A challenge turns learning into a game: it gives you a clear goal, an end date and the satisfaction of succeeding. Here are some ideas for simple challenges that you can adapt to your level.
The 30-day challenge
Choose just one action and do it every day for thirty days: five new words, ten minutes of listening, one written sentence. Tick off each day on a calendar. Watching the chain of crosses grow longer is very motivating (see our tips on motivation).
A diary in a foreign language
Write three sentences a day about your day. At first, they will be simple; after a month, you will be surprised when you read the first pages again.
One film or episode a week
Choose a film or an episode in the language you are learning and write down three new expressions. The following month, try watching without subtitles.
The speaking challenge
Record yourself speaking for one minute a day for a week, on a different topic each day. Listen again to the first and the last recordings: you will soon notice the difference. Our tips for speaking will help you along the way.
The vocabulary challenge
Learn all the words for a subject you enjoy: cooking, football, gardening. With spaced repetition, twenty words a week become eighty in a month.
Choosing the right challenges
A good challenge is short, precise and realistic. It is better to complete a small challenge than to give up on a big one. Taking on a challenge with other people, in a group of learners, adds even more motivation.
Frequently asked questions
What is a 30-day language challenge?
Doing one small action every day for thirty days, for example learning five words or listening for ten minutes.
Which challenge should I choose as a beginner?
A very simple one: a few words a day, or a short listening session every day.
What should I do if I miss a day?
Carry on the next day, without starting all over again. What matters is being regular over time.
Learning your partner's language
On the Passerelle, these tips serve a clear purpose: to better understand a supplier, a customer or a colleague in Vietnam, China, Thailand or France. A few phrases in their language build trust; for everything else, keep your writing simple: see writing to a foreign partner.
General advice, written for the Parlons Langues project and republished here by its author.
Originally published on Parlons langue.