Hey guys welcome to the new video
Have you ever had that burst of energy
when you're super excited to learn something new
like a language or a skill?
You dive right in putting in all the effort
But then, after a few weeks or months
you just feel completely burnt out
You start telling yourself
“I've lost my passion."
“I can't make it!”
Or maybe you've been studying a language
or picking up a new skill
and it feels like you've been stuck in the same spot forever.
You must be wondering why am I doing everything
but I just don't feel like I am progressing
Well, I wanna say, it's completely normal in the learning journey!
It could also be a signal: time to review your study habits!
In today's video
we will be tackling those bad study habits that are holding you back
We will also be talking about the reasons that cause you to burn out
and how to fix them
and how to replace bad habits with good ones
If you are new to this channel
I am Zoe
PhD candidate in sociology in France and in Germany
I am also a polyglot who speaks 7 languages
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don´t forget to click on like and share with others
So, let's get into the video!
Being overly critical or underestimating oneself
When you're overly critical
you'll start feeling like you're not smart enough to learn a language
even though no language is hard to learn.
You might find yourself saying
"This is a difficult language"
or "I don't have enough time."
It becomes a habit of quitting and making excuses
On the other hand
when you're not critical enough
you'll notice that your progress in the language is slow
and it feels like it's taking forever.
So, how can you avoid these two situations?
A good middle ground is to set a realistic plan
that includes long-term, mid-term, and short-term goals.
Short-term goals consist of daily tasks
while mid-term goals help you track your progress on a weekly basis.
Long-term goals can be set on a monthly or annual basis for each level
It's important to constantly measure how much you've accomplished.
Remember
the goals are definite
but the plan isn't set in stone.
Be flexible and embrace adaptability.
Another helpful tip is to ask questions
and stay open to other people's experiences. That's why I've opened my Discord community
so you guys can share your experiences
Surrounding yourself with supportive people
who share the same passion can also motivate you
and help you set realistic goals.
If you want to join us, just click the link in the description box.
Using excessive resources
This is a common problem caused by living in an age of
open-source information and easily accessible knowledge.
Unfortunately
quality and quantity have an inverse relationship
at least in terms of internet knowledge.
While it might be great to have a lot of information online
it's a slippery slope.
If you get greedy and start hoarding resources
thinking that the more you have
the more you will learn, you're mistaken
In fact, you don't need that many apps or books
One mistake people make is using several apps
that perform the same function
For example
using multiple flashcards and spaced repetition system (SRS) apps all at once
You only need one!
Try to find one app for each skill you're trying to learn and stick to it.
Don't overwhelm yourself with choices because
in the end, they all have the same function.
On the other hand
relying solely on one learning method is also a mistake.
While there's nothing wrong with using traditional methods like books
which have worked for centuries
or relying only on an app
it's great to discover a language
but not enough if you want to reach a good level
Nowadays we do a lot of typing
but writing is the best way to memorise.
And you still need plenty of real conversation and listening exercises.
So, try to find the middle ground between traditional and new methods.
That's why I always suggest having one main learning resource
where you spend 50% of your study time.
It could be a book,an app, an online course
or a series of YouTube videos.
The key is to choose something well-structured that helps you learn progressively.
Avoid jumping from one random video to another
as it can lead to confusion and hinder your progress.
Next, I recommend using one flashcard app for memorizing new vocabulary
and one podcast or YouTube channel for listening and speaking exercises
Or, you can use a platform that combines both functions like Lingopie.
It's a website where you can learn languages by watching videos
including documentaries, series, and movies.
They offer content for different proficiency levels.
There is one new amazing feature on Lingopie which allows you to watch Netflix
using their chrome extension. You have dual subtitles
You can view the script on the right side
click on new words for translations
and save them along with the original audio in your flashcards
and review whenever you want
It's amazing right?
If you're learning these languages
you can completely rely on Lingopie as your second learning resource
to improve your vocabulary, listening and speaking skill.
If you are interested in LingoPie
you can click the link in the description box
to get a 7 days free trial!
Focusing solely on quantity
You will often hear that you need to increase your word count
and study new words on a daily basis.
However, focusing only on numbers instead of truly understanding the words
is a very bad habit.
This approach can lead to speaking a language
without understanding the logic behind it.
Moreover, those words won't stick in your long-term memory.
Sometimes, it's important to review and understand words clearly
before moving on to new ones.
