1)
The teacher can't do everything for you:
The beginning stages of language learning usually take place in the classroom
and are thus molded by the teacher, who determines the textbook and the method
and creates the classroom atmosphere. It is important to remember, however, that
you should not rely totally on the teacher to determine the course of your
learning. Without your active input and participation, even the most outstanding
teacher will not be optimally effective. You know yourself best; therefore, you
should use self-knowledge to determine how you will learn. It is a good idea to
discuss your goals and preferred ways of teaming with the teacher. Your teacher's most important role is to model how native speakers
communicate. You should therefore constantly analyze your teacher's speech.
Listen for pat phrases and note when and how they are used. Notice how your
teacher reacts to what you say. Did he or she understand? Laugh? Why or why not? Your teacher is also an important source of information about how the
language is structured, what words and phrases mean, and when they should be
used. Check your understanding of a structure by making up sentences and asking
your teacher if they are correct. Ask him or her to explain differences in
meaning or usage between two words or sentences. Make sure that you understand
the corrections in your homework, compositions, and tests. 2) Negotiate differences: Your teacher should also be able to provide advice on how to study a foreign
language. See if his or her suggestions work for you. If they don't, try to
develop your own study techniques. The teacher also helps set the pace of your learning. If you have trouble
keeping up, try to improve your study skills and seek extra help. If you find
the pace too slow, ask your teacher for additional materials to reinforce and
extend the basic information. In either case, let your teacher know that the
pace is not right for you. Your teacher is an important source of motivation. By rewarding your
progress, your teacher can encourage you toward greater achievement. If your
teacher is not a good source of motivation, try to switch teachers as soon as
possible. Some students are self-conscious and find it difficult to talk in front of
their teacher because they fear criticism. Instead, they find it easier to
communicate with other students or with native speakers who are not teachers. If
you feel that way, make sure that you get additional practice outside of class. In many instances, a language course is taught by a teacher who is not a
native speaker and whose accent is inaccurate. Many excellent language teachers
recognize this limitation in themselves and supplement the course with tape
recordings of native speakers. In fact, students' pronunciation is not affected
by whether or not their teachers are native speakers. The important factor is
their ability to mimic and their motivation to improve their pronunciation,
given exposure to native speech. Thus, if your teacher is not a native speaker,
either listen to tape recordings of native speakers or seek opportunities to
practice with native speakers outside of the classroom. 3) On your own: You can study a foreign language without a teacher too. It can be done quite
successfully if you use programmed learning materials, tapes, or records and
have access to a native speaker or speakers. It is also essential to get
periodic evaluations of your progress. If you want to or need to study a foreign
language that is not taught in your geographic area or if you need to go slower
or faster than a regularly scheduled class, try to tend an individualized or
self-instructional program.