At the end of 2019, I took part in Lingoda Maraphone. In this series of articles, I share my experience and tips.
Should I take Lingoda marathons?
You should if it meets your goal in English or in any other languages they offer: Spanish, German and French.
And if your goal is to brush up on your speaking, reading, and communication skills and to dive into the language environment this is a great fit.
But if you want to learn grammar, prepare for exams or improve pronunciation I suggest you consider other options.
For instance, take 1:1 classes with the same teacher who will guide you, help to achieve your goals in English, and also would give you homework and feedback.
TIPS
If you decide to participate here are a couple of things you need to take care of.
1. Rules
Read a marathon’s rules carefully and follow them. It seems obvious but it never hurts to remind.
First read, see if something is not clear and if it’s not, go to the support team and clarify these issues.
It’s also helpful to write down important deadlines: date of payments, deadlines of admission, end of each month, end of the competition.
You might even want to put them on your calendar.
2. Technical settings
In such marathons it’s crucial to be on time and have a good Internet connection. Your technical issues won’t be an excuse for missing a class and you will be disqualified for a refund.
Take care of it at the beginning. And if you occasionally experience internet disconnection at home consider a mobile internet just in case.
If you’re not familiar with Zoom, find out more about it and test it with your friends or family members before the lesson.
How to join and test Zoom meeting
Make sure that you can hear and see everything and also that people can see and hear you. Plan to take your lessons in a quiet place where you can speak as well as observe. Eliminate all the noises around you. Use headphones.
3. How to choose time and classes
Because you’re required to have a lesson every day, book your lessons in advance. If you don’t, you may not be able to get the classes you want at the time you want them.
Scheduling classes in advance is the best option not only in terms of technical issues but in terms of the learning process as well.
At the beginning of each month, you’ll be given 30 credits on which you can book 30 classes.
The best option is to plan them at the same time. It’s the most comfortable mode because it’s easy to remember and helps to build a habit. It could be mornings before work, studies, or when your children sleep, during the day if you have such an opportunity or evenings.
First, I tried to fill the gaps in my schedule and have classes at a different time of a day but eventually, I switched to constant 8 AM during a week and 9-11 AM on weekends. And it worked well.
In the next chapter of Lingoda Marathon Review I share some learning tips and strategies on how to make the most of the challenge.
