Time Management
In order to become proficient in your chosen language, you must practice speaking, listening, and writing frequently. Set aside at least an hour a day for self-instruction; this includes reading and digesting the lesson at hand, repeating and practicing the audio/multimedia exercises several times. The more time you devote to your self-instructional practice, the faster and more easily you will learn the language.
Do not let yourself fall behind; do not relegate your language practice to weekends, or try to cram before an exam. Language learning is gradual and progressive; it requires patience and persistence. Do not expect to speak or understand the foreign language perfectly at first try or to be able to carry on a sophisticated conversation after a semester or two of learning. But with patience and constant practice, you will be able to attain your objective of building a solid oral-aural foundation in your chosen language.
Make sure to attend all practice sessions with your tutor, who will be keeping track of your attendance and progress. If, for any reason, you have to miss a practice session, please contact your tutor in advance (but do not make a habit of rescheduling sessions to suit changes in plans –remember, tutors have studies of their own to worry about!). If another student is enrolled in the same language, it would be a good idea to create a study group (in addition to your practice sessions) to work with and motivate each other.
