General Principles for
How to Study a Foreign Language, cont.


  Separate STRATEGIES are outlined for the following parts of the usual foreign language lesson assignment:
  1. Rules of grammar
  2. New word forms.
  3. Substitution drills.
  4. Vocabulary and Idioms and idiomatic expressions.
  5. Reading.
  6. Constructions.
  FOLLOW EACH STRATEGY SEPARATELY, AS IT IS REQUIRED:
  1. Rules of Grammar:
    1. Read the English description of the rule and be sure that you understand it.
    2. Read the examples in the foreign language and be sure you see how the rule is applied.
    3. See if you can infer the English meaning.
    4. Check to see if you are correct.
    5. Write the correct English meaning and leave room for the foreign phrase to be inserted (see number 7, below).
    6. Without looking, see if you can recite the rule.
    7. Complete number 5(above), filling in the foreign language expression.
    8. Check to see if you are correct and repeat those that you missed.
    9. Review before class by looking at the English phrase and reciting the foreign.
  2. New word forms: plurals, conjugations, declensions, pronoun variations, adjective modifications, etc.
    1. If there is a rule that accompanies the word-formations, read to see that you understand how the examples given follow the rule.
    2. If there are exceptions given, note these.
    3. Read the foreign language forms aloud.
    4. Note their English meanings.
    5. Go on next word and repeat 1-3. Go through the list in the same manner.
    6. Attempt to give the foreign equivalents (write) in the spaces left in 3.
    7. Check to see that all the words are correct.
    8. Make word cards of all words that were missed or omitted or that you consider learned uncertainly. (Cards should be made with the English word on one side and the foreign equivalent on the back.) These should be reviewed until they can be produced with certain accuracy.
    9. The whole list of words should be reviewed rapidly at least twice before the class and should be reviewed before a new list of vocabulary words or idiom is attempted.



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