Learning a new language is tough, but staying motivated is key. Many start strong but lose interest over time, especially without a teacher. This can make learning feel hard and might make you want to stop.
But, with the right strategies and tools, you can keep your motivation up. This helps you get past language barriers.
When I began learning Hungarian, having a friend who spoke it helped a lot. But when she moved to Hungary, I lost my drive and stopped. Yet, when I started Chinese without any friends who knew the language, I reached HSK 5 in less than two years. The motivations were quite different – one passing, for one specific purpose, one more in tow with the culture and a deeper identification.
And we’ll talk about those, and many more.
Key Takeaways
- Maintaining motivation is essential for successful language learning
- Lack of motivation is a common problem, especially when learning independently
- Effective strategies and resources can help maintain high motivation levels
- Setting clear goals and regularly reviewing progress are crucial for staying motivated
- Finding the right motivation techniques that work for you is key to language learning success
Perhaps You Don’t See the Benefits of Learning a New Language?
Learning a new language is a rewarding experience with many benefits.
It can boost your career and open doors to travel.
It also leads to personal growth, intellectual development, and a wider social circle.
Career Opportunities
In today's global world, speaking multiple languages is a valuable skill.
It can lead to exciting career paths in international business, diplomacy, or education.
Companies look for employees who can communicate with people from different cultures.
By learning a new language, you make yourself more attractive to employers. This can help you stand out in a crowded job market.
Or, if you’re more like me, you can even set up your own business and work in any market that speaks your language(s).
Travel Experiences
Learning a foreign language lets you explore new places and dive into different cultures.
You can order food at local spots and talk with people from various backgrounds. You can make friends in other languages. And you can get the best recommendations of top spots to go that only locals would know.
It makes traveling more meaningful.
This way, you truly experience a place and make unforgettable memories.
Intellectual Stimulation
Granted, you can stimulate your brain many ways. But learning a new language is a great brain workout.
It challenges you to think differently and connect ideas. Studies show it can improve memory and even slow down mental decline.
As you learn, you'll feel a sense of achievement and personal growth. It's a rewarding experience.
Friendship and Dating Opportunities
Knowing a foreign language helps you make new friends and find love.
In fact, many of my students learning Brazilian Portuguese do so in order to speak with their significant others.
But love doesn’t need to be your only motivator. You can also make friends. You can join language exchange events, online groups, or travel and talk with locals.
Set Clear and Achievable Goals
Another good way to keep your motivation is by setting clear goals.
These goals will keep you motivated and help you track your progress.
By setting language goals, you create a roadmap to fluency.
Think about breaking your goals into short-term objectives and long-term targets. Short-term objectives are “small” steps to take toward your bigger goal. It’s the blocky walk along in order to reach downtown (if you live in a walkable place, that is).
Short-term Goals
Short-term goals are the first steps towards your language learning goals.
They should be specific, measurable, and achievable in a short time, like a week or a month, or even a day. Examples include:
- Learning 20 new vocabulary words each week
- Having a 5-minute conversation with a native speaker
- Watching a short video in your target language without subtitles
Reaching these goals will help you build momentum and confidence in your language skills.
And don’t think that because they’re small they’re worthless. When I used to sell cosmetics for a living, I would hand 10 leaflets out to people I didn’t know. I would do that daily. Most days nobody bought anything. But once a month someone would call me and asked for the price of some product based on the leaflet.
It didn’t turn out to be caviar money. But at least it would pay some electricity bills.
Long-term Goals
Long-term goals give you a vision of what you want to achieve with your language learning.
They may take months or years, but they remind you of your language learning goals. Examples include:
- Being able to read a novel in your target language
- Participating in a language exchange program abroad
- Achieving a specific proficiency level on a standardized language test
Just to give you an extra example. I used to sell Avon cosmetics in Brazil. Every month or so they would have some incentive campaign. The incentive campaigns were my long-term goal at the time — and by reaching all of them in a year I could join the “Star club” they had for the best salespeople.
Sometimes sales figures would go up, and sometimes they would go down. I had to adjust.
After all, setting language goals is a continuous process.
Regularly review and adjust your goals to keep them relevant and challenging. This will help you stay motivated and on track to fluency.
Create a Consistent Study Schedule
Creating a regular language learning routine is a great way to stay motivated.
