Hello, guys.
I know, sometimes learning
a language as an adult can seem difficult.
Mostly, right now,
schools are closed and you may be juggling
the demands of parenting and having to be teachers,
moving to online classes, self-study.
Anyway, today I want to share with you four tips
on some practical suggestions
that will help your learning process.
One, create a support network.
A good exercise to do as well is to create a support network.
That is to set an agreement with a group of people
that are close to you to make them aware of your new goals
and how they can help you.
For example, agreeing
with your partner to look after the kids
while you’re studying,
or even agree with a friend to support you with technology
when you have problems with it.
Get a study buddy.
This person can be a colleague in the workplace,
as studying can be built into the working day,
or a family member.
You can do some general speaking practise together just
by having the conversations you would normally have,
but in English.
It doesn’t take up any extra time.
Study buddies can test each other in preparation
for assessments, too.
Turning your cell phone off
or putting it away, choosing a specific studying space,
and even closing the doors,
so everyone at home understands you’re busy
will help minimise distractions and prevent interruptions.
Two, create a study routine.
Sometimes, having so
many responsibilities and duties may seem overwhelming.
When it comes to the learning process,
it’s important to organise your schedule and set a time
of the day or the week for attending classes,
studying, reviewing, preparing for your classes,
and completing assignments.
When you’re organising your schedule,
a nice idea is to set some self-study time.
And a good option is the In Use series
because they’re easy to use and they cover grammar,
vocabulary, and pronunciation,
and they’re designed specifically to help
you identify the areas you need support with and to study
when it’s convenient for you.
Focusing on learning is important,
but it is helpful to take one day at a time, too.
Take assignments day by day and week by week.
There is no point in stressing about things
that don’t need to be delivered immediately.
Prioritise the different tasks of the week or modules
and split the work into little bite-sized chunks.
Three, expand your focus.
Look for hidden time in your busy day
when you can practise English while doing something else.
Listen to podcasts or your coursework
workbook audio while you’re doing household chores
or listen to music in English when you go for a run.
Use a learning app or watch speaking exam videos
while commuting to work.
Explore topics you’re already interested in,
for example,
if you like to travel,
watch travel videos in English instead of ones
in your language.
Or join English language web forums on topics
that interest you.
Four, reward yourself and others.
Learning another language isn’t easy.
Keep yourself motivated and your attitude positive
by acknowledging your hard work and sacrifice.
Think of something
special you like for yourself and commit to having it
once you’ve reached your goal.
It could be in the form of small rewards daily or weekly,
or a larger reward for larger milestones
like completing a whole semester of class.
Put a picture of your reward
in your study space as a reminder and motivator.
When you have met your goal,
you can congratulate yourself guilt-free
because your reward was part of the plan all along.
Sharing rewards can also help you build your support network.
For example, if you have children,
you could agree with them
that on certain days of the week and at a specific time,
they cannot interrupt you,
unless it is an emergency.
Agree with your family not to use the streaming services
and free up bandwidth
when you’re in an online session.
They’ll be more interested in your success,
if they benefit too.
For small children,
make a chart together with boxes for each chunk
of your learning time.
if you’re not disturbed,
the box gets a tick and they get a treat.
It’s always good to bear in mind the reason why
you decided to study in the first place.
By learning another language,
you’re opening up lots of new opportunities for yourself.
Travelling, making new friends, working in another country,
and much more.
You can find more videos
that support your learning process on the channel.
Don’t forget to subscribe and see you next time.