How to Study for a Language Final
The turn of the new year is an exciting time. Holiday break provides a perfect and necessary opportunity to relax, unwind, and begin the new year with refreshed energy and motivation. Nevertheless, many schools’ schedules coincide so that early into the new year midterm, or even final exams, loom. Although you may still have a couple weeks before these exams are upon you, it’s critical to begin the studying process now in order to fully retain the substantial amount of material that you’ll be tested on. You don’t want to find yourself at the end of break realizing you have barely reviewed.
Studying for a language final can feel especially daunting given the variety of subject areas you may be tested on, as well as the magnitude of material you have to memorize. Because of this, languages are one of the most crucial subjects to begin studying for in advance.
Make sure to check in with your teacher as to how much of your exam will focus on reading and comprehension practice, writing and translation practice, listening practice and speaking practice. When studying, keep in mind what will be weighted the heaviest, as well as what areas you struggle the most in. These four areas also complement each other in the studying process, so when you’re working through reading you’ll inadvertently be reinforcing your translation skills, and when you’re practicing speaking, you’ll be honing in on your listening skills as well.
With all that in mind, if you find yourself at a loss or overwhelmed about where to begin, here are some key areas that will propel you towards language mastery:
Know the Grammar
The ability to identify parts of speech is critical to foreign language acquisition. Make a chart for yourself with the eight different parts of speech (nouns, verbs, adjectives, adverbs, conjunctions, prepositions, interjections and pronouns) with examples of each along with their usage in a sentence. Knowing the role of each word you are studying will be critical in piecing together the language you are studying.
Pronoun Practice
Do you feel confident in your understanding of the pronouns in the language you’re studying? Make sure you have a good grasp of the pronouns associated with the following: I, You (formal and informal), We, He, She, It, They, and You all (formal). This will largely vary among different languages, so make note if there are pronouns that encompass multiple scenarios across these different groups.
Studying Verbs
Verbs can be some of the trickiest parts of language acquisition, so don’t be hard on yourself if you find that you struggle in this area. Begin by collecting all the verbs that have been reviewed this semester. Make a “Verb Area” in your notebook or binder. Make sure to separate into two sections: one for regulars and one for irregulars. Write down the verb, what it means, and the full conjugation of the verb. The “triple punch” of writing, watching yourself write, and saying the word out loud is amazingly effective for helping you to memorize! Make sure to double check your conjugations, as it is crucial you are studying accurate information. If you’re struggling to remember all the different conjugations in Spanish or are finding that you are second guessing yourself, SpanishDict is a great resource for conjugation checking. Other languages often have similar translation platforms.
Come up with a game, utilize Quizlet, or give yourself practice tests on verb use and conjugation.
Studying Vocabulary
Although it may seem that simple vocabulary is the easiest aspect of studying, it’s very important to put aside time across multiple days to practice memorization.
For all vocabulary study, the “Fold Over” Study Technique is a great technique. Follow these nine steps to master your vocabulary!
Put It All Together
After reviewing your vocabulary, grammar, and pronouns try to write 15-20 sentences, using only what you know. Start simple, and add in additional complexities as you feel comfortable. Trying to write new sentences that are sort of like the ones you have in your textbook is an excellent way to make your knowledge grow! See if you can include every verb and vocabulary word in at least one sentence to test your understanding.
If you want to go a step further, include the foreign language you are studying into your daily routine. Maybe you write vocabulary on post-it notes and paste them to their associated objects around your house, watch TV or movies in the language you’re learning or with translated subtitles, practice having conversations with friends and family that know the language, or use an app like Duolingo on your phone for extra practice.
Immersion in any language is the very best way to learn, so dive deep and have fun with it! If you or anyone you know would appreciate support studying for your final exams or foreign language courses, reach out to our team of expert tutors.