These 3 Tips Helped Me Create a Language Learning Habit
Making time to study, and not just finding it.
With everything going on in our daily lives, it can feel like we can’t even manage to do the necessities.
How can we really find time for such a time-consuming interest like language learning?
We can’t.
But we can be deliberate about when we study, deciding what those study sessions look like before we start, and never letting two days go by in a row without studying.
Create time
Setting aside a specific time each day when we can study and ignore everything else in our lives is the only real way to amass the hundreds and thousands of hours required to master a language, no matter what any YouTubers might tell you.
Prioritize this time in your day, and it’s okay to be a little selfish about this, too. Nobody else can learn a language for you, and if you don’t prioritize this time, no one else will.
Studying more than this is okay, too, but building your schedule around 15 minutes in the morning with your coffee, a 30-minute session at lunch, or 60 minutes before bed will guarantee that at least some studying gets done every single day.
Parameters
Be clear about what “studying” means. Is it reviewing flashcards in an app like Duolingo or Anki? Writing in your journal? Reading a book? Catching up on a drama or YouTuber?
Having clear goals, or at least knowing what language mode you want to practice, helps create a sense of accomplishment and reduces indecision.
Studying can mean literally anything and can even vary with ability, so to avoid a Netflix-style decision paralysis, have a clear idea of what it is you want to study going into your next session.
Don’t miss twice
The whole reason we’re in this mess is that life is chaotic and unpredictable, so I’m not about to tell you, “Missing a single day will derail you from ever reaching your language goals!”
But two days in a row, now you’re building a not-studying habit and off to a great start!
If possible, a focused study session for an hour is ideal, but if all you can do is five minutes of flashcards here and there throughout the day, that’s great, too.
Whatever you can do on that second day to study your target language is enough to get your study habit back on the right track.
Recap
- Schedule study sessions (selfishly)
- Set goals/a topic for the study session
- Don't miss two sessions in a row
Keeping these 3 points in mind when consciously making time for language learning will help you develop the habit of studying until it becomes a part of your daily routine.
Thank you for including reading a book as study time. I really want to set aside more time for reading an actual book, of which many are piling up. How do I choose?