The biggest risk in language learning: quitting

This post might seem to conflict with the prior point on pushing through boundaries, read further to see the nuance.

The biggest risk in language learning (especially when self-studying, not having a strict program or critical deadlines, etc.) is the risk of giving up. Giving up completely is far more detrimental than a bit of a heavy accent, a bit slower learning progress, etc.

There’s many ways learning can become a chore, here’s a few examples:

• Boring content – anything where you aren’t interested in the topic even in your native language
• Self-imposed stress and comparison – focusing too much on where you want to be, and not being able to relax and focus on where you are and what you are leaning now
• Content level – taking on content that’s too challenging and forcing yourself to continue with it

Learning a language requires consistency, but how do we achieve that? Is it just being really strict and motivated?

In my experience consistency comes from being self aware and enjoying the process, it doesn’t come from being strict and relentless. There will be up days and down days, days where you feel worn out, accept all of these days and adjust as necessary.

Doing some simple check ins with yourself and your energy level before/after studying will help you to have a better sense of how to be consistent, we will discuss in detail in a later post some suggested ways for doing that. To share my personal example – at one point I found reading and speaking (with a tutor) to be fairly draining and I had a busy week coming, so I chose to pause doing any reading or speaking studying (only doing listening practice) until the following week when I’d have more energy for focused study.