How to Benefit from Group Lessons When Learning a New Language

There are many reasons to learn a new language. For some, it is out of necessity because they are moving to a new country. For others, it is an interest they have had. Whatever reasons you have for attempting this challenge, group lessons can make the task easier and more fun.

Thanks to all of the information available on the internet, many believe they can learn just as well by downloading software or signing up for an online program. However, there are some benefits only found in group classes.

1. Scheduled Learning Times

It’s all too easy to put off something when other tasks are more pressing. With online classes, you often can work at your own pace, which may translate into "not at all" during busy times. With group classes, you must be present at a specific time, which makes you more dedicated to your goal of learning a new language.

2. Learn from Others

Not only do you learn from the teacher, you have the opportunity to learn from the other students. Someone may have found a unique way to master verbs or to remember difficult words. Not everyone learns the same way, so it can be helpful to see what works for other students.

3. Real-life Practice

Learning to speak a new language is only one-half of the task. You must also learn how to understand someone else speaking in a foreign language. When you practice by speaking French, English or whatever language you’re learning and hearing others respond, you get more practical knowledge. At the same time, it is often easier to converse with fellow students who will speak slower and more carefully than a native speaker who many not enunciate as clearly.

4. Unique Learning Methods

A teacher can bring in different resources to help students learn a new language. It’s about more than just reading a book or listening to a CD or DVD. Students can watch films, TV shows, read newspapers and find other methods of learning. One teacher might have them listen to songs in a different language or even write one of their own. The idea with these different resources is that the phrases and words will stick in their minds better than with just repetitive memorization.

5. It is More Fun

Perhaps the most important reason to consider group classes when learning a foreign language is because it is more enjoyable to work with others than to try it alone. You can laugh and lament together and encourage each other during tests and other difficult times. Any task is more enjoyable when you can work on it with someone else, and learning a new language follows that rule.

If you want to learn a new language, consider the available group classes in your area. Find a reputable company that includes the language you want to learn and offers classes which fit in your schedule. You’ll be surprised at how much you learn and how much fun you have.

Berlitz provides language classes in Toronto with private or group lessons. English and French classes and courses allow students to learn a new language in 10 days.