How To Learn A Language: Why Lectures Don’t Work

 Learning a new language is one of the most rewarding things you can do. Not only will it help open doors to new business opportunities, but it will give you a unique insight into a new culture. There are a million ways to learn a language, but today we’re here to explain what doesn’t work.

Many of our students come from trying to learn a language through a lecture hall, whether it was via a university class, or through an online webinar class. They were unhappy with the results of the class, and wanted to try a new approach! Here are some of the major complaints we hear about lecture-style classes: 

No personalization

In a lecture hall, you can have anywhere from twenty to several hundred students. Unfortunately, not every student learns the same way! There are a bunch of different learning styles: some students like flashcards, others learn visually with drawings. In learning Chinese, some students struggle with pronunciation more than others, but others pick it up right away. Some have a hard time memorizing Chinese characters, and others don’t. A lecture-style class assumes that each student has the exact same struggles, which makes learning a language a slow and painful process.

Because of TutorABC Chinese’s tiny class size and 1-on-1 instruction, we’re able to devote more time to helping students with specific difficulties they have with learning Chinese. 

Limited interaction

In a class of 50-plus people, do you know how hard it is to get the teacher’s attention? Even when you do manage to ask a question, teachers rush to answer it as quickly as possible so they can continue on with their lesson as planned. Because of this, students often don’t get the clarification they need.

Not to mention, it can get really boring to listen to someone drone on and on. A recent study found that undergraduate students in classes with traditional stand-and-deliver lectures are 1.5 times more likely to fail than students in classes that use more stimulating, so-called active learning methods. A lecture-style class is often a one-way street, with students being passive listeners. 

When learning a language such as Chinese, repetition and interaction is key to make sure that you are pronouncing the tones properly. Tones are so important to the Chinese language. The best way to nail them is through 1-on-1 interaction.

No Scheduling Flexibility

Need to be home at a certain time every day? Not a morning person? Have an errand to run? Good luck trying to find a lecture class that can accommodate you. All of them have schedules that are set in stone. This may work if you’re craving structure if your life, but for most people, flexibility is ideal.

Many of our students are working professionals, learning Chinese because their job requires it or to enhance their career prospects. Because of this, they can only take classes after 6pm. This is fine for us, since we can schedule classes at any time during the day.

Time Consuming

Finally, a lecture style class is time consuming, simply because of how ineffective it is. Teachers have to try to get everyone on the same page. Some students learn faster than others, and in an individualized class, they would be able to progress ahead at their own pace.

Ditch the traditional lecture method, and try learning Chinese easily with TutorABC Chinese!