Page 27 - ELG2104 Apr Issue 475

REVIEWS .

100+ Tips and Tricks for Success
in Language Learning
Felicity O’Dell and Patricia Pullin,
O’Dell and Pullin, 2020 SANJOY SAHA ON UNSPLASH
ISBN: 978-1-8382311-0-1

nderstanding little Turkish by the
end of a month in Central Anatolia
during my first overseas teaching
U post, I boldly decided to buy all
the Sunday newspapers in order to get to
grips with what was clearly a very strange
language. That would surely do the trick,
or so I thought. Alas, after many years of
living here, I still have problems. I’m pleased
to inform those facing similar predicaments
that, with a wealth of foreign-language
learning and teaching experience behind
them, the authors of this book have put
together a supremely useful title. I wish I’d
had access to a copy that would have helped
smooth my passage all that time ago.
Following the introduction, in which the
authors enthuse budding language learners Local newspapers are a good language-learning resource
by suggesting how it will sharpen the brain
while opening doors and minds, is ‘Making
lear
ning
Plans’. Here the reader is asked why they
are opting to study the chosen language. For Successful learning
most of us this might be travel, work and
culture (and, for those with bigger ambitions,
love). As with all sections, the concluding
‘Over to You’ slot lists thought-provoking Strategies and insights prove useful in acquiring
questions like, “What are the main benefits
for you of learning this language?” Also a new language, finds Wayne Trotman
under discussion here are topics such as
how good is ‘good enough’, how do people
learn foreign languages and what is a good complex. Advice here is to learn useful (CEFR) will enable any language learner
language learner? The authors’ sound chunks such as, “If I were you…” and to locate just where they stand. I noticed
advice is to set small achievable goals and “Having said that…”, as both provide the that I’m still at B1 level in Turkish – lower
fit rewards into personal learning plans. speaker with valuable thinking time. intermediate – even after so many years!
In ‘Ways of Learning to listen Maintaining motivation is vital if band
Learning,’ the to and read the target movement is to be upward, however, and
authors look at how Set small language, and ensuring this can be increased by getting involved in
to build regular achievable goals those being addressed free online gaming, signing up for electronic
language learning can understand newsletters and following drama series on TV.
activities into one’s and fit rewards early utterances are Beyond actual words, there are cultural
life, whether to take the concerns of the aspects to consider when approaching a
a language course into personal next two sections. foreign language, such as notions of what
locally or abroad, Aims in ‘Improving is and isn’t polite. It’s especially important
and if a private learning plans Understanding’ to be aware of how to greet people, how to
teacher or in a group include how different accept gifts and to know what others might
is the best approach. Also outlined is how approaches to reading can affect progress, find culturally offensive, like blowing one’s
to use traditional online resources, such plus how to make best use of learning with a nose in public. The final section of this
as newspapers and films, plus interactive tandem partner. ‘Sounding Good’ looks at, title includes tips from 17 foreign language
resources like social media and gaming apps. among several other key matters, why it’s learners who each provide key insights into
The next part concerns language the useful to decide how good you want or need their linguistic adventures. Particularly
learner is sure to need, such as survival your pronunciation to be. Surely the most amusing here are their anecdotes on how
phrases, among the most important being, helpful sub-section here is that on using drama, things sometimes came out wrong. I must
“Where is the toilet, please?”, “I’m married” songs and poetry to overcome the shyness admit to having read this section first!
and “I’m allergic to…”. Learning vocabulary and inhibition most of us feel when starting
and grammar are, of course, key to knowing a out on a new language. ‘Beyond Individual
language and are covered in separate sections Sounds’ includes getting to grips with stress
in which there is advice on choosing a and intonation. Turkish, for example, helpfully Wayne Trotman is
dictionary, personalising matters by compiling places equal stress on each syllable. This is not a teacher educator
a scrapbook of common words or phrases, and so in English, of course. at Izmir Katip
how to fix lexical items in the memory. Taking stock of progress and making Çelebi University,
‘Getting to Grips with Grammar’ is covered learning stick are the next areas in focus. A Izmir, Turkey.
with due caution, since it’s the area that basic awareness of the band descriptors in the
can become the most time-consuming and Common European Framework of Reference
editorial@elgazette.com 27