The hardest part about learning a new language is finding the time to practice it every day. It should have been easy to find a few minutes every day, but our busy schedules and insane ambition leave little room for building new habits in today’s result-obsessed world.
If you’re trying to learn a new language, whether it is by using an app like Duolingo or on yourself, this post is perfect for you. It discusses six insanely effective tips you can apply right now to make practicing a new language a non-negotaible part of your daily routine.
1. Gamify your new habit
If you treat language practice as a chore, it will feel tedious and you will lack motivation to keep at it. But if you treat it like a game, it will instantly become way more interesting and you won’t have to struggle so hard to include daily language practice into your daily schedule.
Of course, it won’t be easy, but where’s the fun in playing a game that you know will win. In this game, your biggest opponent is yourself, and the winner is also you. The prize will be bragging rights that you learned a new language all on your own and a chance at expanding your intellectual horizon.
2. Read newspapers
When you are committed to learning a new language, reading a newspaper every day written in that language can be an incredibly powerful way to help you move ahead on your path.
Reading the news in your target language means you get to keep up to date with the most important happenings around the world. Not only is t a way to brush up on your language skills, but this habit can equip you with amazing bits of knowledge that will help you get better at initiating conversation with strangers nad friends alike.
3. Listen to podcasts
Listening to podcasts in the language you are trying to learn can be an incredibly effective and powerful to tool to get used to the cadence, the way of speaking, and the tenses and grammar rules.
It can also be a great way to enjoy boring menial tasks that you would otherwise be miserable about. Hearing someone speak to you for long hours each day in a language you are trying to learn is a super fun, easy, and effective way to get yourself familiar with the language you are trying to learn.
4. Journal in the new language
Write a short summary of your day in the new language you are trying to learn. This way, you will get better at organizing your thoughts in the new language and also be able to build a daily journaling habit.
The biggest advantage of this method is that you will be able to boost your productivity and also get better at expressing yourself in the new language. When you write something you know no one else is going to read, you can really let yourself go and make the most of this daily writing practice.
5. Track your language practice habit
This is the step where you congratulate yourself for sticking to your daily habit of spending some moments practicing the language you are trying to learn. The other steps mentioned here help you incorporate this new habit into your routine. This step is all about keeping track and holding yourself accountable.
You can download a habit tracker and start marking how many minutes you spent practicing the new language each day. This will help you feel accomplished for small achievements and serve as an invaluable tool towards keeping you more accountable for your laguage-learning goals.
6. Get an accountability partner
Having someone who is building the same habit with you is a great motivator. However, depending on where you work and how your friends are, it’s difficult to find a friend with the same goals. In that case, it’s best to hire an accountability coach to help keep you on track with your habit-building goals. These are trained individuals who will hold you accountable for your promises and help you get back on track if you ever fall off the wagon.