Work on Your Target Language Skills Over School Break

Work on Your Target Language Skills Over School Break

For those counting down the days to spring break and those who are already off, this article is thought to serve as a brainstorm for second language students to build their language skills when school is over, to ensure language practice is painless and fun, and to provide tips on how to keep connection with the target language.

Students today are not strangers to technology, and, more and more, they carry technological devices around in their pockets. So why not remind them that the target language is right at their fingertips? Students can take advantage of a number of applications for smartphones or other electronic devices to keep up their language skills outside of the classroom: you could choose gaming options instead of traditional, and why not encourage students to seek out handy applications themselves?

Over the years, I’ve personally found social networks to be real helpful at this task. Tweet away in the target language. Photo-sharing through Instagram allows you to document and post evidence of the target language while away from school, connect through the use of a common hashtag on photo posts. Take benefit from Skype exchanges with target language speakers during time off from school. Use Pinterest to search for, pin, and share materials in the target language, I can guarantee this will be of great vocabulary practice.

Also, tuning in to shows and watching movies in the target language as a means of enjoyable and authentic linguistic and cultural exposure. Watch Netflix, follow the world Cup, the Tour de France, whatever you wish. Streaming music, watching music videos on YouTube, or downloading songs represent other ways for students to surround themselves with sounds of the target language.

In case you feel more like reading your school break off, find level-appropriate readings that you can confidently complete alone, something you can access from home: you could une kids news websites for novice readings as they are authentic but written in a simple and plain way.

In addition, look forward to use the target language in the real life if and as possible. I encourage you to encounter with speakers of the target language, to have a real interaction with them in your community. Try teaching or interacting with family and friends in the target language, teach what you are learning in class to a family member.

Another option is to start blogging. Blogs are a great platform for students and their teacher to share their summer activities, however, they do generally require a significant time commitment. On the other hand, occasional class emails or texts are a great way to share resources or relevant and current happenings with students. They serve as a great reminder to invest some time in the target language.

Consequently, I believe that with nowadays technology led us to have in handy lots of strategies to help us maintain and build the target language skills during time away from school. Keeping practice painless so as to not to overwhelm yourselves with a heavy workload is key. I’m positive the goal is to enjoy time off and for you to come back refreshed.  So, practice whenever you can, do not make learning a chore and last but not least: persevere.

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