How To Study For Language Exams
Breaking news: languages are hard.
Language exams are double hard. I’ve been studying Arabic for the past two years and I’ve only recently figured out a revision system that works for me. So, I thought I’d save you some time (and, hopefully, a couple of breakdowns) and put together a list of my favourite language revision techniques that will help you to prep for your exams. First of all, it’s important to note that getting an early start is pretty crucial to your success. That means, my beloved night-before-test-crammers, this post isn’t going to be much help to you. In a perfect world, you would prep all of your revision tools throughout the school term so that when it comes to exam season they’re ready for use. This post will walk you through three of my favourite ‘tools’, which I have individually dubbed; The Folder of Rules, Self-Made Audio Books, and …Revision Cards (I know, that last one’s a snooze, but stick with me).
Tool 1: The Folder of Rules
I fill a folder up with all the grammar rules that have been covered in class that year, and also add in rules from previous years if they are still relevant to the upcoming exam. Examples of the rules I include are; verb conjugations, pronouns and plurals. Arabic specific examples of the rules that I include in my folder are; the ‘Idafah’ structure, ‘diptotes’, ‘kana’ and its sisters, and ‘inna’ and its sisters.
I also print off any grammar sheets that my professor has uploaded to our online learning system and annotate them with personal notes, examples, and expansions on rules that I find particularly difficult to grasp.
Towards the back of the folder I include vocabulary lists, which I organise by category. For example I have a ‘food vocabulary’ list, a ‘political vocabulary’ list, and a ‘health vocabulary’ list. This way, if I’m looking for a particular word during the exam, I can flip straight to its logical genre category and find it quickly.
There are very few benefits to living through a global pandemic, but one of them is that the majority of University exams are now done online, are at home, and are open book. By making this ‘grammar rules’ folder ahead of time, you give yourself a leg-up by having an accessible reference book, written in your words, right next to you.
Writing this folder will also get you to consistently engage with the grammar material, helping you to familiarise yourself with all of the rules, even if you need to come back and double check what they are when you’re mid-exam and feeling a little frazzled.
Tool 2: Self-made audio books
A tactic that I’ve employed recently is recording voice notes of the vocabulary that I need to learn. I usually repeat the word I’m trying to remember three times and then give the translation in English. Yes, you will feel weird recording these. And, yes, your family will probably walk in mid-recording without you realising and watch you silently from the doorway while you unknowingly embarrass yourself for many minutes. But, the final product will be totally worth it!
I treat these voice memos like they’re a personal podcast, giving myself little tips and a sprinkling of silliness to help me remember words that I find difficult to get into my head. For example, I’m a big fan of using word/sound association to help me learn vocabulary. So, I’ll add in these associations to my voice memo after I’ve translated the corresponding word into English. One of the associations I use is for the word ‘milk’, which, in Arabic, is pronounced 'haleeb'. I remember this word through the sentence “if ‘haleeb’ the milk out, it will go sour.” Try to come up with your own associations to put into your ‘audiobooks’. In my opinion, the wackier the better.
I like these recordings so much because you can listen to them whenever; on the go, in the shower, while nodding off, or even while on a particularly boring Hinge date. It’s all about hearing those words as much as possible. Think of it as a modern take on the revision card! Speaking of which…
Tool 3: Revision cards
Revision cards are boring. We know this. I’ve actually been known to fall asleep while going through mine. But they’ve stood the test of time for a reason, and that reason is; repetition is the key to memorising things. So, brew a dark roast and start flipping through those cards.
My revision cards are filled solely with vocabulary, but if you would like to include some of the grammar rules that you are finding especially difficult to remember, be my guest.
I like to put the Arabic word on the front of the revision card (with the pronunciation written phonetically underneath it) and then have the English translation on the other side. For verbs, I include multiple conjugations of the same root word on the other side as well.
Just like I organise the vocabulary in my ‘Folder of Rules’, I split my revision cards into genre based categories. I have a ‘household items’ category, an ‘occupation’ category, and a ‘clothing items’ category. You could also split your cards up by grammar element, creating a pile for nouns, a pile for verbs, a pile for adjectives etc. By creating organised piles you make it easy to revise your weak points. For example, if you know you are bad at remembering pronouns, you can take that pile on the train with you that day.
I’ve found that the key to efficient language exam prep is organisation and repetition. The three tools covered in this post will help you to bring those key elements into your revision and get you ready for test day. And, for when you really hit rock bottom, remember; though the language learning process may sucketh, there’s nothing sexier than being able to order a coffee in another language. - Shakespeare.
