How often have you taken up something with a lot of gusto only to realize later that your enthusiasm and motivation have fizzled out? Whether it is lofty fitness goals, learning to play a new instrument, or completing that online course you signed up for just because it is “self-paced” or learning a new language. So why do we lose motivation? Is it because we get busy, or does the goal lose priority to daily mundane tasks we all have to do or does it become uninteresting?
We obsess too much about outcomes rather than the journey towards attaining outcomes, thereby setting unrealistic expectations, which result in indiscipline and unsustainable habits.
While learning a new language, people only focus on gaining fluency and expect to become fluent in a short span, only to realize that it is a long road ahead, thereby losing motivation.
Here are some principles of James Clear’s Atomic Habits that one can apply to develop sustainable habits while learning a new language:
FORGET ABOUT GOALS; FOCUS ON SYSTEMS INSTEAD
“Goals are about the results you want to achieve. Systems are the processes that lead to those results.”
If you are a language learner, your goal might be to gain fluency. Your system should be: How often do you practice conversation in your target language? How often do you read in your target language? How many new words do you learn every day? How often do you use audiovisual mediums in your target language to improve comprehension? How do you receive feedback about your progress?
Getting 1% better every day counts for a lot in the long run.
Instead of spending 2 hours on the weekends only, spend only 15 minutes every day engaging in your target language by reading an article, listening to a podcast, talking to a friend who is also learning the language or watching a TV show.
IMPLEMENTATION INTENTIONS
“Implementation intentions are effective for sticking to our goals. People who make specific plans for when and where they will perform a new habit are more likely to follow through.”
Here is the implementation intention formula:
I will [BEHAVIOR] at [TIME] in [LOCATION]
In terms of language learning, it could be;
I will (study grammar) from (2 pm to 3 pm on Sundays and Wednesdays) at (my desk)
I will (listen to a Spanish podcast) at (9.30 am) in (the metro on my way to university/work)
I will (watch a Spanish movie on Netflix) at (2 pm on Saturday) in (my drawing room)
I will (read a blog) at (7 pm) on (my phone)
TEMPTATION BUNDLING
“Temptation bundling works by linking an action you want to do with an action you need to do. More probable behaviors will reinforce less probable behaviors.”
After [CURRENT HABIT], I will [HABIT I NEED]
After [HABIT I NEED], I will [HABIT I WANT]
When you are supposed to dedicate time to studying the language, you are tempted to open Instagram to scroll reels or post a story, but as a language learner, you have to study grammar or learn new vocabulary.
Here is one of the ways you can incorporate your temptation with a habit you need to develop:
After you open Instagram on your phone, you can follow your favourite celebs who speak your target language or some creators who create amazing content in your target language. That way, you learn new vocabulary or new concepts (NEED).
After you learn new words or concepts, you can scroll reels or post your story (WANT).
The hope is that you will eventually look forward to learning new content in your target language through Instagram because it means you get to scroll reels or post your latest story.
ROLE OF SOCIAL GROUPS IN SHAPING YOUR HABITS
“We tend to imitate the habits of three social groups: the close (family and friends), the many (the tribe), and the powerful (those with status and prestige). If a behaviour can get us approval, respect, and praise, we find it attractive.”
As a language learner, join a WhatsApp group of language learners or a Facebook page of language learners. Generally, these groups consist of people with varying levels of proficiency. You learn a lot by engaging with and observing others in the group.
You could also find a group of native speakers in your city and organize a meet-up. Native speakers are curious about different cultures. Therefore, you could mutually benefit by exchanging information about your respective cultures and practicing your conversation skills.
Once you have attained and demonstrated a reasonable level of fluency in a foreign language, the awe and approval from others are validating, and the whole effort seems attractive and worth it.
LAW OF LEAST EFFORT
“Every action requires a certain amount of energy. The more energy required, the less likely it is to occur.”
For example, if the goal is to read 20 pages daily of a Spanish novel you just picked up , that’s a lot of energy. But if you start reading only 2 pages a day, it requires almost no effort to get started.
Create conditions where doing the right thing is as easy as possible. For instance, to cultivate a reading habit in your target language, place your target language’s news app on your phone’s home screen. Then, put your target language’s content in your Netflix app’s watch list, and the algorithm will show you more content in your target language.
Initially, minor improvements seem insignificant. But a continuous series of minor improvements lead to establishing a system that is easy to stick to, keeping your motivation intact and making attaining your goals less daunting.
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