Even the walls help at home
When learning a foreign language, we try to immerse ourselves not only in the language itself, but also in the culture of the country where it is spoken. We listen to music and podcasts, watch television and YouTube videos, read, communicate with teachers and native speakers, and travel. If you want to achieve the best possible results in the shortest possible time, immersion in a foreign language can be particularly effective. In this article, we offer 18 useful tips for creating a language-learning environment at home. They are especially suitable for motivated and well-organised students.
1. Using Sticky Notes: Beginner Stage
You have probably already heard of using sticky notes to memorise vocabulary. Notes with the names of household objects can be placed around your home, so that you see the words whenever you use those objects. However, this approach is limited to naming objects, so the vocabulary is presented without any context. That is not particularly effective for language learning. It is much better to write not only the word itself, but also an example of how it is used in a sentence. You may need larger sticky notes for this.
2. Using Sticky Notes: Moving Around the House
From time to time, you can take yourself on a little tour of your home using the notes, reading the vocabulary and examples of how the words are used. Over time, you can add new examples or replace the existing ones.
3. Using Sticky Notes: Parts of Speech
Your notes do not have to contain nouns only. You can also add other parts of speech related to the object, as well as vocabulary associated with it. For example: “стиральная машина” (“washing machine”) – “стирать” (“to wash”) – “стиральный порошок” (“washing powder”) – “отжимать” (“to spin”) – “полоскать” (“to rinse”) – “чистый” (“clean”) – “развешивать” (“to hang out”) – “сушить” (“to dry”) and so on. It is, of course, better to use this vocabulary in context, because this also helps develop grammatical skills, such as verb conjugation and tense, sentence structure, and so on. Try to use the vocabulary in different contexts and with different grammatical structures.
4. Using Sticky Notes: Advanced Stage
At an advanced stage, you will need to include a large number of new vocabulary items, as well as collocations and idioms related to these objects.
5. Using Sticky Notes: Games
You can turn the notes into a variety of games. For example, mix them up and put them on the wrong objects, such as placing the word “плита” (“stove”) on the refrigerator. Then your task is to put everything back where it belongs. You can also create small exercises for yourself: complete missing letters in a word, add a verb in a particular example, and so on. You can even invite friends who are learning the same language and organise a quest using the notes, with tasks such as writing phrases, completing words and solving riddles and so on.
6. Speaking Aloud
Another effective way to learn vocabulary in context is to describe your actions aloud. When you move around the house, eat, browse the internet or clean, say what you are doing. Try to describe each action in as much detail as possible. You can also explain what you are going to do next and why.
7. Language Club
You can organise a language club at home and invite your classmates over. You can play board games in the language you are learning, cook dishes typical of the country where it is spoken, choose particular vocabulary topics and discuss them, or organise discussions about films you have watched or articles you have read.
If you have the opportunity to invite native speakers to join you, even better!
8. Audio and Video Materials
The goal is to surround yourself with the language. Audio and video materials – radio, television, podcasts, YouTube videos and so on – play an important role in this process, but they should be chosen carefully. It can be useful to keep the radio on in the background while you are at home. However, it is important to choose material that is appropriate for your level. At beginner level, we recommend songs and music radio. At this stage, the main goal is to become familiar with the language’s intonation, pronunciation and overall sound. At intermediate and advanced levels, television and YouTube become more useful. Choose programmes and videos covering a range of topics, such as entertainment talk shows, news programmes, interviews, short films and so on. It is also worth remembering that background exposure is not always effective: we often simply stop noticing it. That is why it is important to return to audio materials regularly and consciously. For example, spend 10-15 minutes a day actively listening to the radio in the background and trying to understand what is being discussed. To maintain your motivation and make this practice regular, give yourself a specific task. For example, you could make it a rule to tell your teacher what you heard.
9. Smart Home
You can purchase and set up a Google Home system in the language you are learning. This allows you to listen to the radio, play music, listen to articles and access information from the internet on particular topics, and so on.
10. Souvenirs
Try to surround yourself with the culture associated with the language you are learning. Objects from the country where the language is spoken can help with this. They can motivate you and provide useful information. These might include key rings, fridge magnets featuring a particular city, postcards, calendars, games such as Memory with pictures of cities, and so on.
11. Using the Internet
Spend 10-15 minutes a day searching for and reading information in the language you are learning on topics that interest you.
For example, if you are studying the topic of Ecology, you can search for popular science articles, interesting videos, discussions and infographics. It is important to vary the material. Your practice should include not only reading but also listening. Ideally, both listening and reading should be supported by visual materials. It is also useful to expose yourself to different styles of speech.
12. Writing
Writing things down helps us remember both vocabulary and grammatical structures. That is why foreign language teachers constantly encourage students to write down new words, keep vocabulary notebooks and complete written exercises.
Try to write as much as possible at home. What can you write? Shopping lists, work tasks and daily activities, personal thoughts about something you have read, or a diary.
13. Gadgets
It is a good idea to switch your computer, tablet and phone to the language you are learning. If you play computer games or use mobile apps, choose versions in the foreign language.
14. Creating Stories and Comics
Vocabulary is much easier to remember when it is used in context. It is even more effective when vocabulary items are accompanied by illustrations or photographs. There are many websites for creating online comics, such as Pixton. Using templates, you can create different characters and situations and practise the vocabulary and grammar you need in communicative contexts. It is even better when the same characters appear in several stories and the stories themselves are humorous!
15. Describing Objects
Choose different objects around your home and describe them either orally or in writing. It is better to choose a variety of objects, such as a clothes peg, shampoo, a book, trousers, and so on. You can describe their material and colour, as well as actions associated with them. You can even create a story using the names of the objects.
16. Audio and Video Diary
You can keep an audio or video diary, talking each day about what is happening in your life. It can also be useful to share your thoughts and ideas, as well as your impressions of a book you have read or a film you have watched. Later, go back to your recordings to track your progress and analyse your strengths and weaknesses in terms of vocabulary, grammar, pronunciation and other aspects.
17. Reflection
You can keep a diary devoted to reflecting on what you have learned, your progress, the difficulties you have encountered and the ways you have overcome them, as well as your goals and aspirations. This can help you choose the right approach to learning the language both in class and at home.
18. Motivation
Finally, it is important to remember that if you are tired or unwell, you should not take on difficult exercises and tasks at home. They require a high level of concentration because constant immersion in a language can be tiring in itself.
Of course, this list does not cover all the ways of learning a foreign language at home. What techniques do you use? Share your own ideas and discoveries.
Author: Yulia Amlinskaya, head of the international online school of RFL “Russificate” and the international online school for bilingual children “Russificate Kids”, teacher of Russian as a foreign language.