Autumn is here and you have decided to start studying again. Whether you have taken time off due to vacation, illness or other personal circumstances, getting back into the learning rhythm after a break can be a real challenge. It doesn’t matter whether you have decided on a university degree or a language course at inlingua, returning to study can be difficult.

Ideally, you’ll be excited and optimistic. But if you’re feeling overwhelmed or anxious, don’t let it bother you. Just because you’ve been out of practice doesn’t mean it’s all gone. Your “study mode” is still there. With the right attitude and some advice, you’ll be able to switch it back on in no time. Follow a few steps and you’ll be able to get back into a study routine, make your learning process more effective, and get your academic goals within reach. Don’t waste time; your books are waiting, and we want you to get the most out of your study sessions.

Just follow these recommendations to get back to your learning routine.

👆 1: Organization is everything

Having a clear plan increases your chance of success and helps prevent stress. You won’t miss deadlines, and you won’t let yourself get swamped with work if your schedule is always in front of you!

It’s also a good idea to supplement your schedule with daily and weekly to-do lists. At the end of each week, you’ll have a clear overview of what still needs to be done and what has been completed. With lists, you can keep everything under control despite potential delays or hiccups. As we all know, even the most carefully constructed plans sometimes get derailed.

👆 2: Routine matters

After setting major study goals, it is crucial to establish a consistent learning routine. Routines shape our daily structure and can have a powerful impact if we adhere to a well-organized schedule. This helps avoid the pitfalls of losing track of time or falling behind.

Routines can also help you be more efficient. If you have a full-time job, it’s a good idea to regularly clear your mind with some exercise before studying. After you’ve finished your lesson, you can then completely switch off and enjoy your leisure time.

With these routines, you will find that you are more focused. It will be easier to concentrate and you will be able to fully relax when your work is done.

👆 3: Are you an early bird or a night owl?

There is no one-size-fits-all solution when it comes to learning. It's important to find out the time of day when you are most productive, and then align your study schedule with your most efficient hours. Are you bursting with energy and motivation in the morning? Or are you a night owl, with evening or post-dinner study sessions the ideal solution?

Be patient, it will take time to discover how and when you are most productive. As soon as you change your schedule to take advantage of your peak capacity for learning, you will notice that your focus will be sharper and more intense.

👆 4: Find the right spot!

Locating the right place to study is essential for getting the most out of your learning sessions. Ideally, you should have a dedicated study area. Separating relaxation from learning helps improve concentration. The study spot could be your office or even just the kitchen table—it doesn’t matter, so long as it’s tidy and organized. However, some people struggle to focus at home, finding distractions too tempting. Does this sound familiar? A local park or a nearby café might be a great alternative study spot for you. Ambient noise in cafés can promote creative thinking.

👆 5: Do not disturb!

In today’s hyper-connected world, we are constantly distracted in some way. You’re sitting at your desk, motivated, wanting to study efficiently and then the phone rings or an email arrives.

On average, it takes our brains 23 minutes to refocus after a distraction. Even if this was just a quick glance at your smart phone, it distracts you from learning. Fear of missing out (FOMO) is real! Humans are curious creatures and always want to know what’s going on around them. You can easily limit your distractions by switching your phone to flight mode or “Do not disturb”. Another option to protect your learning time is to put the smartphone in another room. Out of sight, out of mind.

👆 6: Focus like a “tomato”

Do you know the simple but effective Pomodoro technique  to improve your concentration? It consists of working with high concentration for 25 minutes, followed by a five-minute break. This cycle is repeated three more times before taking a longer break of 30 minutes. There are many other productivity and concentration techniques that may give your study sessions an extra boost. It is worth trying out different techniques and finding out which one is right for you.

👆 7: Don’t hesitate to ask questions

Questions are always allowed and are a much better option than just feeling lost. Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers for advice or help, that’s their job. At the same time, they can also help you with any tips about learning. Anyone in the teaching profession has years of experience and was also once a student. Through this collaboration, new ideas and perspectives can be gained, as well as a bond forged.

👆 8: Importance of a balanced, healthy life

If you enjoy the learning process, it can be very tempting to overdo it. Continue to make sure you have a good work-life balance. Even if you are bursting with enthusiasm and motivation, it’s important to set boundaries. Never set yourself up for a burnout, whether you are learning full-time or if you’re trying to educate yourself while working a full-time job.

