6 Easy Ways to Overcome the 'Intermediate Plateau' | Learning Tips & Tricks

Summary

In this language learning video, Emily from Mango Languages addresses the intermediate plateau, a common frustration where learners' progress stalls. She outlines six strategies to overcome this hurdle: diversifying grammar usage, deepening listening comprehension, seeking varied language input, embracing corrective feedback, balancing receptive and productive skills, and reigniting motivation. Emily's insights, combined with the Mango app's error-based learning, aim to help learners break through and advance in their language journey.

Takeaways

• 🌟 The intermediate plateau is a common phase in language learning where progress seems to stall, often characterized by a lack of vocabulary growth or difficulty in advancing beyond basic conversational topics.
• 📝 To overcome reliance on familiar grammar structures, try writing daily to challenge yourself with more complex sentences and reinforce learning through journaling.
• 👂 To improve listening skills, engage in active listening by focusing on details such as word order and pronunciation, and maintain a language notebook to record observations.
• 📚 Diversify your language input by consuming content from various sources to expose yourself to different accents, dialects, and speech styles, which can enhance learning.
• 🗣️ Seek corrective feedback actively by informing your language partners that you welcome corrections to help solidify your learning and prevent the cementing of mistakes.
• 💬 Balance your language learning by focusing on both receptive skills (reading and listening) and productive skills (speaking and writing) to avoid feeling inadequate in communication.
• 🔄 Revisit and redefine your motivation for learning the language to reconnect with your 'why' and maintain a positive learning attitude.
• 🤔 Reflect on your perceived competence versus actual competence to appreciate the progress you've made and use it as motivation to continue learning.
• 📈 Use tools like the Mango Languages app, which offers corrective feedback and varied input sources, to support your language learning journey.
• 🌐 Engage with language learning communities or find conversation partners to practice speaking and receive valuable feedback.

Q & A

What is the intermediate plateau effect in language learning?

The intermediate plateau effect is a phenomenon where language learners make steady progress initially but seem to stall out around the intermediate proficiency level.

Why do learners experience the intermediate plateau?

Learners experience the intermediate plateau for various reasons, including over-reliance on familiar grammar structures, shallow listening practices, lack of varied input, insufficient corrective feedback, and focusing too much on receptive skills over productive ones.

How can writing help overcome the intermediate plateau?

Writing can help overcome the intermediate plateau by allowing learners to bypass social pressure and explore more complex grammar structures without the need to convey a message quickly.

What is shallow processing in listening and how can it hinder language learning?

Shallow processing in listening refers to focusing only on catching familiar words rather than absorbing new grammatical patterns. It can hinder language learning by preventing learners from becoming more active listeners and noticing details.

Why is it important to have varied input in language learning?

Having varied input is important because it exposes learners to different accents, dialects, and speech styles, which can enhance language learning and help break through the intermediate plateau.

How can learners seek out authentic input from various sources?

Learners can seek out authentic input by consuming media they already enjoy, such as movies, podcasts, or YouTube videos, but in their target language from different creators.

What is the role of corrective feedback in overcoming the intermediate plateau?

Corrective feedback plays a crucial role by identifying and correcting errors, preventing them from becoming fossilized. Learners should communicate to their conversation partners that they are open to corrections.

Why is it beneficial to practice speaking and writing skills in addition to reading and listening?

Practicing speaking and writing skills is beneficial because it helps learners overcome the feeling of inadequacy in production skills and ensures balanced language development.

How can learners reconnect with their motivation for learning a language?

Learners can reconnect with their motivation by reflecting on their goals and understanding why they started learning the language in the first place.

What is the Mango Languages app and how does it help with language learning?

The Mango Languages app is a language learning tool that offers corrective feedback using an error-based learning methodology, helping learners to identify and fix common mistakes in their target language.

What advice does Emily give for overcoming the intermediate plateau?

Emily advises tackling one issue at a time, starting with writing to explore complex grammar, becoming an active listener, seeking varied input, asking for corrective feedback, practicing speaking and writing, and reconnecting with one's motivation.