<\/p>\n
There are lots of reasons for learning a language. Understanding your own motivations can help you decide on the best way to approach your classes. If you want to be able to travel, then you\u2019ll probably be more focused on General English<\/a>. If you need to deal with international clients, you might want to consider Business English<\/a>. Looking to live or study abroad? You may need a qualification like IELTS<\/a> or Cambridge English<\/a>. Your reasons for studying will help you decide which course you choose<\/a>.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It can be easy to forget why we start a new activity when things get tough<\/strong><\/em><\/span>. If you\u2019re worried about losing motivation, try writing down ten reasons why you\u2019re learning the language, and put them in your folder to remind yourself further down the road<\/strong><\/em><\/span>. Remember, the beginning is the fun part, but it\u2019s not always going to be easy, and you might need that extra push in the future.<\/p>\n Here are some more back to school tips for how to be a good language learner!<\/a><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Speaking of folders, get yourself a brand new one for the beginning of term. Invest in some section dividers to separate your notes into topics – that way you\u2019ll have everything neatly<\/strong><\/em><\/span> presented. And don\u2019t worry about a notebook, we give you your very own Oxford House one at the beginning of term!<\/p>\n Writing by hand<\/a> has been shown to improve memory; so you may want to invest in some coloured pens to organise your notes and highlight different verb tenses. Anything to help make life easier when it comes to revision is good!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n It\u2019s important to be cautious, and keep those around us safe too. That\u2019s why we ask everyone to wear a mask in and around the school at all times. This includes in the classroom where social distancing rules apply. And if you\u2019re worried about people not being able to understand you, you could make your own. Check out the picture of teacher Justin, taking mask fashion to the next level.<\/p>\n Teacher Justin taking mask fashion to the next level<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n We recommend you also use the hand sanitizer available when coming into contact with different areas. It may take some getting used to<\/strong><\/em><\/span> at the beginning of term, but we promise it won\u2019t affect the fun!<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Just because you\u2019re learning a language on your own, doesn\u2019t mean you have to do it alone. Partner up with someone on your first day – someone that can hold you accountable<\/strong><\/em><\/span>. That way you always have someone to study with, or help you out if you miss a class and need to find out the homework. Even if your classes are online<\/a>, thanks to our learning platform OH Connect, you can still keep contact and get that much needed human interaction.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n As we mentioned before, when the initial excitement of learning a language begins to fade<\/strong><\/em><\/span>, it can be difficult to stick with it<\/strong><\/em><\/span>.<\/p>\n That\u2019s why it\u2019s important to set yourself small challenges. This could be as simple as reading the newspaper without needing a dictionary, or being able to watch a whole episode of \u2018Gossip Girl\u2019 without Spanish subtitles. Whatever it is, try to set yourself one mini challenge a week for the first term.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n Once you\u2019ve taken the baby steps and accomplished some smaller challenges, then you can move on to bigger, more long-term goals<\/a>; like passing an exam or applying for a job in English. This will ensure you keep studying and help you master the language at a whole new level.<\/p>\n As Donavan Whyte<\/a>, vice president of education at enterprise at Rosetta Stone<\/a> says: \u201cLanguage learning is best when broken down into manageable goals that are broken down that are achievable over a few months.\u201d<\/em><\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n We spend so much time on our phones, it makes sense to channel all that time in a healthy way. If you use social media, follow language learning accounts such as our own. There are so many virtual teachers out there on Instagram<\/a>, TikTok<\/a> and Youtube<\/a>.<\/p>\n Follow us here:<\/p>\n Oxford House on Instagram<\/a><\/p>\n Oxford House on Facebook<\/a><\/p>\n Oxford House on LinkedIn<\/a><\/p>\n Language learning apps<\/a> are useful for the basics. It\u2019s important to remember, though, that they don\u2019t offer you that face-to-face speaking time. They should be used as a supplement to your in-school classes. Memrise<\/a> and Quizlet<\/a> are really fun apps for memorising vocabulary. And WordReference<\/a> is a fabulous little dictionary tool for English and Spanish translations.<\/p>\n Your phone itself can be an amazing device for everyday learning. Try changing your language settings to the one you are learning. Record voice memos to practise your speaking, or jot down<\/strong><\/em><\/span> new words on go in the \u2018notes\u2019 section.<\/p>\n <\/p>\n <\/p>\n The beginning of term can be scary. But when learning a language, conversation is king. When speaking with real people, you are far more motivated than if you\u2019re staring at a book or listening to an audiobook. And what\u2019s great is you don\u2019t need to know a lot to start talking. Studies show<\/a> that 100 of the most common words in any language account for 50% of all communication. So you can get on the ground running with any language app, then join a conversation class to put it all into practice and the conversation will start flowing<\/a>. <\/p>\n2. Remind yourself later down the line<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
3. Get your study survival kit together<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
4. Be Covid-safe<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
![\"Teacher](\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/Teacher-Justin.jpg\")
<\/p>\n5. Find yourself a study buddy<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
6. Set yourself mini challenges<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
7. Set yourself realistic goals<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
8. Use your phone<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n
![\"5](\"https:\/\/oxfordhousebcn.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/fotomovil.png\")
<\/p>\n9. Speak, speak, speak<\/strong><\/span><\/h1>\n