Guidelines and Materials

Be clear about why you want to learn the foreign language.

First formulate your main learning objective in the target language (What do you want to learn? Do you have to write a scientific paper or give a lecture, etc.?) Now formulate the sub-goals (Which sub-goals are important for you to achieve your main learning goal?).

Create a realistic timetable (When do you want to learn what?).

Observe and reflect on your learning. Be aware of your learning strategy. Record your learning progress in the learning diary. Learning progress encourages and motivates you to continue learning. (What learning goals did you want to achieve this week? Was your learning method effective in achieving this learning goal? Do you need to correct your learning and time schedule?).

Assess yourself with the help of the portfolio and placement tests.

Think about which methods and learning strategies you can use to achieve your learning goals (Which learning methods do you know? Which learning methods have been effective so far? Which learning methods are suitable for which learning goals?).

Keep a learning diary. Record in it what you have done so far (see template and example for a learning diary).

Set realistic learning goals (How much time can you devote to learning? Do your time constraints match your learning goals?).