Hi guys
I am sure you have heard this question many times before but I am going to ask it anyway.
I have a couple of goals I want to hit and I am trying to build a language routine to do at least something every day but I keep getting myself really confused.
What's your routine like,do you start with alphabet or phrases, or do you try listening first. I've learned a couple of words and phrases but I'm uncertain as to how to progress from here...
Kevwe A.
Well, practicing the alphabet every day is a good thing to do. That way it stays fresh in your mind. Then maybe doing simple phrases everyday for some time and slowly working up to more complicated. Listening could be done in between that or even like while doing things like chores. Just some suggestions.
Taylor Fabio
I start with random words, basic verbs and pronouns :).... I try to learn a verb daily and use it during the day
Following this post since I am also hoping to build some kind of routine into an already busy schedule lol Great advice so far everyone!
Jess.PWinkler wrote:I start with random words, basic verbs and pronouns :).... I try to learn a verb daily and use it during the day
Thank you Jess, presently I've learned over 20 phrases in the space of two weeks and they've stuck. You can literally wake me up in the middle of the night, ask me to repeat them and I will.
As for usage, there's no one around me who speaks french but I do anyway :grinning:
To my friends that is,and i always get the funny face. Thanks again!
Kevwe A.
TaylorFabio wrote:Well, practicing the alphabet every day is a good thing to do. That way it stays fresh in your mind. Then maybe doing simple phrases everyday for some time and slowly working up to more complicated. Listening could be done in between that or even like while doing things like chores. Just some suggestions.
Thank you so much for your reply Taylor,duly noted...
Kevwe A.
Oghenekevwe wrote:Jess.PWinkler wrote:I start with random words, basic verbs and pronouns :).... I try to learn a verb daily and use it during the day
Thank you Jess, presently I've learned over 20 phrases in the space of two weeks and they've stuck. You can literally wake me up in the middle of the night, ask me to repeat them and I will.
As for usage, there's no one around me who speaks french but I do anyway :grinning:
To my friends that is,and i always get the funny face. Thanks again!
I talk to myself to practice xD
Oghenekevwe wrote:TaylorFabio wrote:Well, practicing the alphabet every day is a good thing to do. That way it stays fresh in your mind. Then maybe doing simple phrases everyday for some time and slowly working up to more complicated. Listening could be done in between that or even like while doing things like chores. Just some suggestions.
Thank you so much for your reply Taylor,duly noted...
you are welcome. I have troubles myself creating a good routine but those things have helped me. Just thought I would share them!
Taylor Fabio
I feel if you want to built a routine in anything you need a desire or strong will, then discipline to built accountability and persistence so you don't give up when you hit boredom or any trouble. Hang in there they say you need to do something for 21 days for it to become a habit.
-Ari-
Ari wrote:I feel if you want to built a routine in anything you need a desire or strong will, then discipline to built accountability and persistence so you don't give up when you hit boredom or any trouble. Hang in there they say you need to do something for 21 days for it to become a habit.
Thanks Ari, discipline and persistence will definitely take you far in pursuit of your passion, desire or goals.
Kevwe A.
A friend of mine has this theory, that in order to make something a habit or attain a large goal, one should do a tiny little bit of that activity but every single day. That relates also to language learning. She is trying to read a couple of books in the English language, and in order not to lose motivation, she sets a minimum goal of one page per day. One page seems to be nothing, that's why it is easier to complete this task and tick it on the to-do list.
However, having read one page, you sort of break through the wall of laziness, and you read further and further. I believe this is a very helpful method to build a language learning routine.
Vladyslava wrote:A friend of mine has this theory, that in order to make something a habit or attain a large goal, one should do a tiny little bit of that activity but every single day. That relates also to language learning. She is trying to read a couple of books in the English language, and in order not to lose motivation, she sets a minimum goal of one page per day. One page seems to be nothing, that's why it is easier to complete this task and tick it on the to-do list.
However, having read one page, you sort of break through the wall of laziness, and you read further and further. I believe this is a very helpful method to build a language learning routine.
Little drops,they say,can make a mighty ocean. Thanks for your input!
Kevwe A.
8Vladyslava wrote:A friend of mine has this theory, that in order to make something a habit or attain a large goal, one should do a tiny little bit of that activity but every single day. That relates also to language learning. She is trying to read a couple of books in the English language, and in order not to lose motivation, she sets a minimum goal of one page per day. One page seems to be nothing, that's why it is easier to complete this task and tick it on the to-do list.
However, having read one page, you sort of break through the wall of laziness, and you read further and further. I believe this is a very helpful method to build a language learning routine.
I have heard that if you do something every day for like 10 days or something it becomes a habit. It usually works so this sounds pretty similar. Then you can add more to it little by little.
