The main mistakes in learning spoken foreign language
Mistake 1: Knowledge instead of skills.
In detail: Instead of training in speaking skills, grammar is studied, the alphabet is studied, word lists are learned.
Problems: the knowledge that does not serve to support skills is meaningless, loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Train skills. Listen and repeat phrases. Play dialogs.
Mistake 2: Learning to read and write.
In detail: In parallel with speaking skills, reading and writing skills are trained.
Problems: reading and writing skills do not help to talk, loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Concentrate on speaking. Train only speaking skills to achieve a basic conversational level.
Mistake 3: Too many words.
In detail: The course used to practice speaking contains too many words.
Problems: loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: The course should contain about 500 of the most used words.
Mistake 4: Many contextual words.
In detail: the course contains many nouns, adjectives, and relatively rare verbs.
Problems: loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: the course should contain mainly functional words: interrogative adverbs, pronouns, conjunctions, prepositions, main verbs.
Mistake 5: Constant work with translation.
In detail: the student listens to phrases with translation.
Problems: poor memorization, inability to think in a foreign language, loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Use the translation only once at the beginning of work with a new sentence. Listen to phrases without translation.
Mistake 6: Passive listening.
In detail: the student listens to phrases passively, without repeating aloud.
Problems: poor memorization, lack of speaking skills, loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Listen and repeat aloud, imaging yourself as a participant in a real dialogue.
Mistake 7: Peeping into the text.
In detail: the student listens and repeats the phrases while looking at the text, i.e. reading.
Problems: poor memorization, lack of training in listening comprehension, loss of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Listen and repeat aloud NOT looking at the text.
Mistake 8: Training 10 minutes per day.
In detail: A student is studying for several minutes a day.
Problems: lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Give a full free week to practice speaking skills. If it is impossible, to set aside three working weeks: learn in the evenings and on weekends.
Mistake 9: Lack of repetition.
In detail: The student goes on to the next lesson all the time, forgetting to repeat the previous ones.
Problems: quick forgetting of the material learned, lack of a quick result, disappointment.
Correct: Constantly repeat the lessons learned.
Mistake 10: Use of unnecessary applications.
In detail: A student spends a lot of time working with applications such as Anki, Duolingo, Rosetta Stone.
Problems: waste of time, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Devote time completely to training speaking skills.
Mistake 11: No breaks.
Details: The student does not take breaks during the day.
Problems: fatigue, poor memorization, lack of quick results, disappointment.
Correct: Take breaks. For example 15 minutes every 45 minutes and one hour every four hours.