5 things to be aware of if you want to get the most out of your language training

Signing up for a course or deciding you’re going to follow a training plan can be exciting, especially when it’s something you’re doing for yourself, be that as a hobby or professional development. This article will walk you through my top tips.

If you’ve chosen the right language course for you, that’s a large part of the battle. (If you’re still struggling with finding a good language preparation centre or course for you, have a quick read of my previous article to help point you in the right direction: https://goo.gl/iQyDJN)

When the moment comes for the real training to happen, you need to focus on using those hours as well as you can. There are a few different ways you can ensure you’re making the most of your teacher time. Remember, this is something you’ve paid good money for - use it well!

Make sure you’re ready (mentally & physically)

Turn up on time. Remember to take a pen and a notebook (or at least some paper). Stop checking your emails every 2 minutes. Listen to what's being said. Watch how the trainer explains. Take notes. This is time for you, so make the most of it. If the session starts at 3, don’t arrive at ten past.

The first part of a course is usually saved to explain important organisational details, or to talk over doubts and comments from the previous session. It’ll also mean you’re not arriving worried about interrupting, or that you’ll come in mid-activity and not know what’s going on! Try to switch off your phone and put it out of sight - any distractions are going to be a problem.

Focus on being present: switch on the room, and engage.

Make sure you’re comfortable

Comfortable in the chair, and comfortable with the other people in the group. If you feel better, you won’t waste time shuffling around and not listening. You’ll also relax more into the environment and be more receptive to what others are saying. A large part of improving in any language is actual practice: if you’re not able to concentrate on producing the language and interacting with the other people around you, you may as well be at home reading a grammar book, alone.

Talk to the teacher

The trainer responsible for helping you is there to do exactly that: help you. If you have questions, ask them. If you feel they haven’t explained something in a way that you understand, tell them. If you can’t decipher their scribbles on an activity you completed, ask for clarification. If you need more (or less) input, speak to them. We can only do so much mind reading! If you'd rather communicate in writing, email them. Use the time you're there to watch them: we transmit a lot of information with our hands gestures and body language.

Most importantly, don’t feel embarrassed to ask questions or for further examples - if you knew all the answers, you wouldn’t be there, and neither would the rest of the group. If you have a doubt, chances are that others in the room will, too.

Talk to people. Don't be embarrassed - you're all in the same boat

Do your homework

This is most people’s least favourite part of any study programme! The problem is that if you do nothing between one session and another, you’ll waste valuable time in the following session reviewing previous material, and essentially having to repeat what you’ve already done. Not only is this frustrating for the others in the group, it’s also a waste of valuable time that could be used for new content and to make good progress.

Doing homework is also an invaluable activity for yourself - it’s a way to check you’ve really understood the concepts explored with the trainer, and a time to see if you need to ask any other questions, or if you need help looking over something again to get to grips with it. Keeping a study record is also a great way to keep track of your progress, and a way to check back and see how far you've come.

Find areas of interest and develop them

If there’s something on the course that you really enjoy, do some more research into it. Talk to the others on the course and see if they know of places to find out more. Talk to the trainer and see if s/he can suggest where to find out more, or how to make the most of your new-found engagement with the topic. Look the topic up online. Read about it. Listen to podcasts. We are so lucky nowadays, there is a wealth of information available about almost any topic. Find out more about why personal interest and curiosity can improve your learning in this interesting Edutopia article.

These 5 simple things can help you use your time wisely, and really enjoy the training that you’re there for. At the end of the day, there is only so much the trainer can do - if you don’t make an effort too, then maybe you need to think about why you're there, and if you're really enjoying it.

Let's recap:

1. Make sure you're ready, both mentally and physically
2. Get comfortable
3. Talk to the trainer
4. Do your homework!
5. Work on your areas of interest

Last but not least - don’t forget why you’re there!

Chances are you chose the course because it’s something you love or have an interest in. Everything worthwhile takes a little time and effort. Try not to get too bogged down with the parts you don’t like, and find a balance between taking it seriously and enjoying the experience!

Have you had any really great language learning experiences? or any top tips that might inspire other language learners? Share them with us in the comments section.