Overwhelmed by language learning? Maybe it’s time to go back to the basics.
Have you ever felt like you’re in over your head learning a language? Maybe you’ve decided which language you want to learn, can’t wait to get started, but don’t know where to begin? Or maybe you’ve started a course or even created a learning routine, but are constantly distracted by the dozens of other methods, podcasts, or apps for learning the latest languages that are out there?
Learning a language can indeed be very stressful. There is so much to learn and so many ways to learn! However, the worst thing you can do is move from one method to the next without ever finishing any of them.
The problem is that if you are looking for the best resources to learn a language, you are not learning. Having many different language learning materials at your disposal is both a trap and a blessing. And if you want to make fast progress in language learning, you need to avoid this trap.
How, you ask?
First, by setting up a simple language routine that contains everything you need to make progress.
Once you have this routine set up, you need to make sure it stays simple.
If you do it right, this approach will show you every day what you will do to make progress in a language.
It will help you clarify your goal.
It will motivate you and make progress inevitable.
Is that okay with you? Then read on to learn exactly how you should design your language learning routine!
Back to the roots: the ingredients for a good language learning routine.
Language learning is about the four “big skills”: speaking, listening, reading, and writing. And that’s a good start.
However, if you want to design an effective language learning routine, there is another, more effective approach. In this method, language learning activities are divided into two categories:
- First, you study regularly to learn new words, patterns, grammar, 10 to 20 minutes a day can be enough.
- Second, you expose yourself to the language in real-life situations and apply what you learn.
Of course, the distinction between learning time and exposure is not so clear in real life: you will learn new words, phrases, etc. when you use the language, and your learning time may also serve as “exposure”.
Also, how fast you progress depends on many factors: how much time you have, how much experience you have with language learning, what similar languages you already know, etc.
One thing is certain, however: if you want to progress quickly, you need to distinguish between just sitting down to learn a language and sitting down to learn it.
If you don’t, you run the risk of neglecting one of these two categories. And you want to avoid that at all costs.