The longer you study, the more important it is to take regular breaks. Just a few minutes are enough for your brain to recharge and get your concentration back on track. If you feel tired or frustrated, your body and brain are letting you know that you need a break. One study-free day a week is recommended to clear your head. After you are refreshed, you can throw yourself into the next learning unit with new energy. Keep in mind that healthy habits improve our learning. This includes sleep. Only with enough sleep can our brains function properly, consolidating what we have learned and our memories. It’s no wonder that we have trouble concentrating and learning when we are tired. A healthy and balanced diet is another important topic. Our memory and our ability to concentrate are strongly linked to the consumption of the right nutrients. Certain foods boost brain health.

Of course, a healthy lifestyle also includes exercise. Regular exercise can improve your memory and even increase your ability to concentrate. Research shows that it is much easier to memorize new words while learning a language during a walk. Just 10 minutes of gentle exercise can lead to better concentration.

Find success

Getting back into learning after a long break is thrilling and can be the start of a fresh chapter in your life, or even the beginning of a new career path. Here is a final push to guide you on the road to success.

Reflection boosts your study efficiency:
The key to effective studying is to regularly reflect on your study sessions. To succeed you need to assess what techniques and strategies are working well for you. Adapt your approach as needed to maximize your studying effectiveness.

Keep on going:
Being consistent is the secret of getting back on track with studying after a long break. Follow your study plan, focus on your goals, and stay disciplined in your approach.

Sometimes you lose heart when you go back to school after a long break. Be kind to yourself as you get back behind the books. Too much pressure can lead to a loss of motivation. Celebrate your wins and progress – however small. Reward yourself when you accomplish your goals – no matter what they are.

The more you practice, the easier it will be for you to learn. Just like any other skill it may be difficult at first, but perseverance will pay off! It’s a marathon, not a sprint. Keep in mind that it’s common to have setbacks or off days. Give yourself the time you need, keep your focus and stay determined. Success in your studies is within reach. All the best!

Sources:

Back on Track: How to Start Studying After a Summer Break | Blog StudyCorgi

The Effects of Summer Vacation on Achievement Test Scores: A Narrative and Meta-Analytic Review – Harris Cooper, Barbara Nye, Kelly Charlton, James Lindsay, Scott Greathouse, 1996 (sagepub.com)

9 tips to help you get back into learning after a long break – Rest Less

6 tips on how to be more effective after a long study break (kaplan.co.uk)

How to Study After a Long Break – Powerful Sight

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18602754/

Pomodoro® Technique – Time Management Method (pomodorotechnique.com)

10 smart productivity techniques you should know about (timelyapp.com)

We have all been in classes where the person in charge provides information that we study and learn. This is known as a teacher-centered approach. However, there are also classes where the learners take the lead, resulting in learning by doing.

This article provides a closer look at two learner-centered approaches that can help you achieve your language learning goals: Task Based Learning (TBL) and Project Based Learning (PBL). Both approaches will be introduced and evaluated for their differences.

What is Task Based Learning (TBL)?

The completion of specific tasks is the focus of TBL. Tasks are defined as those that are performed in everyday life, and are therefore authentic to the learners’ context. TBL was originally used by foreign-language teachers who applied “Communicative Language Teaching” (CLT) – a methodology that emerged in the 1970s.

TBL has three stages:

  1. Pre-Task where the trainer prepares, contextualizes and motivates the learners.
  2. Performance of the Task by the learners. Small groups or pairs are preferable to larger groups. The results are reported to the other learners.
  3. Post-Task is the evaluation of the performance. Peer reviews are the ideal method for this stage.

The assigned tasks can be simple or complicated depending on the learners’ language level. The important aspect is that learners focus on actual communication and not just repetition of memorized knowledge.

“By immersing students in relevant tasks, TBL promotes linguistic fluency, accuracy, and pragmatic competence.”

TBL allows learners to prioritize “real communication”. The learners find themselves in “authentic situations” where they have to use all of their skills. “It makes learners aware of their needs and encourages them to take (some of the) responsibility for their own learning.”

Learners must communicate with each other in order to complete the task. Using the necessary skills builds confidence and improves motivation. The understanding of language is on a different level since there is a realistic context.

