5 Bad Habits in Language Learning & How to Overcome Them

Hey guys welcome to the new video Have you ever had that burst of energy when you're super excited to learn something new like a language or a skill? You dive right in putting in all the effort But then, after a few weeks or months you just feel completely burnt out Show more

You start telling yourself “I've lost my passion." “I can't make it!” Or maybe you've been studying a language or picking up a new skill and it feels like you've been  stuck in the same spot forever. Show more

You must be wondering why am I doing everything but I just don't feel like I am progressing Well, I wanna say, it's completely  normal in the learning journey! It could also be a signal: time to review your study habits! In today's video we will be tackling those bad study  habits that are holding you back We will also be talking about the  reasons that cause you to burn out and how to fix them and how to replace bad habits with good ones If you are new to this channel I am Zoe PhD candidate in sociology  in France and in Germany I am also a polyglot who speaks 7 languages If you like this video don´t forget to click on  like and share with others So, let's get into the video! Being overly critical or underestimating oneself When you're overly critical you'll start feeling like you're  not smart enough to learn a language even though no language is hard to learn. You might find yourself saying "This is a difficult language" Show more

or "I don't have enough time." It becomes a habit of quitting and making excuses On the other hand when you're not critical enough you'll notice that your  progress in the language is slow and it feels like it's taking forever. So, how can you avoid these two situations? A good middle ground is to set a realistic plan that includes long-term,  mid-term, and short-term goals. Short-term goals consist of daily tasks while mid-term goals help you track  your progress on a weekly basis. Long-term goals can be set on a  monthly or annual basis for each level It's important to constantly measure  how much you've accomplished. Remember the goals are definite but the plan isn't set in stone. Be flexible and embrace adaptability. Another helpful tip is to ask questions Show more

and stay open to other people's experiences. That's why I've opened my Discord community so you guys can share your experiences Surrounding yourself with supportive people who share the same passion can also motivate you and help you set realistic goals. If you want to join us, just click  the link in the description box. Using excessive resources This is a common problem  caused by living in an age of open-source information and  easily accessible knowledge. Unfortunately quality and quantity have an inverse relationship at least in terms of internet knowledge. While it might be great to have  a lot of information online it's a slippery slope. If you get greedy and start hoarding resources thinking that the more you have the more you will learn, you're mistaken In fact, you don't need that many apps or books One mistake people make is using several apps that perform the same function For example using multiple flashcards and spaced  repetition system (SRS) apps all at once You only need one! Try to find one app for each skill  you're trying to learn and stick to it. Don't overwhelm yourself with choices because in the end, they all have the same function. On the other hand relying solely on one learning  method is also a mistake. Show more

While there's nothing wrong with  using traditional methods like books which have worked for centuries or relying only on an app it's great to discover a language but not enough if you want to reach a good level Nowadays we do a lot of typing Show more

but writing is the best way to memorise. And you still need plenty of real  conversation and listening exercises. So, try to find the middle ground  between traditional and new methods. That's why I always suggest  having one main learning resource where you spend 50% of your study time. It could be a book,an app, an online course or a series of YouTube videos. The key is to choose something well-structured  that helps you learn progressively. Avoid jumping from one random video to another as it can lead to confusion  and hinder your progress. Next, I recommend using one flashcard  app for memorizing new vocabulary and one podcast or YouTube channel  for listening and speaking exercises Or, you can use a platform that  combines both functions like Lingopie. It's a website where you can  learn languages by watching videos including documentaries, series, and movies. They offer content for  different proficiency levels. There is one new amazing feature on  Lingopie which allows you to watch Netflix using their chrome extension. You have dual subtitles You can view the script on the right side click on new words for translations and save them along with the  original audio in your flashcards and review whenever you want It's amazing right? If you're learning these languages you can completely rely on Lingopie  as your second learning resource to improve your vocabulary,  listening and speaking skill. If you are interested in LingoPie you can click the link in the description box to get a 7 days free trial! Focusing solely on quantity You will often hear that you  need to increase your word count and study new words on a daily basis. However, focusing only on numbers  instead of truly understanding the words is a very bad habit. This approach can lead to speaking a language without understanding the logic behind it. Moreover, those words won't  stick in your long-term memory. Sometimes, it's important to  review and understand words clearly before moving on to new ones. So, prioritise daily reviews and make them your top priority  before learning new words. Otherwise, everything will quickly pile up Show more

and you'll feel overwhelmed  with a large number of reviews. You'll end up losing on both fronts having pending reviews and  struggling with new words. When setting up your SRS app there's no need to aim for a large daily target. As a general rule of thumb try not to exceed 15 new words per day. Instead, prioritize reviewing and ensure that  you have understood and memorized the old words. This is especially important for the  1000 basic words at the beginning! As the book "Atomic Habits" says Show more

