Learning strategies

A young women with headphones is sitting in front of her laptop.

Photo: Margareta Bloom Sandebäck/imagebanksweden.se

1. Time management and self-discipline are the biggest advantages for success

Establish your own personal schedule with realistic goals in advance for each week and include all four communicative skills (writing, listening, speaking and reading) as well as pronunciation and continuous vocabulary learning. Practice a little every day instead of many hours one or two days a week.

2. Language learning takes time

It is not possible to learn a new language in a couple of weeks. It is not a linear but a spiral-like process both with amendments and with mistakes. Reflect on your progress in learning as well as on your mistakes. Making mistakes is a natural part of language learning. Try to notice the obstacles so as to improve, and rely on the material you actually already know and start conversations in Swedish. Practice and review regularly.

3. Reflect on your own language learning strategies

Successful learners are aware of what strategies they use. Select those that work together and tailor them to different language tasks (Oxford, 2002).

Have a look at the following list of learning strategies. Which of them are suitable for your personal learning style?

Vocabulary learning strategies

You can improve your language learning progress if you …

  • associate new words to things already learnt
  • make up sentences using new words
  • memorize new words using sounds or images
    • by visualizing situations
    • using rhymes
    • with flashcards
    • by doing physical acts
    • based on where they appear
    • say or write new words repeatedly
  • look for similar words in your mother tongue or in English
  • learn words in a morphological way (based on endings)
  • look up each new word met in reading
  • use alternatives for unavailable words
  • use words in varied ways
  • guess the meaning of unknown words

Other strategies

  • try to talk like native speakers
  • practice the sounds of Swedish words
  • watch Swedish videos on the net
  • read Swedish for pleasure
  • write letters & reports in Swedish
  • read in depth after skimming
  • seek patterns in Swedish
  • avoid word-for-word translation
  • summarize the information heard or read
  • use gestures while conversing
  • anticipate during conversation
  • actively seek chances to use Swedish
  • pay attention to people speaking Swedish
  • strive to become better Swedish learners
  • look for people to talk with in Swedish
  • read as much as possible in Swedish
  • have clear targets for improving your Swedish
  • try to relax if you are afraid of using Swedish
  • try to speak more even though you are afraid of making errors
  • reward yourself when doing well
  • be aware of your tension in learning or using Swedish
  • describe your feelings about learning in diaries
  • talk to others about how you feel in learning
  • ask others to slow down or repeat
  • ask native speakers to correct your errors in speech
  • practice Swedish with fellow learners
  • seek help from native speakers
  • ask questions in Swedish

4. Try to learn about Swedish culture

Language learning involves cultural competence. Watch Swedish TV-programs and visit different pages on the net.

 

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