How to Learn a Language: Making a Study Plan
I really recommend you check out my posts tagged #language learning terms (in particular the post 'Gauging if a study material will help with reading, listening, speaking, writing, and if a study material can be used intensively or extensively' and the post 'Language Learning Terms')
And my posts tagged #study plan (in particular 'Mejo’s absolute bare bones guide for making a language learning study plan,' 'While I’m on the topic of beginners learning a language, common pitfalls beginners fall into, and and how to get out,' and 'Guide for picking which study approach may suit you best')
Now that I've gotten the recommended prior reading out of the way, this post is going to focus on: how to make a study plan that works for your particular goals, doing activities you enjoy doing and therefore will be able to keep doing.
First, how to study the 4 main skills, no matter what learning materials you have to use:
Learning a language to overall competence eventually means being good at listening, reading, speaking, and writing in the language. To whatever degree of competence either your goals require, or whatever level the test you are trying to pass requires.
So if your goal is to read novels, but you don't care about chatting with people, you could theoretically ignore practicing any of the other skills. Or if your goal is ONLY to chat with people, then you could theoretically ignore any of the other skills. If your goal is to pass a test, such as a test required to go to college in a language, then it's probably a good idea to practice ALL 4 of the skills to some degree - if not to pass your test, then because afterwards you are likely going to need some competence in all 4 skills to successfully get through college in that language. (Or work a job, or live in a country, etc.).
So Structured Resources typically will cover most of the 4 skills, and all if they're well designed or taught by a teacher who's trying to prepare you adequately, and if you aren't covering all 4 skills then some creativity on your part will provide the adequate practice for all 4 skills. Structured Resources are, for my purposes going to be defined as, learning materials where the vocabulary and grammar you need to learn to achieve X proficiency level in a language and the learner material is presented in a structured way such as "do A then B then C" so you don't have to figure out HOW or WHAT to study, you can just follow directions. Most Structured Resources, even if they don't provide adequate directions on how to practice all 4 skills, CAN be used to practice all 4 skills since they'll typically contain audio and text and vocabulary and grammar (although not always - and if they don't, another Structured Resource can be used to fill in those gaps). So for example, lets say you have a textbook. The most plentiful and easy to find of the Structured Resources. To practice all 4 skills for passing A1 (a language proficiency level that is tested), you work through a textbook claiming to cover what needs to be learned for A1. So you read the text (practice reading) typically textbooks will include a dialogue or reading passages, you listen to the audio provided of the text (practice listening), you answer questions in the textbook (typically writing down answers in the target language, using vocabulary and grammar in the chapter, so practicing writing). You might also write a short journal or discussion for the chapter, using the words and grammar in it and prior chapters (practice writing). you also might shadow the audio from the chapter (repeat after the audio words aloud and attempt to sound as similar as possible, so practicing speaking) and record yourself speaking your answer questions out loud (practicing speaking).
You see how easy that was? Coming up with a way to practice all 4 language skills with a Structured Resource? If you have NO IDEA where to start learning, I genuinely recommend you start a Structured class or find another Structured Resource like a textbook, and simply work through it, doing study activities like those listed above to practice all 4 skills. When you finish the Beginner/A1-A2/HSK1-2 textbooks or classes? Move up in level. For your next Structured Resources, pick Intermediate/B1-B2/HSK3-4 labelled learning materials.
This strategy to find a way to practice all 4 skills when using a Structured Resource, can be applied to less ideal Structured Resources as well. Glossika is a 'structured resource' in that it provides a few thousand words, and grammar in sentence examples. It's not the resource I'd particularly recommend, but if say Glossika CDs from your local library were what was available, free, and you wanted to use them, then you would just creatively find a way to practice all 4 skills. Glossika provides listening practice obviously, as it's a CD. It provides a few thousand words of vocabulary, basic grammar in sentence examples. You can shadow (repeat aloud after) the Glossika audio sentences to practice speaking, you can also practice speaking by making your own sentences you speak aloud based on the Glossika examples you've heard. You can read the accompanying Glossika text reference (which is often provided with the CD, but otherwise can be found online), to practice reading. You can try writing down what you hear (text dictation) to practice writing, and also try writing down sentences based on the ones in Glossika to describe things in your life (write a journal or example dialogues you might want to say).
