Learning a language can feel a bit .. foreign! However, once you get the gist, and know how best to do it, you’ll pick up the lingo in no time.
As ever with any GCSE Language exam, it helps to look at past papers so that you understand exactly what you’ll be asked to do.
Once you’ve listed required skills, you can plan ahead. Yeh! Let’s do it…
Brush up Your Language Vocabulary
As you know, the key skill behind every paper is knowing your vocab! Why not try some of these handy tips to help improve yours?
- Start a vocabulary book to list new words as you come across them. Make sure you create some topic-specific pages with typical scenarios and situations.
- Your house, going out for a meal, being on the bus are all triggers for vocabulary exploration. At home, drive everyone potty with post-it notes on rooms, items and and furniture. While out and about, think about typical phrases that are helpful in your language and make flashcards when back home.
- Talking of flashcards, you can easily make your own with English meanings on the back. Then ask friends, family or even test yourself (maybe your dog can sit with you!) to check your knowledge. Turn it into a challenge. Who wants to WIN?!
Be a Chatter Box … Talk in Your Language
Most language exams test you for reading, speaking, listening and writing. The whole shebang! So it helps to prepare for each.
More exposure to the language will massively boost your knowledge and skills.
Aside from practising common phrases from time expressions to opinion words, think about how you can hear your language naturally spoken:
- Many parents turn to professional language tutors (from French to German, Mandarin to Spanish) to help their teenager immerse themselves in the lingo. A private tutor can help you prepare for exams and iron out any weak areas too. No wonder foreign language tuition is hotly sought-after here!
- How many of you watch Netflix or Amazon? You can change the setting of most movies to listen in your study language with English subtitles if you want.
- Grab the opportunity to read French, German or whatever your language is.. Here’s a French magazine for teens. Google it! You’ll be surprised what’s out there…
Want the examiner in the PALM of your hand?
Most exam boards test you on your speaking prowess by providing a photo which you then have to discuss.
Practising chatting about pictures is essential. Try the PALM acronym to practise what matters:
P: People. Who’s in the photo? Practising photo cards help you predict likely questions and recall some helpful words/phrases.
A: Action. What’s happening and why? What do you think the people are talking about?
L: Location. Where is it and what is it like? What do you think about it/the place?
M: Mood. How might the people be feeling? Is it a happy scene? As well as narrating and describing, you might be asked to give your opinions or argue something.
Get in touch
Or entrer en contact, in French. To chat to a language specialist here at 121 Home Tutors, it couldn’t be easier. Here are all the ways to get in touch with our top team.
As well as expert tuition in the Manchester and Cheshire areas, you can also learn online wherever you are. Language learning online is fantastico!
- Image courtesy of Panda Tree
Tags: French, German, Mandarin, online language tution, photo cards, speaking and listening, vocabulary