Tips to Learn a Language Faster: Assessing with Tasks
Assessing with tasks is one of my favorite tips to learn a language faster that I love to share.
Assessment and learning. These topics are inextricably intertwined. Learning to assess your skills and progress is one of the best tips you can get to learn a language faster.
As you work through the tasks, use them to gauge where you are and where you would like to go. The test of the mastery of a set is to be able to easily move through a list. Are you stuck, trying to think of the words to express something on the list? That gives you the opportunity to go find what you need to complete the task, practice, and ultimately master it.
Use for speaking or writing, or mix it up. Writing is the last skill we master in languages. With that said, you can use that skill you already have in your own language to learn a new one. I love to journal to learn new languages. Short periods of time work well. Choose a topic, set a timer, and write. When assessing, I don’t allow myself dictionaries or translator apps. This shows me where my gaps are. When using to actively learn a task, I allow myself whatever tools I need.
Talking to yourself is a great way to build fluency-one of the best tips I know to learn a language faster.
I love to use recording apps. The recordings are a great way to hear your progress. It is strange to talk to yourself at first! However, it works. You will be blown away the progress you hear by talking to yourself and recording it regularly.
Explain how to go from one point to another in a city using the bus.
Explain how to go from one point to another in a city using the metro.
Explain how to go from one point to another using the train.
Describe things you must do to prepare for a trip.
Describe things you find in an airport.
Describe things you find in an airplane.
Describe what you must do to check in for a flight and get on an airplane.
Describe a time you were in an airport.
Describe in detail a trip you took. Include the hotel room and the surrounding area.
Talk about a city you would like to visit. Research and provide as much detail as possible.
Talk about a trip you would like to take and why. Talk about what you would like to do on this trip.
Talk about a time you went to a museum.
Talk about a painting in detail.
Talk about different types of art.
Talk about the types of music you like.
Talk about your favorite song. What is the theme?
What is your favorite group? Why? What are they like?
Describe a time you went to a concert. Give as much detail as possible.
Talk about a movie you have seen.
Describe a television show you like.
Talk about a time you went shopping. Provide as many details as possible about the day. Include what you were wearing, where you went, what you bought and how you felt.
Describe typical leisure activities on a vacation.
Describe typical leisure activities on a weekend.
Describe typical leisure activities on a summer day.
Describe typical leisure activities on a winter day.
Describe different types of television programs. Talk
about your favorite actor.
Talk about your favorite singer.
Talk about your favorite writer.
Talk about something you heard on the news recently.
Talk about a reality program you have seen.
Say ten things you did yesterday.
Tell the plot of your favorite book.
Tell the plot of your favorite movie.
Tell your favorite children’s story.
Describe an event that happened in your community.
Talk about the different people responsible for reporting the news.
I hope you find this list of tasks helpful. They are some of my favorite tips to learn a language faster.
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