Characteristics of a Good Language LearnerHelping you be successful in Spanish class and the real world!

They Take Charge of Their Learning• Why do you want to learn a second language?• How will it help you in the future?• Invest in your own learning process!

They’re Organized, Physically and Mentally• Do you know where you will put notes, vocabulary

lists, etc.?• Do you write down important dates?• Make a mental filing system of connections with

previous knowledge.

They’re Creative• Get a feel for the language.• Experiment.• Avoid the bare minimum.

They Practice• Inside the classroom.• Outside the classroom.• Seek out opportunities to use the language.

They don’t get frustrated• Uncertainty abounds when learning a language.• Continue to talk and listen, even if you do not

understand every word.• Don’t shut down!

They use memory strategies• Mnemonic devices• Sayings• Songs

They learn from mistakes• Make your errors work for you, not against you.• Try new things and work out the errors as you go.

They use what they know already• Take knowledge from your first language and

apply it to your new language.

They use context clues• Not just in reading, but in conversations and

interactions.• Language does not exist in a bubble…there will be

many different kinds of input that can help understanding.

• Body language and facial expressions.

They make intelligent guesses• Use what you know to throw out a guess.• It might be right, or at least close enough to keep

you going.

They fill in the gaps• Strategies to keep the conversation going or fill in

gaps in what you know.

They can adjust• Adjusting to your audience, the formality of the

situation or the cultural norms.