After reaching intermediate in spanish I felt my interest rise again and it was all I wanted to do. Now after starting Japanese I feel the slow painful grind coming back to haunt me! Don't lose hope guys keep pushing through and finding enjoyable ways to learn.
Thanks Matt, great advice as always. I’ve gone through a number of ‘troughs’ in my Japanese and French learning - for the most part, I just grind through (i.e. maintain my habit), until it starts feeling like fun again. I have to accept the fact that I don’t learn much when my motivation is down, but it’s maintaining the habit thats important. I’m in Japan right now - my attempts to speak have been a disaster (my mind just goes blank), but I know it’s too early for that - finding I can read some signs and hear what some people are saying gives me hope that I’m not wasting my time. I’m pretty sure it will give me some inspiration to get through the next year or so.
"Just move on" is such valuable advice. Once I started doing that in my language learning I enjoyed the process much more and found myself learning things quicker. Thanks for another great video!
This was very encouraging, thank you, Matt! I'm intermediate in Spanish but going through some burnout, and I can't seem to get motivated to jump back in. (Everything is still so learner-oriented, which gets boring and makes me feel like I'm making no progress at all and will never reach that coveted native level. 🏆) This video makes me feel much better! 😊 Glad you're back -- and I will definitely check out the newsletter!
Learner content is really helpful but if you lose your mojo you’ll stop. I mention it often but for intermediates Luisito Comunica is fantastic as the level is intermediate but the content is incredible. If you’re out of the beginner phase there will be channels on RUclips you can understand it just might take some hunting depending on your interests. The intermediate Spanish podcast is actually really good. I’m listening to a podcast called Los De Londres and also The Wild Project but obviously it will depend if they’re the right level for you (and of course what interests you)
Ahhhh, yeah! Matt’s back! That bottom of the sine wave definitely sucks. You captured it for sure. Language learning is a lot like weight loss and exercise-the hardest part is at the start. It’s like we’re set up to fail. Makes the success all the better for those who push through. Cheers, Matt! Great breakdown.
As a total beginner I've started doing the Spanish Language Transfer course. I'm about two-thirds of the way through and enjoying it but don't really know what to do afterwards. I'm sure you've covered it in other videos but is there anything in particular you'd recommend at this point? PS: I love pickled cockles!
I am a usless language learner. Nevertheless i can speak 4 languages. I make mistakes in all 4 languages. That doesn't bother me. I dont care. As long as the person has understood, what i want to convey thats the only reason that matters.
My negatives: wake up and straight to my mobile, watching rubbish one after another, brain fried already to study. I have 2 or 3 notebooks where I wrote in target language and English translation down one side and cannot remember hardly anything within them. Poor daily habits on most things. I feel relaxed, quiet mind on Sunday to learn and do this, but come Monday, whole different world. In my 40s, reflect on past 15yrs learnt in anything? nothing thus feel next chapter going forward, what will I achieve, if anything...
Cuz Americans aren’t motivated long enough to learn another language. Most think that the world should be learning English and accommodate all English speakers instead. Americans also lack genuine and deep interest in other cultures and I mean DEEP interest, not just “I love Japan cuz of anime and ramen.” Studying its history and mentality. It’s not hard learning another language, you just gotta be disciplined and motivated.
You're right, but it's worth noting... Practically no one is really. Overwhelmingly peoples that speak multiple languages either do so because the education system of their nation pushed it very early and/or it was immediately useful in multiple ways (like a great many people learning languages like English) or they learn it growing up from friends and family (heritage speakers, multilingual nations with lingua francas, etc). People that take on an additional language not natively spoken where they live, as an adult, and get to an intermediate or high level are relatively rare nearly everywhere. That is, people doing it entirely as a hobby - which is what native english speakers (including Brits, Aussies, Kiwis and Canadians) are attempting in almost all cases.
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After reaching intermediate in spanish I felt my interest rise again and it was all I wanted to do. Now after starting Japanese I feel the slow painful grind coming back to haunt me! Don't lose hope guys keep pushing through and finding enjoyable ways to learn.
Holà my amigo,元気ですか
Thanks Matt, great advice as always. I’ve gone through a number of ‘troughs’ in my Japanese and French learning - for the most part, I just grind through (i.e. maintain my habit), until it starts feeling like fun again. I have to accept the fact that I don’t learn much when my motivation is down, but it’s maintaining the habit thats important.
