Language Classes
Memorizing Vocabulary and Paradigms
Effective memorization requires more than just reading vocabulary and paradigms over and over. Using a combination of speaking, reading, and writing will help your brain absorb new concepts thoroughly.
Flash Cards
Flash cards are an easy way to memorize vocabulary. You can download an app or make your own using index cards. Carry your flash cards with you and go through them once a day.
Verbalise
Say words and their translations out loud as you go through flash cards. Sing or chant paradigms as you read them in your textbook.
Write
Write out paradigms or vocabulary and their translations, saying the words aloud as you go.
Translation
These tips are helpful for classes that focus on Bible translation (e.g. Hebrew and Greek), but they may be useful for French and American Sign Language as well.
Studying vocabulary and paradigms is only one part of learning a language. It is important to contextualise the language by doing translation. Use the practice exercises in your textbook or ask your professor for resources.
Verbalise
Read sentences out loud before you translate. This helps your brain understand the whole sentence in the original language.
Simplify
Divide long sentences into smaller chunks. Parse or conjugate the verbs and nouns. Translate each section and then fit it all together.
Other Study Strategies
Study Together
Study with your fellow language students. Work on translations separately and compare results. Ask each other questions when you are stuck. Quiz one another other on vocabulary. Each person’s mind works differently, and each person remembers different concepts, so studying in a group can help hold you accountable and remember more than you would on your own.
Study Regularly
Studying for half an hour, or an hour, every day will help you progress much faster than studying for five hours in one day. Go through flashcards and paradigms, translate, and read your textbook. Don’t expect that you will become an expert in a few weeks! Learning a new language takes practice and perseverance.
Selected Resources
Have a resource to recommend for this or other language courses? Feel free to suggest them to us at cae@tyndale.ca.
Hebrew
English Grammar to Ace Biblical Hebrew, by Miles V. Van Pelt
Bible Vocab+ (flash card app)
New Testament Greek
English Grammar to Ace New Testament Greek, by Samuel Lamerson
Flash Greek PRO (flash card app)
