Back in Chicago, when I did one-on-one tutoring, it was often hard to see which of my students’ study habits or traits were the most effective in acquiring a natural use of language. Every student comes in starting at a different skill level with different study preferences and histories, so, with such a small and isolated test group, I could not determine if something was simply personal preference or actually a general good habit to have. For instance, I still remember one of my advanced-yet-stuggling-to-progress adult students showing me a notebook where she had page after page of news articles and song lyrics copied down. On the other hand, a friend of mine who was excelling in autodidactically learning another language showed me their notebook of fancily-written journal entries filled with sentences they copied off the web or that they used a translating app to help them produce. It works so well for one, so why not the other, right? Does it have something to do with skill level? Would a beginner benefit more from this method than someone advanced? Was one of these people simply an anomaly? Who’s to say? Some of these things I picked up myself. I found that writing song lyrics helped me hear the words better while listening, and translating phrases as I do activities helped, while writing large texts and articles left me bored.

Mindless copying really isn’t the overall best way to obtain language. This type of learning is unfortunately popular in Honduras. It was expected by the parents at the volunteer school that their kids would be copying from presentation slides during class rather than vocally participating. The international school I am currently at is having us step away from that form of teaching, but it is still very prevalent. Now teaching many large classes, my sample size is large enough to where I can start seeing patterns regarding my best students and what they do in their free-time that got them to that point.

First, all of my best students love at least one thing rooted in American or English culture. This usually takes the form of music or television, but some have hobbies that require them to utilize their English as they have a much larger fan base in English-speaking communities. A good handful of my students practice “lettering,” which is basically journaling in decorative fonts and using aesthetically pleasing supplies. According to them, they usually use the English-speaking side of the web for ideas since many Spanish-speaking forums and communities are rather lacking. They even plan into their travels ways to get new supplies, like a student who recently convinced their parents to make craft and paper store stops on their recent trip to Austin, Texas. Finding a thing that must be enjoyed in your target language is an easy way to not only learn more of the language but also find more motivation in your studying. As for music and TV, a lot of my best students really like mainstream US pop music. I start all my classes with music playing as they join in the Zoom call, and I am constantly bombarded with requests to play Dua Lipa or Olivia Rodrigo or even Doja Cat (which I decline but wow, what a way to learn slang, let me tell you). I would say that if you aren’t familiar with popular music or TV from your target language, do a little research. As a native English-speaker, I find it very surprising and interesting to talk about, say, House MD or The Office, with someone just experiencing it for the first time now. In return, I am told it is fun to hear an American’s perspective on such things, as well.

My students also read– a lot. Every class at least one or two of them want to tell me all about the book they just finished or how angry they are that a character died or rattle off facts about the deep ocean or whatever topic they just read about. Although I can read in Spanish just fine, it takes a lot of concentration and time to get through a book. Seeing them constantly devour written English like that is pretty impressive to me. Not only are they gaining a ton of new vocabulary, but they also are learning how to write. Those students in particular are incredible with their assignments, always using proper grammar and punctuation and advanced vocabulary. 

One unfortunate thing, though, is that some things are not easily replicated. Parents who are much more financially well-off typically provide their children with an abundance of resources to ensure their enjoyment and success. I have students taking online Korean classes in addition to their school-provided English and Mandarin classes because they like K-pop and mommy and daddy are happy to oblige them. I also have students who’s parents enrolled them in after school math, language, and music classes against their will to push them forward. (It is quite amusing hearing a 4th grade Honduran child angrily accidentally mix up a Russian or French word during English class). In this regard, we have to take what we can from these children’s habits while also realizing that many have more time, money, and attention at their disposal. 

You can’t learn a language from afar. It doesn’t matter how long you sit there with flashcards in your face, you need to join in in some way. Although easy to accept, it is challenging, at least as an adult, to leave the comfort zone of American music and TV and spend your time in a different language. Relaxing with a few YouTube videos before bed doesn’t require the same mental energy that doing so in a foreign language does. Yet, if you really want to learn a new language, it may just prove useful to do so. Start finding what works for you, what’s enjoyable and fits in your schedule. Talking with native speakers is probably one of the best ways to learn, but it is difficult and sometimes expensive to have that opportunity. Instead, try to jump into the culture in the ways they would and take what you can from that.

Happy reading,
-Beppa