5 Ways to Make Time for Language Learning

WAYS TO MAKE TIME

5 for

“Time is a created thing. To say ‘I don’t have time,’ is like

saying, ‘I don’t want to.’” - Laozi

Think that you “don’t have time”

to learn a language?

Think that you “don’t have time”

to learn a language?

You don’t need more time in the day. You need to use your time wisely.

Image © anieto2k | flickr

So let’s take a time inventory and find a place for language learning

in every single day.

Image © pure.sugar | flickr

1 Identify time wasters

“There’s never enough time to do all the nothing

you want.” - Bill Watterson

For one week, keep a very detailed account of your activities from the time you wake up until you go to sleep.

Image © oatsy40 | flickr

Don’t let your precious time end up in here!

Image © oatsy40 | flickr

For one week, keep a very detailed account of your activities from the time you wake up until you go to sleep.

Now evaluate!

Do you spend a lot more time in front of the TV than you thought because the couch is just so comfy?

Image © kurafire | flickr

Identify your time wasters and reallocate that time to

language study.

Start slowly! If you must unwind in front of the TV, turn on the subtitles, or set aside

commercial breaks for studying.

Image © conskeptical | flickr

2 Use up dead time

“Time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.”

- Marthe Troly-Curtin

Sometimes you waste time doing an activity, like watching too much TV, but sometimes you waste time doing nothing.

Image © Matthew Simantov

Sometimes you waste time doing an activity, like watching too much TV, but sometimes you waste time doing nothing.

Image © Matthew Simantov

Instead of removing tasks from your schedule, look for “dead time” where you

can simply add in a language.

Don’t cut your run short to study! Add a few foreign language songs to your running

mix instead!

Image © timtak | flickr

Spending 30 minutes commuting every day? Crack open a language book while you wait!

Image © Serge Melki

Don’t add in language learning as just another chore. Add it in to spice up your existing daily routine!

Image © stu-spivack | flickr

Image © stu-spivack | flickr

Don’t add in language learning as just another chore. Add it in to spice up your existing daily routine!

3 Plan ahead (and not just for studying)

“You may delay, but time will not.” - Benjamin Franklin

Planning out language lessons is great… but only if you have time to do them! Try planning out other aspects of your life. It will help you save up precious minutes to put towards studying!

Image © JacQuLyne | flickr

Image © ornello_pics | flickr

Plan out a week’s worth of meals and buy everything you’ll need at once. It will save you a few trips to the

store, and those minutes add up.

Put everything in its right place. Keep your study materials organized and easily accessible. Lay out an outfit, pack your gym bag, and prepare a lunch the night before. This will save a few minutes of scrambling in the morning.

Make a list before you run an errand. Don’t stray from your list and waste time wandering the aisles. It’ll save you money too! Win-win.

Image © waitscm | flickr

Get organized and plan ahead as much as possible,

even for little things. Saving 2-3 minutes here and there

throughout your day adds up!

Image © North Charleston | flickr

4 Disconnect

“Time is what we want most, but what we use worst.”

- William Penn

DROP YOUR

WEAPON

Image © NeilT|flickr

DROP YOUR

WEAPON

Image © NeilT|flickr

We love our devices just as much as you do. (We are a tech company, after all!)

But seriously, back away!

When was the last time you Googled one quick thing or checked just one e-mail and didn’t end up spending 20 extra minutes

surfing the web for cat memes?

Addicted to web surfing? Use RescueTime.com to monitor just how much time you’re wasting

online and impose time restrictions on yourself for specific websites.

Image © barbourians | flickr

Addicted to web surfing? Use RescueTime.com to monitor just how much time you’re wasting

online and impose time restrictions on yourself for specific websites.

Image © barbourians | flickr

Glued to your e-mail? Turn off the alerts and designate only 3-4 times throughout the day to

check it in bulk. You lose precious time and productivity by abandoning your current task to

check every incoming message.

Image © John Snape

Glued to your e-mail? Turn off the alerts and designate only 3-4 times throughout the day to

check it in bulk. You lose precious time and productivity by abandoning your current task to

check every incoming message.

Image © John Snape

Totally absorbed by social media?

This may seem like an impossible habit to break, but at the very least, make a lesson out of it! Follow a few celebrities who tweet in your target language, or follow language-learning pages!

Image © Jason A. Howie

Commit to 30-60 minutes of complete “disconnectivity” each day. Even if you

don’t put it all to studying, you’ll be more productive.

Image © pbalcer | flickr

5 Literally schedule time

“Time is what keeps everything from

happening at once.” - Ray Cummings

You may be sensing a theme here: taking the time to plan and organize actually saves you time in the long run. A great way to manage your time? Schedule it in a calendar.

Image © photosteve101 | flickr

Blocking off meetings, errands, and commitments helps you visualize your time and stay on track. Why not schedule time specifically for language-learning?

Image © Alan Cleaver

Blocking off meetings, errands, and commitments helps you visualize your time and stay on track. Why not schedule time specifically for language-learning?

Image © Alan Cleaver

If you had a meeting with a language tutor, you’d show up, right? Literally schedule a

meeting with yourself and treat it the same way.

Scheduling a short study session for the same time each day will reinforce your commitment and turn it into a ritual, like going

to the gym straight from work or having a bowl of ice-cream just before bed.

Image © ginnerobot | flickr

Scheduling a short study session for the same time each day will reinforce your commitment and turn it into a ritual, like going

to the gym straight from work or having a bowl of ice-cream just before bed.

Image © ginnerobot | flickr

There’s time in each day

for a language if you look hard for it and use it wisely. Start slow, get

organized, plan ahead, and commit to it!

Image © blue2likeyou | flickr

Ready to make time for language learning? Connect with Transparent Language:

www.transparent.com