You could apply this strategy to Teach Yourself textbooks, Berlitz textbooks, The Nature Method textbooks, Comprehensible Input Lessons on youtube (if they have closed captions you could turn on for the reading practice activity), pre-made anki decks (if they have text and audio).
Let's say all you have is a book, it's audiobook, and either it's a parallel text (has target language and translations) or you have a translation dictionary app/website on your phone/computer. The book has thousands of unique words, and grammar in it's sentences. You could just use the book/audiobook/translation-dictionary to learn. If that's really what you wanted to do. (Listening-Reading Method is a formalized study plan for such a case, if you wanted premade instructions on what someone else has done that worked for them and therefore may work for you). You would look up the words and grammar online or in your dictionary-translation reference book or in your parallel translation text, as you read (practice reading). You'd then listen through, practicing listening. You'd practice writing down what you hear as the audiobook plays, practicing writing with text dictation. You'd practice making some example sentences out of the existing sentences you've read, words you've looked up and learned - practicing writing. You'd shadow the audiobook, practicing speaking. You'd practice saying some sentences you make up, based on the sentences you read and listened through and learned - more practice speaking.
You can make a LOT of things into useful study materials for all 4 skills. And if say a learning material has text but no audio, then that's fine just Supplement it by finding another learning material to use that does have audio.
If you find it difficult to come up with your own study activities (journal activity prompts, speaking activity prompts), and to find resources with both text and audio, and to find resources that gradually increase in difficulty - again I highly recommend using a heavily Structured Resource like a textbook. Especially ones that label clearly what level of proficiency they cover (Beginner, Intermediate, Advanced, HSK 1-6, A1-B2), so you can keep working through new material to learn, keep progressing to more difficult material, keep expanding your knowledge.
Second, how to study for your particular goals in ways you enjoy:
You may not actually care about all 4 skills though, as I mentioned above. You may ONLY want to talk with people. Or ONLY watch shows. You may not care about actually knowing how to do all 4: listening, reading, writing, speaking.
You can adapt your study plan to suit your goals to 1. reach your particular goals faster, and 2. spend less time doing things you don't like to do.
I want to preface this with - I DO highly recommend you study all 4 skills, at least to some degree, as each of the 4 skills tends to help in some ways with the other skills. And neglecting 1 or more of those skills, often means having to do more work for it later when you've decided you actually DO have some goals that will require that skill. So just keep in mind, if you ignore a skill in the short term, you may need to go and work on it later if it becomes relevant to your goals. If possible, it'll be easier in the long run to do at least a little practice of all 4 skills from the start (and heavily Structured Resources like a well made textbook and well run classroom will MAKE you practice all 4 from the start - so they're a good route to go if you want to be forced to focus on all 4 skills).
The only thing you need your learning materials to have are: new words and grammar to learn (which you don't already know), and presented in a format that allows you to practice the skills you need for your goals.
Structured Resources are easier to gauge in terms of number of words taught, how many grammar points and which ones, and what language proficiency level the resource will get you to. So they're easier to use as a beginner, when you aren't sure what you'll need to know to achieve your goals. But Grammar Reference websites/books, and 3000(if your goal is to be Intermediate)-9000(if your goal is to be Advanced) frequency word lists (with translations and example sentences) will cover the same things.
Let's say all you want to do is be able to read novels. You can use a Structured Resource, like a textbook, and just do the reading practice - practicing reading the dialogues, the text passages, reading the vocabulary lists and grammar explanations. So you would skip all study activities related to listening, speaking, writing. Or you can use a resource like Glossika, and just read the sentences in the text companion, and compare with the translations of the text, and try to learn all the words and grammar by comparison. You could skip Structured Resources entirely, and go right to Graded Readers and Novels and look up words in dictionary-translation apps or sites, focusing on learning the words and grammar needed to understand what you want to read ASAP.
