How To Stay Motivated As A Language Student

When you are learning a new language it can be hard to stay motivated. Progress might seem slow and it can be frustrating when you find yourself lost for words. As an adult learner you're no doubt painfully aware of how limited your conversational skills are or how little vocabulary you really know.

The good news is that it's pretty normal to feel like this - after all, learning another language is a long-term project - and these feelings will pass as your knowledge grows and you see your skills develop.

For now though, how do you manage to stay motivated when the frustration sets in? Here are my top 3 tips:

1. Remember why you are learning a language.

It's important to keep your goal in mind because this will provide the motivation to keep going. Is it to travel abroad? Do you want to keep in touch with your family's culture? Do you plan to work or study abroad? Or do you just like the culture of the language you are learning? Picture yourself enjoying that goal - what it would look and feel like. Make that goal as real as possible and get excited about it.

2. Get a 'study buddy'.

It's always easier when you can team up with someone who is facing the same challenges. Look for a language café in your area where you can meet up with other learners to practice. Usually these conversation groups are pretty relaxed and you can talk as little or as much as you like in your foreign language. (Don't be too shy, you still want to practice!) Try searching free listings such as Gumtree - there might be someone who is willing to chat over Skype or meet for a coffee, although always meet in a public place and be careful about giving out personal details to strangers.

3. Link your interests with your language goals. In addition to the more formal, structured learning, look for opportunities to include your language learning into your daily routine - especially those activities you enjoy. Look for websites or publications that are connected to your interests and hobbies - so if you love crime drama, for example, look for a TV series from one of the countries where the foreign language is spoken and watch it with subtitles. Lots of these programmes also have a Facebook page or Twitter account so you can follow any updates too.

Motivation that relates to what we individually want to do, known as intrinsic motivation (as opposed to what other people want us to do) tends to last longer, so it's important to connect your goals with something that's important to you. Staying motivated is always a challenge but the rewards are so satisfying!