With the frenetic rhythm of nowadays, it often seems impossible to fit a(nother) foreign language into your busy schedule. But when you think of the benefits this new knowledge entails, it also seems impossible not to try, right?
So, what can you do to bring in the magic and conjure up enough time to start learning a language? Here are seven of my favorite strategies…
Committing to 20-minute chunks
While allocating a whole hour of your day to a new language may be difficult, splitting it up into smaller chunks of 20 minutes is much easier. And since consistency will get you more results than sporadic learning for prolonged periods of time, you can easily settle for one 20-minute chunk a day. In the morning, before you go to sleep, during lunch break or your commute to work, when you can listen to audios if you’re not in the position to read.
Creating pocket-size memory cards
Write down the words, expressions or grammar patterns you’re having troubles with on small, pocket-size cards. Then flip them over and fill their back with the proper explanations. Skim through these memory prompts whenever you get the chance. While you’re queuing or waiting for your dentist appointment, you’ll be glad you have something to distract yourself with!
Replacing your reading materials
Another language learning booster is reading. If you can’t squeeze in the time to learn a (new) language no matter how hard you try, think about replacing your native-tongue-literature reading time with reading materials written in your language of choice. You’ll appease your reading desire and do yourself a major favor, since reading is no less than a vocabulary building wizard!
Thinking in the chosen language
An extremely effective method of improving your foreign language skills is thinking in this language as often as possible. It works best if you’re surrounded with natives, since it feels more natural, but in your mind, you can always pretend you’re a native, too. The beauty of this tecnique is that it increases your reponsiveness in conversations and ignites your learning curiosity.
Attending a live language course
If you’re not disciplined enough to work on a language on your own, sign up for a live language course. The financial investment and the group support will swipe the excuses away in a heart-beat. In addition, you’ll be »forced« to do your homework, which will get your language learning ball rolling faster than ever!
Finding a hidden time treasure
If your everyday routine devours all of your time, you need an efficiency check-up. Which actions you take are making you waste more time than necessary? Maybe you could adjust your work schedule so as to avoid rush hours, or, if you’re working from home, limit your social media and email management to a couple of times a day. Instantly, you’ll have another hour on your hands, to say the least. Just imagine how many new words can you learn in an hour…
Increasing overall productivity
Fix the overwhelm by single-tasking; your productivity will skyrocket and you’ll get more done in less time. Again, an additional half-an-hour or more will magically appear in your day. Every day! How powerful is that? Use those 30 minutes for language learning, and in a year, you’ll have studied for more than 180 hours!
Martina Srblin is the Language Learning Magician who will help you discover the language learning system that best fits your needs, skills and schedule, so you can stop wasting time, money and energy on language learning methods that ? for you personally ? are inefficient. For free resources and to sign up for a FREE report on “7 Key Steps to Smart Language Learning” and a FREE subscription to the Language Learning Magic Ezine, please visit Martina?s website www.martinasrblin.com.