You could be a little less imbalanced, and focus on learning to read AND learning to listen. You could use Learner Podcasts (Like Chinese Pod 101/Innovative Languages Chinese) and both listen to them and read the transcripts at different times. Reading while listening, listening on it's own, and reading on it's own. If you pick a Learner Podcast that explains and translates everything (like Chinese Pod 101) then both listening and reading will provide as much information as a Structured Resource textbook. If you pick something like a Novel/Audiobook (material made for native speakers) combination to use, then you'll have to do the work of looking up word translations and grammar explanations on your own - the novel won't provide that as part of it's text/audio already.
Your study plan will be determined by a few things:
Do you want all information needed (words, grammar) provided as part of the learning material? If yes, please pick a Structured Resource. Then do the practice for skills related to your goal - so if you only care about reading, then do the reading practice. If you only care about speaking, then do the listening and speaking practice (still do the listening practice because it will be needed once you start having conversations and need to understand someone else to respond). The Structured Resource will take away the struggle to figure out what to study. Just keep progressing through the Structured Resource as labelled by difficulty. This will have you motivated to study, as you are doing only the practice of skills you actually have a goal to use. (I'd advise you also practice the other 4 skills occassionally, if only to make sure you have some ability to do the others if needed one day). This study approach is best suited for: people who prefer to have all information they need to study provided and explained by the resources they use, who are okay waiting to do goal activities for a while.
Do you want to jump into materials for native speakers soon, is that your primary goal? Would reading tons of learner materials about daily life bore you intensely and make you give up? If yes, then find yourself a translation-dictionary app or website or book, find a common word frequency list (anything from 3000-9000 words), find a Grammar Reference book or website. These resources you can focus on reading, or on listening to (assuming you can find resources that contain audio). You need to find some references to use for word translations and grammar explanations. Now, find the thing it's your goal to understand - a show, cartoon, novel, news, whatever. Start watching, reading, listening to it NOW. Reference your word definition-translations resources and Grammar Reference resources frequently. You'll be leaning on them to understand the material. You will learn the most frequent words and grammar in that media pretty fucking fast (in the grand scheme of things), since you'll be focusing entirely on learning what you need to learn to understand THAT specific thing. This can be a grueling process, and is not for the easily demotivated by difficulty. It can be made easier, by first doing a Structured Resource, or studying a frequent words in sentences premade anki deck, or going through Glossika or some other thousands of frequent words with grammar in sentences resource first. Even if you were just cram studying, or reading through, doing ANY prior study before diving into material for native speakers with just a dictionary-translation app and Grammar Reference site, will make the struggle much easier as you'll already have some VAGUE FAMILIARITY with many of the words and grammar you be spending time looking up over and over until you understand them. But if you get so bored of materials made for learners, then you probably will only do the minimum prep work with an actual resource made for learners before wanting to dive into actually DOING your goal. So if you do want to start doing your goal - just start. It will be hard, but if you're looking up lots (intensively reading, listening) then you'll also learn enough to do your goal soon enough. For speaking goals, or writing goals, the way to dive right into it may be finding a tutor/language exchange partner or a pen pal, and speaking/writing daily what you want to be able to chat about. This may mean looking up a TON of words and grammar to figure out how to say/write what you want, then practicing what you've looked up by chatting with another person. (The TLDR version of this is: intensively look up words and grammar you need to achieve your goal, and start practicing the skill your goal requires now). Eventually, once you have a foundation in the language, you would be able to extensively do things in your goal sometimes (do the goal activity without needing to look things up) - this would be reading something you easily understand and can guess anything unknown from context, watching or listening to something you understand most of, chatting with someone and being able to pick up new words/grammar simply from what the other person says. This study approach is best suited for: people who are comfortable looking up information they need to learn on their own, looking up things frequently, and want to start doing their goal activities immediately with materials made for native speakers.
