You are on page 1of 2

http://languagegeek.

net/2010/05/12/how-to-use-an-assimil-course/
= Passive wave =
1. Listen to the text with the book closed. It does not matter if you do not und
erstand what is said. You will gain a general impression of the sounds, hearing
the pronunciation without being influenced by the spelling.
2. Listen to the recording a second time while looking at the English translatio
n.
3. Read the foreign text aloud (with the aid of the phonetic transcription if ne
cessary). Be sure you understand the meaning of each sentence, comparing it with
the translation as required.
4. Now read the foreign text again, but this time without looking at the transla
tion.
5. Listen to the recording twice, once while looking at the English translation,
and once while looking at the foreign text.
6. Listen to the recording again with the book closed. At this point you should
understand what is being said.
7. Listen to the recording once more. Stop the machine after each sentence, and
try to repeat it aloud.
8. Carefully read the comments several times. Examine the foreign sentences bein
g explained. These notes are very important.
9. Read the exercises. Repeat each sentence several times. The exercises review
material from the current lesson and from preceding lessons. If you have forgott
en certain words, consult the English translation.
10. Examine the examples of sentence structure. They show how words and phrases
are combined in the target language, which is not always the same as in English.

http://how-to-learn-any-language.com/forum/forum_posts.asp?TID=22061&PN=1
http://languagegeek.net/2011/03/14/assimils-second-active-wave/
= Assimil - Active Wave =
1. Read the lesson, repeating each sentence once. If you have the recordings, li
sten to them carefully.
2. Cover the target language text and try to reconstruct it, looking only at the
English sentences. Make an effort to do this both out loud and in writing. This
is the most important part of the second wave!
3. After you have finished, uncover the target language text and carefully corre
ct any errors you have made.
After each new lesson, you will be told which earlier lesson you are to review i
n this precise way. This second wave of your study will lead to an active and, i

n a very short time, spontaneous knowledge of the target language.

You might also like