So, prioritise daily reviews
and make them your top priority before learning new words.
Otherwise, everything will quickly pile up
and you'll feel overwhelmed with a large number of reviews.
You'll end up losing on both fronts
having pending reviews and struggling with new words.
When setting up your SRS app there's no need to aim for a large daily target.
As a general rule of thumb
try not to exceed 15 new words per day.
Instead, prioritize reviewing and ensure that you have understood and memorized the old words.
This is especially important for the 1000 basic words at the beginning!
As the book "Atomic Habits" says
"All big things come from small beginnings."
So, take your time to digest the information.
If you're interested in learning vocabulary effectively
you can check out these two videos.
Lacking consistency
The biggest problem!
Let me share an anecdote
Once, I received a comment on youtube like
"I have tried all your methods, and they don't work!"
I wonder if the person only tried it once and concluded that it doesn't work.
I want to say that all the language learning methods I share on my channel
require consistency.
Language learning is all about accumulation;
there's no magic pill!
Just like with exercise,
you can't gain muscle after one or two workouts.
Even if you only practise once a week
you can only maintain your level.
But the solution is simple and easy.
Before starting each level
you should have a clear understanding of the following:
What material will I be studying for this level? What is the desired outcome of this level?
Based on that, you can start setting your plan.
Estimate the number of new words you can study according to your daily routine.
Set realistic goals, starting small and gradually increasing.
Many people lose consistency because their planning phase was unrealistic
and their goals were unattainable.
So, invest in good planning before starting each level.
I know the sad truth is that if your daily life is chaotic
it will be extremely difficult to learn.
The lack of routine leads to a lack of consistency.
If your average day is filled with work
try to find small pockets of time throughout the day
Identify the repetitive patterns in your daily routine.
For example
you can start with a review or learn a couple of new words in the morning
then do some passive listening exercises while walking or driving.
But the most important thing is to establish the habit.
On average, it takes 21 to 30 days to create a routine and stick to it
as Octavia Butler said
"First forget inspiration. Habit is more dependable. Habit will
sustain you whether you're inspired or not."
If you want to learn techniques for incorporating tiny habits or atomic habits
into your language learning journey
especially if you have a full-time job
I recommend checking out this video!
Prioritizing passion over commitment
We often say that studying should be an enjoyable activity
but that's not entirely true.
You can't expect to study for 6 or even 3 hours a day
and enjoy every single moment of it.
There are two ways to memorize things
through repetitions and through the release of adrenaline
which is related to stress.
Just think about it.
How is it that you can easily remember bad events that happened in your life?
It's similar to how trauma works
When you apply this concept to studying
it starts to make a lot of sense.
That's why you often hear phrases like
"failure is the mother of success"
or "you learn better through making mistakes."
For example, when you move to a country where the language is spoken
and start interacting with locals
or when you have a language partner
you might feel stressed and afraid of making mistakes or embarrassing yourself.
However, that stress actually helps you remember those mistakes
and avoid repeating them.
On the other hand
when you study in isolation and rely on repetition
it's challenging to hold yourself accountable.
That's why immersion is important
and it's crucial to accept that studying
isn't always supposed to be fun and comfortable.
Now, let's talk about passion.
People often overlook the fact that passion is just a mere interest in a certain topic.
However
interest alone is not enough to accomplish goals.
It guides you in the direction of the path you want to walk in life
but it won't walk you through it.
To complete that path
you need a strong will, the ability to tolerate pressure
push yourself, and adapt.
People often say, "I lost my passion," but it's natural to sometimes lose interest.
However, if you keep repeating that to yourself, you'll become a quitter.
Emotions constantly change according to our environment
and we can't rely on them to get things done.
Sometimes, you just have to push yourself through.
"We must all suffer one of two things:
the pain of discipline or the pain of regret and disappointment." - Jim Rohn.
Passion, while valuable, is just the starting point.
It must be complemented by discipline
perseverance, and adaptability to achieve long-term goals.
As I said (1000 times)
Language learning is a journey of accumulation, not an instant transformation.
It requires dedication, planning, and a willingness to step out of our comfort zones.
That´s why we love learning language isn't it?
I hope this video can help you diagnose your current study problems.
I hope you can avoid these bad habits.
Feel free to share your experiences in the comments section
If you have any questions, write in the comment!
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See you soon guys, bye