When we think of a classroom, we think of students from different backgrounds, capabilities, and personalities gathered in one place to learn. As a teacher, it becomes a challenge to ensure that every student is on the same page as far as the curriculum is concerned. An effective teacher is someone who makes use of creative and innovative tools to make learning fun and interactive. Usually, the problem arises when teachers weigh all students on the same scale. As a teacher, you cannot expect the “one size fits all” approach to work in the classroom. 

Modern research studies regarding effective learning methods have validated the long-debated theory of different learning styles. You might also have come across information about different types of learners. From visual and auditory to kinaesthetic learners, personalized learning techniques can yield excellent results for both students and teachers. 

Similarly, when it comes to learning a new language, some of us learn better in a classroom environment, whereas others prefer a more interactive setting. You might be thinking, “How do I know what learning style suits me?” The only logical answer to this question is “trial and error.” You need to try out language tutors online and figure out what works best for you. 

Here is a list of approaches to learning a new language to help you figure out your learning style. 

Full Exposure

Full exposure is perhaps the most tried and tested method of learning a new language. It is the perfect “trial and error” method for learning a new language as it involves making mistakes and picking up new vocabulary and slang along the way.  When mixed with sign language and other physical expressions, it aids in communication and helps define the context of different interactions. 

The best benefit of this learning method is that it helps you learn only the relevant vocabulary used in regular conversations. As opposed to this, other textbook methods have a more idealistic approach. They try to incorporate all kinds of language nuances that you might rarely get a chance to use in an actual conversation.  To assess your present language proficiency, taking an English level test is a must.

However, there is also a flipside to the full exposure learning technique. Without any supplemental resources, this method is only good enough for learning day-to-day vocabulary. So when you are in a situation where you require a better grasp of your target language, there is a high probability that you might struggle. For example, if you decide to cook a local dish and need to read the exotic ingredients list, you would most likely require a dictionary to make sense of the words. 

The most effective way to incorporate the full exposure technique in your language teaching curriculum is to try and use the target language as much as possible. This means that all instructions, including the explanation of tasks and class interactions, must be in the target language. Besides, all other routine tasks such as listening to songs or radio broadcasts must be in the target language to enhance learning to its fullest.

To make the learning experience more interesting and fulfilling, you must also try to incorporate some of the local slang phrases of your target language in your everyday study sessions. A great way to learn slang language is by using phrasebooks, watching movies and television in your target language, and conversing with a native speaker to practice idioms with.

Conventional Study System

This is the learning model followed in a traditional classroom setting. Just a few years ago, this technique was being used in almost all language classes. It follows a different trajectory of teaching language as compared to other immersive techniques like full exposure. The premise of a conventional study system is to treat language as a classroom subject, just like science or geography. This is how the generations before us learned new languages. 

In a conventional language class, the main focus is to make students learn the grammatical intricacies of the target language. For example, a traditional study starts by teaching the most commonly used verbs in that language. On the contrary, interactive techniques like full exposure are more inclined towards helping students learn through speaking. 

Despite all its limitations, a conventional study system has its own set of advantages. It provides you a solid foundation to build on and master your target language. It also helps to deconstruct the technicalities of a particular language, making it easier and more efficient to learn new languages in the future. This is the perfect technique for people who prefer a more systematic approach to learning.

Spaced Repetition

Spaced repetition is one of the most effective ways to memorize new words. This is sort of an independent approach towards language learning. Also referred to as the “flashcard method,” students use flashcards to memorize new vocabulary. Once they become comfortable with common words and phrases, they then move towards constructing and translating short sentences.  The spaced repetition technique uses online progressions to ensure that students move to higher difficulty levels only when they can complete basic tasks. This is the algorithm used by most online language learning applications. This independent study method is best suited for learners who want to learn at their own pace without being rushed. 

Polyglot

This is the technique that most multilingual use to learn a new language. Essentially, the polyglot method works by analyzing and comparing a language that you already know with your target language. For example, if you know German, it will be easier for you to learn by pointing out the similarities and differences between German and the language you are trying to learn. This is why language experts recommend learning Latin, as it creates the perfect base for learning any new language. 

Learning a new language and its specifics is just like learning any other life skill. Therefore, the more time you spend practicing your target language, the faster you will grasp it and the more fluent you will be. Also, try out different learning methods to figure out what works best for you and then stick to it. You will surely make progress. Good luck!