People often say that the most difficult part of learning Italian is mastering pronunciation or memorizing vocabulary words. I disagree. The most difficult part of learning any language is keeping motivated. Keeping motivated is difficult because learning a language is a relatively long and slow process, and there are always many other things fighting for our time. To help you with your Italian studies, I am going to give you 5 great ways to keep motivated while learning.
1. Set Small, Achievable Goals
I'm sure you've heard before that goal setting is important. This time, though, it's different. Stop for a moment. Stop and think about what it takes to accomplish the huge task or learning Italian. All those vocabulary words. All that pronunciation practice. All those grammar rules. It's overwhelming! In fact, it's such a huge goal that you will never be able to complete it!
Now think about a goal like this, "I'm going to learn how to order food and drinks in Italian." That's much easier to think about, right? Now add another goal, like, "I'm going to learn how to buy a one-way bus ticket from Rome to Venice." Sure, both of those goals will take a bit of work, but they are certainly manageable--and that's what you want. Small, achievable goals keep you motivated by allowing you to start and finish activities, celebrating your successes along the way.
2. Learn With Others
Nothing is more motivating than being held accountable by other people. If you've got a friend who wants to study with you, that's great. Most don't, though, so I'd like to suggest something else. Create and online study group. You can use social networking sites like Facebook or FriendFeed, or, if you are using Italian learning software, you will have access to a private learning forum. Either way, create a group. Then take charge. Set Italian language learning goals for the group. Arrange meet-ups at coffee shops or Italian restaurants, or set up language exchanges. Being part of a group will motivate you--being in charge of a group will take you to the next level.
3. Make a Realistic Study Schedule
Making a schedule may not seem necessary at first. Why? Because in the beginning, like with anything that's new, you'll be plenty motivated to sit and learn Italian vocabulary words. As time goes on, however, your motivation will slowly dwindle away. If you don't have a solid study schedule in place, with days and times, you will start missing lessons. You will study less and less until you quit altogether. I have seen it happen many times, and I've even experienced it myself. Don't let it happen to you.
4. Use What You've Learned
If you study Italian but never use it, you will get bored. This makes sense, right? What's the point of acquiring knowledge about something and then never using what we know. There are lots of places to use your new Italian skills. Italian restaurants, obviously, are your first choice. There are more opportunities, however, that you may not have thought about. You can, for example, join an Italian culture group, an Italian literature group, or you can take an Italian cooking class. If you live in a big city, these groups are easy to find. Your best bet, as always, is to do a Google search. Trust me, you'll be surprised at the opportunities you find. If you can't find anything locally, don't worry. There are lots of groups online. Just use Italian learning forums to find speaking partners, then use Skype or MSN to chat away in Italian.
5. Incorporate Your Hobbies Into Studying
Nothing is more motivating than enjoying yourself. So, incorporate your hobbies into your studying. For example, if you enjoying drawing, draw a picture of a kitchen, labeling everything in your picture in Italian, things like furniture, utensils, and appliances. If you love model building, build a model of a building, again, labeling everything in Italian. Love cooking? Invite your friends over for dinner. Cook Italian food and use your new language skills to explain to your friends what they are eating--they'll be so impressed. The possibilities are endless, and, like I said, nothing increases motivation more than pleasure!
Final Thoughts
Even if you really want to learn Italian, your motivation to study will likely decrease over time. There is much you can do about it, though. Set small, achievable goals, learn with others, make a study schedule, use what you've learned, and, finally, incorporate your hobbies into your studies. Do this and you will remain motivated, which will bring you much success.
Author Resource:
Is the #1 Italian language software best for you? Read my Tell Me More Italian review and find out. Don't wait!
Also be sure to head over to my blog and read my post "How to Choose the Best Italian Learning Software . You'll be glad you did!
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