What is Project Based Learning (PBL)?

“(Project)-based learning (PBL) is a student-centered approach in which students learn about a subject by working in groups to solve an open-ended problem. This problem is what drives the motivation and the learning.”[1] Usually, the projects are interdisciplinary and involve a variety of skills.

Projects are discussed and analyzed with the seven-step approach: 1.   Clarifying unfamiliar terms 2.   Problem definition 3.   Brainstorm 4.   Analyzing the problem 5.   Formulating learning goals 6.   Self-study

7.   Reporting

Rather than teaching relevant material and subsequently having learners apply the knowledge to solve problems, the problem is presented first.

Learners are challenged to think critically and not only develop solutions to address the problem but also communicate the solutions. The role of the trainer shifts to that of a “project manager” as the learners take center stage and work independently.

A distinct advantage of PBL is the motivation it provides for learners as “(it) brings facts to life.” Learners are given the chance to tackle complex problems and develop skills for future success. Project-Based Learning involves longer-term projects, that require more time to plan, execute, and complete.

Conclusion

Both TBL and PBL prioritize the development of communication skills with an emphasis on practical application. The primary learning objective of TBL is to develop communicative competence and language proficiency as well as the use of language in social and cultural contexts.

The learning objectives of PBL go beyond language acquisition. PBL aims to foster effective communication and the collaboration necessary for “real-world” problem-solving. TBL is shorter in duration while PBL takes more time and demands more planning.

Both of these learner-centered approaches have the potential to make learning more enjoyable, valuable and effective. Consider these methods when you are exploring the type of learning environment that you want to experience.

Sources:

Long, M. H. “A Role for Instruction in Second Language Acquisition: Task-Based Language Teaching” 1985

https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/task-based-learning/

https://issuu.com/martinez09/docs/pdf_task_based_learning/s/10927630

https://www.teacheracademy.eu/blog/tbl-vs-pbl/

https://www.teachingenglish.org.uk/professional-development/teachers/knowing-subject/articles/tbl-and-pbl-two-learner-centred

https://teaching.cornell.edu/problem-based-learning

stap 1: begripsverheldering (eur.nl)

https://blog.definedlearning.com/blog/what-is-project-based-learning

 

Motivating your students to learn and to participate can sometimes be very hard. Especially if the decision to attend a language course was not made by the student him- or herself, but by the company or another institution. Adult learners vary from child learners in how they are motivated. They have life experience from which to judge any information presented to them. They are more likely to be self-motivated with a need to know why they are learning what they are, and a desire to apply new understandings immediately.

To stimulate learning, lots of teachers use incentives for students. The spectrum ranges from occasional spontaneous incentives to sophisticated reward systems. This applies not only to primary school pupils. Research has vastly shown that learners at all ages respond to enticements, although reward systems for adults need to be much more sophisticated. Elements of play have a decisive part in this. But how can you use incentives in remote learning and even more in asynchronous online learning environments?

In this blog post we will look at some advantages of a reward systems in general and why you should use one. We will also have a look at rewards options in an online setting.

Advantages of a Rewards System

  • Appropriate behavior: Students conform to appropriate behaviors when rewarded either intrinsically or extrinsically.
  • Increased motivation: Students will show interest and raise their participation in the everyday classroom tasks, responsibilities and learning.
  • Joyful students: Incentives for students motivate them to be more productive because they create a feeling of pride and achievement. Being successful makes you happy.
  • Boosted self-esteem: Every success story helps students become more self-confident. They are proud and encouraged to achieve another successful result.
  • Completed homework: School Psychologists suggest that reward systems help motivate students to complete their homework. It’s rather shocking that without rewards, students don’t complete it.
  • Improved results: Rewarding students encourages and endorses school effort. They lead to improved outcomes for students.

