How to Be a More Successful Language Learner (Teaching Methods) [Paperback]

Joan Rubin (Author), Irene Thompson (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0838447341 | ISBN-13: 978-0838447345 | Publication Date: January 31, 1994 | Edition: 2

How to Be a More Successful Language Learner incorporates the latest thinking about learner strategies and language learning. Language learners and teachers alike discover the psychological, linguistic, and practical aspects of the successful acquisition of a new language.

Product Details

• Paperback: 120 pages
• Publisher: Heinle; 2 edition (January 31, 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0838447341
• ISBN-13: 978-0838447345
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #390,089 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Good on theory, poor on practical advice, May 16, 2001

By 

Michael A. Stickles "grtbookscom" (BELLEFONTE, PA USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: How to Be a More Successful Language Learner (Teaching Methods) (Paperback)

The book is designed to cover the "psychological, linguistic, and practical matters surrounding the successful acquisition of a new language." It covers the first two quite well, but the presentation of "practical matters" often falls short in providing nuts-and-bolts ideas with sufficient examples to help you implement them.

A much better book for most aspiring language learners looking for a how-to guide is Graham Fuller's "How to Learn a Foreign Language". It is less academic and more practical in tone, providing many suggestions with plenty of examples. The only practical things I saw in Rubin and Thompson's book which Fuller's did not have are (a) a self-test to help you identify your weak spots in language-learning skills, and (b) a section to help you clarify your objectives in learning a new language.

If you like the academic approach, this may be a good book for you. If you prefer a more familiar tone with a "hands-on" emphasis, get Fuller's book instead.

14 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Save your money, April 20, 2000

By 

S. Kelly "Make no little plans, they have no ... (Jinan, China) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: How to Be a More Successful Language Learner (Teaching Methods) (Paperback)

This book offers little information that a chat with any trained, competent language teacher wouldn't offer. Do you need to buy a book to tell you that you should learn something new everyday or be an organized student?

There are a few extras like a diagram showing the levels of fluency in learning a language, but that's not worth the price of the book. Save your money and get a good dictionary or other supplement for the language you wish to learn.

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Wish I Had This Book Long Ago, March 10, 2003

By 

GBoomer - See all my reviews

This review is from: How to Be a More Successful Language Learner (Teaching Methods) (Paperback)

I wish I had this book 20 some years ago when I began learning Chinese. Although I have many years of language study behind me (including a degree in Chinese language and literature), I still found helpful, new ideas in this book when I bought it two years ago. And I continue to refer to it occassionaly for reminders and inspiration.

Many language teachers do not teach well HOW to be a student of the foreign language that they teach. Many are native speakers and never themselves had to think about how they learned the language they teach.

Also inspiring is the latest research and theory about language learning presented here. When I began foreign language learning, it was an accepted "fact" that adults (like me) could not learn languages as well as children. It is a suprise and relief to read in this book that research now debunks this myth.

I was suprised to see the other reviews of this book here on Amazon and to see that they were negative. I have found it to be a very helpful, well researched and well written book and an important reference in my continuing language studies.