Organizing Yourself

What organizational strategies and techniques support successful learning from the beginning?  It is always easier to begin a new endeavor like learning a language when you take the time to consider how undertaking the task will impact your life.  Of course we know that we have to set aside time for events like going to class, studying, buying materials, etc., yet we fail to develop an organizational strategy that takes into account when, where, and for how long we will need to devote time and attention to carrying out the work that is studying a language.

This workshop introduces the concept of “organizing yourself” and addressed what we consider to be the fundamental decisions related to beginning study of a language.

Strategies for Organizing	Your thoughts
Reasons for Studying a Language Love and Friendship Job Opportunities Travel Experiences Longevity	Why am I studying a language?
Qualities of a Successful Language Learner Learn daily Motivated Expands vocabulary Reads Takes risks Utilized technology	What qualities do I already possess? What qualities am I working to develop?
Responsibilities of a Student Attend class and be present Come prepared; do homework Study Review Have a growth mindset Keep trying	How am I meeting my professor half way in the language-learning process?
Your textbook is a resource Maps Graphic organizers Word sets Glossaries Verb charts	How can I maximize the use of my textbook?
Other resources Handouts Audios/Videos/Labs Non-tangibles	How can I better manage my language learning resources?
Organizing for Long-term Memory Mnemonic techniques Adapting textbook content	What do I need to memorize? What knowledge do I need to create and learn?
Knowing your professor Course expectations and structure Participation Error Correction How/when to communicate	How does my professor structure the course? What are the expectations for participation?
Time Management Timeline Reminders Partners Balance	How can I better manage my time to be successful?

Don’t try to integrate all of these strategies at once.  Instead, identify those that are easy to integrate, i.e., with almost no effort, and then choose 2-3 that require some additional effort.  Once you have developed a habit for each technique, consider others that you might want to try.