Keep up Your Language Skills Over the Summer!
Ellice Ellis ‘20
Did you take a foreign language this semester? Maybe it was Spanish, Korean, or French, like myself? Well, that’s great! Kudos to you. Personally, learning languages has been a huge challenge for me over the years.
I’ve taken French since the 4th grade and I have always had problems retaining what I’ve learned after the school year ended. And as you may know, summer is typically the time that most of what you have learned during the semester wears away. So I’ve decided to pull from my failures and tell you the best ways to stay fluent, or close to it, over the summer.
As a movie-buff, I’ve found watching foreign language films extremely helpful. When watching foreign language movies you tap into the rich cultural experiences that align with the language you’re learning. First, you must remember to be an active, not passive viewer. Leisurely watching a foreign-language film won’t help you study a language. One must have to actively study the movie they’re watching, and focus on every word that’s said. Using a notepad to write down new vocabulary or abstract sentence structures is a great way to be an active viewer.
For my Spanish speakers/learners; read this blog to learn more about watching movies to learn a language: http://lifehacker.com/5881696/how-actively-watching-movies-helped-me-learn-spanish
And for my French speakers/learners I suggest watching the classic cinema of Francois Truffaut.
If you’re headed back home for the summer, visit your local library and pick up a used copy of a foreign language book. This way, you can review everything that you have already studied during this past school year and even start looking ahead into what’s coming next! In the past, I’ve planned 30 minutes of language study a day over the summer and although it may seem daunting compared to other summer activities; it will definitely pay off in the long-run.
For those interning in a new city, visiting family, or headed abroad to travel; explore your new destination’s cultural or language based neighborhoods. If you are planning to live in a place where your second language is spoken, go out into the community to beef-up your skills. Visit restaurants, cafes, churches, or community centers where you can not only learn, but show off the skills you’ve learned this semester. This is also a great way to learn about the cultural practices that coincide with the language you’re learning.
My last tip definitely reveals my inner-journalist; nevertheless, read international news sources. It’s a great way to stay up-to-date on what’s going on in the world and to practice your foreign language skills.
Plenty of newspapers from other countries have online publications. Additionally, international media often provides perspectives not represented in American news and news publications can help you connect with the culture you are studying. Find stories and publications that match your interests to make language learning fun! Sometimes I read Vogue Paris because I love fashion magazines so it’s easy for me to stay interested.
Summer is a time for rest and relaxation after a stressful semester. So remember to make your language-learning efforts fun by setting aside time for your studies and for yourself. There is nothing wrong with forgetting a little French, Korean, Arabic or whatever you take but don’t procrastinate and try to review what you’ve learned this semester at the beginning of August. Studying your language over the summer makes the first few weeks of the semester easier and sets the tone for great study habits in the future.
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