Limitations and Dangers of a Rewards System

Given these obvious advantages, it is important to be clear about the limitations and dangers of reward systems:

  • Devaluation: After a while rewards are no surprises anymore and they come as expected. They will lose their effect. Watch Dan Pink’s excellent TED talk on motivation for more details on how reward systems can utterly fail.
  • Control and manipulate: Students might feel they are manipulated and controlled by you. This also teaches the student how to manipulate.
  • Race against the clock: Students focus more on finishing an assignment to win a classroom price, instead of learning what the lesson is meant to teach. Finishing it is more important than to actually understand it.
  • Addiction: Students can become addicted to classroom rewards. This means that they won’t study anymore without them.
  • Increased pressure: The more you praise students, the greater the fall if they can’t live up to that praise and to your expectations.
  • Bribes: The line between bribes and rewards is very thin. Rewards can lead to the idea of controlling your students. You’ll feel more powerful and use rewards as bribes.

Rewards are also directly and indirectly linked to systems of competition and performance. If this happens in a playful way, one often speaks of gamification. More and more institutions and companies are incorporating elements of gamification into their training courses, but also increasingly into their central processes. Many online stores rewards their customers with achievements and awards for purchased goods. The benefits of a well-balanced rewarding system are more and more widely used in all kinds of business areas.

Involve the Learner in the Instruction Process

Now, what does this all mean for your teaching? When you are planning lessons, always try to allow student input. When the projects come to completion, give students an opportunity to submit feedback. Being a part of their own learning process is important for adults. So, wherever you possibly can, be sure to make it happen.

In every lesson that you conduct, allow the student to take on as much of the decision-making process as possible. Adults want and need freedom to choose in order to stay motivated. In a talk by Dan Pink about a study done at MIT, he elaborates on the fact that having the freedom to make decisions is significantly more motivating than other incentives offered, including monetary rewards. He says that rather than incentivize work, we should say, “You probably want to do something interesting, let me just get out of your way.”

Blended learning tools and eLearning systems can make it easier to give students autonomy (and also track their success). The vast array of offers for online and blended learning from inlingua International ties in exactly with this. Online courses and activities can be linked to face-to-face or virtual classes.

Conclusion

Adult learners’ self-motivation and need to know why can be met with open arms by involving them in the education process. Their desire to apply understandings right away is easily aided with problem-solving lessons. A general lack of inspiration can be solved by a healthy dose of autonomy.

Over the last few months inlingua International has developed and tested a dedicated gamification system for its online learning platform on my.inlingua. In February the new enhanced platform will be launched globally.

By Christian Scheidegger, Pedagogical Manager, inlingua International

Sources:

  • “Using reward systems to motivate students” by Lucie Renard, bookwidgets.com, 2017
  • How to Motivate Adult Learners: 3 Crucial Techniques, Megan Hicks, blog.capterra.com, 2015
  • Dan Pink: https://youtu.be/IhJ4CDCfASI

“Really, my motivation is to be able to understand and communicate in this language in every day of my life.”

José Jarrin started learning English many years ago. In 2016 he discovered inlingua Quito and started taking lessons. We wanted to know more about his motivation to learn English as well as the biggest challenges he faced.

1. How many hours a week do you usually spend on learning English?

”I usually spend 4 to 5 hours a week.”

2. What was your biggest motivation to learn a foreign language?

”For my job. I have been working in an international company for 13 years. I have a lot of contact with people who speak Spanish, but in the conferences and communications from corporate, all is in English, for that the English language is essential for me. In today’s globalized world, speaking English is a priority.”

3. What have been the biggest challenges so far? And how do you overcome obstacles?

”The biggest challenges have been speaking and making a correct sentence structure. Overcome Obstacles…. So, it has not been easy to overcome these barriers, but the constant study and practice of the language have improved my speaking, I still need to improve, I know, but today I can understand, speak and write much better than a few years ago. I have classes with Inlingua teacher every week, I know that this is the key for learning English. The methodology is great and easy to follow up.”

4. How do you stay motivated to learn English?

”Every day I have some email, meeting, training or something in English that reminds me that I must continue to improve my understanding of this language. Really, my motivation is to be able to understand and communicate in this language in every day of my life.”

…

Would you like to find out more about inlingua Quito? Click here! Are you living somewhere else? Find your local center if you click here.

Next blog: Make sure to read our next study motivation Q&A session with Marc Praxmarer, Head of Corporate and Private Banking at Valiant Bank Switzerland.

”If I really want something, I do my very best to achieve it”

Bandja Sy is a Malian-French professional basketball player for Andorra of the Liga ACB and the EuroCup. He is learning Spanish since October 2020. We wanted to know more about his motivation to learn a foreign language and the biggest challenges he faced.

