French Articles

Scheduled Study Time

By Abby B. | 5/15/2013 10:04 PM CST |

French

I was working with a student last week who is preparing for her French 2 final (in high school). She has not had much success with her teacher and is missing some very basic vocabulary and grammar concepts. Although she has improved by leaps and bounds she needs a really good grade on this final. At the end of our tutoring session, we broke down the units that would appear on her final. This would give her a lesson a day, and then two days of light overview the days before. I personally had a very difficult time following a paper plan like this when I was in high school. What is your experience...

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Sink or Swim – Can You Make It in Language Immersion?

By Shannon B. | 4/29/2013 3:06 PM CST |

YES YOU CAN! And it’s, hands down, the best way to learn a language.

I thought I’d write this post in response to the news that six elementary schools in Metro-Atlanta will begin dual immersion language programs in Spanish, French and Chinese. http://www.globalatlanta.com/article/26210/schools-get-15000-for-language-immersion-programs/

Here are some tips on how to learn a language through immersion, based on my own experience learning Chinese in the US and abroad:

• Don’t insist on perfection – whether in pronunciation, grammar, or anything else – until after several months of second language...

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Looking for a way to review vocabulary words and use your previous knowledge?

By Cassandra S. | 4/28/2013 10:51 PM CST |

French

One way to review newer vocabulary while using older vocabulary is to do "circomlocution." Essentially, you play it like password with a partner. You describe the word in the target language. Not only is this fun, but it also boosts your communication skills. I learned this while student teaching, using it quite often.

In my long term substitute position at DC Everest, I brought this concept in. I was working with students who were reluctant to speak in the language, but by having them work on this activity, they were forced to use their prior knowledge. Most of the students really enjoyed...

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Learning a Second Language Depends on Your Short-Term Goals

By Shannon B. | 4/17/2013 12:18 PM CST |

ESL/ESOL,
French

Do you want near-native fluency? That’s a lofty goal to reach and may never be achievable depending on your circumstances (i.e. lack of time to study and/or lack of exposure to the target language).

Why not settle for a specific level of proficiency that will best meet your short term goals? You can always improve to a higher level later.

5 Steps to Learning Your Second or Third (etc.) Language:

1. First, decide what your immediate goal is.Do you want to be able to read in the language only or speak it only or both? Which is more important to you now? Maybe you want to pass a challenging...

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My guidelines

By Joseph S. | 2/13/2013 1:22 PM CST |

Give positive feedback, use encouraging vocabulary

Find success, and reinforce effort, in even minor accomplishment

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A tutor provides expertise, experience, and encouragement.
They do not provide "answers," but rather assist in problem solving, in getting answers.
The challenge is to focus on assignments within the context they are assigned.

Tutors should not be expected to diagnose learning disabilities.
Diagnosis should take place outside of the tutoring process by a professional academic counselor...

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What helped me to learn a second language? Flash cards!

By Matthew G. | 2/11/2013 10:35 PM CST |

I recently purchased an iPhone and came across a few vocabulary builder applications. However, what happened to using regular index cards to study new vocabulary? When I started to learn Spanish in high school, I was a huge fan of flash cards. Not only were they inexpensive to make, I could take them wherever I went.

When learning a second language, it is important to acquire new words. Cannot have much of a conversation if you have a limited vocabulary! I am currently sitting in on a Catalan class at East Carolina University and flash cards have become my new best friend.

Instead of creating...

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Looking for a well rounded tutor?

By Davina D. | 11/28/2012 9:10 PM CST |

To those of you looking for a tutor that has a range of possibilities, I dedicate this blog to you.

Being a recent graduate from the University of California, Santa Barbara, I know what it takes to use study skills to focus and remain organized in order to maintain a clean academic record. Graduating in only three years, I have had the opportunity to manage a schedule of work and school and internships, while studying and applying to law schools. Organization is one of my many skills that translates into my tutoring ability.

I am currently a tutor. My focus has been editing, proofreading...

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If you want to speak French

By Marc B. | 10/14/2012 1:44 AM CST |

French

I can make you speak French but you will need at least 40 hours of grammar and practice 25 minutes/day.
I can do it but as a team,no teacher or students but all of us can achieve a goal.
I can teach you on line how to speak French but you must learn your grammar.

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Keeping it fresh!

By Delores L S. | 7/10/2012 2:21 PM CST |

Especially in the language areas (French, Spanish, and English), there are lots of ways to stay current or to at least keep aspects of your learning fresh. In the case of foreign language, whenever possible, watch a news program or a weather cast in the foreign language. It is also a good idea to watch children's shows i.e. Dora in Spanish. Reading a newspaper is a wonderful way to maintain reading, learning and analytical skills. Listening to foreign language tapes either in the car, or just before you go to sleep also helps. For those of you who are more inventive or creative, practice...

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Simple tips for summer knowledge maintenance!

By Erich F. | 7/8/2012 2:18 PM CST |

It isn't always necessary to cram textbooks during the summer; try to find simple ways to maintain an overall positive summer in terms of learning by using simple steps: with just a few easy habits, you can reinforce what you've learned in most mainstream classes without feeling like you're under your teacher's thumb!

Try typing with proper grammar/punctuation when texting, and using IMs or Facebook. This will get you into the habit of knowing when to use correct capitalization, avoiding word mix-ups such as your/you're and there/their/they're (which are surprisingly common in people who should...

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