How To Make Time For Learning A Language

One of the biggest push backs I hear from people who haven’t started learning a language is “I haven’t got any time”.

This is simply not true; we can all make time for learning a language.

I know we all have busy lives and I know learning a language is a long and slow process, but we can all find the time and I will go through some ways you can make that happen below.

If you want to learn a language badly enough you will find the time. We all have the same 24 hours a day and we can squeeze in some time for language learning.

Evaluate Your Day To See Where Language Learning Can Fit In

If you think you have no time then you need to start by evaluating your day. I know it doesn’t feel like it at times, but 24 hours is long time. So what are you actually doing with all this time?

You might need to actually sit down and write it out. Literally get a page and write 0 – 24 down the side. Then as you go through the day mark out what you are doing for each hour.

You will very quickly see what is taking up all your time. If you spend the first 8 hour sleeping then the next 8 hours at work, that’s totally fine. …but what do you spend the next 8 hours doing? chances are it’s nothing important.

I know not every day will be the same, but hopefully there is some sort routine that you can see when you map your days on paper. Just do this process for as many days as you feel necessary and until you can get a clear imagine of  how you are actually spending your time.

It is very likely you will start to see some gaps appear, which is exactly the time that can be used to learn a language.

 (You can read more about – How Often Should You Study A Language?)

Make Sacrifices To Make Time For Language Learning

So maybe you have evaluated your day and for the whole 24 hours and you are engaged in activities.

Now you need to question if all these activities are essential. Is there anything that can be sacrificed? Language learning is a big commitment. If you really want it, you may have to sacrifice some things.

The easiest way to make sacrifices is to look at what you are doing and see if anything can be removed or reduced. Maybe you watch TV for 2 hours every night before bed? …Why not cut that in half? Suddenly you’ve got a free hour every night for language learning.

Maybe you are actually a busy person and can’t remove or reduce any activities, so maybe you need to get more drastic …Maybe you could sleep for an hour less? Get up a little earlier; go to bed a little later?

I know sleep is important, but sometimes small temporary scarifies are needed to achieve what you want.

You don’t need to find time every single day, but the more time you can find then obviously the more you can dedicate to your language.

Maybe you remove some things from your day just a couple times a week, or sleep slightly less a few nights a week. These little changes can make enough of a difference to give you the time to learn a language.

I am also fairly certain that you will spend a lot of time doing non-productive activities, like watching TV playing games or just generally lounging around. It’s things like this that can be easily sacrificed to make room for language learning.

(You can read more about – Can You Learn A Language In Your Sleep?)

Change Things To Fit Around Your New Language

If you have assessed your day and feel like there isn’t much room to move or get rid of anything, why not keep your day the same, but change your activities into your new language.

Maybe you like to read the news in the morning, why not read it in your new language? Your TV time in the evening? Why not watch TV shows in your new language.

This is a great way to increase your listening and reading practice. Although it may not be perfect for a total beginner, but once you get a basic grasp of the language you can start to change things in your life to be in your new language.    

This is really the end goal of the language, you want to actually live your life and just use the language in the way you would your native one. Like I said, it can take a while to get to this point, but maybe some short term sacrifices can be made so you can get to this point.

Using Your Dead Time To Learn A Language

You may find when you assess your day; you are busy, but not fully. You probably have to spend time doing some things that just need none to be done. You need to cook, exercise, clean up and maybe even commute to work.

These are things you cannot escape, but at the same time, do not really require much mental focus. This time is called “dead time” and it is perfect for language learning.

You can usually listen to podcasts or language lessons during this time. If you are sat on a train or bus for an hour every day, you could easily spend this time reading or doing lessons. 

When you start to add up this dead time up you will find it can take up a lot of time. To be able to change it into an effective use of your time is like you are getting your time back. It’s a very easy way to give yourself more time and you will be surprised how much of a language you can learn here.  

Speak To Yourself Throughout The Day

You may be busy all day, but you can always speak to yourself in your new language. Either internally, our out loud.

There is nothing stopping you from talking to yourself and practicing your language as you go about your day. Maybe in the beginning you just repeat common phrases or simple vocabulary and as you advance you can start trying to narrate whatever you are doing.

You are probably thinking or talking to yourself all day in your native language anyway, so why not try and mix in some of the new language you are learning.

This doesn’t seem like it will be a lot of study, but it can all add up and the repetition can really help you. 

(You can read more about – How To Use Your New Language Throughout Your Day)

You Always Have Time To Text Your Language Friends

I am a busy person, but I always have time to have a few chats through text with my friends. I am sure you do this too.

Once you start learning a language, you can join language exchange sites. Here you can meet people who are fluent in the language you are learning, but are also trying to learn your native language. Basically you can talk to these people and practice your skills, but more important you can become friends.

I have a few friends from these types of sites and I message them all the time, both in English and their native language. It’s a great way to practice throughout the day, even though all you are really doing is just talking to a friend.

(You can read more about – What Are Language Exchange Partners?)

Conclusion

As you can see, we can all find the time to start learning a language and as we progress we can start introducing it more and more into our day, rather than having to set time aside.

If you have ever said “I do not have the time to learn a language” please, actually look at your time and try and make some changes. I am certain there will be space for a language.

Language learning is worth the effort and it is worth making time for. You will look back and think it was one of the best decisions of your life!

(You can read more about – Why Learn A Foreign Language?)