Ways to Find Time for Learning a Foreign Language

How to Find Time for Learning a Foreign Language: TOP 10 Ways

Is time slipping away, and you still haven't mastered the language? Familiar situation? This means you're a busy person struggling with motivation to learn a foreign language. We've prepared 10 tips on how to find time to study English and other foreign languages.

Finding Time to Learn a Language

The commute – at least 30 minutes a day

Use your time wisely. Don't just listen to music or waste time on yet another game. Learn new words, watch movies in a foreign language, read books, study new grammar. How? There are many ways: textbooks, smartphones, audiobooks, and so on. But if you're driving, focus on the road and be careful.

Study during work breaks (30-40 minutes a day)

You might exclaim, "40 minutes? How can I find such a break at work?" You'd be surprised, but it's easy. Surely, a couple of times a day you have tea or coffee while chatting with colleagues. Smoking breaks are a scourge of office life, sometimes taking more than an hour of work time each day. And how often do you get distracted by your smartphone? Believe me, 30 minutes a day is a realistic goal. It's scientifically proven that a break is not idleness, but a change of activity. So use your break wisely! For example, read a text in English. If it's hard to find a quiet place to study new words, you can read anywhere. Several 20-minute sessions will bring more results than one 3-hour session. If you want to take a break from the screen, bring a book or pre-printed flashcards with new words. Experiment and you'll find an effective way to spend your time.

Read books in English after work and before bed – 20-30 minutes a day

This tip is available to everyone, as finding 20 minutes to read is within reach for any person. Read adapted books for language learners. Usually, you read a paragraph in the foreign language, followed by a translation. By the middle of the book, you'll start recognizing words and remembering their meanings. Moreover, you'll even ask yourself, "Why is this word being translated again? I've seen it 150 times already."

Chating with friends in English

An obvious tip, but few people actually use it. Ask your friends. Maybe they'd like to try this way of communication too, and might even be considering it themselves. Take the initiative.

Watch morning news in English

Many people watch the news and read newspapers in the morning. Why not combine the pleasant with the useful? Yes, you might say that you prepare breakfast in the morning and want to listen to the news in the background so as not to be distracted from household chores, but to tune in when a news story catches your interest. Perfect! In that case, news in English will be a challenge and make your brain work harder than it has before.

Efficient time management and revising your schedule

If you feel overwhelmed with tasks, start by working on your schedule. You might find that you don't have as many tasks as you thought, but the issue lies in effective time management. Yes, exceptions are possible, but try to find 15 minutes to review new words. In any case, work on your schedule. Add all tasks and appointments to your planner. After a couple of weeks, you'll notice that your schedule can be managed.

Conversations with colleagues/family/friends during meals

The best way is to organize an English language day. Invite all your friends and family who speak English, even if only a little. Try to speak exclusively in English. You can discuss the ingredients of each dish, the method of preparation, and during tea, switch to other topics.

Communicate in English at work/home

Set boundaries: make Tuesday an all-English day. Unfortunately, you'll need the support of your family at home or colleagues at work and the necessity to explain the importance of this idea. Repeating words in the bathroom might make some laugh. It may seem funny or even absurd. But it's a mistake, because we're talking about places in the home where you spend time daily. Stick flashcards on the bathroom wall. During your personal hygiene routine, look at the cards and repeat the new words. As an argument, you might say that there won't be time left for yourself and all your time will go to English. But why not? If your goal is to learn the language.

Every free minute

We want to know the language, but we don't want to do anything to study. Issues with motivation, lack of money and time, bad weather, a sore throat—these are factors that influence success. But the ability to use every free minute to learn a foreign language is a habit that has yet to be formed.

If you're asking how to find time to study a foreign language, the problem might not be a lack of time, but rather a lack of motivation. Work on your motivation and your schedule, and you'll find time to study English and other foreign languages.