GERMAN 101, 102 TIPS ON LANGUAGE LEARNING
1. Learning a language is very much like learning to play a musical instrument or learning skills for a sport. Spaced repetition is the most effective way to acquire and maintain language skills. You should spend one hour in study and class preparation for every hour of class time (5 hours per week); either 5 one-hour sessions; or four sessions, two of which are 1 1/2 hours.
2. Review of what was learned previously (including previous chapters in the book) should be integrated into your study routine. A portion of each study session should be spent this way (15-20%).
3. Attend class regularly. Five hours of class time are scheduled (instead of less class time and more preparation time, as for other university classes) because the time is class is essential for practicing speaking and listening; and for correcting errors early so that students don't waste time practicing things that are incorrect.
4. Written exercises from the text and workbook are planned so that you can practice what you have learned. If you miss the whole point (i.e. every sentence you wrote turns out to be wrong in some important aspect), you waste the practice time that was intended. A small number of errors is helpful in learning; if you make too many errors, you are in effect reinforcing what is wrong (and relearning is much harder than learning correctly the first time).
Therefore be sure to review the appropriate segments in the book before doing a particular exercise.5. If you miss class, it is advisable to see the tutor for guidance if your homework requires knowledge of new grammar points. Do the first sentence or two of exercises with help, to make sure you are getting the point. You may also call up the tutor on the telephone for help.
6. Speaking: You learn to speak a language primarily by speaking it, secondarily by hearing it spoken. Therefore, do not expect that silent study and reading, will prepare you for speaking in class. Practice speaking or reading aloud with another member of the class or with the German tutor.
7. Grammar is of necessity a large part of language learning in the first year of study. Still, students should bear in mind that grammar is ultimately only 20% of language learning. About 80% is a matter of knowledge of vocabulary. Study and review past vocabulary often; for this, context study is much better than lists of single items. Context means: reviewing whole sentences and recalling the meaning. Avoid writing in English cues in your text except in the margin, where you can cover it up when reviewing.
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