Staying Motivated to Learn a New Language

Learning another language can be difficult, especially if you don't know anyone who is fluent in that language or have to speak/understand it on a regular basis. Here are some tips I have for you on how I personally stay motivated to learn new languages.

Tip 1. Be serious about learning the language. Picking a language that you can equate to some importance in your life is very helpful to stay motivated to learn it. Learning it for job opportunities, travel, or to make friends whose native language is that language will increase your chances of sticking to your lessons.

Tip 2. Download language learning apps with reminders to practice. Apps like Duolingo, FunEasy, LingoDeer, Skill Share, and Memrise are great to get you started learning the basics of the language! The best way to stay on top of your lessons is to set daily reminders if the app has that feature. You know your schedule the best, so pick a time that you know you can spare 5 minutes to learn - and make sure to practice every day. Taking a week-long break in between lessons won't benefit you at all. I also recommend learning that culture's writing system accompanied with pronunciation first. Knowing how to recognize and read the text will help you learn words, and then sentences, faster!

Tip 3. Find an accountability buddy. Knowing someone who can speak the language fluently and help you learn it is ideal, but not realistic for most people. If you have a friend who is reliable, share your aspiration of learning a new language and ask them to help keep you on track. Or perhaps you have a friend who also wants to learn a new language - you can be each others accountability buddy (even better if they are learning the same language as you so you can practice together)! If this isn't possible, there are even chat apps you can download for free that allow you to communicate with people from other countries that can help you learn it - like HelloTalk!

Tip 4. Immerse yourself in the culture. Doing your research on the country's culture might provide you with more aspiration to learn the language. For example: if you are interested in learning Japanese, read about the different islands, traditions, holidays, and beliefs. Watching movies and tv shows from that country in that language (with the subtitles on - at first) will also help you be able to hear speech patterns and you might even pick up a few words here and there. Watching YouTube videos or TikToks created by native people will also help you get more familiar with the culture and the language. Listen to music from that country! Any type of media from that country that you are interested in can help motivate you.

Tip 5. Self-gratification. Feeling proud of yourself for wanting to learn a new language and taking steps to achieve it is well-earned. The more you practice, the more you learn and the more you retain it. Something as small as getting a higher percentage of your lesson correct than the previous day can feel really good. Or watching a foreign show, hearing a word you learned and knowing what it means without having to read the subtitles can be exciting. There may even come a time where you can impress your friends and family with your new language skills - or even teach them! No matter the situation, there will come a point in your learning journey that will make you feel proud you stuck with it, and will motivate you to keep practicing.