♫ You can also listen to an extended version of this blog post here ♫
A couple of weeks ago, I spoke about how September and the start of the new school year can motivate us to set a new challenge and I shared with you my top 5 reasons for learning French (I had to be very disciplined to limit myself to just 5 as I could go on forever!).
I so genuinely admire anyone who decides to take the plunge and join a French class or enrol onto an online course. Re-engaging in learning as an adult takes a lot of courage and it’s amazing if you have made the decision to do this.
I also always feel so privileged to welcome my existing learners back to class after the summer break. I know that some learners return feeling enthusiastic, motivated and raring to go whereas for some, the return isn’t always as easy and they may have had a wobble for whatever reason.
In today’s blog, I just want to share a few little tips to try to reassure you and to help you feel as confident as you possibly can about re-starting your learning.
- Try not to worry about making mistakes. I know that this is easier said than done but making mistakes whilst learning a language is inevitable so try to embrace this as part of the process and don’t ever feel bad about it! We learn so, so much from our mistakes so try to see them as a positive thing.
- Try not to put yourself under too much pressure. Learning a language takes time and patience and there is no quick-fix. Try to enjoy each small step; be kind to yourself and be patient with yourself.
- Celebrate all your little wins – however small they may seem!
- Try to be aware of and acknowledge your progress so that you can see how well you are doing. It is so easy to forget where you started as you strive to get to where you want to be. It’s no coincidence that there have been so many variations of the quote ‘the more I learn, the less I know’ and learning French can definitely feel like this. However, try to be mindful of what you do know rather than of what you don’t know.
You’ve taken the first step – it’s always the hardest – so congratulate yourself and enjoy every minute!
One small step at a time it all is takes to get you there
Emily Dickinson
Sarah x