Personal experience: how to prepare for a foreign language exam
Forming / / December 19, 2019
Leonid Svidersky
The ex-presenter podcast "42".
How to quickly and easily prepare for the exam in a foreign language? Nothing. I think it is clear that there are no miracles. There are no magic "3-5 ways to quickly and easily" learn the language to the average level, which I needed for the submission of documents to the embassy. You need to plow. Lot. Hard. Plow.
I'm all out. Started something in free rhythm to study for six months prior to delivery, three learned that without an exam I did not have enough points for the two began taking French assault.
During the work on the podcast "42" for Layfhakera typing a few ways to learn from scratch. Something else has found himself suggest something familiar. It was plenty to choose from.
Ecoutez et répétez
Everyone has their own approach. I audial, so did the emphasis on the study of the ears. First download special dialogues Assimil. There's a principle: a dialogue on repeated listens until it stops, usually for several days. Stops when already he can not help him to pronounce.
At this point, you still do not know what they say, there is a concentration on clean sounds. Then look at the text, accompanied eyes speakers phrases. And then look in translation and to understand the meaning. Learn language as children do, if briefly.
The required grammar and basic words you automatically remain in the subcortex. Dialogues are designed in such a way that in 30 seconds the audio archived maximum concentration of useful and commonly used structures. No need to memorize obscure rules from the very beginning - the logic and structure of language can be seen after the first exercise.
The chip is similar to more dialogues that after overpowering themselves (on repeat something and favorite song is annoying), it turns into a little comfort zone. Yes, it becomes comfortable, because you already know all the words of this particular conversation, and he can even play them.
It was useful, as when swallowing heaps of new information the brain burst and tried to reject it. And so, step by step, slowly boiled frog.
Parlez-vous?
To speak, I went course from Pimsleur. In my opinion, this is the best course for a quick start. It makes on the basis of near-zero your vocabulary to think and make suggestions. Many variations of the proposals. Many variations of the various proposals of the current and past lessons from your scarce. Hopefully clearly I explained procedure.
The brain actually begins to stir and apply what is learned in the dialogue, plus that gives Pimsleur. This feeling that you already own can juggle even a small set of words, very cool, gives self-confidence, which is very important in the beginning.
les mots
When you have something you know and something you have to say, sharply raises the question shortage vocabulary. For its rapid recharge I used flash cards Anki. There are alternatives, such as Brainscape.
I decided not to take the presets such as "100 most popular words in the language," and added that he has learned during the training.
The brain needs a context. Without it, it's just memorizing, which disappears without actually using after a while.
He did: he took the same dialog, write out the words or phrases that are considered useful, which could come in handy in the future, adding to the deck. The brain already has association (binding to the context of the dialogue, to the mental image). With them, everything goes much easier.
Vocabulary grows fairly quickly and disappears after a couple of months due to constant repetition. The program automatically shows each card after a certain period of time, depending on how well you know her.
This is what has helped me personally. Started listening to the dialogues, six months before the exam in a passive mode, then for two months in the French she drowned. As a result, passed on listening B2 (help dialogs) for B1 speech (Pimsleur taxis). This is a fairly high level in such a short period of time.
La grammaire
After the exam, I went through the e-book "Grammar of French life». The book contains the basic rules in a very accessible way. There is nothing superfluous: the rule explanation in human language, examples. In French, a lot of things that are impossible to understand. It should be simple and memorable. Here again come to the aid of flash cards.
I think that this sequence is correct: listen, begin to speak, and only then to perfect grammar. Cramming the rules from the very beginning - it's not a good idea.
Here is a vivid example of how from the first page to instill an aversion to learning the language. I'm not exaggerating, this is really the first page after the introductions.
I believe that a teacher or a partner of the environment still needs almost immediately or subsequently to obtain adequate feedbacks and bug fixes. Judging by Montreal, but I think it applies to most Western countries. People will not have to correct as it is believed that it is impolite.
And you start to reproduce their mistakes and becoming more confident in them without feedback. It seems that once you understand and no one corrects, you're already done. I have a feeling it was a few months after his arrival: first wild fear to say something, then self-confident verbal nonsense, for which it became embarrassing. Therefore, a little later, I arranged with a colleague, a Frenchman, that he corrected me in French, but I have it in English.
You should understand that to pass the exam and know the language - are completely different things. Just do it - it's about the exam. Do it - about future events. You have to work as a language without support erode faster than you might think. Sometimes I notice in itself: after the weekend come to work on Monday, and the language is somehow squeaked on unfamiliar topics tossing and turning.
À la fin
As an epilogue.
I have no superpowers, I'm a normal person. But then I had a powerful motivation: really wanted to leave. And yet there was little money. All this pushed to educate themselves and gave the same result. Perhaps now I can not just quickly learn German, for example. There is no desire and meaning. And if there is no goal, and hardly a stone flower comes out.
Therefore correctly set goalsDo not forget that everyone has his own approach, and choose their own style. And remember, no secret ingredient in the Secret Ingredient studying there. If my advice to someone can help, I will be very happy.
Questions are welcome, will monitor comments.
Bon courage et tout ça!