The Foreign Service Journal, July-August 2005

the word for carrot is “markov.” If I forget every other Russian word I ever learned, I’ll remem- ber markov, because when the teacher first introduced this word, she said to envision a carrot you’ve just pulled from the ground. It has those horizontal root-lines every few centimeters — as if they’re marking off the carrot. Mnemonics is your friend. It Takes Two Speaking of friends, a study buddy can help give you motiva- tion to do homework. Just like having an exercise part- ner helps you get out of bed and onto the treadmill, having a partner in language will obligate you to study. It forces you to say things out loud and allows you time to go over concepts you did not understand in class. Not sure how to get your buddy sessions started? Use some of this time to make tapes of yourself speak- ing the language. After a few weeks or months, listen to the tapes. You’ll find that you have improved. You can now say the sentences more easily, with fewer or no mistakes, more fluently. It’s a good way to show your- self that you are making progress, and gives a much- needed ego boost when you feel especially deflated. In addition, if your self-esteem can handle it, give your instructors the tapes so they can hear what mistakes you made. They can then focus on the areas where you need more help. Sometimes you’ll find that classes at FSI just aren’t enough. So go outside the walls. Find a computer CD or video series that speaks to you. Hire a tutor, but make sure you have a good con- nection with that person. If you don’t feel comfortable after two sessions, find someone new. Volunteer with a group or organi- zation that works with people who speak the language you’re trying to learn. There are many immigrants in the D.C. area. Find someone who’s willing to speak with you or volunteer a few hours a week at a place where people from that language group meet or receive government services. Hearing them speak and trying to communicate with them is like a mini–immer- sion trip. Finally, repeat everything. Some educators often shun repetition as boring. But saying, writing or read- ing things over and over again can make them sink in. And repeat things you already know, or they may fade away. For example, you might learn how to ask “What F O C U S 52 F O R E I G N S E R V I C E J O U R N A L / J U LY- A U G U S T 2 0 0 5 T he Learning Consultation Service considers itself a partner in your language training. Counselors in the Learning Consultation Service and learning consul- tants in the language sections work one-on-one with you to discover your learning style, work out new strategies for learning the language, and help you form and achieve goals for your time at the Foreign Service Institute. Students fill out learning-style questionnaires to help identify their learning style, and also make appointments and meet with consultants. Meeting with a consultant can help you gain insight into factors that can influence your long-term success, such as motivation, memory, group dynamics, planning and prioritizing and time management. Although the service cannot promise that the classroom will be tailored precisely to your needs (other classmates have different learning styles that also need to be addressed), it can help make learning a language less stressful and more rewarding. Finding out more about the service or making an appointment is an e-mail or phone call away. The LCS can be reached through the global address system under: FSI, SLS Consultation (FSISLSConsultation@state.gov) o r by calling (703) 302-7250. The offices are located at the Shultz Center in Building F, Suite 4511. Feeling as if you’re not doing as well as your peers, and wondering how this will affect your job can transform a student into a stress ball beyond recognition. Optimize Your Learning Experience