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  • (Greetings in different languages)

  • Today, I'm going to be addressing a question that I get a lot.

  • Somebody on Tumblr wrote to me and they said, "How do you stay motivated? I have terrible anxiety, and I'm always riddled with save-heloohself-hatred and self-doubt."

  • "It keeps me from doing what I love, and I feel like it's held me back and I can't do anything except to watch others move on with their lives."

  • First of all, to the person who said that, I really want you to understand how much you are valued; think about how many people around you love you and how you've changed the lives of others.

  • You really do make a difference in people's lives and you shouldn't have self-doubt.

  • I understand that you're going through a difficult time.

  • So, I'd like to give you some practical tips on motivation on how to think about yourself more positively in light of language learning.

  • So, first of all, here's some general things to remember when you're feeling a little down and feeling like you aren't progressing in language learning.

  • First of all, and very importantly, don't force yourself.

  • You are a human being and you need breaks.

  • You want to tell yourself, "Study 500 words a day and finish this textbook and stuff", and then you end up disappointing yourself because you're not able to reach those goals.

  • One little, tiny step at a time.

  • It's better to do a tiny bit each day than it is to try and pile on everything and not be able to achieve your goal.

  • Remember the power of positive speaking.

  • Try to tell yourself, "I speak A, B, C language" instead of "I'm learning Japanese" or "I'm trying to learn Korean, but it's hard".

  • Talk to yourself positively and tell yourself, "I'm doing a great job! Look how far I've gotten. I'm speaking Korean."

  • Number twoeverybody says thisbut remember the reason you started.

  • What was that flame that triggered your passion for the language in the beginning?

  • Also, try and envision yourself where you want to be and envision what it's like to be completely fluent in that language.

  • But don't compare yourself to others.

  • I repeat, do NOT compare yourself to other language learners online.

  • Rather, try and build a community with them; become friends with them.

  • If you're feeling envious or jealous towards someone who seems to be progressing faster, remember: Another person's success is NOT your failure.

  • Just because someone else is more fluent or has beaumore prettier studyblr pictures than you, doesn't mean that you're a bad person or you're a failure.

  • Only, only, only, compare yourself to your past self; don't think, "Oh, my goodness! James has progressed and he's done five text books this month and I've only, like, done one chapter."

  • Don't do that; tell yourself, "Wow! look at me! I've done one entire chapter. And last month, I just learned two words!"

  • Tell yourself how much you are progressing.

  • You could also start finding new ways to enjoy the language.

  • Rather than traditional study methodstaking a course, reading a textbookmaybe you like inspirational posters and stuff.

  • Why don't you print out quotes in your target language?

  • Stick them up around your room so that when you wake up in the morning, you see this quote in Vietnamese or something on your wall.

  • You can even write your shopping list in that language.

  • Make sure to make the language part of your life and make it exciting again for you.

  • Okay, enough wishy-washy, blahdy-blah; let us move on to the practical tips for us... practical people.

  • Number onethis is something I am guilty of—I always buy new notebooks and new textbooks to, like, feel really excited about the language again.

  • There's nothing like opening a fresh new notebook and being like, "Yes! This is it! This is gonna be the one that I fill until the end."

  • So, get yourself splurge; spoil yourself.

  • Get a new textbook, get a new notebook, just so you feel like it's a fresh new start.

  • Number two, figure out what your ideal language learning style is.

  • Are you an auditory learner?

  • Do you remember song lyrics, like, the moment you've heard them?

  • If that's your learning style, incorporate it into your life.

  • If you're more visual, put up posters, make flashcards, use highlighters.

  • Number three, start a YouTube channel or a studygram or a blog or a journal to track your progress.

  • It's really important to track your progress because it can show you how far you've come.

  • You can say, "Wow, actually, I don't feel it, but I can see in my progress that, in two months, I've improved my accent so much!"

  • And it'll be a great source of motivation 'cause you'll want to update it.

  • And the next onewhich is quite interestingbe cautious but open to language learning challenges.

  • Online you'll see things like "100 days of productivity" or "Joy of learning languages", "31-day language diary challenge thing"—those are fun!

  • Those are really cool, but be wary of them because if you suffer from depression or anxiety, it can put you into a space where you get overly competitive, and you'll feel very bad about yourself if you miss a day.

  • Don't make it something you have to doonly do it if it's fun for yourself and if you're capable of it.

  • And, finally, if you really, really don't feel like learning, fall back on immersion!

  • Change your phone to the language, change your Facebook page language settings to the language you're learning.

  • Even if you're not actively studying, because it can be mentally drainingtrust me, I knowmake sure language just surrounds you.

  • Listen to it, talk to your friends in it.

  • You don't have to sit in front of a book and study.

  • Don't do that if you don't feel like it.

  • So, to summarize, only do things if it makes you happy, don't compare yourself to others, only... uh... compare yourself to yourself, and pat yourself on the back for all your successes!

  • I believe in you guys. You can do it! You are the best! Go learn that language!

  • Bye!

(Greetings in different languages)

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