When learning a foreign language the logical question is “What is better: studying alone or in groups?”. There are many variants and today we will talk about the features of learning a foreign language individually or with other students in a group.
Any language is first and foremost a tool of communication, and learning a foreign language in a group or with another person is not the only possible option (for example, you can study individually and/or independently), but in some situations it is the best option and probably even necessary. In this article we’ll explain all advantages and disadvantages of group and individual language learning.
Advantages and disadvantages of learning a foreign language in a group
This way of learning foreign languages has its pros and cons. Most often they are determined by your personality characteristics – your character and emancipation. Let’s look at them in more detail.
Advantages
There are many advantages to learning a language in a group.
Disadvantages
Often interaction with other people when learning a foreign language can be a negative factor.
What are the main features of learning a foreign language in a group?
While working in a group you will have to periodically adjust to the level of knowledge or personal characteristics of other students.
It is important to understand that if you for some reason miss a few classes in a group, it will “leave” you behind, and you can not just start where you left off – you will need to join the group classes on the current topic, while catching up on the missed material.
For whom group language learning is suitable
This approach is for you if you are an extrovert and like to communicate with other people. Socializing and having fun will be an additional motivation in learning.
If you need some competition, or you just want someone to “keep you company” in the classroom, you should also choose group training.
The main factor is if you want to emphasize the skill of speaking and communicating in your target language, because to practice this skill you need someone to talk to, and this is sometimes lacking, for example, when learning a new language on your own.
Group Study Time
As these lessons are usually taught by a teacher or in a language school, it usually takes one to one and a half hours and one or more times a week.
The price of group classes
The price of a group class varies greatly, depending on the way the language is studied and the region in which it is taught.
Language schools charge different fees, depending on the status and location of the school and on the course chosen – you will most likely be able to find an option that suits you. Some schools have the option to have a trial or demonstration lesson at a reduced price.
What is better: learning a language in groups or alone
It all depends on your situation. Sometimes it’s better to study individually or on your own, sometimes it’s better to study in a group, and sometimes it’s better to combine both methods. However, to get a more correct answer, let’s look at both options separately and find out their pros and cons.
Studying alone – Pros and Cons
Learning in a group – Pros and Cons
Speaking of learning speed, if you’re curious about how long it usually takes a person to learn a language, read this article. You can find a lot of interesting insights there!
Summary
If you want to really progress in language learning, you need to spend some time working on your own, whether you want to or not. Group or individual lessons with a teacher, if you have them, will not be enough.
After all, you need to do your homework, work through new material (read books, watch movies, listen to songs) and, be sure, learn new words.
But how do you properly gather all the new words in one place and start learning them effectively? You can keep your own dictionary in Langavia Personal Dictionary app and turn all new words you want to know into language cards. Going through the game exercises, you will be able to learn new words effectively. After a few weeks of 15-30 minutes of daily study you will already feel the first real results and wonder how you could cope without such a tool before.
Choose a way to learn the language according to your preferences. Take into account the efficiency, the training plan, the cost to make the right choice.