Grammar, culture, pronunciation, listening skills — all vital aspects of language learning, and all important components of AJ Tutoring foreign language sessions (and – hopefully – foreign language classes at school). Underlying these is vocabulary: as foundational vocabulary increases, the learning process with regard to other language skills becomes increasingly straightforward.
Keep Learning Simple!
Fortunately, studying vocabulary is a low-stress independent learning activity that students can engage in between classes or tutoring sessions, and it doesn’t require internet connectivity, another subscription, or any fancy new technology. After all, learning doesn’t have to happen stationary behind a screen or even seated at a desk — in fact, educators have long touted the cognitive benefits of incorporating movement and different types of sensory input and output into learning sessions, and even writing things down by hand rather than typing can increase memory retention.
And so, instead of suggesting yet another app download that doesn’t even do the courtesy of offering human-created content, we present for your consideration one of the most beloved yet simple tools for vocabulary development ever invented: the humble sticky note.
After a series of events that began with Spencer Silver’s accidental 1968 discovery of an adhesive “strong enough to hold papers together but weak enough to allow the papers to be pulled apart again without being torn,” the famous Post-It Note was so-branded in 1980 and has been a staple (or rather, an alternative to the staple) in education ever since.
At this point, sticky notes are ubiquitous in office and school settings, available in every color and size imaginable for just a few dollars per pack. So, when you’re not at school or practicing with an AJ tutor, try picking up a few packs of sticky notes and combine them with the strategies below to bolster/reinforce comprehension skills all on your own, and in so doing make your time in class or session even more efficient and productive.
What Can You Do With a Post-It?
Here are some general tips to leverage the humble post-it note to your polyglottal (yes, that word might warrant a sticky note) advantage:
- Start by labeling items and locations at home — you use this stuff daily, so learn to say it! When you see a note as you walk by, pause to read and remember it
- See/hear a new word? Jot it down so when you get home you can add it to a sticky note and put it near something related to the word
- Say the words aloud whenever possible — your face will build muscle memory and your ears will get used to the sounds
- Get your family/roommates involved (it’s nice to ask permission to paper the kitchen with sticky notes, and also getting more people to participate means more collaboration and opportunity to grow together)
- As confidence in each vocabulary word grows, hide the sticky notes so you can test yourself (fold the note so it’s hidden, or stick another note on top of the first to lift up when you want to check the answer)
- Use the words in full sentences whenever you can as you walk by your notes (and try to mix it up with those sentences!)
Pro Tips to Make it Stick!
- Make a plan (number of new words per week? Amount of time spent labeling and practicing? Specific/general goals? Ask your tutor for help crafting goals that are challenging but realistic and achievable)
- Color code (nouns, verbs, adjectives, other connecting words, etc, can all have different colors of sticky note or highlight, or get creative and code according to what makes sense for you)
- Add CONTEXT (not just “fridge,” but “white fridge” or “wide fridge” or “fridge full of food”)
- Gather word families together on the same sticky note (the noun “jump,” the verb “to jump,” the adjective “jumpy,” etc)
- Incorporate movement on purpose (walk around while you practice — can also help with method of loci!)
- Review frequently (move sticky-notes to a designated wall or notebook when you feel confident in your memorization of them, but make sure to regularly look them over — use it or lose it, as they say)
- Ask your tutor for more tips on increasing fluency in the language(s) of your choice!
