Watching countless videos of famous swimmers won’t make you a better swimmer. To really improve, you need to spend time practicing in the pool. The same goes for learning a language. No matter how good your app or teacher is, without putting in your own effort, progress will be slow.
Today, I’d like to share some of the most memorable student attitudes I’ve encountered during my teaching experience. These students learned Korean much faster than others, and through their stories, you might discover some tips to help you learn Korean more effectively.
The Student Who Leads the Class
I once received a message from a student who had booked his first lesson. It said, "Please don’t prepare anything for the class." I was confused. At the time, I was a fairly new teacher, so I was anxious about not preparing enough. Still, I decided to follow his request and started the lesson without any prior preparation or knowledge about the student.
To my surprise, the class flowed naturally. He led the conversation, practicing the expressions he wanted to master. I’d say he spoke 80% of the time. All I needed to do was listen, respond appropriately, and give feedback. His Korean skills were impressive. He said that learning languages was a hobby, and he had already taught himself Chinese and Japanese using the same method.
Of course, this approach isn’t easy for beginners. However, the key takeaway here is that the student took charge of the lesson, knowing exactly what he wanted to achieve. Rather than passively waiting for the teacher to guide him, he actively participated with clear goals in mind. I believe this was the secret to his rapid progress in Korean.
The Student Who Perfects Their Review
When I start a lesson, I always ask the student about what we learned in the previous session. If they don’t remember, we have to spend extra time reviewing it. When this happens repeatedly, it feels like we're stuck in one place. This can be frustrating for both the student and the teacher.
Learning only during lesson time, without personal review, is a very inefficient way to study. If you have a one-hour lesson, I recommend spending at least two hours reviewing and practicing what you’ve learned. This way, the next lesson will build on a solid foundation.
Students who thoroughly review past lessons tend to improve their Korean skills much faster. It’s like stacking new bricks on a strong base. Both the student and the teacher feel a sense of achievement, making the learning process more enjoyable.
The Student Who Immediately Uses New Expressions
What do you do when you learn a new expression during class? Do you write it down in your notebook? While that’s helpful, it shouldn’t end there.
The students who excel in Korean immediately try to use new expressions they’ve learned. They create their own sentences and practice the expressions in real-life scenarios. When forming these sentences, it’s best to focus on topics that are relevant and commonly used in everyday conversation. This way, you can absorb the new expression faster. You can also ask the teacher for instant feedback to ensure you’re using it correctly.
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➤ Learning a language is like mastering a skill – it requires constant practice and usage. Taking a passive approach in lessons won’t help you make significant progress. Whether you’re learning through a lesson, an app, or a book, setting aside time to practice on your own is essential.
By learning from these three types of students, you too can find more effective ways to improve your Korean skills. Happy learning!
