Categories
Tips and Advice

To Speak or Not To Speak a Foreign Language – It’s Up to You!

If you want to learn how to drive, you need to have an instructor. The same applies to learning a foreign language.


Learning a foreign language is a little like driving; you can study the grammar and vocabulary (or the highway code) telling you how to write (or understand road signs) for months, but nothing can prepare you for the real thing like communicating with native speakers (or getting behind the wheel). To speak or not to speak a foreign language? It is entirely up to you!

At the MLC, we show you why language learning apps don’t work when it comes to expressing yourself effectively in your target language. Their true value is to reinforce your existing knowledge of vocabulary and grammar. If you want to learn how to drive, you need to have an instructor. The same applies to learning a foreign language. Ultimately, when you travel abroad on holiday or for business you want to make yourself understood and most importantly understand what the locals say to you. 

The MLC Method
Portuguese Lesson at the Marlow Language Centre
Unlike language learning app, the MLC specialists will make you speak as much as you possibly can and advise you of the best ways to make progress.


During your free of charge 30 minutes’ introduction lesson, you will have the opportunity to tell your trainer why you wish to learn your target language. Unlike language learning apps the MLC specialists will advise you of the best ways to study and make progress whilst following their effective technique that encourages motivation and enables you to develop your linguistic skills through personalised training and interaction.



VOCABULARY

Learn high-frequency words and phrases in relevant contexts. What’s the point of learning the names of animals or colours really? Listening to a practical dialogue, reading the transcript, and writing down and memorising the phrases and vocabulary is what you really need. 


CONVERSATION

To be able to interact and communicate in your target language is more important than anything else. Your MLC language trainer will make you speak as much as you possibly can during your contact time. You will be able to put into practice the vocabulary you have memorised by taking part in role-playing daily practical situations. Your pronunciation will also be monitored, and if you struggle with some difficult sounds, this will be addressed. 


REGULAR PRACTICE AND REVISION 

Short sessions of daily practice and appropriate websites will make you go a long way.


Daily practice is the key to making progress and you will need to make time and effort to spend a minimum of 15 minutes everyday to memorise new vocabulary and understand elementary grammar. You will go a long way if you have short sessions of daily practice rather than longer revision time only once a week.


SUPPLEMENT YOUR LEARNING  

Your trainer will provide you with a list of the most appropriate websites you can use to complement your language studies and practise your overall linguistic skills. You will be able to develop your vocabulary and knowledge of grammar by reading articles, watching videos, doing grammar exercises and playing games.


If you follow all of these bits of advice,  we can assure you that, in the end, you will be able to speak a foreign language better than you ever imagined you could ever speak it!


Remember, you must have fun!