Learn a language on your own – Intro
If you are here, I bet that you want to learn a language on your own, or at least you are interested in it. We both know that it is not easy. But if you follow the right strategy, you will learn where to start, what to do and how to succeed.
I’ll share a step-by-step guide to my strategy and many practical examples which will help you see how it can work for you. I’ll also explain everything in detail as I guide you through the whole process, from start to finish.
Before going further, I have to tell you that not everyone is suited to learn a language on their own. Not everyone can work solo and succeed. Because of that, before going into the strategy of how to learn a language on your own, you need to make sure you fulfil three requirements. The strategy is more likely to work for you if you meet these requirements.
Let’s see what these three requirements are, but more importantly, you do need to make sure that you fulfil them.
You are willing to be your own language guide.
If you decide to follow my strategy, you will work on your own. That means that you, and only you, are going to be the one who’s going:
- To make the decisions.
- To plan according to your likes and needs.
- To work on your own.
- To check your own progress.
- To adapt as you go.
In a nutshell, you will do it all on your own. There’s not going to be someone else always by your side, telling you what to do, when and how. All the focus and all the weight of the process will be on you.
Of course, every now and then, you can ask for advice, you can comment or share with someone else if you need it. But still, you have to keep in mind that you will be the one leading the way.
Are you ready to accept my challenge?
You are going to use the language instead of learning it.
You need to switch your mindset from “I’m learning a language” to “I’m using a language”. Your ultimate objective will be, of course, to learn a language. But by using my strategy, you will forget about learning that language. You will focus on doing and enjoying things that you really like. And as you enjoy those things, without noticing it, you will improve your language as you use it.
The focus will not be on the language itself (learning grammar, learning lists of words, doing exercises, using language methods…). The focus will be on doing things that you really like, but the only rule will be to do those things through the language you want to learn. You will learn the language by using it, and not by studying it.
You must understand that the language you are learning won’t be your objective anymore. The language will be your medium, just your vehicle to enjoy things that you really like.
Are you ready to change your mindset?
Your main motivation will not be to learn a language.
The secret to being successful at learning a language is to keep your motivation always at the highest level. I know that your ultimate motivation is to learn that language, but you have to keep that motivation on the back burner. Because if your main motivation is just to learn that language, you will most likely fail. At first, you will be very motivated to start learning. But as you go that motivation will fade little by little as you encounter difficulties along the way, and as you don’t see the finish line. That’s because learning a language is like a marathon and not a sprint.
Because of that, you need to provide yourself with interests if you don’t want to give in sooner or later, as most language learners do. I will help you find as many interests as you need. And I’ll help you to keep you interested in using the language you want to learn for as long as you like. You are going to find your own interests, and as you go, if your motivation fades away, you are just going to switch from one interest to another. And you will do that as many times as needed.
With that strategy, your motivation will always be at the highest level, and you will achieve that by always doing the one thing that you really like at that moment.
Are you ready to find your own interests?
Now, you know the 3 requirements: Do you meet them?
They are a must if you want to succeed. If you do, let’s dive into how to learn a language on your own.
To make it easier for you, instead of going right through the whole strategy, I’ll introduce one step at a time in detail. You are going to learn the five steps of my strategy individually. Then, I’ll wrap it up together, and last but not least, I’ll share with you some personal examples of how it worked for me and how it can work for you too.
But first, you take a look at the five-step strategy in the next infographic to get a general idea of my strategy, and then I will explain the first step.