1. When did you start learning Spanish?

“On October 19th, 2020“

2. What was your biggest motivation to learn a foreign language?

“My biggest motivation was the fact that I lived in Spain in 2017 and back then  I was able to somewhat speak the language and understand pretty much everything. Unfortunately, I had to move to the States and somehow forgot how to speak. I still can understand, but my goal now is to re-learn the basics and be able to fluently speak Spanish”

3. What have been the biggest challenges so far? And how do you overcome obstacles?

“The biggest challenge has been to express myself. I can pretty much understand everything (sometimes I have trouble understanding people when they speak quickly), but other than this I have not tried to speak, mostly since I have not felt comfortable speaking in a foreign language. So, these are the biggest challenges for me right now”

4. How do you stay motivated to learn Spanish? 

“I really want to learn this language so this is my biggest motivation! That is the motivation right there, if I really want something, I do my very best to achieve it”

…

Would you like to find out more about inlingua Andorra ? Click here! Are you living somewhere else? Find your local center here.

Next blog: Make sure to read our next blog entry about Tsironi Sofia, Athens, who started learning English during the Covid-19 pandemic.

“The biggest motivating factor to learning a foreign language is similar to acquiring any other skill in life, the satisfaction of being able to see real progress from your endeavours.”

Michael Robertson started learning Mandarin in March 2019. He is enrolled in a full-time course and studies 20-40 hours a week. We wanted to know more about his motivation to learn Mandarin as well as the biggest challenges he faced.

1. When did you start learning Mandarin?

”I started learning Mandarin from scratch at inlingua in March 2019 and I have completed the entirety of the 12-month full-time Mandarin course since.”

2. What was your biggest motivation to learn a foreign language?

”The biggest motivating factor to learning a foreign language is similar to acquiring any other skill in life, the satisfaction of being able to see real progress from your endeavours. This does not necessarily have to be fulfilling a pre-established goal in its entirety but just any progress made towards the goal, regardless of how little.

When learning foreign language, progress could be recognising key words or phrases, understanding why grammar is structured in a certain why or simply just being able to response to a local’s questions. One should always think back to before they started learning a new language and on how much progress they have made since. A little persistence has gone a long way to when you look at your progress incrementally.”

3. What have been the biggest challenges so far? And how do you overcome obstacles?

”The biggest challenge for me, and I believe many other foreign language learners, is confidence. The biggest improvements are made when you challenge yourself outside of your comfort zone. It is essential that you do not be afraid to make a fool of yourself occasionally through saying the wrong word or even the completely wrong thing. From my experience, nothing beats learning things kinaesthetically (taking a hands-on approach), this could be through making a foreign friend or even attempting to talk to strangers in a foreign language. This may be a daunting task at first but with a small initial push, you can overcome this hurdle and once you have confidence on your side, its much easier to learn. I would thoroughly encourage learners to be proactive when the opportunity arises.”

4. How do you stay motivated to learn Mandarin?

”I think it is undeniable that all learners reach a wall at one point or another when learning a foreign language. This wall is usually due to the lack of motivation in beginners or complacency in long time learners.

When one starts learning a new language, they are full of enthusiasm but sometimes levels drops over time, so its important to keep your motivation up. Good ways to do this would be to find new materials, such as listening to music, watching tv shows, reading the news or books. The internet has a plethora of resources for all levels of learning. Other ways would be travelling, learning about their history or culture, or perhaps making a new friend or pen pal. Sometimes the key to learning a language is learning about the people who speak the language.

After learning for a long time, despite how seriously one has been learning, learners often encounter some complacency. It is important to keep learning regardless of how confident you are in your skills. Keep reading, writing, and speaking whenever you have the opportunity. Regardless of what level you have studied till there are always even higher-level resources available.

Nonetheless, the most important factor is your mindset, learning a foreign language should not be a chore which you have to force yourself to do. If it is, you should search for a different approach to learning. There is always a way on there which suits you personally.”

…

Would you like to find out more about inlingua Singapore? Click here! Are you living somewhere else? Find your local center if you click here.

Next blog: Make sure to read our next blog entry about Bandja Sy, Spanish learner and Malian-French professional basketball player for Andorra of the Liga ACB and the EuroCup.