| If you want to learn a language, but simply don’t have loads of time to dedicate to the endeavor, you need to study as efficiently as possible. |
| You probably aren't a language learning expert or a world traveler. You might have school or a job, or two! |
| So in this video we'll give you 3 ways to help you learn language more efficiently so that you get the most out of your time and your effort. |
| Number 1, Use your time when you have it |
| The most valuable resource you have as a language learner is time. While you may not have to spend money to learn a language, you will have to spend time. Hours and minutes are a currency that you trade on a weekly basis to grow in your language learning. |
| I am assuming that language learning is a priority for you. It might not be the number one priority, like keeping your job, or taking care of your family. But it does have to be important enough for you to invest significant amounts of time into your learning. There’s just no way around that. |
| That being said use your time wisely! |
| Because of previous commitments you can quickly fall into the trap of putting your language learning off thinking, “Oh I’ll do it next week”, or “Saturday...I’ll do it Saturday”. Needless to say a few weeks can go by and you haven’t really learned or practiced anything. |
| If you find that happening then take some time and reevaluate your approach. It is probably a long shot for you to be able to spend hours everyday learning a new foreign language, but you can use your time to spend an hour or even just 10 minutes a day, everyday, studying or practicing. If you’re on a busy schedule an hour a day can sound like reaching for the stars, so start slowly with just a 5 minute lesson. And over time, as you learn more, and it becomes more routine, you will want to spend more time studying. |
| And your studying doesn't even need to be all at once. |
| Make use of the little gaps of time you have in the day. Listen to a podcast while driving to and from work. Review new words while on lunch break or right before bed. Even a quick review while in line at the store or waiting for the bus. Together these moments add up. This way your little study session will add up to around 60 minutes of practice everyday. You will quickly be able to see significant improvement in your language abilities. |
| Number 2, Don’t method jump |
| When you’re new to language learning there’s a temptation to try out the newest course, app, or method. There are more language learning tools and courses than I can list. |
| But jumping around from podcast to podcast, or from textbook to textbook can really hinder your learning process. It's important to find the best method for you. But when you do, stick with it! |
| Don't get distracted by the newest app, or if you suddenly find something faster, cheaper, claiming it can teach you a language with no work on your part. |
| Stick with your learning course or tool. Consistent practice over a period of time is what is essential for language learning. |
| If you hit a bump or plateau you might be tempted to think, "maybe there’s a faster or better way to learn". So you search around and buy the next best language learning tool only to use it for a couple weeks and realize it wasn’t really any better than the last course you tried, and the same difficulties you had are still there. If you’re learning your first new language and you pick a specific method or course I’d suggest you stick with it for at least 3 to 4 months. You actually hurt yourself in the long run if you constantly switch between resources because you never give yourself the opportunity to progress. |
| Number 3, Focus on one thing at a time |
| When you decide to learn a new language you are going to be really excited. You have all your resources lined up, a plan in place, and ready to go. You think you'll spend 3-4 hours a day practicing and that you'll be fluent in no time. But that's only for about 3 days. Then you'll probably get a bit discouraged and avoid it for another 3 days. And this process might repeat 3 or 4 times before you realized that you might be approaching things the wrong way. |
| You can't devour a whole new language in a very short time, you will burn out immediately. |
| It’s better to focus on one small part of the language at a time. Either a specific grammar point or specific vocabulary topic. |
| In the beginning these should be based on the parts of the language you’ll use right away. Even in the business world research shows that replacing less important tasks with ones that add value and help you reach your goals is the best way to get the most out of your time. |
| As you advance through the language and your level increases, try to pinpoint the harder aspects of the language and work on them one at a time. |
| Learning a foreign language isn’t easy. It takes time and work, but it is possible! If you stick to your learning plans and stay focused you will see improvement in your skills and find satisfaction in using the language. |
| Remember that learning a language is really more like a journey. It doesn’t have to feel like school or work. Savor your experience with learning and enjoy every step along the way! |
| And for even more tips on learning efficiently, check out our complete language learning program. Sign up for your free lifetime account by clicking on the link in the description. Get tons of resources to have you speaking in your target language. And if you enjoyed these tips, hit the "like" button, share the video with anyone who's trying to learn a new language, and subscribe to our channel. We release new videos every week! I'll see you next time. Bye! |
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