Many people find it hard to stick with it, especially when learning on their own. But, setting aside a specific time each day can help you build a strong study habit.
Being consistent is crucial for learning a language.
Short, regular practice sessions are better than long, random ones.
By making language learning a daily habit, you'll stay productive and motivated.
To keep a steady study schedule, first look at your schedule and find time for language learning. It could be in the morning, during lunch, or before bed. Pick a time that fits you best and stick with it.
Treat your language learning sessions like any other important appointment or meeting.
Use a planner, calendar app, or reminders to keep up with your routine. Even pen and paper if you are a more “traditional” person like me.
Set achievable goals for each study time and celebrate your wins.
I can’t stress how important it is to celebrate your wins. If you stick to your schedule three days in a row, you’ll be ahead of many other people… And even of yourself.
Remember, the secret is consistent effort. Make language learning a must-do part of your day.
Find a Study Partner or Language Buddy
Learning a new language can be tough, but having a study partner can make it fun and effective.
Working with others who want to learn the same language can boost your motivation and skills.
You can call them language learning partners, study buddies, or just people you learn with together.
Why Learning with Others is a Great Idea
Learning with a study partner adds a fun competition element.
Seeing how far you've both come can push you to do better. Plus, it makes learning more enjoyable as you share stories and challenges.
Of course, provided that the two of you are learning the same language.
But what if you’re learning your language buddy’s native language?
Even better!
The fun competition element mentioned above plays an even bigger role.
If you don’t see your making as much progress as your language buddy is making, you will want to work on what the matter is.
After all, nobody will want to lag behind.
But because your language buddy — and you — have a great command of their native language, they will be able to help you further.
Perhaps they will teach you different ways to express the same idea.
Or maybe they know exactly how to go around the problem you’ve been facing.
And you can even practice role-play in a more authentic manner — it’s not for nothing that one of you speaks one of the languages natively!
The most important thing is, you help each other. You celebrate each other’s wins.
Ways to Find a Study Partner
Finding the right study partner might seem hard, but there are good ways to do it.
Look for people who like the same things as you, as it makes learning more fun.
Check out colleagues or classmates who also want to learn the language.
Online communities for language learners like that on Reddit (if Reddit is your thing) are great places to meet study buddies. Look for posts of people seeking to form language friendships.
You can find people at your level and with similar goals. These communities offer not just partners but also advice and resources from experienced learners.
Language exchange apps like HelloTalk are also a good choice.
They let you find people to practice with based on language, level, and location. These apps make it easy to find someone to improve your speaking, writing, and listening skills with.
The only downside of language exchange apps is sometimes you have to pay. Well, you don’t have to pay, but paying will speed things up. And you can sign up for a one-month subscription, get a few friends off the platform, and keep on learning and helping each other.
Have You Tried Talking to Native Speakers?
Talking with native speakers is a great way to improve your language skills.
It helps you practice speaking, build confidence, and get better at understanding the language.
You might find it daunting or challenging. I, for one, always stutter whenever talking to a native speaker. Even in languages I have a decent command of (like English) I still make mistakes and find myself at a loss.
Everyone can be nervous, after all.
But engaging with native speakers has other benefits.
You'll also learn the real way of speaking, including slang and cultural details, which books can't teach.
You can meet native speakers in person or online. Language meetups are perfect for those who like talking face-to-face. In my city you can even find professional “matchmaking” services for people learning languages.
And things are so easy on the Internet… You’re likely to find a community you can join and participate in conversations, games, and activities to boost your language skills — and boost your motivation.
Perhaps Language Classes Will Help?
Joining language courses is a great way to keep up your motivation and stick with your learning.
Classroom learning offers a set plan that keeps you moving forward and helps you see progress.
With experienced teachers, you get help with grammar, vocabulary, and how to say words right.
And you have the certainty that comes from having an expert help you.
But Having Classes Has an Added Benefit
Being in classes means you're part of a community.
You learn with others who have the same goals and problems as you. And you can see other people at the start of their journey, just like you. It’s a great time to form those language buddy relationships I mentioned above.
Also, being in a community of learners lets you practice speaking, do group activities, and even study together outside class. It makes learning more fun and keeps you motivated, even when it gets tough.
