How committed are you?
When you decide to start a new activity, like learning a new language, going to the gym or taking up cooking classes, you first feel driven, enthusiastic and motivated. This “new years resolution effect” lasts about 3 weeks; then life gets in your way: kids get sick, the house needs maintenance, family is visiting from abroad …and your desire to learn a language or go to the gym is shuffled to the bottom of your priority list.
Learning a language through a language club activity requires not only self-discipline but mostly commitment and persistence. The difference between a person who becomes fluent and a person who doesn’t is proof! I have seen women walking into the Language Club barely speaking a word of English. Now they have transformed themselves into confident English-speakers. They all had something in common: they were committed.
How to stay committed: Three steps to successful learning.
When you commit to something, you are prioritizing yourself. These three steps will assist you in success.
1- Find your WHY.
Why do you want to learn or improve a language? We all have different reasons to learn a language, something that drives and motivates us, that’s your WHY. Without a WHY you can’t learn or do anything, not only in language learning but in life in general. Write down the reasons behind your motivation to improve your language skills. Here are some ideas:
- I want to improve my English because I want to be able to meet with my children’s teachers.
- I want to learn French because I am planning to retire in France.
- I want to learn Arabic because it’s an asset for my job.
- I want to learn German to be able to communicate with my in-laws.
2- Set up your goals.
Once you have your WHY it will be easy to set up some goals. If you want to learn French because you are planning to move to France, you can focus on learning everyday French vocabulary, such as words that you need to go shopping, dealing with maintenance issues, filling in forms, etc.
If you want to learn English because you need to find a job, then your goals will be to work on business or job-related vocabulary. You can always ask your language club partners to help you to prepare for this goal.
Our goals become real when you write them down. If they are just in your head, they are merely wishes. But the minute you write them down they become tangible objectives that you can imagine yourself possessing.
3- Learn, teach, get involved
Here is where The Language Club comes into action. By assisting to a language exchange, you will meet like-minded people. They will share their knowledge with you, and equally, you will share yours too. Take notes, ask questions. As long as you are learning there is no such thing as a stupid question.
You can take control of your own learning by staying aware of the language spoken around you. Always listen, if you have a doubt about something you heard or read take it to the Language Exchange and discuss it with the others. According to the American Educator Edgar Dale, WE REMEMBER 10% of what we read, 20% of what we hear, 30% of what we see, 50% of what we see and hear, 70% of what we discuss with others, 80% of what we personally experience and 95% of what we teach others.
So find your WHY, setup your goals, be involved and most especially be persistent, and you will be set for success in becoming fluent in the language of your choice.