Successful LanguageLearners

Some people seemto have a knack for learning languages.They can pick up new vocabulary,masterrules or grammar,and learn to write in the new language more quickly

than others.They donot seem to be any more intelligent than others,so what makes language learningso much easier for them?Perhaps if we take a close look at these

successful languagelearners,we may discover a few of the techniques which make language learningeasier for them.

2.First ofall,successful language learners are independent learners.They do not depend onthe book or the teacher;they discover their own way to learn thelanguage.Instead

of waiting for theteacher to explain,they try to find the patterns and the rules forthemselves.They are good guessers who look for clues and form their ownconclusions.When

they guesswrong,they guess again.They try to learn from mistakes.

3.Successfullanguage learning is active learning. Therefore,successful learners do not waitfor a chance to use the language;they look for such a chance.They find peoplewho

speak the languageand they ask these people to correct them when they make a mistake.They willtry anything to com-municate.They are not afraid to repeat what they hear

or to say strangethings;they are willing to make mistakes and try again.When communication isdifficult,they can accept information that is inexact or incomplete.It is more

important for themto learn to think in the language than to know the meaning of every word.

4.Finally,successfullanguage learners are learners with a purpose.They want to learn the languagebecause they are interested in the language and the people who speak it.It is

necessary for themto learn the language in order to communicate with these people and to learnfrom them.They find it easy to practice using the language regularly because

they want to learnwith it.

5.What kind oflanguage learner are you?If you are a successful language learner,you haveprobably been learning independently,actively,and purposefully.On the other

hand,if yourlanguage learning has been less than successful,you might as well try some ofthe techniques outlined above.Successfullanguage learners derive conclusions_________.

A.to discoversentence patterns and grammatical rules

B.to expandvocabulary

C.to use the targetlanguage

D.to encourageunsuccessful language learners to learn independently,actively and purposefully

E.from clues