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Read more5 Steps for Planning a Productive and Successful Language Learning Week
Many people plan ahead for business goals, upcoming deadlines, events, meetings at work, fitness or meals. But did you know that making a language learning plan can actually help you learn a language faster?
In this article, you'll learn 5 steps to help you get the ball rolling.
Read more4 Techniques for Switching Your Brain into Language Mode
Have you ever heard of a phenomenon called "Priming"? Priming is what psychologists call it when your brain adapts to the environment around it without you realising. For example, you might automatically walk slower in a nursing home than you do in a gym. The brain helps your body to adjust, and this also affects your memory and even your confidence and the whole way you interpret situations.
How Priming Helps You Turn on Your Brain
Priming is largely unconscious, but now that you’re aware of it you can also use it to your advantage when learning languages. The idea is to switch your brain into “language mode” and use cues from your environment to help you get into the right zone.
Want to learn more about how to be a productive language learner?
©morethanmaths on Flickr
How Subtle Prompts Help You Stay in The “Language Learning Zone”
When I was a German tutor, I’d teach many people in their lunch hour. They would stay in the office at their English-speaking workplace, close the door and open up Skype to start chatting German with me.
In those situations, I’d commonly noticed that it took them a lot of time to warm up, relax, and start chatting away. Having thought about the learning environment and what it means for your performance, I came to the conclusion that these students need to make a brain switch from work mode to learning mode.
In this article on Wired, the author describes how a mere glance at the native speaker will prompt them to blurt out native words.
The different role you need to play as a language learner.
And there’s more at play than just the language you’re speaking.
Many people who work in management or office-based roles are in an environment that looks a bit like school, but demands a completely different behaviour. “Professionals” don't just go out and try things. They are expected to control their creativity and maintain a professional image at all times.
When you think about the good mindset for language learners, it's a contrast: You'll do well if you can combine curiosity, discipline and a complete disregard for embarrassment!
How to Start Switching Your Brain Into a Different Mode
Switching up a part of your environment can help you become a better learner, with simple prompts that take seconds to implement.
Try out some ideas that learners and teachers can use to make priming work in the right way:
1. Listen to Target Language Songs and Watch Movies
I will not promise you that watching an awful lot of films in a foreign language will magically beam fluency into your mind.
The real benefit of surrounding yourself with the target language is that you stay engaged with it and develop knowledge of the country. In terms of the priming benefit, it will work magic. Plus, you get to do it while putting your feet up or driving.
2. Find a Suitable Slot in Your Schedule
Schedule your learning sessions for the right times. For example, I like doing my chatting in Spanish on the drive back from Zumba - partly because the Spanish lady is captive in my car, partly because we've just spent an hour having fun and dancing around. Others also swear by having a nice glass of wine to relax or using breathing exercises.
Another great tip is to create a learning corner in your home - somewhere quiet, free from distractions and full of positive associations.
3. Visualise Your Life as a Successful Language Learner
School classroom teachers have known for a long time that putting up posters and displays around the classroom can get pupils in the right state of mind for learning. They don't have to be written in the foreign language, but just reminders of what's great about the country you're learning about.
Take a tip from this and create your own language learning displays full of things that interest you about your language. They could be recipes, tickets from old trips, tourist brochures or printouts from the internet. I particularly love vintage posters.
You can find more inspiration on my Pinterest boards for German, French and Russian.
4. Warm Up in Your Target Language
In my teaching role, I try to start my lessons off easily with some smaller warm-up activities like asking students how they are or offering them a drink.
Recently, I received the great tip that using the same warm-up activity every time for regular students is actually helpful - here I was worrying people would get bored, but the learner's perspective was that knowing "what's coming" allowed them to prepare and feel confident at the start of the lesson. That puts every learner in the right state of mind for success.
A Festive Take on Using Your Environment as a Study Aid
Click here for my article on learning a language at Christmas (even if you don’t celebrate it)
First published July 2013. Last updated December 2021.
13 Inspiring Ideas for Language Learning By Creating Your Own Podcast
I'm a super passionate teacher and love to teach people about what I tried and loved in my life, and one of those passions is podcasting.
For me, starting the Fluent Show was life-changing. I got to interview amazing people and learn something amazing every episode, from neuroscience to language creation.
You can read more about how podcasting made me a better language learner over here.
Most people think of podcasts as a marketing tool for their business but in reality they are so much more!!
Podcasting is perfect for people just like you: language lovers with a passion for learning.
Want some inspiration? Here goes!
If you're learning a language and want to speak more..
you could record a regular podcast in your target language practicing new topics and vocab you've just learnt
you could exchange podcast episodes as a joint show with a learning buddy
you could record interviews with native speakers as practice for your conversation skills
you could record a podcast about the resources you used and review and what you learnt - in your target language, of course
you could bring together friends and start a bilingual podcast book club, or film club, or music club
Or if you're taking regular language lessons...
you could get together with your fellow students and record a study club show together, talking about what you are learning
you could interview your fellow students to learn their motivations and learning methods
you could make your own accountability show, checking in every week to share what you've been learning
Let's get back to talking about business for a minute.
