Language learning styles

[David Mowry]

In my experiences, the most effective language learning is a combination of grammatical exercises in class and conversing with native speakers in everyday situations. Grammatical constructions are easy to memorize, but it is often hard to integrate new concepts into speech without conversational practice. With Spanish, most of my experiences are in the classroom. While my reading comprehension and writing skills are very good, my speaking confidence outside of class is low. I believe this is a result of becoming comfortable using designed phrases that refer to certain concepts, but I have had little incentive to adapt in-class exercises to day-to-day requirements.My first experiences with Turkish were limited. I was taught by a poorly qualified professor, and so even syntax and intermediate conjugations remained difficult. I lived with two Turkish roommates who would often speak in Turkish, but I was unable to follow their conversation. This past summer, however, I was instructed in the basic puzzle of Turkish. After learning basic vocabulary and structure, I was able to utilize new skills in my home stay, in which I would be constantly challenged and corrected. Having the opportunity to learn various concepts, hear them in context, and be corrected when my usage was out of place was the most effective way to learn the language.For self-directed study, I plan to utilize a similar strategy. I will attempt to return to my former language ability by speaking with my language partner, and I will use that time to identify further areas of focus (especially the -DIk constructions). My learning styles are linguistic, interpersonal and musical, so I plan to utilize media and conversation partners to improve. My Fire model is insightful, and to act upon this I will create specific outlines and study guides. I will begin by reading news articles and identifying the constructions with which I am unfamiliar, and I hope to move on to short stories and poems (Orhan Veli comes to mind). I will begin by reviewing what I already know, and I will continue by using academic resources as references for reading and listening comprehension. Finally, I must improve my writing skills, for which I will write short compositions on topics of interest. My strengths are speaking and listening, and I will attempt to improve my listening through movies, music, and attempting to understand increasingly difficult news segments and other videos (izlesene.com is the new YouTube equivalent and an insight into some aspects of Turkish culture). I will improve my skills in reading and writing, through which I will also search out new grammatical constructions and vocabulary, and I will attempt to build upon previous success in speaking and listening. I possess good command of basic vocabulary, and I will use or create vocabulary lists in more complex topics, such as politics and economics, in order to become prepared for more professional pursuits. My goal is to be able to use twenty new vocab words each week.