Learning foreign languages ​​in a group: how to find your place

As a teacher, I noticed an interesting thing many times. The same lesson for students in the group is completely different. It would seem that the material is the same, I explain to everyone at the same time, the exercises are the same, but the result is different. How to explain it?

We can proceed from the fact that the initial level of the language is different for everyone, and the speed of assimilation is also different, for some the memory is better trained, for some it is worse. However, as long-term observations show, a very significant detail that affects language learning is the group itself and the behavior of the student in it. The group is a living organism, the work of each of its participants is influenced by many factors, ranging from the individual characteristics of students, their linguistic expectations and ending with the mood with which they came to the lesson.

When a person enters the classroom and sits down at the desk, whether he wants it or not, he becomes part of a single mechanism controlled by the teacher. The skill of a teacher is difficult to overestimate. From his ability to feel the psychological state of the students depend on their results, and the mood after the lesson, and relationships outside the class. In the language group, as in any other, leaders, “quiet”, “know-it-alls”, “losers” are quickly revealed. An experienced and sensitive teacher tries to correct the situation, but does it carefully – adults are sometimes much more acute than children, they worry about mistakes and the danger of looking stupid.

Few people admit it, but we adults act like children in many situations. Behavior patterns, firmly learned at school, after many years receive a second wind. Someone, like in the fifth grade, strives to please the teacher, someone tries with all his might to become the best, without hiding the loud “Yessss”, having received the highest score on the test. Someone is shy, answering the teacher’s questions in monosyllables, quickly, and listens with sadness as another student tells in a foreign language for 15 minutes how he spent the weekend.

Let’s remember what annoyed us the most in classmates at school, and try not to repeat their mistakes. Many mistakes can be avoided by following a few rules.

Read more:

• I’m embarrassed to speak a foreign language

Rule #1: Don’t compare yourself to others

Why do we care so much about how we look compared to others? Several times I heard the phrase from students: “Tell me, I’m the worst of all, right?” I always answer this question like this: “Why do you compare yourself with someone else? Better compare yourself now and 2 months ago – this is really useful. Then you did not know numbers and could not speak about your abilities in English – now you know and can. And that’s great”. If you constantly turn your head around, of course, you will find your weak points and many complexes. Someone pronounces the “th” sound better, so what? Someone reads fast – so what? Concentrate on what you get. Comparison is useful when you can learn something. Instead of getting angry and annoyed, ask your neighbor where he learned to read so quickly and how he manages to pronounce “th” so clearly – he will be happy to help you, believe me. And self-esteem will not suffer, and you can maintain good relationships.

Rule #2

Who loves hints? No one. Therefore, hold back your “I” rushing out and let the person collect his thoughts himself, build a phrase or remember a word. First, it’s really annoying. Secondly, the student already understands that he “slows down and delays everyone,” therefore he answers, if only they are left behind, or even completely dismisses the answer “I don’t know, ask someone else” and withdraws into himself. This is at best, and at worst, it may answer you. An awkward or conflict situation is inevitable. But how difficult it is to resist when you know the answer and want to show everyone how smart I am and that I remember it, and most importantly, I am always ready to help. Do not help, but, on the contrary, hinder. Do not forget that you came to the group, which means that you are not the only student and you must patiently wait until someone finishes, remembers or answers. Moreover, you need to listen to others consciously, trying to mark expressions that you yourself have already forgotten, mentally pronouncing and rearranging phrases. This practice can be extremely productive. And for the speaker, we thereby create a favorable situation: when we are listened to attentively, the significance of our own words increases, and feelings and fear of making a mistake, on the contrary, disappear.

Rule #3: Be Active

The speed of learning, efficiency, and ease of communication with other students depend on your activity. If the teacher divided the group into pairs and gave you a task, you do not need to protect yourself from everyone and be silent. Language is communication. A foreign language, even more so. Got an assignment in which you have to stand up and look for the cards pasted by the teacher on the wall? Use this opportunity, because the teacher does this for your own good: it is hard to sit for two hours without moving. Refusing such tasks, you bring a chill into the smooth flow of the lesson, the uniform mood of the group. You are not being asked to do something very unusual – a few fun tasks in a playful way dilute academic exercises better than any coffee break.

Rule number 4. Try to enjoy the learning process

From school, we are used to the fact that studying is boring, long, and most importantly, it is necessary. But right now, you’re in a group of your choice, right? Then change your attitude. Language is a unique subject for study, lively, tasty, giving a lot of opportunities. Buy beautiful notebooks, do not be lazy to do your homework, let it into your life as something unique and desirable. Coming to the lesson with such a mood, you will not only enjoy yourself, but also charge others. And then the positive energy will go down the chain. In our crazy time, with traffic jams, aggressive people, English classes will become a place of relaxation and a source of positive impressions for several days ahead.