On many people’s list of personal or professional goals, learning a new language is a very common aspiration. It usually appears on the list of New Year’s resolutions or when the summer comes to an end and we return to the routine in September with hopes and renewed energy.
Not surprisingly, speaking languages ??has many advantages at different levels. Open doors to meet new people, visit countries fully immersing yourself in the experience, access excellent job opportunities, expand our knowledge and culture, read books, listen to music or watch foreign series and films in their original version… All of this without forgetting the satisfaction staff for achievements.
However, learning a language is not easy. Making the decision to start is already a big step, but what is really difficult is maintaining motivation during the process. With the passage of time, we tend to lose the desire, we are invaded by laziness, boredom or frustration for not meeting our expectations in record time. In order to prevent this from happening to you, here are some tips to keep you motivated while learning a new language.
Surely there is a specific reason why you have decided to learn a language: because you want to move to another country, to strike up a conversation with your foreign in-laws, because you are passionate about the culture of that place, to qualify for a promotion at work. .. Whatever your motivation, keep it in mind during the process so as not to lose focus.
Sin of being too ambitious often leads to disappointment and frustration. It is best to start small and set concrete and realistic short-term goals. For example, a specific period of time to complete the first level of language training, or be able to order fluently in a restaurant. This way it is more likely that you will achieve your goals and thus the motivation will be maintained.
Whether you have decided to learn the language in a physical academy or through online training, do not forget to complete and enrich your learning process through other ways. For example, through interactive games, listening to and translating songs, watching subtitled movies, engaging in conversation with native speakers of that language through social networks… This way you will make it more entertaining.
Throughout the process you will go through ups and downs, where you may feel that your learning has stagnated or you are not progressing at the rate you expected. This is normal, since learning is not linear. Be kind to yourself, tolerate that frustration and don’t let it discourage you or abandon the process, because just as there are less productive periods, others will be more fruitful.
Keep track of your progress through notes or online tests to be aware of your progress. For these to serve as motivation, give yourself small rewards when you achieve something, so that you reinforce your desire to continue learning.