Taylor Fabio
TaylorFabio wrote:8Vladyslava wrote:A friend of mine has this theory, that in order to make something a habit or attain a large goal, one should do a tiny little bit of that activity but every single day. That relates also to language learning. She is trying to read a couple of books in the English language, and in order not to lose motivation, she sets a minimum goal of one page per day. One page seems to be nothing, that's why it is easier to complete this task and tick it on the to-do list.
However, having read one page, you sort of break through the wall of laziness, and you read further and further. I believe this is a very helpful method to build a language learning routine.
I have heard that if you do something every day for like 10 days or something it becomes a habit. It usually works so this sounds pretty similar. Then you can add more to it little by little.
I actually heard that it's 28 days. 
I think doing a little every day (realistic little goals), and turning it into a habit helps. I also believe that setting some goals, and involving others in accountability also helps.
meifeng wrote:TaylorFabio wrote:8Vladyslava wrote:A friend of mine has this theory, that in order to make something a habit or attain a large goal, one should do a tiny little bit of that activity but every single day. That relates also to language learning. She is trying to read a couple of books in the English language, and in order not to lose motivation, she sets a minimum goal of one page per day. One page seems to be nothing, that's why it is easier to complete this task and tick it on the to-do list.
However, having read one page, you sort of break through the wall of laziness, and you read further and further. I believe this is a very helpful method to build a language learning routine.
I have heard that if you do something every day for like 10 days or something it becomes a habit. It usually works so this sounds pretty similar. Then you can add more to it little by little.
I actually heard that it's 28 days. :grin:
I think doing a little every day (realistic little goals), and turning it into a habit helps. I also believe that setting some goals, and involving others in accountability also helps.
I've heard It's 90 days, now i wonder which is solid.
Kevwe A.
I thought it was 10,000 hours.
Learning Italian every day!
leosmith wrote:I thought it was 10,000 hours.
We are talking about the time it takes forming habits, not mastery... or world domination.
For me, I would prefer to start with listening first to familiarize with those phrases. Then, I will listen to my favorite songs from time to time. Sounds weird, but it's effective for me. 
Charlyn Amoin
meifeng wrote:leosmith wrote:I thought it was 10,000 hours.
We are talking about the time it takes forming habits, not mastery... or world domination.
:grin::grin: Leo is in another dimension Meifeng
Kevwe A.
I started with listening to podcasts before then taking basic self-study courses. For listening practice, I used to do it every morning, usually on my way to work but I wasn't able to keep up. Personally, I don't think I'm good at intentionally keeping a routine. lol
Everyday is a learning journey. Keep going!
Rose.Angelie wrote:I started with listening to podcasts before then taking basic self-study courses. For listening practice, I used to do it every morning, usually on my way to work but I wasn't able to keep up. Personally, I don't think I'm good at intentionally keeping a routine. lol
The most important thing is to find what works for you and stick to it.
Kevwe A.
At a high level, for someone who hasn't learned a language before I'd recommend month long 'sprints' or cycles:
Try a routine for a month/4 weeks and see how it works for you. Each month, keep what works and change what doesn't.
A month is long enough to experience your process, feel its effectiveness (or lack thereof) and see how it fits into your life, but a month is not so long that you over-commit yourself to a bad idea... if you are someone who tends to have a problem with that.
Personally, if I were to start a new language, I'd spend roughly the first month or two doing a 'boostrap' to get a foot hold on the language:
1. Read a good explanation of the pronunciation (familiarize but don't attempt to memorize it)
2. Read/Skim a reasonable description of the grammar (familiarize but don't attempt to memorize it)
3. Anki/SRS the first ~500-1000 most common words
4. Start listening to the language in my dead time (e.g. while driving) with no expectation of understanding much, just to get used to the sounds.
5. Work my way somewhat casually/rapidly through a beginner text book like Assimil or Teach Yourself. Mostly I'd just listen/read the dialogs and decoding them and notice the nuts and bolts of how the language functions in practice.
After that first 1-2 months, I'd jump in headfirst, I'd...:
1. Try to find as much (hopefully interesting) Audio+Matching Text as I can.
2. Use the Reader app here, as much as I can, intensively read the above content (and anything else I find interesting)
3. Use a free app like WorkAudioBook or Audacity to listen to the above content while reading in the Reader. These audio apps allow you to easily short-loop phrases/sentences repeatedly so you can listen to each phrase until you _really_ hear it.
4. Get a tutor and try to start speaking and having conversations... and secondarily use them to answer questions that arise in my reading.
5. (Edit) Oh... and depending on your goals, start writing short journal entries in your TL and get corrections on them.
Some like to continue to use Anki/SRS and attempt to memorize simple definitions of 1000's of words, but I've found it doesn't work well for me. For me, intensive reading of interesting Comprehensible Input solves the same problem (and simultaneously many others) in a much more enjoyable way.
Lots of luck to you all!
