Characteristics of a Good Language Learner

1. Characteristics of a Good Language Learner Helping you be successful in Spanish class and the real world!

2. They Take Charge of Their Learning • Why do you want to learn a second language? • How will it help you in the future? • Invest in your own learning process!

3. They’re Organized, Physically and Mentally • Do you know where you will put notes, vocabulary lists, etc.? • Do you write down important dates? • Make a mental filing system of connections with previous knowledge.

4. They’re Creative • Get a feel for the language. • Experiment. • Avoid the bare minimum.

5. They Practice • Inside the classroom. • Outside the classroom. • Seek out opportunities to use the language.

6. They don’t get frustrated • Uncertainty abounds when learning a language. • Continue to talk and listen, even if you do not understand every word. • Don’t shut down!

7. They use memory strategies • Mnemonic devices • Sayings • Songs

8. They learn from mistakes • Make your errors work for you, not against you. • Try new things and work out the errors as you go.

9. They use what they know already • Take knowledge from your first language and apply it to your new language.

10. They use context clues • Not just in reading, but in conversations and interactions. • Language does not exist in a bubble…there will be many different kinds of input that can help understanding. • Body language and facial expressions.

11. They make intelligent guesses • Use what you know to throw out a guess. • It might be right, or at least close enough to keep you going.

12. They fill in the gaps • Strategies to keep the conversation going or fill in gaps in what you know.

13. They can adjust • Adjusting to your audience, the formality of the situation or the cultural norms.