How To Conquer Anxiety When Speaking

Whether you become nervous speaking in your native language or not, many second language learners have anxiety speaking to target language speakers. You may stay silent or stumble over your words. These reactions are generally associated with a lack of confidence. You may believe your not competent, you can't recall the words quick enough, or perhaps you have general social anxiety.

Courseless: How To Master Grammar In Any Language

By Jazmin Quaynor on Unsplash.

In all of language learning, one word incites fear, disgust and exasperated sighs; one word that causes learners to steer clear of some languages; one word that dominates student study sessions: Grammar. Throughout my experience in the classroom, I've noticed that grammar is the greatest hurdle for students - regardless of language. It's what teachers spend the most time explaining, what self-learners put of learning. It's a stumbling block.

But it doesn't have to be.

Courseless: Getting the Most Out Of Your Dictionary

From Wörterbuch CH

It’s no surprise that the bilingual dictionary continues to be the cornerstone of language learning, in that appears to be an almost limitless resource for aspiring bilinguals and polyglots. Although a somewhat stale resource, a pocket dictionary may include 20,000 words – double the fluency word count. However, it’s often the case that the
student will learn and use the wrong word, despite using the dictionary.

Here are three tips to prevent making awkward mistakes:

4 Tips to Start Speaking Your Second Language

Speaking is often the most difficult aspect of language learning – and it isn't always because of speech anxiety. Simultaneously producing the correct conjugations and declensions (i.e.. case systems) can be frustrating. However, there are ways to improve outside of speaking with a partner.

How To Prepare For Your First Oral Exam

For many exam season is approaching rapidly, and I know for many language students, this includes oral examinations. Mock conversations, meant to be spontaneous and fluid, are often intimidating and anxiety-producing. Here are six tips to help you prepare for your exam.

Thoughts on the Foreign Language Dictionary

Even after I lug through language credit hours touch typing word after word, I still have nostalgia for the a dictionary. Once I decide on a language, I'll heave the heavy tome from my shelf and flitter through the pages.

It's never a direct route.

On the way  to find the English translation of пенсия (pension) you may find scaremonger (паникёр), tall fur hat (папаха), and if you've accidentally missed it: to call the roll (переклевать).

The pads of your fingers run along at random as if pointing to spells or choosing a cluster of terms for your next great novel. In Russian, maybe?

It's not a question of better or worse. Only sometimes, the sanctity of a book may call you back, even if it is a simple, small dictionary.