9 Tips to Incorporate Language Learning into Your Daily Routine
Set goals, be consistent, and yada yada – you know the drill.
This article isn’t about what it takes to learn a foreign language but how you can incorporate language learning into your daily routine. How to make small changes with a big impact.
Some of these tips might seem” meh,” but trust me, it’s the little things that make a difference.
I also recommend that you read my article on how to make language learning more fun.
1. Scrolling social media
Have you ever scrolled through your Facebook or Instagram feed, and suddenly, two hours have gone by? I don’t know about you, but I always feel bad afterward. A few years ago, I probably wasted hundreds of hours every year on mindless scrolling.
I could have used that time to study my target language, work out, or read a book.
I remember scrolling for well over two hours one day and feeling so bad about it. To make matters worse, I went into my phone’s settings and reviewed my app usage from the past week. I don’t even want to say how many hours I spent on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram per day.
Let’s just say it was enough to give me a lump in my throat.
But I kind of enjoy scrolling through funny memes, infographics, and short videos after a hard day’s work. How can I do that while still being somewhat productive?
The solution was to unfollow most of the accounts I was following. Instead, I started following channels and pages in my target language. I tried to find somewhat educational pages, like” history facts” and” science made easy.”
Every meme, comment, and clip I read and watch is now in my target language. Honestly, it’s a great way of learning. Not only am I consuming loads of language, but it’s most often written by native speakers.
I can’t recommend this enough!
2. Follow YouTubers
This goes hand-in-hand with my Instagram and Facebook feed: follow native speakers.
I used to watch documentaries and talk shows in my mother tongue. Imagine my happiness when I realized that these types of documentaries also exist in my target language.
You are probably scrolling your Instagram feed as much as you are watching YouTube. So, why not change your YouTube feed into your target language as well?
We spend a lot of time in the digital world. One of the benefits of the virtual world is that you can change your environment however you please.
Every channel I follow and every video that is recommended to me is in my target language. I practically live in the country where my target language is spoken when I enter my digital world.
We have listed popular YouTubers and other resources for different languages, for example:
3. Read the news
I think every person in the world enjoys reading the news, whether they know it or not.
That’s because the news isn’t strictly limited to politics or current events. You can read about celebrities, science, technology, finance, and sports, too.
Whatever you enjoy and have an interest in – read it!
4. Watch movies and TV shows
I don’t watch many movies or TV shows anymore. YouTube has basically replaced my Netflix subscription.
But when I do watch a movie – it is in my target language. If they don’t speak in my TL, then I will at least use subtitles.
This is a great way of having fun and being entertained while still getting some language input.
This might also open up a whole new world to you. Many countries produce great movies that rarely get any publicity in the English-speaking world. There is more to the movie industry than just Hollywood.
Countries like South Korea, Japan, Italy, Spain, and Sweden have many movies worth checking out – even if you aren’t learning the languages spoken there.
You can check out our language section to find recommended movies.
5. Labels in your home
Are you new to learning a foreign language and struggling with finding time?
Post-it notes are the first thing you should buy to increase your language input.
Simply write the name of an object on a post-it note and put it on that object. For example, write” painting” on a note and put it on a painting,” washing machine” on the washing machine, and so on.
This is an underrated technique that I rarely hear people talk about. Imagine that any time you walk into the kitchen, you will be reminded of at least 10 different words.
I didn’t learn and memorize words like “headphones,” “speakers,” kitchen sink,” “sofa,” and “chair” by using Anki flashcards – I did it by using Post-it notes.
6. Podcasts during commute
Podcasts are extremely popular today, and there are millions of shows to choose from. Even if you are studying a smaller language, chances are high that you have several podcasts to choose from.
Whenever I travel, I always prepare different podcasts to listen to. It doesn’t matter if it’s a 20-minute drive or a four-hour commute; language input is language input.
This is especially important if you have limited time in the day to study your target language. If you are a parent, I recommend reading my 8 tips for busy parents who want to learn a new language.
7. Set your phone into your TL
I didn’t care for this advice in the beginning. It seems so minimal. But your phone is probably using more words and phrases than you realize.
Set your phone to your target language. Most likely, you will be exposed to a wide range of words and phrases on a daily basis – and you will remember them.
Obviously, changing your phone’s language will not make you fluent, but it’s a great way to build vocabulary.
8. Your inner conversations
We all have an inner voice and talk to ourselves in one way or another. When you do multiplications in your head, you do so with language.
I mean, how many times haven’t you pronounced a word perfectly in your head, just like a native, only to butcher the pronunciation when you vocalize it?
We all use words and language internally.
Try to talk to yourself in your target language. I usually make a game out of it when walking alone in the street. I try to describe every object and thing I see outside, for example, “there is a black car” and” I am walking fast.”
If you are a complete beginner, try to name the things you see:” car,” stone,” shop,” people,” and so on.
9. Combine your hobby with your TL
Whatever hobby or interest you have, try to incorporate language learning into it.
I enjoy history, so I read books, watch YouTube videos, and visit websites about history – in my target language.
If you like skydiving, I’m sure there are forums, books, podcasts, and videos about it in your target language.
Language learning doesn’t have to be a tedious chore where you go from page to page in a textbook. Make it fun and engaging! Combine your hobbies with your language learning.