I’m in Japan right now - my attempts to speak have been a disaster (my mind just goes blank), but I know it’s too early for that - finding I can read some signs and hear what some people are saying gives me hope that I’m not wasting my time. I’m pretty sure it will give me some inspiration to get through the next year or so.
Yeah, even that motivation to return and speak to people more freely will keep you consistent. Great job Phil!
"Just move on" is such valuable advice. Once I started doing that in my language learning I enjoyed the process much more and found myself learning things quicker. Thanks for another great video!
It's seems like nothing but I certainly found it to be a real game changer!
love the vids Matt. 100% agree with all your points here, learning a language is a long journey so you need to find what works best for you.
Cheers Luke, been enjoying watching your journey too
This was very encouraging, thank you, Matt! I'm intermediate in Spanish but going through some burnout, and I can't seem to get motivated to jump back in. (Everything is still so learner-oriented, which gets boring and makes me feel like I'm making no progress at all and will never reach that coveted native level. 🏆) This video makes me feel much better! 😊 Glad you're back -- and I will definitely check out the newsletter!
Learner content is really helpful but if you lose your mojo you’ll stop. I mention it often but for intermediates Luisito Comunica is fantastic as the level is intermediate but the content is incredible. If you’re out of the beginner phase there will be channels on RUclips you can understand it just might take some hunting depending on your interests. The intermediate Spanish podcast is actually really good. I’m listening to a podcast called Los De Londres and also The Wild Project but obviously it will depend if they’re the right level for you (and of course what interests you)
I am a new subscriber. I am learning English. Your videos are awesome.
Ahhhh, yeah! Matt’s back!
That bottom of the sine wave definitely sucks. You captured it for sure. Language learning is a lot like weight loss and exercise-the hardest part is at the start. It’s like we’re set up to fail. Makes the success all the better for those who push through.
Cheers, Matt! Great breakdown.
Totally. Just keep going because it only gets easier! Thanks Jeff
As a total beginner I've started doing the Spanish Language Transfer course. I'm about two-thirds of the way through and enjoying it but don't really know what to do afterwards. I'm sure you've covered it in other videos but is there anything in particular you'd recommend at this point?
PS: I love pickled cockles!
I will hit C2 in french, even if it takes ten years.
I am a usless language learner. Nevertheless i can speak 4 languages. I make mistakes in all 4 languages. That doesn't bother me. I dont care. As long as the person has understood, what i want to convey thats the only reason that matters.
How do you learn vocabulary with Dreaming Spanish?
mmm pickled cockles; not had them for ages!
🤣
Pickled cockles... Que es eso!? Nunca he lo escuchado
Probar los! 😅
My negatives: wake up and straight to my mobile, watching rubbish one after another, brain fried already to study. I have 2 or 3 notebooks where I wrote in target language and English translation down one side and cannot remember hardly anything within them. Poor daily habits on most things. I feel relaxed, quiet mind on Sunday to learn and do this, but come Monday, whole different world. In my 40s, reflect on past 15yrs learnt in anything? nothing thus feel next chapter going forward, what will I achieve, if anything...
Cuz Americans aren’t motivated long enough to learn another language. Most think that the world should be learning English and accommodate all English speakers instead. Americans also lack genuine and deep interest in other cultures and I mean DEEP interest, not just “I love Japan cuz of anime and ramen.” Studying its history and mentality. It’s not hard learning another language, you just gotta be disciplined and motivated.
You're right, but it's worth noting... Practically no one is really. Overwhelmingly peoples that speak multiple languages either do so because the education system of their nation pushed it very early and/or it was immediately useful in multiple ways (like a great many people learning languages like English) or they learn it growing up from friends and family (heritage speakers, multilingual nations with lingua francas, etc).
People that take on an additional language not natively spoken where they live, as an adult, and get to an intermediate or high level are relatively rare nearly everywhere. That is, people doing it entirely as a hobby - which is what native english speakers (including Brits, Aussies, Kiwis and Canadians) are attempting in almost all cases.
Most people only learn languages out of necessity, hence most people speaking english
I also don't think culture/ history and languages aren't related when it comes to motivation