Why Homework Really Matters in Language Learning
Homework has long been a central part of education, in the UK and elsewhere it continues to play an important role in supporting learning both in and beyond the classroom.
For secondary-age students (11–18) in particular, homework provides an essential bridge between what is taught in school and what is absorbed into long-term memory.
This is particularly true in foreign language learning, where repeated exposure and practice are crucial to mastering new vocabulary, grammar, and communication skills.
While debates about the volume and purpose of homework continue, the evidence shows that, when well designed, homework is a powerful tool for improving student outcomes.
Learning in Small Chunks: The Science of Memory
Research consistently demonstrates that learning is most effective when information is reviewed and practised in small, regular chunks rather than in occasional bursts. Known as spaced repetition, this approach enables students to transfer new content from short-term into long-term memory. For a Year 9 student learning French, for instance, revisiting ten new words each night through homework tasks is far more effective than cramming a hundred words before an end-of-term test.
The importance of this steady, cumulative approach is well captured in Jovita Castelino’s The Homework Conundrum (2025), which highlights how consistent homework routines provide opportunities for deliberate practice. Castelino notes that language learners who engage with homework regularly, even for short periods, are more likely to retain vocabulary and build the confidence to use it spontaneously.
This aligns with the principles laid out by Bempechat (2019) in The Case for Quality Homework. She argues that quality homework reinforces classroom learning and provides vital opportunities for independent practice, particularly in subjects that rely on memorisation and skill-building, such as foreign languages.
Homework as a Motivational Tool
Beyond memory, homework also plays a motivational role. Adolescents benefit from clear goals and the sense of achievement that comes from completing meaningful tasks. Well-structured homework helps students see progress, which in turn builds their motivation to learn. For language learners, the experience of completing a speaking task at home or successfully answering comprehension questions can build confidence and encourage further engagement.
Motivation is also linked to autonomy. When students take responsibility for learning outside the classroom, they develop habits of independence and self-discipline.
Homework, then, is not simply about the content reviewed, it also teaches students how to manage their time, persevere with challenges, and recognise the rewards of consistent effort.
Supporting Students Through Homework
John Hattie’s Visible Learning meta-analysis highlights that homework has a particularly positive impact on secondary school students, provided it is well structured and purposeful. This emphasises the need to design homework that supports, rather than overwhelms, learners.
Supporting students with homework requires a multi-faceted approach. Teachers play a central role in designing tasks that are achievable, relevant, and directly linked to classroom learning. As Harris Cooper (2006) has argued, homework should be clearly structured and manageable in scope to avoid unnecessary stress. Similarly, Cathy Vatterott (2010), in her work Rethinking Homework, reminds us that assignments should serve clear learning goals rather than simply occupying time.
Technology now offers additional ways to support students in ways that were not possible a generation ago.
Digital platforms can provide immediate feedback on tasks, allowing students to identify errors and correct them quickly, reinforcing learning more effectively.
In language learning, this is especially valuable for pronunciation practice.
Software can model accurate pronunciation, enable students to listen and repeat, and then give instant corrective feedback.
This allows learners to practise oral skills in a safe environment, outside the pressure of the classroom, while still receiving guidance that mirrors teacher support.
Parents, too, play a vital role in supporting homework, but as Bempechat (2019) emphasises, their role should be one of encouragement rather than direct teaching. Providing a quiet space, showing interest, and reinforcing routines are all ways parents can help.
Schools can also provide additional support through homework clubs, online resources, & structured revision guides.
Ultimately, homework is most beneficial when students feel supported both academically and emotionally. Integrating technology into homework routines can make this support more personalized and accessible, ensuring that learners are guided towards success with the right tools and encouragement rather than struggling in isolation.
The Role of Technology and AI-Driven Tools
In recent years, technology has transformed the way homework is set, completed, and reviewed. AI-driven tools in particular now allow teachers to set assignments that are automatically marked, reducing the burden of marking while still providing valuable insights into student progress.
For example, teachers can assign vocabulary quizzes, listening comprehension exercises, or grammar drills that give immediate feedback to students.
These tools track individual performance, flag common errors, and enable teachers to identify where intervention is needed. This not only saves time but also makes homework more engaging for students, who benefit from instant results and gamified elements.
Importantly, while technology can streamline processes, student accountability remains essential. Students must still complete tasks with diligence and take responsibility for their own progress.
Technology should support, not replace, their active participation in learning.
Sanako Connect: Enhancing Homework in Four Skills
One of the most innovative platforms available to language teachers today is Sanako Connect, an online software that enables students to practise the four key skills of language learning—speaking, listening, reading, and writing—through structured homework tasks.
1 - Speaking
Sanako Connect allows teachers to set speaking tasks where students record their voices in response to prompts. This could involve repeating model phrases, answering comprehension questions, or simulating conversations.
Students can also practise pronouncing a series of words, phrases or sentences, and receive immediate feedback on the quality of their pronunciation with mispronounced words highlighted.
Teachers can then review submissions asynchronously, giving feedback that students can read or listen to subsequently, without needing to listen in real time.
This empowers students to practise oral skills independently, a crucial area often underdeveloped through traditional homework.
2 - Listening
Teachers can upload audio or video materials such as news clips, songs, or dialogues and create comprehension questions.
Students complete the listening exercises at home, with the ability to replay audio until they are confident. This consistent exposure builds listening stamina and comprehension skills
3 - Reading
Sanako Connect makes it simple to set reading comprehension tasks.
Teachers can provide short articles, dialogues, or stories, followed by multiple-choice or open-ended questions. Students practise decoding written texts, encountering new vocabulary in context, and answering in their own words.
4 - Writing
Students can submit written homework directly through the platform, whether short translations, diary entries, or essays.
Teachers can provide feedback to guide progress without generating excessive marking workload.
The combination of these four skill areas ensures balanced language development. Importantly, homework set through Sanako Connect is interactive, personalised, and trackable. Teachers gain detailed insight into student engagement and performance, enabling them to tailor future lessons more effectively.
Conclusion
Homework remains a cornerstone of effective secondary education, particularly in foreign language learning. Through regular, focused practice, students consolidate knowledge, strengthen memory, and build confidence. As Castelino (2025) and Bempechat (2019) both argue, quality homework - well designed, supported by parents and teachers, and integrated into a consistent routine - contributes significantly to academic success.
Today, the challenge is not whether homework has value, but how to design and deliver it most effectively. With the support of modern technology, such as platforms like Sanako Connect, teachers can ensure that homework is both manageable and meaningful. These innovations reduce workload while still holding students accountable, ensuring that the vital skills of speaking, listening, reading, and writing are practised regularly beyond the classroom.
Some of the impact headlines reported by Sioned Harold, Curriculum Partner (Welsh in English medium settings and International languages), who led a project with a group of schools across South Wales using Sanako Connect were:
“Improved confidence and engagement in pupils’ language learning, improvement in pupils’ pronunciation, an increase in homework engagement and independent practice and improved results in assessments and examinations.”
Students reported that:
“Sanako Connect is a good way of learning and self-improvement.”
“It allows you to get feedback on your pronunciation.”
“It’s fun and easy to use but also really helps!”
For language learners aged 11–18, homework is not a chore to endure but an opportunity to develop knowledge and skills. By recognising its importance, supporting students through challenges, and harnessing new technologies, we can ensure that homework remains a powerful driver of progress in modern language learning.
Wendy Adeniji
Languages Consultant
For more information on Sanako Languages & Interpreting technology please contact us