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Viewing Are You Ready for Your Next Foreign Language Exam?Are You Ready for Your Next Foreign Language Exam?
By Kathy Steinemann
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Preparing for any exam can be nerve-wracking. While many of the tips in this article can be applied to any academic subject, a foreign-language examination requires special groundwork. Preparing for any exam can be nerve-wracking. While many of the tips in this article can be applied to any academic subject, a foreign-language examination requires special groundwork. Advance Organization If you don't understand English grammar, you will have particular problems with any foreign language. Purchase a good English grammar textbook. Try to spend some time every day reading unfamiliar foreign language material. If possible read out loud - or mouth the words with your lips. This is not the technique you should use for other subjects, as it slows down your reading. However when learning a language, 'mouthing' the words and actively pronouncing them is extremely important. Take special notice of any unfamiliar pronunciations and syllable stress patterns. When you face a new lesson, glance over it quickly and note new grammar concepts and vocabulary. Then go back to the beginning and study the material in detail. Written assignments should be prepared as far in advance as possible. Hold onto the assignments until it is time to hand them in. Between the date of creation and due date, new points will occur to you and you can make changes that will improve your marks. For hard-to-learn words that continually elude your learning efforts, develop a visual aid for assistance. For example, if you are trying to learn the following German noun: die Kiefer: the pine tree - think of Kiefer Sutherland's TV daughter sitting in a car with a pine air freshener dangling from the rear view mirror. The fact that she is female reinforces the feminine case of the noun. Try writing your own mini tests. You can use the tests for studying - and the creation process will actually reinforce the material in your mind. Save everything that your tutor or professor gives you. It might seem unimportant at first, but you may discover days or weeks later that the handout you initially deemed unimportant is actually very useful. Take Advantage of Idle Time If you have a daily commute via bus or subway, bring along some materials that you can study. A plastic folding clipboard is a good way to keep notes organized. Even if you are jostled while standing, your papers will remain in place. You can even study during commercials while watching TV! One North American hour of television usually includes 20 minutes or so of commercials. It is incredible how much effective studying you can do during that time. Amazingly, the brain will be mulling over the material even while you are actively watching the television. No Cramming Allowed! Don't wait until shortly before an exam to start studying. Do your dictionary lookups and conjugations well in advance. Study for a few minutes every day rather than waiting until the last minute. Establish a schedule. Studying for 15 minutes every night just before bed is effective. Your brain evaluates and reviews daytime experiences during slumber. Whatever you are exposed to as you are falling asleep makes a deeper impression on the mind. Just Before an Exam Try to get a good night's rest. If you have been studying every day, you won't need to cram the night before the exam. Jot down a few important facts that might keep you awake with anxiety and review them in the morning. Consume a good meal or snack right before the exam. It should contain some carbohydrates for instant blood glucose and proteins that will break down slowly, continuing the glucose supply to the brain. Try something like whole-grain toast, an egg, and some low-fat fruit yogurt. Keep liquid consumption to a minimum. You don't want your bladder to be uncomfortably full during the test. Use the washroom immediately before the exam. Your concentration will be adversely affected if you are agonizing over a full bladder or bowel. Begin today - and receive better marks on your next exam! (c) Copyright Kathy Steinemann: This article is free to publish only if this copyright notice, the byline, and the author's note below (with active links) are included. About the Author: Kathy Steinemann is a busy webmaster and author who enjoys writing German-English stories in parallel translation. She works behind the scenes at several websites, including A-Language-Guide dot com. Article Source: A Language Guide - http://www.a-language-guide.com More free articles: 1st Rate Articles - 1stRateArticles.com |
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