How to Set and Stick to a New Year Resolution to Learn a New Language

A survey by the British Council reveals that more than a quarter (26%) of UK adults regret never learning another language fluently. One in four want to speak Spanish and would consider making language learning a New Year’s Resolution.
People often set up New Year’s Resolutions that are too difficult to achieve which is why they often lose interest and fail by February. In this blog post we will give you some tips of ways to make your New Year’s Resolution to learn a new language successful.

1) Set realistic goals

First of all you need to work out what you want to achieve and by when. What is your reason for learning this language and what level do you want to reach? For instance, if all you want to do is learn a few basic phrases for a short break or a holiday in a foreign country then you would make a list of all the topics you need to cover by when; hotels, taxis, restaurants, train tickets and so on. By setting realistic goals that you will be able to achieve you are more likely to continue learning throughout the year.

2) Set specific goals

The key to successfully achieving your resolution is to write down precise goals that you can measure. For example, you may decide that in the first week you will learn all of the greetings, days of the week and numbers 1 to 30. You would also set monthly goals as to what you want to have learnt each month. This way you can tick these off as achieved which will encourage you to continue learning and give you a great feeling of satisfaction.

3) Find enjoyable ways to learn

The best way to maintain your interest in learning the language is to find ways of learning that you will enjoy. If you find studying a chore, you are unlikely to stick to it. There are so many ways you can learn a language that do not involve studying from textbooks:

• Watch foreign movies and TV series on Netflix.
• Find a study partner or native speaking person to practise.
• Follow facebook pages of your interests in the language you are learning.
• Listen to foreign music and study the lyrics.
• Follow recipes in the target language.

4) Use technology

Take advantage of technology to enhance your language learning experience. Use websites with interactive exercises such as studyspanish.com or with videos with subtitles like Yabla or even watch Spanish teachers’ videos on Youtube. Download podcasts to listen to during your daily commute or whilst doing the housework or cooking. Use language learning apps such as Duolingo or Babbel.

5) Be flexible about your learning

Do not be afraid to change your initial plan. If you find that you are not keeping up with the goals in the timeframe you set out at the start of the year, make a new plan. Sometimes it takes longer to learn certain parts of a language or unexpected things crop up in life which mean you may miss a week of your plan. Just adapt your plan to suit your situation.

6) Find a tutor

If you find that it is just too difficult to learn on your own or you lack discipline or motivation, then look for a local tutor or online tutor who would set you specific tasks to do. They are also there for you to ask questions and explain parts of the language that you find hard or confusing. They can explain it to you simply and give you extra exercises to help practice and reinforce learning. They also motivate you and help build your confidence. If you would like a language tutor feel free to contact us.

Conclusion

Whatever your reason for learning a language it is definitely one of those skills that at first may seem just too difficult but if you put into practice the tips in this article, and you start to use the language you will be so glad that you made the effort to do it and stick to it. Learning a language gives you more confidence, helps you get more out of trips abroad, helps you make more friends, learn more about the culture as well as expands your horizons and looks good on your CV for future career opportunities.