5 Ways to Make the Most of Your Online Language Class
Over the past few months, we’ve all had extra time on our hands. While some passed the hours baking bread or binging Netflix, others have taken to learning a new language online. And why not? Technological advances like high-speed internet, video conferencing and interactive content make online language learning more accessible and enjoyable than ever before.
But if you’re serious about improving your language skills, it’s not enough to have a good internet connection and some fun games to play. You’ve got to be deliberate about what and how you’re going to study if you want to be successful.
So if you’re thinking about starting an online language course, here are 5 tips to get the most out of your experience.
1. Clarify Your Goals and Set Expectations
Before you sign up for a course or complete a single vocabulary exercise, get serious about your language learning goals. Do you want to have a simple conversation within six months? Do you need to gain proficiency for work? Or are you looking to learn a few phrases to impress your friends?
Getting clear about what you want to achieve and how long it will take is essential for keeping yourself motivated on your language learning journey. Write down your goals somewhere you can see them and share them with your language teacher to keep your motivation up.
2. Set a Study Schedule and Stick to it
Consistency is key when it comes to learning a foreign language thanks to a little thing called the forgetting curve. This curve shows how quickly new information leaves your brain if you don’t review what you’ve learned.
You can avoid losing your hard-earned knowledge by keeping a regular study schedule. This is even more important when you’re learning a language online because it’s up to you to schedule lessons and complete self-paced assignments. It can be pretty tough to stay consistent when there’s no teacher pushing you and no deadlines to meet.
Look at your current obligations (work, household chores, family time) and see where you can fit language learning into your life. Depending on your schedule, this could mean watching a video lesson before work or scheduling a conversation class after the kids go to bed. Just remember to save time for other hobbies like exercising or socializing.
3. Vary What You Study
Once you’ve got a study routine down and had some success sticking with it, you’re good, right? Not so fast. When you’re studying on your own, it can be tempting to stay in your comfort zone and only focus on the areas of language learning you’re good at. It feels good in the moment, but ultimately it will hold your back from making real progress in your target language.
The risk is even greater when you’re studying online because no one’s watching over your shoulder. To make sure you progress in all language areas (speaking, listening, reading, writing), add activities from each category to your study schedule. For example, have a live video lesson with your teacher on Monday, review vocabulary on Tuesday and study grammar on Wednesday.
4. Limit Your Study Materials
The great thing about online language learning is there’s a ton of content out there. From video lessons to web-based grammar quizzes and finishing with flash cards, you’re sure to find resources to keep you busy for decades. The only downside? Having so much content to choose from could mean you spend more time browsing resources than actually studying.
To avoid this, choose one resource for each language skill (speaking, listening, reading, writing) and stick with it. At the Virtual Language Center, we’re a one-stop resource for self-paced courses, language games and online speaking classes. Having all the best resources in one place saves you time and helps you improve your language skills.
5. Speak Up During Lessons
Literally. If you take speaking classes with a teacher or are part of an online language exchange, speak as much as possible. As difficult as speaking a foreign language is (especially as a beginner), the only way to get better is to practice. Plus, there are plenty of ways to make it easier.
For example, keep Google Translate open so you can look up words or short phrases you’re not sure about. It’s also helpful to learn the phrase “How do you say…in [target language]?” so you can keep the conversation flowing even when you’re stuck.
Start Planning Your Language Journey Today
Online language learning is one of the best ways to improve your skills and get closer to fluency. By setting goals, creating a study schedule, choosing diverse resources and speaking as much as possible, you’ll master your target language before you know it.
If you’re interested in learning Spanish, Portuguese, English or German, Virtual Language Center is here to help. We offer video lessons, self-paced courses, web-based homework and online activities designed to super-charge your language skills and keep you motivated.
If you’re ready to start learning, contact us for more information.