Lesson Transcript

Hey everyone, welcome to the Monthly Review!
The monthly show on language learning.
Where you discover new learning strategies, motivational tips, study tools, and resources.
By the way, all the lessons and bonuses you’re about to see can be downloaded for free on our website.
So, click the link in the description right now to sign up for your free lifetime account.
Okay, today’s topic is:
How to Adjust Your Routine &Learn Language from Home
Many of us are spending more and more time at home. So, how do you make the best of this time… and learn your target language?
Learning at home can be tough with all the distractions...and in this episode, you’re going to discover:
- The Pros &Cons of Learning at Home
- How to Successfully Learn from Home...without Getting DIstracted
But first, listen up! Here are this month’s new lessons and resources.
First — The “Love” Conversation Cheat Sheet
Do you know how to ask someone out in your target language? With this new cheat sheet, master tons of romantic phrases... in time for Valentine’s Day. Download it for free right now.
Second —The Slang Words &Phrases PDF eBook
Do you know any slang in your target language? If not, download this free eBook... and master all the must-know slang across 10 chapters.
Third — Can you talk about containers in your target language?
Learn how to say ”box,” ”bottle,” ”bin,” and much more, with this quick vocab bonus.
Fourth — Must-Know Valentine’s Day Vocabulary
Can you talk about Valentine's Day in your target language? You will, with this quick 1-minute vocabulary lesson.
Fifth — The Top 15 Encouraging Phrases
Want to be able to say positive phrases like... “Believe in yourself” and “don’t give up”? Then get this bonus phrase lesson.
To get your free resources, click the link in the description below right now. They’re yours to keep forever. Ok, let’s jump into today’s topic:
How to Adjust Your Routine &Learn Language from Home
Recently, many people have started to work and take classes from home. In the case of language learning, since it’s something people do in their own time, a lot of it is done at home anyway. But, that doesn't mean that all of this hasn’t affected how people learn. If you used a language learning app or listened to lessons during your commute but you don’t commute anymore, the pandemic has probably ruined your flow.
With many of us spending more time at home, being able to learn from home efficiently… is a good skill to have. Because while learning or working from home sounds good, it’s not exactly easy to do.
Part 1: The Pros &Cons of Learning at Home
FIrst, the pros. There’s convenience. You can learn whenever you want.
You also have more time in the day since you’re commuting, or walking from the train station into work.
It’s also easier to practice speaking. You can’t really practice on the train or at lunch break or in the office during work. That might sound a little strange. But at home, you can dedicate more time to practicing speaking.
What’s your favorite pro of learning at home? Leave us a comment.
Now, about what about the cons?
Distractions. There are a lot more distractions at home. There’s the tv, there’s the couch and the food and family members coming in and out.
Next, there is no physical and mental separation between rest and work… which is crucial for focus. It’s the same reason why people prefer going to the gym, instead of working out from the comfort of their own home. If you’re in a place where there is only one goal - working out, and you’re surrounded by people working out, you’ll have no problem doing it. But, if you’re in a place you associate with rest, eating, and watching TV… you’ll have trouble focusing.
But, if you’re spending more time at home, then you should at least make the best of it… and learn your language at home.
Part 2: How to Successfully Learn from Home...without Getting DIstracted
So, here’s how you do it.
First, pick a dedicated place for learning. And preferably not your bed. Just like an office is associated with working time and your bedroom is associated with rest, you need a place associated with language learning. It could be your desk in the corner of the room. It could be your basement. As long as it’s far from distractions and places of rest.
Second, pick a time. That way, for example, when it’s 9 PM, you know it’s time to put in 10 minutes of language learning.
Three: Timebox your study sessions. What’s timeboxing? Timeboxing is simply setting a fixed amount of time for an activity. For example, you’re going to dedicate the next 10 minutes to language and nothing else.
If you usually have trouble concentrating, timeboxing is a good way to set boundaries and get things done.
Four: Start small. Just like with setting small, measurable goals and realistic routines, don’t set aside 2 hours for study time. Instead, try to timebox 5, 10, or 15 minutes… and stick with that for a week or two.
You can always increase your time later once you get more comfortable with your routine.
Five: Do multiple sessions in one day. Instead of trying to master a lesson and the lesson dialog in one shot… Space out your learning throughout the day. In the morning, afternoon, and at night. So, take an audio or video lesson and read along with the lesson notes in the morning. You’ll get acquainted with the conversation, all the words, and grammar rules. Don’t rush to memorize it all. You’ll come back later to it in the day. And do this for around 5 to 15 minutes. During the day, Practice shadowing the dialogue. Practice recalling the words. Do this for around 10 minutes.
You can also write out the lesson dialogue, practice using the grammar rules, or drill the words with flashcards. And at night, come back and review for about 10 minutes. You can relisten to the lesson or just the dialog track.
By doing multiple sessions in one day, you will be a lot more comfortable with the language. Simply because you spaced out your learning and came back to review. And while it may feel repetitive… It's the repetition that helps you master the language over the long term.
Six: Use at-home-time to practice speaking more. It would be hard to practice if you’re commuting or out on a walk… But, if you’re at home, you can easily speak out loud…without drawing attention or feeling embarrassed.
So, to recap. One: Pick a specific place for learning… that’s far from distractions like your bed. Two: Pick a specific time for studying. Three: Timebox your study sessions. Four: Start small. Five: Do multiple sessions in one day. And six: Use at-home-time to practice speaking more.
So, thank you for watching this episode of Monthly Review
Next time, we’ll talk about: The Power of Learning a Language Together with Someone Else
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See you next time! Bye!

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