Are you a language teacher looking to get more students for your lessons and programmes?
you could share some of your lessons with the world and build a huge following of eager students
you could interview successful students as super powerful testimonials
you could share your teaching philosophy so the perfect students get to know you
Or maybe you're a teacher with a full roster of students!
you could share homework assignments and tips directly to your students' phones through a simple podcast feed
you could upgrade your content and open a new income stream by going deeper in a podcast discussion
And by the way, if you're a woman or non-binary, we need you even more because right now 75% of podcast hosts are men.
All this leaves just one question:
How do you start a podcast? Who can show you how to do this?
Guess what...I can!!
I'm super excited to announce that starting 20 September, I'm inviting you to join my Podcasting 101 course and get access to a 3-week live round full of support, action and friendly accountability.
Wanna learn more? Ready to do this thing?
Seven Questions Any Language Learner Needs To Answer
Before taking on a new language learning project, these questions will help you focus on a realistic, positive way to bring language into your life and stay motivated so you can become an expert speaker.
Who are the meaningful people in your life?
People in your life are relevant to your results in language learning, because they will influence your thoughts through conversation and behaviour.
Beyond that, it's also important to bear in mind who you are dedicating time and attention to, and how much time and attention you'd want to dedicate to other people.
What's been your contact with other languages so far?
Most people who want to learn a language as an adult have actually learnt a language in their life before. This means you're bringing some experience which can contribute to your success. But it can also mean baggage in terms of past negative experiences.
Have you ever taught someone something?
Every learning or teaching experience you've had in the past has helped you to prepare for learning a language right now. Consider what you did before that worked, and how you felt when you were able to share your knowledge.
What does your week look like?
Even before you start off with your new project, make yourself aware of how much time you have available.
Beware: If you have a lot of things on your plate, this question may make you nervous and doubtful. You do not need to dedicate many hours every single day to learning a language. You can be successful in many ways, but accept that you will be slower.
The purpose of examining your available time is to help you think about what is realistic. If you have a full-time job, coach the local sports team, and spend 2 hours in church every Sunday, you may not currently allow enough time to get fluent in 6 months. If you tried, you'd likely burn out or feel like a failure.
Is it possible to achieve a high language level in few months? Yes. But is it possible unless you put in 20+ hours every week? Nah. So instead, work with who you are and what you've got, and look forward to the progress you will make.
Who can help you learn a language?
Pull in your support team as early as possible! If you have friends who speak different languages, work in the field of languages, or perhaps kids who are studying a language in school, this can make all the difference.
Ask yourself "Who benefits when I learn this language?".
Beyond your circle of IRL friends, consider also where on social media you can build your language circle. If you watch YouTube or spend a few hours a week on Instagram, then make sure you learn with social media. Follow people who post in your target language, get involved by posting something yourself, and share your goals with communities like #studygram on Instagram or the Fluent Language Learners group over on Facebook.
Click Here for 17 Tips for Language Learning on Social Media.
Is there anything that you think might be a stumbling block?
If you talk to an insurance person, they'll tell you that insurance is all about knowing risks. And while I cannot sell you an insurance for failed fluency, I do recommend that you consider what's risky for your own success.
Here are a few common language learning threats:
- You may commit a lot of time but find it hard to maintain that energy.
- You may be scared of practicing your language because you don't want to look foolish.
- If you're motivated by one life event like a trip to the target country, your motivation could fade away after you return home.
- You may overestimate how fast you can learn, and feel demotivated when you progress is slower than expected.
- You may tell yourself "I can't learn languages" and self-sabotage yourself right from the start.
A language coach will help you handle each one of those risks, and many more. It's worth talking to them about it!
Learn more about language coaching
What conditions exist for making you a success?
Imagine you are NOT going to move to the country tomorrow and you won't win the lottery either. How could you still make language learning a success?
Making The Plan
Take the questions listed above to a friend, a supportive group, or book a few language coaching sessions. The coach will help you
- Think positively and discover your strengths.
- Look for opportunities to build a language learning habit so you can speak a language automatically without having to study so much.
- Value the advantages that you have right now, and show you how to use them to stay motivated for many years.
If you want a little more support on how to improve your routine in practical steps after these questions, check out the Language Habit Toolkit. It is a collection of guidance notes and worksheets that will help you set goals and become more productive as you learn languages. The toolkit is designed to be your little self-guided coach in a box.
What About You?
How would you answer the questions I listed above? Who helps you learn languages?
Share in the comments below - I'm excited to hear from you.