Mistake #1 – Neglecting certain skills

Are any of these sentences sounding familiar?

• “First, I’ll learn all the grammar and a bunch of words, and then I’ll start speaking.”
• “Why should I bother reading in Hungarian? I don’t want to read books in the language.”
• “Listening to Hungarian people is so challenging; I can’t understand them anyway. I’ll just learn a lot of words and then I’ll focus on improving my listening skills.”
• “Writing is not important for everyday communication. I’ll just focus on speaking.”
• “Speaking in Hungarian is so stressful. And I have nobody to practice with. I’ll just read and listen and I’ll get better at speaking, too.”

If any of these sentences resonate with you, you’re in the right place! In this blog post, I’ll delve into two compelling reasons why it’s crucial not to neglect any single language skill.

Reason #1: Every skill is important for something

When it comes to language learning, every skill has its own special mojo. 😉 Listening and reading are receptive skills that should not be overlooked. These skills allow us to observe and comprehend language in action, providing valuable patterns and insights. Through reading, we have the opportunity to analyze words, phrases, and sentence structures at our own pace. On the other hand, listening exposes us to pronunciation and intonation, enhancing our overall understanding of the language. Additionally, developing strong listening comprehension is vital for effective communication. It’s not enough to simply speak; we must also understand our conversation partners, right? 😅

TIP: To optimize our learning, it is recommended to find materials like our Daily Dose of Hungarian program that offer both audio and text together, facilitating a comprehensive learning experience.

Writing and speaking, on the other hand, are productive skills that demand active language usage. Neglecting these skills would undermine our ability to respond and engage with the language. Writing grants us the advantage of time, enabling thoughtful consideration of words and sentence structures. By practicing writing, we refine our language proficiency and have the opportunity to learn from our mistakes through constructive feedback. On the other hand, speaking speaking is like our holy grail in language learning, isn’t it? 😊 It may not leave us much time to ponder, but it’s an absolute must-have skill to master. The practice of speaking equips us with the ability to communicate effectively and express ourselves fluently.

In conclusion, every language skill holds its own significance. Listening and reading provide us with valuable input, while writing and speaking put us in the driver’s seat to actively use and engage with the language.

By recognizing the importance of each skill and dedicating equal attention to their development, we ensure a well-rounded and comprehensive language learning experience.

Reason #2: Skills are closely linked

The other reason why none of the skills should be neglected is that they are not isolated entities but rather closely intertwined, with each skill enhancing the others. Let me give you a few examples:

• When you dive into reading, soaking up words, phrases, and sentence structures in context, you’re setting the stage for easier listening. The more you read, the more familiar you become with the language, making listening easier.
• The more you indulge in reading and listening, the more language models you collect. These models become your secret weapons when it comes to writing and speaking. They infuse your vocabulary, sentence construction, and overall language finesse.
• When you put effort into improving your writing skills by constructing sentences and choosing the right words, you’re actually building a strong foundation for your speaking abilities. The language patterns and structures you learn through writing naturally transfer to your spoken communication, helping you express yourself confidently and coherently.

So here’s the thing: that skill you’ve been (intentionally or unintentionally) neglecting may actually be the key to unlocking your language goals. It’s often the unexpected path that leads to success. Make it a priority to explore effective ways of developing all four skills and ensure you don’t overlook any of them.