"All big things come from small beginnings." So, take your time to digest the information. If you're interested in  learning vocabulary effectively you can check out these two videos. Lacking consistency The biggest problem! Let me share an anecdote Once, I received a comment on youtube like "I have tried all your  methods, and they don't work!" I wonder if the person only tried it  once and concluded that it doesn't work. I want to say that all the language  learning methods I share on my channel require consistency. Language learning is all about accumulation; there's no magic pill! Just like with exercise, you can't gain muscle after one or two workouts. Even if you only practise once a week you can only maintain your level. But the solution is simple and easy. Before starting each level you should have a clear  understanding of the following: What material will I be studying for this level? What is the desired outcome of this level? Show more

Based on that, you can start setting your plan. Estimate the number of new words you can  study according to your daily routine. Set realistic goals, starting  small and gradually increasing. Many people lose consistency because  their planning phase was unrealistic and their goals were unattainable. So, invest in good planning  before starting each level. I know the sad truth is that  if your daily life is chaotic it will be extremely difficult to learn. The lack of routine leads  to a lack of consistency. If your average day is filled with work try to find small pockets  of time throughout the day Identify the repetitive  patterns in your daily routine. For example you can start with a review or learn  a couple of new words in the morning then do some passive listening  exercises while walking or driving. But the most important thing  is to establish the habit. On average, it takes 21 to 30 days  to create a routine and stick to it as Octavia Butler said "First forget inspiration. Habit  is more dependable. Habit will sustain you whether you're inspired or not." If you want to learn techniques for  incorporating tiny habits or atomic habits into your language learning journey especially if you have a full-time job I recommend checking out this video! Prioritizing passion over commitment We often say that studying  should be an enjoyable activity but that's not entirely true. You can't expect to study  for 6 or even 3 hours a day and enjoy every single moment of it. There are two ways to memorize things through repetitions and through  the release of adrenaline which is related to stress. Just think about it. How is it that you can easily remember  bad events that happened in your life? It's similar to how trauma works When you apply this concept to studying it starts to make a lot of sense. That's why you often hear phrases like "failure is the mother of success" or "you learn better through making mistakes." For example, when you move to a  country where the language is spoken Show more

and start interacting with locals or when you have a language partner you might feel stressed and afraid of  making mistakes or embarrassing yourself. However, that stress actually  helps you remember those mistakes and avoid repeating them. On the other hand when you study in isolation and rely on repetition it's challenging to hold yourself accountable. That's why immersion is important and it's crucial to accept that studying isn't always supposed to be fun and comfortable. Now, let's talk about passion. People often overlook the fact that passion  is just a mere interest in a certain topic. However interest alone is not enough to accomplish goals. It guides you in the direction of  the path you want to walk in life Show more

but it won't walk you through it. To complete that path you need a strong will, the  ability to tolerate pressure push yourself, and adapt. People often say, "I lost my passion," but  it's natural to sometimes lose interest. However, if you keep repeating that  to yourself, you'll become a quitter. Emotions constantly change  according to our environment and we can't rely on them to get things done. Sometimes, you just have to push yourself through. "We must all suffer one of two things: the pain of discipline or the pain of  regret and disappointment." - Jim Rohn. Passion, while valuable,  is just the starting point. It must be complemented by discipline perseverance, and adaptability  to achieve long-term goals. As I said (1000 times) Language learning is a journey of  accumulation, not an instant transformation. Show more

It requires dedication, planning, and a  willingness to step out of our comfort zones. That´s why we love learning language isn't it? I hope this video can help you  diagnose your current study problems. I hope you can avoid these bad habits. Feel free to share your  experiences in the comments section If you have any questions, write in the comment! If you find this video helpful,  please click on "like" and share it. If you are new here, don't forget to subscribe. See you soon guys, bye Show more

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