The second quarter of 2023 has just begun, and it’s a good time to take a look at your language learning journey. If your first reaction is an embarrassed side-eye look, then it means you haven’t practiced your target language in a while. You’re probably thinking, “Oh, that. Yeah… I’ll get back into it later.”
It sounds like you stopped learning your target language because you lack motivation. We’ve all been there.
Here are three reasons why you lack motivation and some tips to help you get back on track.
Reason #1 – Stale Study Methods
Is it your third month on Duolingo? Is it your fourth month reviewing grammar rules in the same textbook? Another iTalki or Preply session with the same instructor? Sticking to one language learning method is a good way to get you from excited to bored in no time.
Tip #1 – Change It Up
In a previous post, I talked about the resources I use and the amount of time I dedicate to language learning. I divide my language learning between active and passive, and the resources I use depend on which study method I’m using that day.
If you’ve been using apps like Duolingo or Babbel, take a break from the app and use pen and paper to practice your target language. Journal in your target language. Every day, write a paragraph of the day’s events. Events include the mundane (brushing your teeth, walking or taking the train to work, what you had for lunch, etc.). The focus isn’t on the events but on your ability to express yourself using the vocabulary you know, and it’ll push you to use new vocabulary words.
If you’ve been studying grammar for a few months, stop. Put the book back on your bookshelf and watch a movie or listen to a podcast. Use what you’ve learned to decipher what you’re listening to or watching. My go-to French podcast is Français Authentique. I love it because each podcast episode has a PDF transcription, so you can follow along with the audio.
Don’t make the mistake of changing it up only to stick to the new method. Develop a new habit of changing it up by practicing your target language in active or passive form.
Reason #2 – Practicing Too Much or Too Little
Yes, it’s possible to practice too much. If you’ve been actively studying your target language for a while (varies by person), it’s possible you’ll start to feel bored or stressed out. If you’re the opposite (studying too little), the lack of consistency is preventing you from developing a good habit and maintaining motivation.
Tip #2 – Set Up a Schedule
Increase or decrease your study time depending on where you find yourself in this conundrum and keep it consistent. Consistency is key to achieving any goal.
If you’re studying one or two hours a day every day, decrease the amount of study time by 30-40 minutes and remove a day or two from your study schedule.
If you’re studying once a week or not studying at all, create a calendar event on your phone or in your physical calendar for language learning and dedicate 15-20 minutes every day. Adjust the amount of time once you’ve developed a habit.
Setting up a recurring calendar event is a great way to make language learning a priority.
I have a calendar event in both my phone and physical calendars to remind me that I’ve allocated a specific time to study my target language. Pair this tip with tip #1.
Reason #3 – Your Target Language Is Not Relevant to Your Life
Why you’re learning a language isn’t as important, in my opinion, as the how you learn a language. A lot of people do things for the heck of it but if they want to be successful at said things, they need to practice and incorporate it into their lives. To make language relevant to your life, you need to immerse yourself in it.
One way to fully immerse yourself in your target language is to live in the country in which the language is spoken, something Diane Lane’s character did in Under the Tuscan Sun. But we don’t live in movies and living and studying abroad is an unrealistic option for many of us.
Tip #3 – Bring the Language to You
You can begin by switching the language on all your devices to your target language. I think this depends on your comfort level with your target language, but it wouldn’t hurt to try.
Watch TV shows and movies and listen to podcasts in your target language. You don’t have to do this every time you want to watch or listen to something. Switch it up or pick a specific day(s) of the week. I dedicated Mondays (active), Tuesdays (passive), Saturdays (mix), and Sundays (mix) to language learning in some form.
Reading in your target language is very important. Subscribe to a magazine or newspaper in your target language, or buy or borrow books in your target language.
In the end…
Lacking motivation to do something is completely normal. It’s what you do to get yourself back on track that will determine your success. If you find yourself losing motivation to keep going, try these methods to get yourself back on track.