Why measuring progress and tracking progress at all?

When we begin to learn a language, our progress is weighty and aggressive. It is not surprising - adding 10 words to 0, having trained key phrases from Survival English Course and having mastered a couple of adjectives to describe the weather outside, we have already made a jerk high and far on the scale of abscissas and ordinates.

The more new words we learn, the deeper we get the system structure of the language, the more difficult it gets to advance, and even more difficult to track the progress. As much as in sports, the "plateau effect" is inevitable. After a couple of levels (CEFR levels), the graph on the progress bar is treacherously aligned into a direct stagnation.

And now, on the horizon, motivation kisses us "Good byel!" At this very stage most students take a long pause and eventually abandon their attempts to learn the language.

“Accurate as at pharmacy” is clearly not about learning a language. Nevertheless, if progress is not tangible emotionally, then the development of * dopamines needs to be helped.

Why measuring the progress?

• Without tracking the results of your efforts, you don’t feel the connection with reality, you don’t know which part of the path you are on, how much has already been done, and how much is still ahead. If it is possible to assess how much weight your English has gained, then this figure moves you in forward, nourishes and motivates your vanity.
• You are informed when it is time to change strategy. As soon as the first signs of slowdown appear, it's the point to try new methods and approaches. The more detailed the section for measuring progress, the more accurately you know what works specifically for you, and what’s in the furnace.
• Minimizing the risk of quitting this pointless activity. If laziness and procrastination are prevailing, it becomes difficult and incomprehensible, just look back at the path you have taken, evaluate how deeply you have bitten into English granite, how much has already been done and how much you already know and able to produce. Quitting what you started doesn't seem such a good idea anymore. You probably would rather continue than give up.

I’ve selected the most “working” methods for measuring progress.

1. Set small goals and achieve them.

Use the simple selective method. In numbers.

For example: in a week I’ve learned 20 new verbs and managed to apply them in my last essay (blog, video presentation).

Or, in 3 months I’ve read 2 books in English (oh, even in the original, wow!), I confidently sing along to a couple of new hits from the music charts.

Or, placed an order on amazon.co.uk / eBay and already received my package.

2. Keep individual vocabs or word lists.

It is not necessary to keep a notebook with three columns, there are more practical ways. Applications like Quizlet are great for word sorting and interactive training. This is such a bank of your active vocabulary.

3. Return to completed.

After reading the article in the magazine, the web page of the news site, note for yourself that it’s clear what else is blanked. After a few weeks, return to the material and note with pleasure that the meaning has already started sparkling in the details) This practice definitely gives understanding, your English is improving, and if not, then switch the focus - learn more words, put more emphasis on grammar.

4. CRM and ProSites.

Some English schools offer their own applications or online platforms. The most advanced schools using such platforms and on-line components solve the issue of measuring and evaluating students' progress.

This is an amazing tool for the active practice of vocabulary and grammar in the framework of a particular course, and at the same time accurate systems for analyzing progress in different planes of knowledge and skills of each individual student.

The most convenient and valuable in such applications and platforms is that such a report can be obtained at any time during training. For example, the EnglishU service has been successfully used by Red Arrow Studio for many years to analyze student learning and progress. Once a week, the methodologist, teacher, and students themselves can see in numbers, diagrams, how their receptive skills develop, vocabulary is replenished, and what is worth pumping, and how exactly.

5. International exam systems or online tests to determine the level.

These types of tests give a clear idea of ​​your strengths and weaknesses. Take these tests better every 6-8 months of continuous language learning. Showing your overall level as a whole and each of the skills separately, they are invaluable in terms of indicating the subtleties that you have to improve.

Conclusion: a regular analysis of their progress in any training is not only useful, but also critical for sustainable development.

Use with pleasure!

* Dopamine - a hormone responsible for the pleasure of the result.

Article prepared by Helen Kupriyanova

Director of Studies to Red Arrow English Studio