good Language Learner

Characteristics of a Good Language Learner

Helping you be successful in Spanish class and the real world!

They Take Charge of Their Learning

• Why do you want to learn a second language?
• How will it help you in the future?
• Invest in your own learning process!

They’re Organized, Physically and Mentally

• Do you know where you will put notes, vocabulary lists, etc.?
• Do you write down important dates?
• Make a mental filing system of connections with previous knowledge.

They’re Creative

• Get a feel for the language.
• Experiment.
• Avoid the bare minimum.

They Practice

• Inside the classroom.
• Outside the classroom.
• Seek out opportunities to use the language.

They don’t get frustrated

• Uncertainty abounds when learning a language.
• Continue to talk and listen, even if you do not understand every word.
• Don’t shut down!

They use memory strategies

• Mnemonic devices
• Sayings
• Songs

They learn from mistakes

• Make your errors work for you, not against you.
• Try new things and work out the errors as you go.

They use what they know already

• Take knowledge from your first language and apply it to your new language.

They use context clues

• Not just in reading, but in conversations and interactions.
• Language does not exist in a bubble…there will be many different kinds of input that can help understanding.
• Body language and facial expressions.

They make intelligent guesses

• Use what you know to throw out a guess.
• It might be right, or at least close enough to keep you going.

They fill in the gaps

• Strategies to keep the conversation going or fill in gaps in what you know.

They can adjust

• Adjusting to your audience, the formality of the situation or the cultural norms.