Working with a language learning partner is one of the best ways to help accelerate your training in a second language. If you’ve decided to go this route, then you’re on a good path. Even the best paths, though, can be improved. Here are some ways to fine-tune your learning in tandem.
1. Get in or around the same level.
When it comes to language learning, the best partners are always two people on the same level of skill, ability, and fluency. Working from the same level allows the two of you to grow together in your skills, with neither one getting too advanced nor too behind in their lessons compared to the other.
If one is a little more advanced than the other, try to work on bringing the one behind up to speed first. Not doing so can discourage the one behind, all while increasing the likelihood that the more advanced one will get bored at his partner’s slower pace. Things will work out a lot smoother in the long run when the two of you can take the same lessons and practice at the same level of language facility.
2. Give each other different homework assignments.
The great thing about having two people cooperatively doing the work is you can cover two different things at the same time. Have one partner study part one of the lesson and the other work on the second part, then review the individual portions in tandem when you do hold your meet. That way, you can cover twice the ground that you’d normally do than when you’re working individually. Make sure you agree on the amount of work scheduled for each one and be vigilant about doing your part, too — that’s the only way this thing can work.
3. Spend plenty of time talking to each other using the target language.
Having a language training partner gives you a person to immediately practice with. No need to find people to talk with online, join a language club or trawl around cultural events — just schedule regular meets with your training partner and you can have as much practice as you need.
Sure, it can end up a case of the blind leading the blind (i.e. two beginners talking a terrible version of the target language), but it will help you become comfortable using the new language with another person. Over time, you will be able to identify mistakes and iron problem areas out. The only thing to watch out for is making a habit out of bad language elements (i.e. fossilizing mistakes) — make the effort to correct each other down the line to avoid this.
4. Practice vocabulary together.
Chances are, you and your partner are going to be memorizing vocabulary items on your own separately. Your weekly (or bi-weekly) meetings should be a great opportunity to try and meld that together.
You’ll need to plan out the activity for this — one guy reciting every new vocabulary term he has memorized and having the other one follow isn’t quite the most ideal way to push this. Instead, try to make a point of using the new vocabulary items when you practice conversations. You can also play a game of Scrabble using words from the foreign language (granted, this won’t be possible for many languages), as well as perform any other type of activity where using new words is involved.
5. Keep a common journal.
While you can keep a language journal separately, it will probably be very helpful to maintain a collaborative one. Do it using a software with collaborative features (e.g. Google Docs) and use that as a shared journal. That way, both of you are able to keep up with what each other is doing even without holding your weekly meetings, allowing each of you to individually expand your learning immensely. An online diary is ideal because you can update it on a computer when you’re home, then access it during downtime while on the road. You can even have the service send push notifications to your phone, email or PC any time your partner posts an update.
6. Come up with fun activities.
Attend a cultural exhibition together, set up a book discussion (with a book written in the target language, of course), listen to popular foreign albums, or watch a movie in the target language with English subtitles. Basically, do fun stuff together — something other than studying lessons, memorizing vocabulary and practicing the language. Language learning doesn’t have to be boring. In fact, finding fun activities will probably help speed up your development a ton, apart from sparing you from being bored with the language acquisition process over time. A lot of language learners end up quitting due to boredom, after all — integrating fun activities will help keep that from happening.
7. Discuss your lessons with each other.
When you attend a class, you have an instructor that can help you clarify any point of confusion. Sometimes, your classmates can also help shed light on things when various items aren’t quite clear.
Self-studying language learners don’t quite have that benefit, so your language buddy is the best option available for clarifying any issue you may be having. Even if you feel like you understand a lesson just fine, it will still help to discuss it. For all you know, you may have misunderstood certain points and your language partner could be the one to point that out.
8. Take tests together.
There are many tests available online to check your level of fluency on a foreign language. Chances are, whatever language software you are using has a bunch of them, too. It’s a good idea to take some of these tests with your language partner, cooperatively answering them. Forget getting a higher score than just doing things by yourself — the ensuing discussion on items you don’t agree on, as well as the potential for learning new things should be enough incentive to make this a very good idea.
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