Or, say you want to LISTEN or READ the language immediately, but you're okay with not listening or reading to the goal materials you are aiming to understand right away? Then you could go the intensive route above - looking every unknown thing up. Or you could do a combo of intensive and extensive, with what I'm about to say. Or you can just do extensive listening/watching and extensive reading, starting with materials made for learners and working your way up to materials made for native speakers. So you'd start with Comprehensible Input Lessons made for beginners, where you'd immediately listen to the language and understand with the visuals and translations provided in the lessons (there's many of these lessons on youtube, and some tutors do them). Then you'd use Learner Podcasts made to be understandable at your level, and anything you didn't understand the podcast explained either in the language or by telling you the translation themselves (so you don't have to do any additional work to figure out the meaning as it's provided). Eventually you understand enough of the language to start understanding podcasts for native speakers, shows for native speakers, and so on. Never having to look anything up outside of what was provided, if you don't want to. Or you'd use The Nature Method textbooks, if your goal is to read, and read the language with pictures to help you understand - or perhaps use a bilingual parallel text so the translation is automatically provided and you don't have to do additional work. Then you'd find Graded Readers for your level, and they'd either present words in contexts that make those words easy to guess and/or provide a vocabulary Glossary with the translations. Eventually you can read enough to read novels and articles written for native speakers and guess a lot of the unknown words just from context, then you can read harder writing material, etc. This study approach is best suited for: people who ARE okay learning primarily through context clues, who want to study using materials that provide what they need to know so they don't need to look things up unless they want, they want to immediately start practicing their goal activity with materials EASIER than their final goal, and who are okay with less structure and more self directed resources selection.
For those people in the middle, who'd like to do their GOAL activities in the language, but also don't want to be overwhelmed by difficulty? I recommend finding a Structured Resource like a textbook (I know I'm a broken record), or a 2000-5000 word frequency list with translations and text/audio, or a pre-made anki deck with 2000+ high frequency words in sentence examples, AND a Grammar Reference (book or website), or some other resource you like that covers 2000+ words and basic grammar. Study the resource you find in whatever way you like - reading and rereading, taking notes, making flashcards, cram studying or going strategically through X amount of material a week. THEN once you've gotten a VAGUE FAMILIARITY with a couple thousand words, and some basic grammar in the language, go ahead and start engaging with either Materials made for Learners (CI Lessons, Learner Podcasts, Graded Readers), or Materials made for Native Speakers (shows, cartoons, novels, articles). What you pick will depend on A. if you want to look words up a lot (pick stuff made for native speakers), or want to mostly be able to understand things from context (pick stuff made for learners). If your goal is to start speaking, or writing, then at this point you find a tutor (if you want them to speak/write at an easier level at first to understand and answer questions you have), or a language exchange partner (if you're comfortable looking up the words/grammar you want to say/write but don't know yet, and that your language exchange partner says/writes to you that you don't already understand). That initial study you did, however you did it, will provide you a foundation of stuff you are vaguely familiar with and therefore will take less time to understand from context (if using learner resources or a tutor), or take less time to retain from looking up (if using materials for native speakers or chatting with people). This is probably the bulk of how I've studied over the years, and how I plan most of my own study plans since it's flexible. This study approach is best suited for: people who want flexibility, people who are comfortable finding their own study materials, who want to study an initial foundation of words and grammar they are likely to need, and then want to reinforce that study with practice on the skills their goals require.
You can also, of course, add Review activities to any study plan. Which would be taking notes and re-reading them, making or using an anki deck and doing reviews, reading through frequency word/sentence translation lists online and re-reading every once in a while, reading Grammar Reference books or sites and reviewing certain grammar points now and then, re-listening to materials again, re-listening to learner podcast lessons, re-listening to audio flashcards and lessons (like Glossika, Pimsleur, Chinese Pod 101).
You may find that many people do a combination of the above. They have used Structured Resources (to provide structure and skill practice activities), but they also watch shows or read novels sometimes and look up words they don't know, and perhaps they also review things using word-lists or anki or notes they've taken.
I hope I have also made it easier to see how you can select a study material, and then customize what YOU do with it to practice listening, reading, writing, speaking based on your specific personal goals. I am hoping with this post I also made it easier to see what KINDS of study materials suit different people - based on how much information a person wants provided automatically by the study material, how comfortable a person is learning from context, how quick a person wants to practice their goal skills with material for native speakers versus practice with easier learner material made to be understandable for them, and how comfortable a person is finding their own study resources and making their own study activities.
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