5 Tips to Restart Language Studying After a Break

Summary

In this video, the speaker shares personal experiences and offers five tips for relearning a language after a long break. They emphasize the importance of motivation through engaging content, analyzing one's language level, finding a language partner or teacher, setting realistic goals, and documenting daily life in the target language. The speaker also recommends using platforms like italki for personalized lessons and suggests keeping a consistent study habit to maintain progress.

Takeaways

• 😀 The speaker can speak two and a half languages, with English as the native language, fluent in Spanish, and has a conversational level in Japanese.
• 🌐 The speaker lived in Japan from 2014 to 2017, which improved their Japanese, but since moving to Peru and then Spain, their Japanese proficiency has declined due to less use.
• 🎬 Tip 1: Engage with content in the target language that interests you, such as films, sports, or documentaries, to reignite motivation to learn.
• 📚 Tip 2: Use graded readers to learn the language naturally and at a comfortable pace, which can be more motivating than traditional textbooks.
• 🤔 Tip 3: Analyze your current language level and identify areas that need review, including past study methods that may have been demotivating.
• 🗣️ Tip 4: Find a language partner or teacher to practice speaking, which is crucial for improving conversational skills.
• 👥 Tip 5: Set realistic goals for language learning and focus on enjoying the learning process rather than solely on achieving fluency.
• 📝 The importance of documenting daily life in the target language to make learning relevant and to improve conversational flow.
• 📅 The speaker plans to study Japanese for 20 to 30 minutes every day for the next 30 days as a consistent habit to maintain language learning.
• 🔗 The recommendation to use italki to find a language teacher for personalized and flexible language learning experiences.
• 🎁 A discount code is offered for italki to encourage viewers to try out language learning classes with a teacher.

Q & A

What does the speaker consider as 'speaking two and a half languages'?

The speaker is fluent in English and Spanish, and has a basic to intermediate level of Japanese, which they refer to as 'half a language' due to their reduced fluency and usage after moving away from Japan.

Why did the speaker lose motivation to study or practice Japanese after moving to Peru and then Spain?

The speaker lost motivation because they started using Spanish more frequently and their Japanese-speaking friends were fluent in English, leading to a lack of practice and usage of Japanese.

What is the first tip the speaker gives for restarting or relearning a language after a long break?

The first tip is to watch, read, or listen to something that motivates you in the target language, preferably on a topic or theme that interests you.

What are graded readers and how do they help language learners?

Graded readers are books designed for language learners with different levels of proficiency. They are beneficial because they are shorter than novels, making them less daunting, and they include both the native alphabet and kanji or katakana, aiding in gradual language acquisition.

Why is it important to determine what needs to be reviewed or if one needs to start again when relearning a language?

It's crucial to assess one's own language level to identify gaps in knowledge and understand personal weaknesses. This also includes reviewing previous study methods to avoid repeating past mistakes that may have led to a loss of motivation.

How does the speaker suggest finding a language partner or teacher to improve language skills?

The speaker recommends using platforms like italki, where one can find native speakers and professional teachers for one-on-one, personalized classes tailored to individual needs.

What is the significance of setting realistic goals when learning a language?

Setting realistic goals helps prevent feelings of being overwhelmed and demotivated. It's important to enjoy the learning process rather than solely focusing on achieving fluency, which is an ongoing journey.

What is the speaker's suggestion for making language learning relevant to one's life?

The speaker suggests documenting one's life in the target language by keeping a diary or journal. This practice helps to relate the language to everyday experiences and facilitates more natural conversation.

How does the speaker plan to maintain a consistent habit of studying the language?

The speaker plans to study Japanese for 20 to 30 minutes every day for the next 30 days, setting a realistic and achievable target to ensure consistency.

What is the benefit of using italki for language learning according to the speaker?

Italki offers flexibility with no subscriptions, allowing learners to take classes when they feel motivated. It also provides personalized, one-on-one classes with native speakers, and the convenience of learning anytime and anywhere.