Table of Contents
Introduction 1
Chapter 1 Getting Started 5
Ten Good Reasons Why Everybody Should Be Learning a Language 6
Which Language Is for You? 9
Set Objectives 11
Action Points 12
Find Resources 13
When Your Motives Change 14
Exercises 16
Model Answers: Person A 17
Chapter 2 Using Your Time 19
How Long Should It Take? 19
How Much Time Do You Need? 21
The 15/30/15 Routine 21
The Three-Days-On/Four-Days-Off Routine 22
Once or Twice Per Week 23
Forming Good Habits 23
The 'Less Is More' Principle 26
The 'Two-Speed Study System' 27
Making Use of Your 'Dead Time' 28
When to Take Breaks 29
Dealing with Sudden Changes to Routine 30
Exercises 31
Model Answers: Person B 32
Chapter 3 Learning with Teachers and Taking Courses 35
Groups or One-to-One? 35
Where to Find Courses 37
Make Groups Work for You 38
Getting Ahead of the Class 39
Falling Behind the Class 40
Where to Find a Teacher 41
Building the Perfect Relationship with Your Teacher: Five Steps 42
Preparing for Your Lessons 46
Hacking Homework 47
Online vs. Offline 49
Signs to Look Out For 50
Exercises 52
Model Answers: Person C 53
Chapter 4 Learning Vocabulary 57
Why Learn Vocabulary? 57
How 'Actively' Should You Be Studying Vocabulary? 58
Understanding Your 'Learning Type' 60
Learning According to Your Style: Ten Techniques 62
The Power of Context 72
Learn by Using 73
Choosing and Prioritising Vocabulary 74
Exercises 75
Model Answers: Person D 76
Chapter 5 Grasping Grammar 79
Why a Spade Isn't Just Called a Spade 80
Common Terms Explained 80
The Three-Step Technique 93
Stage 1 Concept 93
Stage 2 Memory 93
Stage 3 Production 94
Dealing with Irregularities 95
Using a Grammar Book 96
Exercises 98
Model Answers: Person E 99
Chapter 6 Speaking 101
The Key to Speaking Any Language You Want 101
Making Mistakes 103
Accents 105
Pronunciation 107
Intonation 108
Body Language and Non-Verbal Communication 110
Learn It Like You Want to Speak It 111
Receiving Feedback and Corrections 112
'Shall We Just Speak in English?' 113
Language Etiquette 115
Finding People to Speak With 116
Getting Around Knowledge Gaps 117
Exercises 120
Model Answers: Person F 121
Chapter 7 Listening 123
Training Your Ear 123
Knowing What to Listen Out For 124
Dictations 126
Podcasts 127
Radio 129
Watching TV/Films 131
Subtitles and Dubbing 132
Exercises 135
Model Answers: Person G 136
Chapter 8 Reading 139
Why Read? 139
What to Read? 142
Common Challenges 145
The Four Reading Skills 145
Setting Objectives and Milestones 146
The 'Read with Your Eyes Shut' Technique 148
When to Look Up Words 149
Kindles and E-Books 151
Dual Translations and the 'Bilingual Book Bluff' 152
A Note on Translations 153
Exercises 154
Model Answers: Person H 155
Chapter 9 Using Technology 157
Why Use Technology? 157
Spaced Repetition Software 158
Top Language-Learning Apps 158
Eight Free Websites to Help Learn Languages 162
Social Media 164
Customise Your Feed 164
Hashtag Hacks 165
Language-Learning Groups 166
Online Community 166
Why You Shouldn't Use Technology 167
Virtual Immersion 168
Exercises 170
Model Answers: Person I 172
Chapter 10 Sounding Less 'Foreign' 173
Why Do You Sound Foreign? 173
What Is an Idiom? 174
Why Do People Use Idioms? 175
Eccentric Expressions from Around the World 176
Learning Idioms 179
Humour in Foreign Languages 180
Appreciating Cultural Sensitivities 181
Thinking in a Foreign Language 182
Exercises 184
Model Answers: Person J 185
Chapter 11 Taking Tests and Getting Certificates 187
Why Take Exams? 187
Know Your Level 188
The Common European Framework of Reference 189
Tailor Your Learning to Your Level 190
How Far Is Far Enough? 191
Improve Your Exam Technique 192
Exercises 194
Model Answers: Person K 195
Chapter 12 Keeping It Going 197
Top-Up Days 197
Can You Ever Forget a Language? 198
How to Know Your Language is Getting Rusty 199
Review and Revision 200
The Long Game 201
Languages and Socialising 202
Learning More Languages 203
Juggling Multiple Different Languages 204
Final Thoughts 209
Index 210
