How the whole family can help you with your GCSE language exams this Easter

You might’ve heard that children find it a lot easier to learn languages than adults, well that may not be entirely true. While younger adults do have some advantages when learning a second language, they don’t have it inherently easier.

In fact, some studies actually suggest that you may be better off learning as an adult! The reality is as teenagers, you simply learn differently. Getting your parents, relatives or whoever else is around you to help you with your learning can really impact the results you get in your exams. Don’t believe me? You will once you read the study conducted by the Journal of Child Language. When children and adults have the same learning experiences, the rate they develop their language skills is relatively quicker!

This shows gathering everyone in your family home together can help your language learning just in time for your GCSEs. We know how stressful it can be leading up to exams. So getting prepared the right way can really help you in your revision. In this article, I will go through 7 ways you and your family can make sure you pass your language GCSE exam during the Easter holidays.

For professionals with full-time work commitments, here are 10 great ideas to earn some extra money, without interfering with your 9-to-5:

Schedule times to practice learning

Label things around your home

Take a weekend abroad

Sit back, relax and learn

Fake it till you make it

Talk it out

Hire a tutor

Schedule times to practice learning

The famous saying “if you fail to plan, you plan to fail,” couldn’t be truer when learning a language. When you start to learn something new, one way you can see your skills developing is through consistency. A way you can do this is by scheduling times every day to go practise different verbs, tenses and other vocabulary.

This doesn't have to be the same time each day, although that may help to implement some discipline in your learning!

In time, you’ll become more familiar with the language. Parents, older siblings and grandparents can help you make an effective revision timetable. If the family is there to support your learning they’ll be able to break down each section of the language and concentrate on more urgent tasks.

Label things around your home

Simply by attaching it to things you already know will boost your skills.

It may look a little random in your house but it certainly does work! Instead of using the standard flash card for your learning, why not take it up a notch. Using post-sticks or pieces of paper, label items in your home in the language of your choice! For example, if your GCSE language exam is in Spanish, you can start by labelling everything you see in your bedroom in that language. From the bed, wardrobe, mirror or TV you’ll subconsciously start to pick up more Spanish words! This way you are immersing yourself in the language.

Take a weekend abroad

Sometimes all it takes is a short trip away to ace an exam! This is the perfect opportunity for the whole family to get behind your language revision this Easter. You’ll be absolutely amazed at how much information you can communicate. As well as how quickly you pick up a language when you don’t have any other option. By taking a weekend away to a country that speaks the language you are learning, the experience will be like no other.

From getting to know the culture of the country to hearing the different dialects within a city. Instead of being stuck in a classroom or at home, you can walk around the town. Go shopping or even order food in the language you’re learning. Struggling to know which countries to visit this Easter? Check out this article on the best places to visit in the Spring!

Sit back, relax and learn

How would you feel if you could sit back and relax whilst revising for your language exam? Well, with sites such as Netflix and Amazon Prime that is now possible! There are a number of studies that suggest that watching a show can actually benefit your learning, rather than looking at a textbook. As a family you can swap the language of your regular shows, when sitting down to enjoy some TV.

Then you can decide to spend the whole week watching Friends or whatever your favourite show is in the language you are learning! If you don’t know enough of the language to turn the subtitles off, keep a list of new vocabulary words you hear and what you think they mean. It’ll lead you to looking them up later and having a better understanding of how they are spoken in a conversation!

Fake it till you make it

Sometimes all we need is a little pressure to perform at our best. We can’t all have the pleasure of heading off abroad but there is something else you can do! Creating an exam-like environment at home could be a great way to help you prepare for your language GCSE exam. As you go through past papers for your reading and writing exam, it’ll give you a clearer idea of how you may perform on the day. Also, a great tip is to get your family members to act as invigilators! Not only will they be able to keep you under timed conditions, it is also a great way for everyone to get onboard with your language learning!

Talk it out

What better way to get to grips with a language than having to speak it all day! This is a great way to completely immerse yourself in the language you’re learning. At first you might think this is a tough task but you’d be surprised how many words and phrases are already stored in your mind! Language is something that needs to be processed, not simply memorized.You may not know it but your brain is already an awesome vocabulary learning machine.

It’s been scientifically proven that the best way to learn a language is through context. This simply means attaching the new words that you’re learning to items or places you already know. So, as you walk around the house, aim to attach simple commands such as “I’m going to the kitchen” with similar words in your chosen language.

Hire a tutor

You can never go wrong with this next option. Studies show that people who feel like they‘re working as a team (even if they‘re not physically together) accomplish more. The main reasons for this are the support, accountability and social interaction you gain when learning with a tutor. It’s been proven that working with a solid tutor and sitting with him or her for a few hours every day, is the fastest way to learn a foreign language. Who better than Learn&Co to get you prepared for your GCSE language exam! With expert and experienced tutors at your disposal, they’ll be able to walk you through any concerns or challenges you may be facing.

Don't just take our word for it, 95% of our students have reached a level 9/A* in their GCSE/A Level language exam when working with us!

Are you ready to dive into your language revision now? Preparing for your exams may not seem like a fun task at first but incorporating these tips and tricks into your learning is bound to get your motivation fired up! If you’re not quite sure where to start or would like more guidance on how to start your revision, request a consultation with us here at Learn&Co. Our tutors work hard to help you get the best marks without sacrificing your peace of mind.