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How to Be a Good Language Learner

Many students can not speak English though have learned English
from junior high school and senior high school and even after their college
majored in English they still could not speak English well because they only
speak English when learning English or in speaking class because it was
forced by the lecturer. In another side, almost all of students said that study
is very important. They have question in their mind “how to be a good
language learner”. Many learners had tried many kinds of study methods in
purpose to be good language learners but failed. In another side, some
people said in purpose to be a good language learner demand on the effort
and curious from the learner itself. The following paragraph will explain ten
criteria to be a good language learner.
1. Big Motivation
First of all a good language learner has big motivation and desire
to learn the language. It will affect the curiosity of the learner because
a lerner had been motivated to study it. A learner will make some points
and strategies to make he can study the language well. Motivation also
can be a push tool to a learner for not give up before start and at the
process. Although it will hard at the first time, but if the learner know
how to take out the motivation, it will make a learner can continue the
study.
2. Target
A good language learner must have target. What is the purpose
from learn the language. A learner must make list of target that he can
reach in several times. A learner also must know that the target is not
only just at the knowing the language but also must mastering the
language. It means that a learner must learn the language seriously to
reach the target, if can a learner must go ahead than target that learner
made before.
3. Try To Find The Best Way To Learn
Every people have different style in study. They maybe study in
silent situation, with music, while playing games, or from practice.
Learner will think what is the best way for learn. He tries to find out
what works for him and what doesn’t. If he doesn’t understand the
purpose of particular exercise, he asks the teacher. The best way for a
learner to study a language will helpfully for him because with this way
he can enjoy and comfortable to study the materials.
4. Never give up if fail
A good learner never says “I give up”. He is willing to
experiment and take risks. For example, he will try out different ways
of learning vocabulary until finds the suits him best. He is also not
afraid of making mistakes, because he knows that these will help him.
Nobody can learn instantly, everything needs process. Having a fail is
 normal but how he can solve the problems give a learner to learner is
more important.

5. Be Realistic
A learner must be realistic. Learner knows it will take time and
effort to become proficient in a language. He can’t understand and learn
a language instantly without process. A good learner can accept the
reality that he can’t study the language very fast. On other side, a learner
must know that he can make mistakes and not overall right.There will
periods where he does not seem to be making much process.
6. Independent
A language is independent. Independent means learner does not
learn the language in classroom or formal situation. He also not just
receives the materials from the teacher. He finds many resources and
books related to the language and try to study it carefully. He doesn’t
really need help for something not really important, he will try to find
the solution by their self. With indepent study, a learner will know how
much difficulities that he can search by theirself and try to solve it.
7. Organized
A language learner is organized. A learner tries to manage times
for study language. He makes the schedule for what subject and when
he must study it. It will make his study process organized and not wastes
the time. Manage time also effect to the a learner behaviour about
respect the time. It is really important because if learner can’t manage
the time well, the learning process will takes more time than properly.
8. Active
A language learner is active. A best way to learn is not passive.
Hedoesn’t want to get the materials only from the teacher. He tries to
find another source for his study. He aks the tecaher if he doesn’t
understand about something related to the material. Curiosity is really
important in this case, because if the learner doesn’t curious to study,
he will passive. Active learner also very good in social society because
he can adapt and communicate with another people with good because
he always know the best way for making someone respect to him.
9. Balanced Concern For Communication And Accuracy
A good language learner has a balanced concern for
communication and accuracy. Some students are expert at
communicating their thoughts but do not care that they make mistakes
in doing so. The good language learner, on the other hand, is concerned
with both communicating and doing so as accurately as possible. For
example, some English study program students communicate each
other with English language and seems excited, but they make many
 mistakes that they don’t really aware because they think they are
English students. This is wrong, actually a good language learner must
consistent and follow the rules in English and make accuracy
pronunciation to make it clear.

10. Enjoys The Study Experience

A good language learner enjoys the study experience.
Something a learner enjoys and are absorbed in will be both successful
and valuable. It happens because learner doesn’t have resposibilty about
language that he learn. It is more effective when learner study for the
short time but enjoy it rather than study for long time but doesn’t enjoy
it. It is also affect to how much the materials are learner understand. In
the end, the way to be a good language learner must give back to the
person again. What is the best way that a learner can do for himself to
study the language well.
Read the list by Lightbown and Spada (2000:50). Rate the characteristics that
language learners think are instrumental in successful language learning on a scale
from 1 to 5.
• 1 = Very important
• 2 = Quite important
• 3 = Important
• 4 = Not very important
• 5 = Not at all important
A good language learner is:
a is a willing and accurate guesser 1 2 3 4 5
b Tries to get a message across even if specific knowledge is 1 2 3 4 5
lacking
c is willing to make mistakes 1 2 3 4 5
d constantly looks for patterns in the language 1 2 3 4 5
e practices as often as possible 1 2 3 4 5
f analyses his or her own speech and the speech of others 1 2 3 4 5
g attends to whether his or her performance meets the 1 2 3 4 5
standards he or she has learned
h Enjoys grammar exercises 1 2 3 4 5
i Begins learning in childhood 1 2 3 4 5
j has an above-average IQ 1 2 3 4 5
k Has good academic skills 1 2 3 4 5
l Has a good self-image and lots of confidence 1 2 3 4 5