Language classes give you a regular schedule to learn, which is key for staying motivated. They help you make a study routine. Plus, classes often have homework. Even if you don’t do all of them, having homework makes you think about the language... and chances are you’ll be back to your target language whenever possible.
If not out of joy, then out of guilt.
Not ideal, but…
Well, perhaps classes are not for everyone.
Keep Your Language Learning Journey Exciting
For some people — certainly for me — involving technology and media may help.
Apps and Games
Language learning apps and games are great for keeping things interesting.
They offer short lessons, fun challenges, and rewards that turn learning into a game (and you even get a green stalker bird if you choose to).
You'll find exercises like matching words with pictures and virtual conversations.
Even though sometimes they seem silly for more advanced learners, using these apps often keeps you motivated and makes you look forward to practicing every day.
Movies and Radio
Watching movies, TV shows, music, and listening to the radio in your target language is a great way to stay engaged.
Pick shows you like, and you'll enjoy watching them while improving your listening skills.
You’ll find it harder, though, if you feel the need to understand everything.
Reading Materials
Reading in your target language is another great way to stay motivated. I usually say that aside from living in the country where the language is spoken, reading is the best thing you can do for your language learning.
You can read books, magazines… even social media posts help when you really need. Reading lets you learn new words, grammar, and expressions in context.
Feeling accomplished as you read more complex texts will keep you motivated to keep learning.
Adding these engaging resources and media to your routine makes learning a language exciting and rewarding. Use interactive apps, fun media, and interesting reading materials. This way, staying motivated will come naturally as you learn.
Visualize Your Progress and Successes
Learning a language on your own can be tough, but tracking your progress and celebrating your wins can keep you going.
It's a good idea to check your skills often and keep track of how you're getting better. You might keep a portfolio of your work, list new words you've learned, and, though rarer, test yourself with quizzes or conversations.
Seeing your progress can really show you how much you've improved. Celebrating your small wins can give you a big motivation boost. Try setting goals for yourself and treat yourself when you hit them, like enjoying a favorite meal or activity after mastering a tough grammar point.
Focus on Personal Relevance and Meaning
Staying motivated to learn a new language means finding personal meaning in it. It’s the anchor that will keep your boat from sailing away. When you connect your learning to your beliefs and goals, you'll stick with it. This approach helps you build a strong bond with the language and culture.
Think about why you want to learn a new language. Maybe you want to talk better with friends or family who speak it. Or, you might be looking for a job that requires it.
Whatever your reason, make sure it matches your values to keep you going.
Align Language Learning with Your Beliefs and Values
Learning a language lets you share who you are and connect deeply with others. Look for materials that match your interests. If you love books, read novels in your target language. If you care about social justice, find resources that talk about it in that culture.
Customize your language learning to fit your beliefs and values. This gives you a strong reason to keep going, even when it's tough.
This makes learning a language a journey of self-discovery and motivation.
Remind Yourself of Your Motivation During Challenges
I always keep with me a story I once heard. It was a scientist who came from poverty. She told in a conference that whenever things would get rough, she would touch a stone she had brought from her village.
The stone was her way of remembering the promise she made herself and her family that she would improve their lives.
Learning a language isn’t always as dramatic as that story, but it isn't always simple. You'll hit roadblocks and feel like giving up. But, it's important to remember why you started.
Think about how learning the language will improve your life.
Feel the way it will be when you’re able to use the language with ease.
Maybe you'll connect with new people, see things from different viewpoints, or get ahead in your career.
Keeping your reasons in mind will give you the strength to keep going.
Feeling Motivated Yet?
Staying motivated is crucial for reaching your language learning goals. Understanding the benefits, like better career chances, richer travel experiences, and connecting with different cultures, boosts your motivation. Setting both short and long-term goals keeps you focused and lets you celebrate your progress.
But whatever it is that you choose to yourself with keep coming back to it.
Our mind has a way of forgetting the positives and emphasizing the negatives.
That explains why you feel like beating yourself up whenever you make a mistake. And that’s why some people have a hard time celebrating big wins, thinking it’s just something they had to do anyway.
Learning a language takes time and effort but is very rewarding.
By using these tips and keeping your "why" in mind, you'll stay inspired and committed. This leads to a lifelong skill, a wider view, and personal growth. So, keep up the good work, enjoy the journey, and never stop learning!
