What Would Be Your Perfect Language Learning New Year’s Resolution?
If you want to improve your English skills, how do you think you will do it in 2024?
It is a common tradition to reflect on the year that has just gone by and look towards the future and how you can be a better person. When making these, how often do you stick to them, and how often do you quit?
The key to being successful has been proven to be keeping a habit for 30 days. I used to work as a personal trainer in the past, it was a running joke how full the gym was in early January and how empty it became by the start of February. Why was this? Many people wanted to lose weight and weren’t fully committed when it got difficult. Imagine wanting to learn English but not feeling quick enough improvement and deciding to quit studying.
So, one of the first things I would recommend as a New Year’s resolution would be to commit to at least weekly classes with a tutor. It’s good to have a set day and become accountable to yourself as well as a teacher.
If you already have weekly classes, then maybe you need to start another learning habit to improve your English. A personal favourite recommendation of mine is to try to listen to one hour of English each day. Listening is often the most difficult language skill, so requires more focus. Also, it is good to try to read one news article or chapter of a book per day. Listening practice helps improve conversation, and reading can improve your writing. Both of these improve your vocabulary. Listening practice and reading are both good passive learning habits to have between classes.
Why not try a free app like Duolingo to practice daily between classes, this is especially good for basic learners of any language. The way this kind of app works is by ensuring users are consistent. Also, LiveXP’s Word Trainer can surely help you memorize new words and expand your vocabulary. The key to success is always consistency, all the hours of work mount up.
Taking a big break between classes will cause you to forget a lot of what you have been learning. When you return to study, it will take you a long time to get back up to speed. If you continue to consistently study, even for a little bit each day, will help you continue to learn new things and retain the information learned in lessons.
If you want to improve your English skills, how do you think you will do it in 2024?
I'm a British born teacher, who has been teaching English since 2017. I qualified with a TEFL master's course. I have worked at a variety of different English schools in Brazil.
