ABA Journal The digital English academy
We can all agree on the fact that learning a foreign language is a challenging process but that it also carries with it many benefits.
Whether you have decided to study a language for work reasons, to travel, or simply to expand your own depth of knowledge, it is always an optimal investment in terms of time and energy.
When you decide to start learning a language, you usually have a lot of enthusiasm and energy. You can even visualize yourself debating in the language of your dreams in the most complex and beautiful ways possible.
But, the reality is quite different. Many of those who start studying a foreign language with enthusiasm and motivation end up abandoning their studies before they can even hold a simple conversation.
Why does this happen? One reason may be a lack of motivation.
In each area of learning, in fact, the right motivation is a strong impulse to learn and to not surrender under any difficulty.
Another possible cause is unreal expectations. It is often thought that learning is quick and effortless, but after realizing all the energy and effort that must be invested in studying, it is easy to throw in the towel.
Finally, an important reason for dropping out is the lack of a method or a good study program.
For this reason, today, we intend to put the emphasis on this last aspect.
So, here are our suggestions on how to organize your English studies.
1. Establish a time for study
Never leave your language studies to chance!
It does not matter if you decide to dedicate just a few minutes per day or several hours to studying a second language, it depends on your goals. What is important is to study regularly and frequently.
To do this, the aim is to establish how much time per week you will devote to your studies. Decide how many days you want to dedicate to English and the duration of each session.
Be realistic. Do not exaggerate your expectations or the number of programs that you will be able to complete.
In general, a few minutes per day are enough to obtain tangible results.
2. Plan your study sessions
Setting a time to study is not enough, it is necessary to have a plan!
This means that you must decide where to schedule your sessions over the course of the day and write them down in your calendar or personal agenda.
Writing your commitments down generally makes you more aware of them and more likely to fulfill them.
3. Always keep your study materials at hand
While it is true that respecting the calendar we have prepared will help you to progress, another way to give your learning a boost is to always have your study materials at hand.
This will allow you to take advantage of the dead moments in your day to review what you have learned, such as when you are on the bus or while having a coffee.
If you love to read before bed, leaving some notes on your nightstand could be a good idea and would allow you to take one last look at what you have learned during the day.
An alternative to books and notes is the wide range of online courses and the various apps that are available and which you can use at any time on your mobile phone.
4. Diversify your learning
So as not to give in to boredom, diversify your study sessions, alternating grammar exercises with activities that please you like listening to music (with the song lyrics at hand), reading magazines, or watching movies in their original language.
Remember that, in this case, planning is fundamental. This will establish how much time you will devote to each activity.
A good idea that is easy to put into practice is to give yourself 10 minutes of an activity you enjoy after each grammar session.
5. Choose a good course for the language you want to learn
Choosing the most suitable course to learn the language that you like can also enter into your study plans.
Following a course, especially at the beginning, will help you to adhere to a regular program and acquire a good method.
Choose the course that best suits your learning style and your needs.
Consider courses that offer you precision, quality, and variety at the same time.
If you have already tried to learn English on other occasions but always stop when you do not get the results you want, why not try an online course?
ABA English offers a course with many resources: 144 free video classes, 144 short films based on real-life situations, daily curated content for you to learn with what you like, and much more! Do you dare to start now?
