4 tips to improve your learning process as an adult

Hello, guys.

I know, sometimes learning

a language as an adult can seem difficult.

Mostly, right now,

schools are closed and you may be juggling

the demands of parenting and having to be teachers,

moving to online classes, self-study.

Anyway, today I want to share with you four tips

on some practical suggestions

that will help your learning process.

One, create a support network.

A good exercise to do as well is to create a support network.

That is to set an agreement with a group of people

that are close to you to make them aware of your new goals

and how they can help you.

For example, agreeing

with your partner to look after the kids

while you’re studying,

or even agree with a friend to support you with technology

when you have problems with it.

Get a study buddy.

This person can be a colleague in the workplace,

as studying can be built into the working day,

or a family member.

You can do some general speaking practise together just

by having the conversations you would normally have,

but in English.

It doesn’t take up any extra time.

Study buddies can test each other in preparation

for assessments, too.

Turning your cell phone off

or putting it away, choosing a specific studying space,

and even closing the doors,

so everyone at home understands you’re busy

will help minimise distractions and prevent interruptions.

Two, create a study routine.

Sometimes, having so

many responsibilities and duties may seem overwhelming.

When it comes to the learning process,

it’s important to organise your schedule and set a time

of the day or the week for attending classes,

studying, reviewing, preparing for your classes,

and completing assignments.

When you’re organising your schedule,

a nice idea is to set some self-study time.

And a good option is the In Use series

because they’re easy to use and they cover grammar,

vocabulary, and pronunciation,

and they’re designed specifically to help

you identify the areas you need support with and to study

when it’s convenient for you.

Focusing on learning is important,

but it is helpful to take one day at a time, too.

Take assignments day by day and week by week.

There is no point in stressing about things

that don’t need to be delivered immediately.

Prioritise the different tasks of the week or modules

and split the work into little bite-sized chunks.

Three, expand your focus.

Look for hidden time in your busy day

when you can practise English while doing something else.

Listen to podcasts or your coursework

workbook audio while you’re doing household chores

or listen to music in English when you go for a run.

Use a learning app or watch speaking exam videos

while commuting to work.

Explore topics you’re already interested in,

for example,

if you like to travel,

watch travel videos in English instead of ones

in your language.

Or join English language web forums on topics

that interest you.

Four, reward yourself and others.

Learning another language isn’t easy.

Keep yourself motivated and your attitude positive

by acknowledging your hard work and sacrifice.

Think of something

special you like for yourself and commit to having it

once you’ve reached your goal.

It could be in the form of small rewards daily or weekly,

or a larger reward for larger milestones

like completing a whole semester of class.

Put a picture of your reward

in your study space as a reminder and motivator.

When you have met your goal,

you can congratulate yourself guilt-free

because your reward was part of the plan all along.

Sharing rewards can also help you build your support network.

For example, if you have children,

you could agree with them

that on certain days of the week and at a specific time,

they cannot interrupt you,

unless it is an emergency.

Agree with your family not to use the streaming services

and free up bandwidth

when you’re in an online session.

They’ll be more interested in your success,

if they benefit too.

For small children,

make a chart together with boxes for each chunk

of your learning time.

if you’re not disturbed,

the box gets a tick and they get a treat.

It’s always good to bear in mind the reason why

you decided to study in the first place.

By learning another language,

you’re opening up lots of new opportunities for yourself.

Travelling, making new friends, working in another country,

and much more.

You can find more videos

that support your learning process on the channel.

Don’t forget to subscribe and see you next time.