What actions slow down the learning process? Let's talk about the most common mistakes students make.
Don't know your own goals
Ideas such as " Chinese is a very popular language" or "learn French to travel around France " are ineffective . Without clear goals, it is very difficult to learn a language for a long time, even if you have a talented teacher and iron willpower. Therefore, experts recommend choosing specific motives and tying them to dates: for example, “I want to learn a language up to the Intermediate level by the summer” or “I am learning a language to study abroad ”.
Throw, and then start again
Many students start learning the language and then consistently skip classes. But this is how a person works: if you constantly give yourself the opportunity to relax, then most likely it will become a habit.
Watch a movie with subtitles
English teachers do not recommend watching films with subtitles, because they do not teach how to perceive speech by ear, but rather teach how to read quickly. Remember: the brain always follows the path of least resistance - if there are subtitles, then you probably will not strain your hearing. Make a selection of films adequate to your level, and if you still want to watch the film in the original, then watch it first in native language, and then in the original.
Upload yourself with uninteresting content
For reading, the genre that is most suitable is best suited. Now everyone reads blogs, posts, tweets and articles - find interesting publics in English too! They will be more useful than trying to read complex works of art.
Memorize every new word
Students who try to write down every word in the dictionary, as a rule, do nothing else besides this, because it is impossible to do everything. Every time you stumble over a word, pause a movie or put a book down, you lose the meaning and pleasure of the educational process. Teachers believe that one cannot hide from popular and frequent words - they will come across in every book or TV series, and with intensive practice they will still be remembered. The best option: on the A4 page, you come across about 10-15 unfamiliar words, understandable in context, and 5-7 words you need to search in dictionaries.
Emphasize grammar while ignoring communication and pronunciation
In any language, the main types of speech activity are speaking, reading, listening, writing. Grammar is just an auxiliary element. Having learned grammar in theory, with a lack of practice, students will continue to make many mistakes in speech.
Do not use language in everyday life
Very often students close the textbook and forget about the foreign language, which significantly slows down the progress in learning. And vice versa: by devoting 15 minutes to a foreign language a day - for example, walking in a supermarket - you will quickly pay off your work and time allotted to classes. How else can you weave English into your everyday life? Translate your favorite song, watch an episode from a movie, or chat with a friend from another country.
