New Years’ Resolutions for English Language Learners

It’s the start of a New Year and time to plan for the year ahead! Setting some new years’ resolutions is a popular tradition in many English-speaking countries. For some people, their goal may be to lose weight, improve their health, get a new job, or learn a new skill…

So, what kind of resolutions could help you when you’re studying English?

If you are studying a language, then you will know that it can be challenging and requires hard work. Making some resolutions could help you achieve your short-term and long-term language learning targets.

Here are some handy tips to help you on your journey to English language success!

Don’t be afraid to make mistakes
Don’t be too hard on yourself when you make an error. No-one likes to make mistakes. However, they are an important part of the language learning process. If you forget a word or mix up a sentence, smile and laugh it off. Make a note of the error you make and you will remember not to do it again.

Be confident
The best way to speed up your language learning is to expose yourself to the language as much as possible. To do that, you need to be brave, get out there and speak to people! This is the part of learning a language that can be the most daunting, but trust me, you will see your English skills improve rapidly.

Set realistic goals
Setting goals is a great way to keep yourself motivated. However, you need to be reasonable with yourself. For example, it is not realistic to expect to speak fluent English after 3 weeks! A more practical goal would be to be able to watch an English-language film without subtitles after 6 months, or read a whole novel after 1 year. With goals such as these, it will be easier to measure your progress.

Be patient
It can be frustrating when you do not feel that you are progressing as fast as you would like. This can happen with all new hobbies – you reach a certain level, and then months pass with no improvement! Don’t let this discourage you. Language learning is a long process and can only be achieved with patience and perseverance.

Start positive habits
By incorporating some language learning techniques into your daily routine, you could see your English level improve really quickly. For example, you could remind yourself to read an English newspaper every day, read a book for 20 minutes, watch an episode of an English language TV show you like or complete a grammar exercise each day.

Meet new people
If you are studying English abroad, you have a great opportunity to meet native speakers all around you. Try not to stick with your fellow students who speak the same language you do. A good way to meet locals is by joining a language exchange website and searching for groups on Facebook. You could arrange to practice online, or meet up once a week. Making friends with English native speakers is a great way to ensure that you spend time practicing with a native speaker and also learn more about the local culture!